As a long time advocate of using black powder firearms for survival, it is my pleasure to be able to write this article about the T/C Hawken .50 Caliber Rifle. This rifle looks and feels the same as the original Hawken except that the modern machining techniques that are used to manufacture it make it a much safer and reliable weapon. In this article I will give you some of the highlights of the T/C Hawken and what I found while shooting it.

Before I go into the details about the Thompson Center .50 caliber Hawken rifle, I feel that I should explain why I advocate the use of black powder weapons for survival when there are much more modern firearms available to the shooting public. The answer is simple, modern weapons and ammunition are more regulated than black powder weapons. Don't get me wrong I love the modern weapons for survival purposes, however it seems like every time I turn around some pencil neck in Washington is trying to restrict or take our firearms and ammunition rights away. Oh well so much for my ranting lets get back to the T/C Hawken.

Let's start with some specs on the T/C .50 Caliber Hawken:

CALIBER: .50 Caliber
BARREL: Length 28″, octagon, polished and blued. .50 caliber model is 1-5/16″ across the flats. Drilled and tapped for scope mounts.
BREECH: Hooked breech system.
LOCK: Internal springs are heavy duty coil type.
TRIGGERS: Fully adjustable for a light, crisp pull. Triggers function either as double set or single stage.
SIGHTS: Fully adjustable open hunting style rear sights with bead front sight.
TRIM: Solid brass trigger guard, patch box, butt plate and for end cap.
STOCK: Select American Walnut, tastefully contoured cheek piece on left hand side.
WEIGHT: Approximately 8-1/2 pounds.
OA LENGTH: 45-1/4″

Loading:

Loading the T/C Hawken is the same as loading any traditional muzzle loader, you will need black powder or Pyrodex, round balls with the proper sized patches or conical bullets with sabot's and percussion caps. As always safety should be the first priority when it comes to shooting a black powder weapon so make sure you have the proper equipment before firing.

Accuracy:

I set my accuracy test up in stages, the first stage was at 25 yards. This would be a good range if you were going to shoot at a rabbit. After setting up a can I pulled the set trigger and then pulled the firing trigger, the can was nailed with no problem at all. It should be noted that this first shot was done using a .50 caliber round ball. For the second shot I set a deer size target at about 50 yards. My first shot was with a .50 caliber round ball and my second shot was with a .45 caliber semi-wadcutter placed into a harvester sabot. Both shots were dead on. For my last test I moved out to about 100 yards using both the .50 caliber round ball and the .45 caliber semi-wadcutter. Again both shots were dead on. The rest of the after noon was spent picking out different things to shoot at and generally having a good time.

I have owned a few different black powder rifles over the years; the Thompson Center Hawken is absolutely my favorite so far. I have never had a miss fire and it has always been accurate, the term “you get what you pay for” really applies here. The current retail for this rifle is around $600.00. I would feel totally comfortable carrying the T/C Hawken .50 caliber as a survival rifle, it is accurate and with practice it can be reloaded fairly quickly. In my view you can't go wrong with the T/C Hawken.

CNN was a hotbed of controversy when it played a video of an American soldier being sniped – something easily accessible on the internet and having received hundreds of thousands of page views. The work was allegedly done by the masked sniper known as Juba, who constantly updated the web with videos of his “victories”, using a Dragunov Rifle with a telescopic scope. It was even rumored, shortly before Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's death, that he was going to open an insurgent sniper school, so that the city of Baghdad could be surrounded by al-Qaeda snipers.

Juba is very likely not the man's true name – nor is it a single figure. Much like The Princess Bride's Dread Pirate Roberts, it is very possible that the term is simply passed down in the hopes of invoking fear in American and Iraqi troops, as with the constant death of al-Qaeda leaders across Iraq, new figures need to emerge to rally behind for the sake of propaganda. As far as can be told, however, Juba has only been claimed by two Iraqi snipers – neither of which are still haunting the streets of Baghdad.

Most of the sniper's videos that he filled the internet with were crude and basic – totaling what he claimed where 37 confirmed kills, many of the videos appear to cut out before the soldier that the viewer saw getting shot actually stands back up. Indeed, it's been confirmed that most of his alleged victims were barely harmed thanks to American body armor – the same cannot necessarily be said for the targeted Iraqi troops.

Using a hand-held camcorder, two people are always present at the sniping incidents – one alleged driver, and the other Juba himself, who usually chants and prays to Allah before pulling the trigger and making a fast getaway. The videos are almost always set to a form of fundamentalist Islamic music, usually a singing of a Quranic verse, recognizing the interpreted Islamic law forbidding the use of instruments.

