I'am thinking of buying one of these rifles for varmints. Just thought some one might have one, or had one. Are they ok or just chep crap? I was thinking one of the heavy bull barrels.

A few people I know have them for shooting mostly varmints. They are good shooters. I would say a solid, no frills, easy on the wallet type of gun that you will enjoy and not worry about using in the field.

I agree 100% with yotebuster.

At the moment I have 2 (pre Marlin) sporter weight NEF’s chambered in 30-30 & 243 and a H&R Ultra HB Varmint in 223. For a light weight walk-about or calling rig I would recommend the sporter weight rifle. Personally, as far as accuracy, I can not tell any difference between the barrel weights. With handloads all three calibers shoot MOA or better. In the past, some NEF owners have claimed case extraction problems. The only tribulations I have encountered was a scope base working loose one time. This was in the 243, and then only after a couple of hundred rounds.
H&R/NEF link:
www.hr1871.com/


Another option, for a few $$ more, is the Savage/Stevens model 200 bolt action. I have a Savage model 10 (pre 200 and accu-trigger models). This one is a hardwood stocked sporter in 243, also a very rugged, dependable and accurate rifle.
Savage short actions:
www.savagearms.com/st_200short.htm

Stevens Long actions:
www.savagearms.com/st_200long.htm

Sorry man Stevens are out of the question. If you didn't get it that was south paw (left hand) I have seen a 12V in 22-250, but it is twice as much as the single shots. I want to try that . 204 on coyote on a buget.

I have a 1V in 22-250 ... absolutely outstanding rifle. Sadly while its .5MOA the throat is erroded to the point when I reload the bullets are a mere 1/16" in the case to be right off the lands. Ok for bench work but not for field work. I will rebarrel it someday.


-DallanC

Great guns!

I Started out with a Handi in .223. Used it for about 4 years then bought a 22 hornet barrel. The barrels are interchangable and each has it's own scope. I can swap them out when I want with little or no adjustment.
With a bipod mounted to the sling swivel you are ready for critters. The money you save on the rifle lets you get a better scope. You will propably be spending alot of time behind it so get as good a one as you can afford.


The triggers are heavy. You can have them adjusted at the factory or do it your self. I just got used to it. If you remember it is a hunting gun and not a $2,000.00 bench rest model you won't be dissapointed.

When I go out prairie dog shooting I start out with the 22 Long rifle, then go to the 22 hornet and then to the .223. The reduction in noise seems to help me out as well as the critters.

When I bough the hornet barrel it was $95 .00 delivered

godd luck,

longwalker

I also had a Handi in 223. 40 gr BT's at 100 yds into .75". Not bad for the price!

I have a NEF with 22 Hornet, 223 Heavy Barrel, and 243 Heavy Barrel. To be honest the Heavy Barrels are heavy for all day carry. If you plan to shoot prarie dogs from a table all day you would want the NEF Heavy Barrels. They don't heat up as quick as the more tapered sporter barrels.

Here is the link to the NEF Barrel Accessory Program.
HR1871 NEF Barrel Accessory Program
Extra barrels do have to be fitted at the factory and they are afordable. You can not buy a NEF barrel and stick it on without a factory headspace job.

The current production guns have a decent trigger pull at 2.5 to 2.75 lbs. A home trigger job on the NEF is a tricky job and better left to a qualified gunsmith. If you get one and insist on working on the trigger here is the link to a page with two large instruction .PDF files you can download.
NEF Trigger Job Instructions, 2 .pdf files at this link

If you do like to tinker your time would be better spent on the forearm and factory scope base. This link takes you to the instructions.
Making The NEF Shoot Better
Ignore paragraph two about trigger pull, the info is outdated.

I don't recomend using a bipod with the NEF. I have had erratic groups when using the bipod and I'm not alone experiencing this. In fact many only rest the rifle on the action and not the forearm for best accuracy while using shooting sticks, bag's, or mechanical rest.

Coyotehunter_1 is our resident expert on working on the NEF's and I have some photos stashed here on the computer regarding working on the scope mount, forearm, trigger stop, and modifying the ejector to extractor.

