The 30-06 Handi is completely safe. Many on the NEF talk site have the 270, an6 30-06. I have the 26 inch barrel 280 which is a tack driver. Some have had the Handi rifles rebored to 338-06 and it was chambered in 35 Whelen as well. In 45-70 it is loaded to 40000 lbs, same as the Marlin and I have fired Ruger level loads in mine as well. Not many though because of the weight or lack of I should say. The Handi rifle site has been up and around for quite some time. There has never been even a rumor that the Handi will not handle pressures of the calibers it is chambered in. This year it is out in 50 S&W as well. I don't know what the pressures are. One guy ruined one by rechambering it himself to 300 Win Mag. They are not made for Magnum calibers and should never be redone to calibers for which they were not intended. I had the Ultra in 30-06 for several years. It was a good shooter with groups about 1 inch to 1 1/4 inch. The 7mm-08 I have will easy better one inch at 100 yards for three shots. For 219.00 new, you really can't ask any more. There are also some nice looking custom wood stocks available if a guy wants to spend more money. As a pure hunting rifle they are more than just ok, The represent a very good product for the money and will accomplish anything that any other rifle of like caliber. One guy in Alaska uses his 30-06 for everything up there and has posted some good pictures of moose and bear that he has taken. If there is a common problem with them, it involves the 243 which is factory loaded awful hot because there are no old 243 rifles that need to be respected pressure wise. They have some extraction problems which will be fixed buy the new mechanical extractor. This is the only caliber that I have had a case stick in. I may have to send it back but they will fix it. There is no problem with their service policy.