One video even showed Juba returning to his hideout, putting aside his rifle, and withdrawing a small notebook so that he could write his pending thoughts in Arabic. The thoughts were not of much interest – just musing how he dreams of driving the Crusaders and Apostates out of his land. Though his wall showed 37 notches carved into it, there's been some controversy on the internet over his actual number of “kills”, as, unlike most snipers, he never actually claimed the dog tags from his victims to confirm any of his alleged successes, seriously calling his achievements into doubt. To back up the claim that his successes were marginal at best, most of the videos depict an American soldier's helmet jarring backward, dust flying off of it after he pulls the trigger. While they will almost always fall over, they'll usually stand back up and run for cover behind an object somewhere.

This did not deter Juba, however, as he coordinated his efforts across Baghdad, allegedly using a small van covered in mattresses to muffle the sound of his rifle.

The first Juba made a grievous error on June 2, 2005, however, as he saw what he thought was an easy target. An American medic stood idle, waving people by on occasion. The mujahideen sniper took his aim, squeezed his trigger, and the medic fell over. Proclaiming praise to Allah, his victory was short lived, as the American medic stood back up and discharged his weapon. A brief fight ensued and the driver of the van was detained – the wounded Juba was later caught trying to flee the scene.

In the most amazing turn of events, the medic who had survived Juba's attempts to kill him, then administered first aid that may very well have saved his life.

This was not the only case of a man taking on the name Juba, however – as another man, identified as Ali Nazaar al-Jubouri was also captured, professing himself to be the “sniper of Baghdad” in 2006.

However, since the successful 2007 Baghdad Security “Surge” Plan, no new snipers have attempted to take on the mantle of “Juba.”

Sources:

-Stars and Stripes – Juba the Sniper Legend Haunting Troops In Iraq
-Here Now – Juba the Sniper
-Baghdad Treasure – Juba Baghdad Sniper
-Murdoc Online – Original Juba Captured?
-Strategy Page – Baghdad Sniper – Juba

Remington

The Marlin Model 925 is a bolt action rifle that is chambered for .22 Long Rifle. Marlin has for years had a reputation of offering a variety of simple and rugged guns at an affordable price and the Model 925 continues this tradition. With a suggested retail price of about $200 and a real world price of $170 or so (and it can probably be found for less), the Marlin Model 925 is a great rifle for beginners or others looking for value.

The Marlin Model 925 comes with a walnut finished hardwood stock with swivel studs to attach a sling. The finish on the stock is rather plain looking, but considering the gun's price it is not something to worry about. The Model 925 uses Marlin's well known Micro-Groove rifling on its 22″ barrel. Micro-Groove's popularity over the years speaks for itself in regards to its usefulness. The barrel is topped off with open sights and is grooved for scope mounting. The Marlin Model 925 features the T-900 Fire Control System which is Marlin's new and improved trigger.

The Marlin Model 925 has a nice substantial feel in the hand with the wood stock and the full length 22 inch barrel though the gun's weight is well under 6 pounds. Though certainly not a heavy gun, the Marlin Model 925 provides enough weight to allow for steady offhand shooting. The Marlin Model 925 makes a great gun to teach a youngster or other novice how to shoot as well as a great gun to practice with year around to stay sharp for big game hunting. Of course, the primary reason that many people buy .22 rifles is for small game hunting. The Marlin Model 925 is a good choice for small game hunting.

I shot the Marlin Model 925 with Remington Thunderbolts and CCI Mini-Mag hollowpoints as the Thunderbolts are the cheapest .22 ammo commonly found in my area and the Mini-Mags are a common choice for small game hunting. While the old fashioned lead round nose bullet of the Remington Thunderbolt is not a great bullet for hunting compared to the Mini-Mag hollowpoint bullet, the old round nose has been used successfully for years. At 50 yards the Marlin Model 925 shot both loadings into about 1 inch groups with the Thunderbolts coming in a little over 1 inch and the Mini-Mags a little under 1 inch. Either ammunition showed sufficient accuracy for most small game hunting.

The Marlin Model 925 is everything that makes an ideal .22 rifle in my book. Inexpensive, rugged, and providing enough accuracy for playing around and small game hunting.