There is also a NEF/H&R Rifles group on Yahoo.
Yahoo NEF/H&R Rifle Group

The NEF Handi Rifles are worth the money and a great 'Truck Gun' for those shots of opportunity in the field. They are accurate and on the bench my 223 gets just over .5" with the 45 gr Winchester 40 Round Varmint Pack (available at Walmart). Realistic field accuracy will be at or just over an inch.

If you even think that extra barrels are an option for you try the Leupold QRW mounts (Quick Release for Weaver style bases). These mounts allow you to use one good scope on all of your barrels if you keep good records of your dial settings.

Sorry, Southpaw... I weren't thinking about a you being a lefty. That's one reason I like the NEF's so well.. I shoot lefty too.

Quote::

Coyotehunter_1 is our resident expert on working on the NEF's

Don't know about that Chris. I'm no expert but I've taken a few apart and put em' back together again without too many extra components left over. LOL!!!

Accessing the "pile o’ parts" inside a NEF is simple and easy, all you need is a couple of drift punches, several alignment pins, three hands and a big hammer. Now getting all those little pieces back into the frame, in the correct order, is where the fun starts.

I agree bull barrels have their place but are quite heavy. The sporter barrels are the way to go if you are looking for a walk-a-bout rifle. Because of their design, NEF sporter barrels are quite ridged. It has been proven... harmonic whip is less in short stiff barrels.

Southpaw:

I am a newbie here, but I think my experience with H&R products are based on practicality. I have SXS, autoloaders, pumps, bolt actions even now. I own more NEF/H&R products than any other, from shotguns to rimfires. After shooting them to find out which ammunition each individual weapon likes, I then go about fine tuning the gun with whatever tinkering it needs to be the best it and I can be. As go to guns, they cannot be beat when budget is a cncern and one does not care about the cosmetics, just functionality and simplicity of use. I have one M48 in 12 ga that was built in 1948. Some guys call theirs "Truck guns", well this one was a "Tractor gun". It spent a good part of life was spent on old Popping John Deere Tractors, being used to shoot rabbits in cotton fields after the cotton pickers were finished in the field. Also in soybean fields after all sorts of small game.
It is showing its age, the barrel and receiver is starting to become shiny thru the long gone bluing. It has always been well cleaned and kept rust free and oiled, but the action is still as smooth and crisp as new, maybe a little better.
The bottom line for me is the basis for what the gun is designed for. If you want a shooter that performs as built day in day out, everytime, each time without causing one to stress out over a little ding or scratch that inevidently happens in the field.

Sorry for such a long post my first time.


Van

Welcome to the site hawgcaller.

I've come mighty close to buying a NEF in .243 for a truck / varmint gun. Something I dont care if it gets some marks and scratches from riding around.


-DallanC

Welcome to the HuntingNut Hawgcaller sit and stay awhile. My next gun will be the H@R ultra slug gun. I have heard nothing but good about it
Joe

Thanks for the welcome guys.

I know that there are horror stories about these weapons, but there are those problems with mega$$$$$$$$ fancy schmancy guns also. Most of the time, IMHO the real reason is shooter or ammo problems when it comes to grouping. These (NEF/H&R) are barebones resilient little shooters. When you get them dialed in with proper technique and the ammunition that it likes, it will always go boom and put the bullet where you zeroed it, if you do your part. That knowing, it is a single shot, so get it right the first time (which you should strive for any how, regardless of how many rounds you have at your disposal).

If you want beautiful wood, spend more money and get youself an aftermarket stock and finish it youself.

It does what it is built for, superbly. Just do not expect to buy a Mercedes at a Saturn price.

If you want simplicity, functionality, accuracy in something that you can take out into the rain and the cold, they are what the Dr. ordered.

If you want something to brag about its beauty with no scratches of dings because you can't throw it into the truck for fear of rust or scratches, why consider on of these anyhow?

Have a very "MERRY CHRISTMAS"

Van,

The Hawgcaller says

I've been thinking a lot lately about getting one of these and have a barrel made up for the new S&W .500 Magnum. Have the barrel cut back to 16.5" and use a low power scope around a 1.5 - 4x. I think that it would make a very dandy deep woods stand/swamp gun. Any ideas or comments??

Sounds interesting and expensive and you would be limiting yourself on range, but if you are in the thick stuff that would be ok. I wouldn't trim it if it wasen't necessary. The little guns are short to start off with and darn handy in a tree stand or walking around. Who do you have lined up to do the conversion?