[Doug Bowser]

I am not a fan of this rifle. I want to know how an action that is usually designed for use with shotguns is safe with the 54,000 PSI pressure built up by some of our CF rifle ammunition.

Another question is, where does the gas and brass particles go if there is a case head separation or other cartridge failure? In a Mauser 98 the bolt has 2 large holes that line up with the magazine well, when the bolt is in battery. Gasses from a burst ctg go into the magazine well and down the receiver raceways. The bolt sleeve on the 98 has a flare to it, that directs gasses and brass fragments away from the shooter's eye.

In the 1903 Springfield, there is a hole in the extractor that lines up with a hole on the right side of the receiver ring. Gas and fragments go out this hole.

In the 1903-A3 there is a hole at the front of the bolt that lines up with a hole in the left side of the receiver ring. This directs gasses away from the shooter.

The 1903 rifle has a flared cocking piece. This is not just to enable the hand to grip it, it is there to direct gasses from a failed ctg coming from the bolt sleeve. This is to protect against eye injury.

I would bet, if you have a catastrophic failure of a cartridge in an H&R Hand-Rifle, you would have a BIG surprise in store for you.

Doug

 

[Beladran]

i dont own on for that same reason...

i am gonna guess that if the head seperates gas is going to blow back threw the fireing pin like a plasma cutter.. @$$ the chamber holds together

 

[Doug Bowser]

i dont own on for that same reason...

i am gonna guess that if the head seperates gas is going to blow back threw the fireing pin like a plasma cutter.. @$$ the chamber holds together

At lest there is one mor shooter that has thought about this potential problem.

Doug

 

[smoffett]

{snip}Another question is, where does the gas and brass particles go if there is a case head separation or other cartridge failure? {snip}

Doug

Is there something in particular about the Handi Rifle, or does this apply to all single shot break-action type rifles -- i.e. CVA and some older "historic" firearms as well?

 

[Doug Bowser]

Is there something in particular about the Handi Rifle, or does this apply to all single shot break-action type rifles -- i.e. CVA and some older "historic" firearms as well? [/quote]

The CVA and historic firearms are usually chambered in lower pressured ctgs, I have never inspected an Encore, so I don't know the setup.

The gas from an NEF could come through action at the firing pin and cause damage to the shooter.

Doug

 

[Beladran]

did "@$$" just get censored???
i have a bias opinion towards CVA so i wont go there. its like doug said the reciever was designed for shotgun pressure levels or BP bullets. ever wonder why none of the cheap single shots chamber in magnum calibers??

 

[bubbat]

Doug- How often do you have a catastrophic failure of a cartridge in any gun?
The Handi might have been designed as a shotgun but in the 100 or so years since it was designed the manufactoring process that is used has change and the metal they use is stronger than it was in 1871.

I have owned quite a few Handi rifles never had one fail nor have I ever heard of one failing. Personally I would be more worried about a 100yr old Mauser or Springfield failing before I would be a new Handi Rifle.

 

[ftsibley]

only takes one failure to change everything.
I think as long as one shot factory loaded or handloaded equiviliant there may not be problems. BUT some people will push the limits with their "special handloads" and end up with a round producing may more pressure than the action can handle.
The mauser and springfield actions have a way of dealing with a case failure and the gases they create, the breech action doesnt have this safety feature to my knowledge.

 

[Doug Bowser]

You never know when a factory cartridge will be faulty. I had a partial headspace separation with a new WW .270 Win round in the past. The safety built into the 100 year old Mauser designs should be passed on to all firearms. Handling gas from a bad round is very important and the NEF rifles do not have this safety feature.

Doug

 

[Beladran]

granted no break action really has that saftey feature but i think KP1's, Encores, and MOA's are 4 times better built than any handi rifle. would be interesting to see what a 45-70 would do if you accidently used bullseye instead of the powder you ment to.... hmmm i feel a youtube search coming on

 

[bubbat]

I couldn't find any youtube videos of handi rifle failure and the only results on a google search for handi rifle failures just shows this thread... :lol4: the rest are handi rifles failing to eject.

I think a catastrophic failure of a modern factory cartridge is rare enough I'm not gonna worry about, the wheels could fall off my truck driving down the highway too, I don't worry about that either.

 

[Beladran]

id worry about it! i saw the tires on your truck! lol

 

[bubbat]

id worry about it! i saw the tires on your truck! lol

Iz boughts new ones.. :lol4:

 

[Caleb C]

I'm with bubbat on this one. The handi rifle, in my opinion, is a winner. It's a good balance of price, durability, accuracy, and ease of operation. I wouldn't back down from shooting any of them.

I could have my face removed by a handi rifle tomorrow but then again I could get struck by lightning too.

 

[quigleysharps4570]

would be interesting to see what a 45-70 would do if you accidently used bullseye instead of the powder you ment to.

Would be awful hard for me to mistake Bullseye for any powder I use in 45-70 cartridges.

 

[swede62]

Guns & Ammo TV did a torture test on an Encore a while back when they purposely tried to blow it up. I believe they did a barrel obstruction in one test, and used pistol powder in 300 Win. Mag. in another test. In both cases the shooter would have been OK. Most likely very shook up, but most likely not injured. The gun was trashed! Richard Venola and another Guy his name escapes me now.

 

[msredneck]

I see both sides of this...what ya'll are saying makes since....same reason I bought my daughter a huge Dodge truck to drive...

none the less I love my Handi in 444 Marlin and aint giving it up...its light years over the inline smoke pole I had....I don't consider the 2 main calibers most often purchased (45/70 and 444 Marlin to be all that stout. If we had many KB's going on with these rifles I think I'd a heard about it...folks say the same the same thing about unsupported cases and reloading Glocks...granted its on a smaller scale but even then you only here of a few of em and its generally hot rod reloads....

Of all the mfg's I'd think H&R would have thought about the consequences of putting these out...maybe not....

Ya'll are trying to fix stupid...and there just aint no cure

At the time of my Handi purchase I just could not part with bolt gun money for an Encore.....I might have to re-think that...ya'll will have me worried every time I pull the trigger on my Handi now....

Thanks

:lol4:

Good posting

 

[Joe S.]

When you buy the TC neck, I'll buy the handi from you. I aint skeered!

 

[surehuntsalot]

nothing wrong with the Handi,keep on shooting

 

[PhillipM]

...folks say the same the same thing about unsupported cases and reloading Glocks...granted its on a smaller scale but even then you only here of a few of em and its generally hot rod reloads....

Shot with Eric Brundage at Magnolia a few months ago on the 25 yard plate rack. He had a Glock 9mm and an Uzi semi auto. We experienced several reloaded case failures in both, however the cases failed exactly the same way, the unsupported case blew out. The Glock had problems first, he said he heard not to fire reloads from other guns in the Glock and I think all his cases were range pickups. It certainly wasn't hot ammo by any stretch of the imagination. After we had problems with the Uzi he trashed that lot of ammo.