Bolt Action Rifle Blog

The CCI Blazer .22 Long Rifle is one of the least expensive loadings. The cost for a box of .22 CCI Blazer LR should be about two dollars or so for a box of fifty. Though this ammunition is listed as out of stock on Midway and other online retailers during the current ammunition shortage, I am still able to find it in my area at this time. I have used the CCI Blazer .22 off and on over the years due to it being relatively inexpensive. I have used the ammunition for informal target shooting, plinking, and squirrel hunting. Here is a review of my experience with the CCI Blazer .22 Long Rifle Ammunition.

Firing a 40 grain round nose lead bullet at just over 1200 feet per second, the CCI Blazer is a .22 LR round that fits into the high velocity category. For example the popular CCI Stinger using a 32 grain bullet leaves the muzzle at 1640 feet per second and the Remington Yellow Jacket using a 33 grain bullet leaves the barrel with a velocity of about 1500. (Velocity numbers as cited at 22ammo.com).

The primary gun that I have used to fire the CCI Blazer .22 LR ammunition is a H&R revolver. The revolver, of course, doesn't have cycling problems so I can't comment on the reliability and fouling potential of the Blazer ammunition personally. I have heard from friends both that this ammo cycles great in a Ruger 10/22 and that it is unreliable. As anyone who shoots a lot of .22 ammo and guns probably knows, that identical guns will often show are preference for various loadings. With the revolver the CCI Blazer actually shoots quite well. The revolver always shoots the 40 grain bullet loadings better than the lighter bullets in hyper velocity loadings. The CCI Blazer in the revolver will actually outshoot some target ammunition that I have used. The CCI Blazer also shot well in my son's .22 rifle, but not much different than other similar priced loadings and in this rifle the target ammo usually shoots better.

I have used the CCI Blazer .22 LR ammo to hunt squirrels quite informally. I am not a huge fan of squirrel meat and rather bow hunt for deer as the seasons here are basically concurrent. I have taken squirrel with the revolver with the CCI Blazer .22 ammo however. Like other .22 ammunition with a round nose lead bullet, the shot is more key than with hyper velocity hollow points. The lead slug will certainly do the job if placed right, but offers little margin for error.

The CCI Blazer .22 Long Rifle ammunition is a perfectly useable ammunition for everything except perhaps serious target competition.

Reloading Bullets | Remington Rifles

Many made the claim the the original Mini-14 wasnt an accurate rifle, I found this to be untrue as long as you dont fire the cheapest gun show ammo possible thru it and remember this was designed as a hunting carbine that was meant to light and fast. Now either in spite of or because of Ruger came out with a target version of this rifle. Ruger has added a hammer forged heavy profile barrel and a stock that is well-suited for bench work.

The twenty-two inch barrel measures .786 inch diameter forward of the gas block, and .669 inch under the hand guard to the rear of the gas block. It has a one-in-nine-inch rifling twist to accurately stabilize long, heavy bullets, but still works well with short, light bullets also. The heavy barrel profile adds stiffness and a greater ability to absorb heat than does the standard barrel profile used on the original Mini and the Ranch Rifle.

The most noticeable feature of the Target Rifle is the harmonic barrel tuner which is truly a nice feature. This device is attached near the muzzle, and by loosening four Allen screws, a shooter can fine tune the barrel vibrations for the best accuracy with a particular load.

The stock of the Target Rifle is a gray/black laminated wood, with a radical thumbhole design that is very comfortable to shoot from a bench or an improvised rested position. The bottom of the fore end is wide and flat, adding to the stability of the weapon from the bench or an improvised field rest.

I purchased mine about 7 months ago at a local South Florida gun show and equiped it with a IOR Valdada 2-12×36 Spartan Rifle Scope, I had to special order the scope mounts from Ruger which was an extra $100 but well worth it. The resulting rifle was to say the least the deadliest thing I have ever shot at up to 600 meters. I chose Winchester FMJ 62 grain and ranged targets from 100 meters to 600 meters, the deviation on a 5 shot pattern wasnt even noticable.

The recoil was also minor because of the added weight. All in all this little 5.56 mm is deadly accurate and will rival an 5.56 mm target rifle available. I wouldnt reccomend this for a sniper rifle it simply doesnt have the distance of .308 or .338 or .50 but if you varmit, or hog hunt this little beauty is a real winner.

Many people who play online shooters almost always go for the sniper class, and for what reasons? I honestly don't know, but in almost any game, there are usually an overwhelming abundance of snipers on your team.

