New rifle

[MSHunter]

Hi 8uck5nort.

I'm probably biased, but I'm a fan of the H&R. I have the Handi Rifle in 45-70 Gov't and the Sidekick in .50 Cal., both of them are solid rifles. I took my first deer with the 45-70 on the last day of the season this year. $259.00 seems like a fair price. I paid $264.00 in January for my 45-70. I'm looking at the Rossi in a .243 for my son. I've shopped the Rossi Trifecta earlier this year, It seems like a solid rifle. Also, keep in mind there will be transfer fees if you purchase from gunbroker.com, so the H&R may end up having a better price. I hope this helps. Good luck with your decision.

[Everyday Hunter]

I prefer a bolt action, so I'm not much help in deciding what single shot rifle to buy. But I do have opinions on calibers. If the choice is between a .44 magnum and a .357 magnum, I'd buy the .44 mag. Trajectory isn't much of an issue in a traditional revolver cartridge, and recoil in a rifle will still be manageable from a rifle. But the .44 will punch a 17% bigger hole, which can be significant.

Steve

[Robert Rowland]

I agree with Everyday Hunter. The .44 would be the better choice.
I have also looked at the single shot rifles and have yet to buy one, but have thought that a larger caliber would be what I get so that I could use it on larger game if I get the chance.

[John1961]

Last year I bought a Marlin 44 Mag, lever action. Cost 550.00 but to me worth every penny. I just need to kill a deer with it to break it in

[wack]

I've got a NEF Handi Rifle in 30-06 and couldn't be happier with it. It's about 18 years old now, which is why it's a NEF instead of H&R but it's still the same rifle. What's really cool is the barrels and prices of barrels you can add to your gun once you purchase it. You have to send your gun in to have new barrels fitted, but they cost about 1/3 of say a TC barrel. My next rifle may be a stainless steel H&R  Handi rifle, probably the weakest part of my old rifle is the blueing.

[Hoosierbuck]

I have a Handi Rifle, and a .44 rifle, they are not the same gun, but I have an opinion.  I like the Handi a lot.  Great value, and a tad bit nicer feeling than the Rossi (I bought the kids the Rossi two barrel mini-size pack).  The .44 is a very solid performer for me.  Using relatively cheap factory ammo and a 4x scope on my Win. 94 I have made a lot of meat with it in the last couple years.  If a lever gun is not an option, then I would say go with the Handi, and do it in .44.  Here is a pic of my .44 and two squirrels who were hanging around when no deer were.  Bad idea, as it turns out.

HB

[mgemmill]

What about the Marlin lever action in 308 Marlin Express. The new Levereloution  bullets are supposed to be getting good results ??? They also look like they come in some shoulder crushing calibers LOL

[vambo991]

All good options. I'd probably prefer a lever action in 30-30 or maybe even 444 marlin. I'd probably not take a chance on the new Marlin Express calibers, they may not make it, and they're very expensive and hard-to-get. But have fun gunhunting.

[8uck5nort]

I ended up getting a single shot .44 rem mag rifle. However, it is a custom made bolt action. It was built off of a pre-WW2 Austrian Styer action. It is scoped with 3x9x40, and I picked up a box Hornady Leverolution ammo to site it in. I am going for a zero at 150 yrds. That should put me about 4" high at 75 to 80 yrds. Should be a good fence line gun for the corn and bean fields. I am putting out a blind along fence row this year and will see how it does.

[huntingthebig1]

Have both the H&R 357 and 44 mag and love them both. 357 100 yards and less period... even with Leverevolution...... 44 mag 200 yards no issues, hit a 4 inch circle on a calm day. I would recommend the thumbhole stock version as I just purchased a .243, my 9th H&R/NEF and love it..... will be purchasing additional stocks next.