Looking for input on single shot breech loading rifles for primitive weapons season

[Trickasabrick]

I'm considering picking up a single shot rifle for deer hunting. Probably don't want to spend the money for the Thompson Center, so I'm looking for input on some of the other options out there like CVA, Henry, etc. I'm also looking for information on caliber choice. I'm considering the .35 Whelen but am open to other options such as the .358 Winchester or others. I will be hunting in the Boeuf management area which is mostly dense bottomland hardwood and swamp. Thanks in advance.

 

[tbone]

I borrowed my neighbor's H&R .35 Whelen last year. It was deadly. Of course, the deer I shot was only 10 yards away so not much to go by there.

 

[highstandard40]

I borrowed my neighbor's H&R .35 Whelen last year. It was deadly. Of course, the deer I shot was only 10 yards away so not much to go by there.

The 35 Whelen is more gun than most people need for whitetail deer, both from a terminal performance standpoint and also from the recoil generated, especially from the lighter single shot rifles. I have a 358 Win (though mine is a bolt action) and it is a great deer thumper, though only slightly less powerful than the Whelen, and I've taken a lot of deer with it. I now hunt primitive season with a T/C Contender in 35 Rem which for me is the perfect solution for deer with the 35 bore at the distances I normally hunt. You may not be able to find the 35 Rem in other currently available rifles though. Maybe you could consider a 375.

 

[chazma83]

the 35 whelen is a monster

 

[11Bravo]

35 Whelen is a great caliber choice. For a rifle I would look at the CVA Apex of Elite Stalker. Much nicer than the H&R's and the Elite Stalker doesn't cost much more than a Handi Rifle.

 

[hunter5567]

Academy has CVA 35 Remington singleshot rifles for sale. I've also seen H&R 35 Rem rifles up there for sale. They also have the ammo. I have a H&R 35 Rem rifle and it shoots great with moderate recoil and if you reload you boost the performance to close to the 358 Winchester. I use the Hornady Leverevolution ammo in mine. The 35 whelen is a great rifle also but as was stated is a poor man's grizzly bear rifle. You can also get a 444, 45-70, 44 magnum, 500 S&W, or even a 357 mag singleshot rifle.
You can also use a singleshot shotgun with a hammer up to a 10ga.

 

[tbone]

I didn't find the recoil of the .35 Whelen to be bad at all in the H&R. But then, I only shot it once. At a deer where, I find, recoil is less noticeable.

 

[hunter5567]

The H&R 35 whelen didn't give me consistent accuracy until I put a rubber O ring on the forend stud on the barrel where the forend attaches which in effect free floats the barrel.

 

[Ritten]

I purchased an H&R .35 whelen for primitive season this year. Had it out at the range yesterday for the first time and it was stacking 5 shots under an inch at 100yds with Federal Fusion 200gr ammo. I was extremely impressed to say the least. At the same time I was also sighting in a CVA in the same caliber for an uncle but that gun felt much cheaper in quality. It was hard to lock close, the hammer was mushy when cocked, and the trigger pull was all over the place. I couldn't get any reliable shot pattern because the cheap scope rings ended up coming loose after the 3 zero'ing shots (granted, not CVA's fault).

 

[Phill]

The H&R 35 whelen didn't give me consistent accuracy

Every CVA APEX that I've shot have been great shooters.

 

[MikeR]

With the recent rules change, I'm just going to use my old H&R 20ga. Almost everywhere I hunt is fairly close anyway.

 

[yipper]

My H&R handi rifle in .44 magnum works real well. For 100 yards or less I'm sure the .357 magnum does, too.

 

[Vermiform]

Whatever caliber you decide, I would stick with an H&R. That way when the season is over, you can send the receiver off to H&R and have them match more bbls to it. I have a .308, 45 colt/410 gauge, 7.62x39, and a 45/70 bbl for mine.

 

[Trickasabrick]

Thanks for the input guys. I used to have a Remington pump rifle in .35 Remington that was a good shooter, but wouldn't feed the ammo reliably, at least the ammo that I could find for it at the time which was 200 gr. round nose soft point if I recall correctly. Might take a look at that round again as well.

 

[del4]

Whatever caliber you decide, I would stick with an H&R. That way when the season is over, you can send the receiver off to H&R and have them match more bbls to it. I have a .308, 45 colt/410 gauge, 7.62x39, and a 45/70 bbl for mine.

How much do they charge to do that and what's the turnaround?

 

[Vermiform]

How much do they charge to do that and what's the turnaround?

Turnaround varies, but it is always much longer leading up to hunting season. Here is info and prices:
http://www.hr1871.com/Support/accessoryProgram.asp

 

[Goatwhiskers]

One thing to keep in mind about the Handi. If your initial purchase is .44Mag, .357, or any of the shotgun calibers, they are built on the SB-1 frame which is made of ductile cast iron and cannot be fitted with any of the rifle calibers. They usually have a larger firing pin which often causes primer flow problems. It is "possible" to home fit rifle barrels on these frames but a very poor idea as cast iron doesn't stretch, it fragments rather violently. These frames will only be fitted by the factory with the above calibers. Rifle calibers come on the SB-2 frame which is investment cast heat treated steel and has a smaller firing pin. These can be fitted with any caliber the factory makes EXCEPT magnums, the frame won't take it and the factory doesn't make 'em. Get a rifle caliber as your first purchase and you can go most anywhere from there. GW

 

[Vermiform]

One thing to keep in mind about the Handi. If your initial purchase is .44Mag, .357, or any of the shotgun calibers, they are built on the SB-1 frame which is made of ductile cast iron and cannot be fitted with any of the rifle calibers. They usually have a larger firing pin which often causes primer flow problems. It is "possible" to home fit rifle barrels on these frames but a very poor idea as cast iron doesn't stretch, it fragments rather violently. These frames will only be fitted by the factory with the above calibers. Rifle calibers come on the SB-2 frame which is investment cast heat treated steel and has a smaller firing pin. These can be fitted with any caliber the factory makes EXCEPT magnums, the frame won't take it and the factory doesn't make 'em. Get a rifle caliber as your first purchase and you can go most anywhere from there. GW

Good info man. Even taught me something. I wasn't aware that the .357 or .44mag versions came with SB-1 Receivers. Thanks.

 

[flatswitch]

One thing to keep in mind about the Handi. If your initial purchase is .44Mag, .357, or any of the shotgun calibers, they are built on the SB-1 frame which is made of ductile cast iron and cannot be fitted with any of the rifle calibers. They usually have a larger firing pin which often causes primer flow problems. It is "possible" to home fit rifle barrels on these frames but a very poor idea as cast iron doesn't stretch, it fragments rather violently. These frames will only be fitted by the factory with the above calibers. Rifle calibers come on the SB-2 frame which is investment cast heat treated steel and has a smaller firing pin. These can be fitted with any caliber the factory makes EXCEPT magnums, the frame won't take it and the factory doesn't make 'em. Get a rifle caliber as your first purchase and you can go most anywhere from there. GW

Great info, I had no idea. I'm going to look into the .45/.410 barrel. Just picked up a .45-70 Handi a few weeks back for Primitive this year myself. I borrowed one from a coworker last season and fell in love with it. It kicks, but I'm a big guy so it's not that big of a problem for me. I hunt Honey Island swamp mostly so it makes for a great, small, powerful rifle to get around in the thick stuff.

 

[revbc]

If you can find an H&R in 35 remington (there are some in MS) it is a good choice. You can also do as I did, hand ream it to 356 win. The 356 win is a rimmed .358 win and will shoot both. The 356 brass is a little hard to find at the moment, so you can shoot 358.