What many people fail to realize is that your are not going to rack up 10 – 20 kills each round when your sniping unless your playing a group of people that are just really bad. Snipers are suppose to be hidden and they should never be seen. If your running around in the open and taking shots from really obvious locations like sticking your bun barrel out of windows and just standing in the middle of roads and sniping, then you should consider these tips to help you become a better sniper in Call of Duty 4.

First off, I'm not telling you tips that will make you an unstoppable force with a sniper rifle. Hopefully though these tips will help you become a smarter sniper and maybe reduce your kill count a tad. These are all methods I use when playing a sniper in Call of Duty 4's multiplayer.

The point of a sniper is that your not suppose to be seen. Remember though that sometimes, there will be moments where an enemy has spawned by you and unless you see him first then theres not much you can do about it. Also, there are some maps that you shouldn't be sniping on. There are maybe three really good sniping maps on Call of Duty 4 and the most common is Overgrown. When you find a good spot, don't get frustrated when nobody comes around but wait until they come to you. You will have a pretty common idea when you have a good spot. You don't want to be in an obvious spot and make sure your hidden. I like to sit prone in tall grass because you can see people running by you a lot and sometimes if they don't see me, I can get a stealth kill on them with a knife or silenced pistol.

Buildings are the most obvious location for snipers and snipers are found the easiest from them. If you can find a good spot that is outdoors and around some trees or tall grass, then that is your best option since your wearing the outfit that makes you look like a moving bush. This outfit can make you painfully obvious in most buildings. Laying in the tall grass, most guys will run by you without noticing you because they won't be looking down, he'll be looking ahead trying to sight up anyone in front of him.

When you get a kill, make sure you move location because nine times out of ten, the person you killed will come looking for you. After you kill somebody with a sniper rifle, always keep your rifle scope up for about 5-10 seconds because the person you killed can watch the kill cam and see where your at if you lower the scope. By keeping it up, it will make it harder for them to pinpoint your spot. It is tempting to stay in a really good spot but you will get overwhelmed eventually because they will all know your location. If you can take shots on two or three guys, do that and then make sure to leave the spot, even if you kill them because once you lose sight on them, odds are they are coming your way.

Choice of perks can really aid you when sniping. I always recommend using stopping power when playing game modes like regular team deathmatch or regular search and destroy. If your playing hardcore team deathmatch or hardcore search and destroy, bullets do enough damage already and stopping power isn't a necessity. I always use deep impact to hit enemies that I can see taking cover behind a wall. UAV Jammer is a good choice because the last thing you want is your enemies setting off a UAV which will show you on their radars. This way you won't have to bolt out of your spot in fear of getting overrun. I always use claymores because by strategically placing them by your location, will alert you when someone is close and triggers one. If it doesn't kill them, you will at least know someone is by you.

These are just some of the methods and tips I use when playing Call of Duty 4 online but many people develop their own methods as they get better. Hopefully somebody will find these tips helpful to an extent. Another thing I didn't list is that your not going to kill everyone you see. If somebody is on to you, and you only have a sniper rifle or pistol, then you might want to try your best to run to another spot because an automatic weapon against a pistol will almost always win. Sometimes it's better to let somebody go that is right by you and doesn't see you, so you won't compromise your spot. Checking out videos on YouTube can show some pretty good tips as well.

gun classifieds

The New, Even Deadlier M24 Sniper Rifle Silently Kills from a Kilometer Away

The original M24 had an effective range of about 800 meters. The new, upgraded M24 hurls heavier .300 Winchester Magnum rounds over a kilometer away. All while being more silent and accurate. Note to enemies: You are so dead.

The fancier scope has an adjustable magnification system, ranging from 16.5x to 25x, while the new body design is modifiable in a way the old one wasn't, allowing attachments like night-vision accessories. It's more awesome in every way, at least on paper.

The reason the military's pursuing a $5.6 million upgrade of the venerable sniper rifle, BTW, is that it's more valuable than ever in the combat environments of Iraq and particularly Afghanistan, where sniper engagement is super serious.

I kind of can't wait to see this in the next Battlefield game. [Popular Mechanics, Image via TimoStudios/Flickr]

Send an email to matt buchanan, the author of this post, at matt@gizmodo.com.

“Red Dead Redemption” doesn't just have a strong single-player component. The multiplayer easily bests any of Rockstar's previous multiplayer efforts, allowing players to ride the plains and complete missions with their own posse of friends.

