Picked up my new, 200$, H&R/NEF Parnder pump .20 ga Friday.
This thing was packed really nicely. No damage or scratches etc., wrapped in wax paper, plastic, hard foam etc.. came with a lock and a choke wrench/multi tool too.
The reciever and barrel appear to be made in China. Oh well....then shipped over here for final assembly and proofing.
The barrel, mag tube (4 cap +1) and top of reciever are matte, the sides of the reciever are posihed and rust blued/charcoalish and not too far off the matte color.
The reciver is ribbed, drilled and tapped, and shot-peened too.
The barrel's chamber is really thick and it locks up soild into the reciever. It comes apart OK and goes back together OK but it locks up tight.
The MOD choke comes out using a quarter and it's steel ready, bbl is 26".
It's even got a chromed bolt and an all metal trigger group, comes out in a jiff too.
The trigger broke after tiny bit of take up and was clean.
Factory claims 7.5lbs unloaded..... Yeh, it aint a feather but...
The furniture is American walnut, do thay make a 'scrap' grade? The buttstock has a bitty little knot or burl in it but at least it's smooth. The mating is still a tiny bit proud so at least they did not go nuts with the sanders. The jointery is par for the price.
The pad is a vented pillow but the exposed foam is open cell and really tacky. I liked it, some might not.
I put it together and cycled it,
, then took it back apart.
Burr's galore. So I got out some 800, 000 grit and lightly cleaned things up a little after removing the cosmoline. Yes, it still smells the same.
The raceways, ejector, etc were in need of attention to they got some.
It was still pretty tight so I took in the back bathroom, put in some ear plugs and cycled the action about 570 times. After my arms fell off I sewed them back on and the lil' gun was good to go.
Got to my sportsmen club's trap range Saturday morning for a break in. I'm really getting back into upland wingshooting and I'm re-hooked bad.
It swings nice. Missed my first shot ay 16y, crushed the second....and it was on.
The rest of the club started showing up and we started shooting handicap. With the #8, 7/8oz. loads I could still crack them at 24y but I was missing a lot so I opted out.
The kids were all over this thng. They loved it. Some Jr. expert wingshooters got it burned up 3 boxes fast. One kid pulled a 23 or 24 at 22y with it and he was crushing them.
The wind was really up so the left's and straight-aways were taking off and really soaring....ROOSTER!!!!... made it fun and more like flushing stuff.
I got tired took a rest then the Jr's picked it back up and started back in.
I kid you not they were missing less with the NEF than they're fancy SC's. We all got a big hoot out of that.
We also did some tag-team stuff and shootin' chips (clean up). Just a day of fun doing this and other stuff. After a case of shells it felt like I hadn't shot it. It's comfy and it works.
It really looked out of place in the rack with the trap guns, SC's and classic wingshooters and man were there some nice ones. But it did the job and did it well. It cycled a case of shells and did not hicup even once. The bead came loose but some nail polish fixed that.
I used to use the term 'cheesebag' with an old buddy and we used same to describe cheap and cheesey things.
The lil' pop-gun got it's name early on, but now it's tounge in cheek as the thing is a shooter and it gets my respect.
After t/d and cleaning the barrel was still rock solid in the reciver and it looked like it hadn't been fired much. The action came around and cycles nicely with the shell's added intertia.
Quail opener is soon and we have a pheasent hunt coming on the property 10/1/09. I'm ready.
I'd recomend this gun as a back-up/extra shooter or even a primary. The price is right, seems well made and it's definitely robust.
I love the premier and even entry level fine guns.
But with my meager hunting budget? I'll aspire to get one someday but for now this lil' bugger 'll have to do. It's easy on the wallet and body and it's a hoot to shoot. Time will tell how long it lasts sooooo....we'll see what we see.
The "cheesebag" :