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Post by Rifleman on Sept 17, 2008 19:22:59 GMT -5
I have been thinking of doing a project rifle just for fun. I can buy an H&R Handi rifle in 357 mag blue/syn for about 250 bucks. Then I thought I could get the chamber reamed to 357 maximum. I was thinking I could get a decent bullet up to 2000 fps or more. But I have questions and am looking for some input.
Would the rate of twist favor a particular weight of bullet?
What load data would a guy use?
Is 357 max brass still available?
What kind of mods could be done to this rifle to make it a better shooter such as trigger job, messing with the forearm hanger, etc etc.
Just basically trying to get a discussion started and see where it leads. I did find this load over at handloads.com
125gr JSP 26.5 gr H-4227 2,360 fps Fed SR
26" Martini with 1 in 14 twist. Groups in the 1" range, 5 shots 100 yards.
I hope alot of you respond and I am open to all suggestions at this point since this project is still in drawing board stage.
Thanks
Rman
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Post by Rifleman on Sept 17, 2008 19:33:28 GMT -5
170gr JHP 22.5 gr H110 1,995 fps CCI SRM
14" Contender/Sierra 170 gr. JHP Vel. taken at 10’. 1 to 2" groups using a 2X7 scope at 100yds. Devastating whitetail load.
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Post by fitzzie on Sept 18, 2008 2:09:10 GMT -5
Rman...Sounds interesting....have a 14" .357 Max. Contender that has taken a few deer...with soft pistol bullets at that speed...hammers 'em. Brass is around. Use pistol data in any loadbook...it uses rifle primers. The HandiRifle might shoot real well...go to Graybeards Outdoor list and see the HandiRifle board...lots of opinions there. There are plenty of ideas on mods also: www.go2gbo.com/forums/index.php?board=126.0Check out this thread on your proposed conversion: www.go2gbo.com/forums/index.php/topic,151760.0.html Most twist rates are 1:14" for .357 mag. and max. My Contender is 1:14". Some loads I recorded a while back with 14" barrel: Nosler 158g JHP, 23.5g H110---1943 fps(10 shot average) Sierra 170g JHC, 21.5g H110---1827fps(10 shots) Hornady 180g JHP, 19.6g H4227---1678fps(10 shots) These loads were right out of the reloading manual...and not real hot either... It is one of my favorite Contender barrels, and I got a few! Don't think the Sierra 170 JHC is available anymore, but it is my deer load...have a couple boxes on the shelf, so I'm good for a while... The barrel seems to shoot 125g to 200g bullets just fine, but I like to stick to the heavier slugs(170g and up). With lighter bullets(like 110, maybe 125g) H110 will not burn well. I consider 158g bullets to be varmit killers in the max... Got an Encore set up as a rifle so...If I ever saw a max rifle barrel on sale for a great price...it just might happen...like I said...it sounds interesting... |
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Post by Rifleman on Sept 18, 2008 2:29:34 GMT -5
Thanks Fitzzie I appreciate all the info.
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Post by Rifleman on Sept 18, 2008 2:33:25 GMT -5
I noticed that on the handi rifle basics "101" thread it mentioned doing some forearm work. I was not surprised at all to see this and had allready considered that as a option towards accurizing the rifle. I know on the Ruger single shot rifles, the custom smiths address this issue on a regular basis. What I don't know is what kind of mods are done to the forearm on the handi rifle.
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Post by Rifleman on Sept 18, 2008 3:00:31 GMT -5
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Post by Rifleman on Sept 18, 2008 3:09:34 GMT -5
Looks like there might be a problem right off the bat. Seems the handi rifle is available with 2 different frames. One is the SB1 and the other is the SB2. The SB1 frame is made for shotguns and 357 mag and 44 mag. The SB2 frame is made for rifle cartridges. The 357 magnums now being sold are on SB1 frames and that frame is not rated for the higher pressures of the 357 maximum. So my research continues.
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Post by wilmsmeyer on Sept 18, 2008 16:31:28 GMT -5
R-man,
That does sound like an intersteing "little" rifle if you end up getting there.
I do have a question. I want a single shot rifle in .357 mag and it looks like you have to buy the gun as a combo with a shotgun barrel. Is that so?
Do you know of any other break barrel .357 rifle offerings?
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Post by Rifleman on Sept 18, 2008 19:57:01 GMT -5
I do have a question. I want a single shot rifle in .357 mag and it looks like you have to buy the gun as a combo with a shotgun barrel. Is that so? Nope you can buy the 357 mag by itself. Do you know of any other break barrel .357 rifle offerings? Maybe Rossi but I am still checking on these. Maybe we can research this together. My local shop has 2 of the .357 mag handi rifles in stock but I do believe they are on the SB1 frame. Some guys say the MAX is to much pressure for the SB1 frame, but they also make the 44 mag on the same frame. So I need to find out SAAMI max on both the .357 MAX and the 44 mag and compare. Here is a .357 mag on gunbroker, same gun my local dealer has for about the same money. www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=110074278 |
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Post by thelefthand on Sept 20, 2008 13:00:03 GMT -5
Take this for what its worth, but I would think that if the FRAME can take the recoil of the .44mag, then it should take a .357 Max pretty easy because the .44mag has a noticibly larger case head, and thus exerts a lot more force as it pushes back against the frame. I think this would make for a great deer rifle here in Indiana. I wouldn't think that it would have much recoil either, so it woudl be good for younger shooters to use as well. One think that I would probably do is have the chamber trued up and turned on a lathe rather than use a reamer. Reason being is that a cheap gun USUALLY has a crappy chamber, and by crappy I mean that it's not usually on the same axis as the bore of the barrel. By having a smith put it in a 4 jaw chuck, and idicate it in, and then actually turn the longer chamber, most if not all of that slop can be eliminated. You can also have him turn the throat area so that its tighter than the SAMMI spec of 0.005" over. This should give you a more accurate rifle, and more flexability with your bullet choices. It also keeps you from having to buy a reamer  If I were going to send the gun out to have the work done, I would talk to Mike Bellm (SP?). He does a lot of work with T/Cs. I've read a lot of his stuff, and I think that his principals for an accurate barrel are right on the money. I will admit up front that I haven't had the chance to have any work done by him though. Mark |
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Post by Rifleman on Sept 20, 2008 15:01:09 GMT -5
Good insight Mark I appreciate it. Kinda torn between pursuing this or a 7mm08 pistola after shooting your today.
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Post by Rifleman on Sept 26, 2008 13:59:13 GMT -5
Well I bought the 7mm-08, so I am forgetting about this project. For now.... |
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If I were going to send the gun out to have the work done, I would talk to Mike Bellm (SP?). He does a lot of work with T/Cs. I've read a lot of his stuff, and I think that his principals for an accurate barrel are right on the money. I will admit up front that I haven't had the chance to have any work done by him though.