When you hop into multiplayer for the first time, you'll notice that you're not playing as John Marston. Instead you'll be given a random base character taken from a handful of different groups. Oh, and that awesome horse you had in single-player? Yeah, replaced by a mule. Completing missions and scoring kills in multiplayer will grant experience which will allow you to rank up and unlock new playable characters, weapons and mounts. There are 50 ranks, as well as a Prestige-style “Legendary” mode which allows players to revert back to Rank 1 once they hit 50, but with the added benefit of fancy new unlockables.

Since hitting level 50 is likely to take many, many play sessions, I thought it'd be a good idea to let you know what you're working towards. Here's the breakdown of the unlockables in “Red Dead Redemption” multiplayer.

Weapons And Mounts
Rank 1 – Cattleman Revolver, El Senor Mount
Rank 2 – Repeater Carbine
Rank 3 – Throwing Knives
Rank 4 – Lusitano Nag Mount
Rank 5 – Volcanic Pistol
Rank 6
Rank 7
Rank 8 – Winchester Repeater, Turkmen Mount
Rank 9 – Schofield Revolver
Rank 10
Rank 11 – Pump Action Shotgun
Rank 12
Rank 13 – Springfield Rifle
Rank 14
Rank 15 – Dynamite
Rank 16
Rank 17 – Double-Action Revolver
Rank 18 – Sawed Off Shotgun
Rank 19
Rank 20 – Rolling Block Sniper Rifle
Rank 21
Rank 22 – Fire Bottle, Cleveland Bay Mount
Rank 23
Rank 24 – Semi-Automatic Pistol
Rank 25
Rank 26 – Semi-Automatic Shotgun
Rank 27
Rank 28 – Carcano Sniper Rifle
Rank 29
Rank 30
Rank 31
Rank 32 – Henry Repeater
Rank 33 – Hungarian Half-Bred Mount
Rank 34
Rank 35 – High Power Pistol
Rank 36
Rank 37 – Double-Barrel Shotgun
Rank 38
Rank 39
Rank 40 – Bolt-Action Rifle, American Standardbred Mount
Rank 41
Rank 42
Rank 43 – Evans Repeater
Rank 44
Rank 45
Rank 46 – LeMat Revolver
Rank 47
Rank 48
Rank 49 – Mauser Pistol
Rank 50 – Buffalo Rifle, Bonzo Mount (Bull)

Legendary 1, Rank 50 – Buffalo Mount
Legendary 2, Rank 50 – Albino Buffalo Mount
Legendary 3, Rank 50 – Super Bull Mount
Legendary 4, Rank 50 – Zebra Donkey Mount

Characters
As you rank up, you'll earn playable characters scattered across different groups (such as Rebels, Lawmen, Federales, etc). Since the characters are sorted by name and not by what they look like, a list of names is not tremendously useful information to you. Thankfully, someone on YouTube has provided an excellent video which includes all the Legendary unlockable characters, as well as a glimpse of each of weapons and mounts.

using a sniper rifle

The airsoft market has been a bit dry in the sniper rifle circle. Most users had to choose between the trusty UTG L96, JG BAR 10, or more expensive models by Maruzen and Tokyo Marui. No sniper rifle is good out of the box, so most people end up bing intimidated by sniper rifles, but theres a new friendly-face with a huge punch on the block. Echo 1 has mainly been making AEGs, but now they have their own sniper rifle system, based on the APS2 design. The gun take any parts made for the Maruzen APS2 fit in the rifle which adds to the ultimate upgrade-ability.

The gun has a very powerful spring that was supposed to work at 500fps, but is in reality around 470-480 fps. It has a nice well built body, but nothing you wouldn't expect from a well made Chinese weapon design. The good thing about the echo 1 is that even if you manage to get a lemon (which is unlikely because echo1 has relatively good quality control) you are covered under Echo 1's warranty.

The gun is not far from any Well made brands, especially since well is making a few newer siper designs with interesting externals you may want to look up, but the echo1 sets itself apart by the fact that it is US made, and includes a lot of bonuses. The design itself has an m4 rear stock (LE) and pistol grip, a design we are seeing more and more in the airsoft world, it adds to functionality and realism depending on which look you are pursuing. This gun with a nice 6.01 tight-bore and a good compression spring will work wonders. Echo 1 is rumored to be releasing an upgraded piston as well, which sounds like a good deal.

The gun comes with three magazines which each hold 22rounds, as well as a metal folding bipod which adds a nice touch. There isn't much difference between grabbing this and a UTG L96, bu if you want a fresh new design not based on the L96, that still can fire at high velocities, this might not be a bad gun to look into. If you are thinking that maybe you want something else but in the price range, then check this out.

The NEF handi-rifle came to be by the merger of Marlin Firearms and H&R 1871 Inc.  H&R had long been a manufacturer of top-break single shot long guns and revolvers alike.  The company was started in 1871 and has continually produced firearms ever since. 

The Handi-Rifle was born of the need for a cheap, entry level, single shot rifle.  Most of the single shot market is dominated by giants like the Ruger #1 and the T/C Contender/Encore family.  These guns can cost upwards of $750-1000 for a basic weapon.  No quality entry level gun existed.  When Marlin firearms merged with H&R they realized the market potential of a low dollar single shot shot rifle.  Using current H&R designs, the Handi-Rifle was born. 

The rifle comes in a wide array of calibers all the way from the economical .22 long rifle, all the way up to the .45-70 and the .500 S&W magnum.  Other options include iron sights or scope mounts, synthetic or american hardwood stocks and over 30 different caliber configurations.

My handi-rifle was ordered through my local dealer via an internet purchase.  This is not the normal way I buy firearms but currently there is a shortage of these guns due to extremely high demand.  With shipping and FFL transfer fees it cost me $278.45.  At the time of purchase I also bought three boxes of ammunition at about $17.50 per box.  All the dealer had was two boxes of Winchester 350 Gr JHP and one box of federal 400 gr JHP.  .45-70 ammunition isn't very easy to come by in the small midwest town I live in and this was all that was available for testing.  The rifle came with a special box type trigger lock free from the factory.  The rifles have 22″ barrels and are 36-38″ in overall length.  Weighing in at just seven pounds, the handle rifle is much lighter than its competitors.

I shot two three round groups at 100 yards to zero the rifle.  It was very close to zero right out of the box, and I only had to make one small adjustment to be right on.  All further shooting was done at 100 yards as the 200 yard range was closed for repairs.  My targets were standard 12″ bullseye targets printed from my home computer.

The winchester ammo proved the most accurate giving my groups of 2-3″.  The federal ammo with the 400 gr. bullet gave groups of 3-4″.  These may seem large compared to the 1-1.5″ groups many good target rifles give nowadays, but the large bullet diameter (almost 1/2 inch) makes them seem larger than they are.  Take bullet diameter into account and you are shooting 1-2″ groups. 

Recoil was stout but not painful.  I was pleasantly surprised at how smooth the recoil impulse was.  Other large caliber guns such as the .375 H&H magnum or the .416 Rem. magnum have a powerful punch that can leave bruises and damaged cartilage in their wake if overused.  The .45-70 was more of a push that, while strong, was more than manageable and not unpleasent at all.

I was able to take the rifle hunting for an afternoon with a friend of mine a few days after I bought it.  We shot rabbits and other small game at ranges of 50-75 yards and were pleased with the field accuracy of the weapon.  It handled easily and empty shell extraction was positive and clean.  

Of note is the availability of either extractors or ejectors on the handi-rifle.  The extractor type simply pulls the empty case free of the chamber about 3/8″ so you can grab it and pull it out.  The ejector system is a spring loaded finger that pops the empty out of the chamber with considerable force.  I prefer the extactor system simply because, as I reload my ammo, it is easier to keep track of your brass if it is in your pocket and not flying about, getting lost in the grass.  I have handled a .223 Handi-Rifle with an ejector system and it flung the empties about fifteen feet behind the shooter.  Conceivably a person could be inured if the brass hit you in an eye or in the face.  As always safety is paramount and a shooter should wear eye protection at all times.

Another advantage to the Handi-rifle is the ability to add a different caliber barrel.  You need to send the receiver assembly in to H&R and they will fit a barrel of your choice for $85-110.  This allows the shooter to have everything from a .223 to a .500 magnum to a 12 gauge shotgun in just one firearm.  The barrel change is simple with only one screw and the removal of the forearm.

Overall the Handi-Rifle is an excellent buy for the entry level shooter.  While its slightly ungainly looks may turn off a shooter used the smooth lines of a bolt action or lever action rifle, one can't let the exposed hammer and resultant tall sight bases turn you off to the gun.  More expierienced shooters may want to move up to the more expensive and more accurate #1 and T/C rifles if tack driving accuracy is your goal.  If you simply want a cheap plinker for fun or a new gun for a young shooter just starting out the Handi-Rifle is an excellent choice.

scopes