NEF Handi Rifle

Nightcrawler · May 1, 2001, 04:54 PM

I'm having a hard time finding info on this rifle, as apparently NEF doesn't have a website. Anyhoo, how's it shoot? What price ranges are we looking at? It has interchangable barrels/chamberings, doesn't it? I've heard it breaks down for storage. Is this true?

May 1, 2001, 05:28 PM

Nightcrawler, I have one in .308 and love it. Very accurate, in fact it's my most accurate rifle. I've got the heavy barreled version, so the recoil is not bad at all. Got mine for $189+tax last year, prices may have gone up a little since then. Outstanding bang for the buck. Yes, the barrels are interchangeable, but you have to send the rifle back to the factory--there's info about that included w/the rifle. It's not exactly convenient, at any rate. I haven't tried to break mine down, I don't think the pins securing the barrel to the receiver are meant to be removed by the owner. The manual doesn't say anything about it.

dZ · May 1, 2001, 05:44 PM

http://www.milesfortis.com/church/akc02.htm
http://users.mwci.net/~chuckbri/nef.html
http://www3.bc.sympatico.ca/Clinton_Coates/nef.htm
http://buffaloclassic.tripod.com/NEF.html
http://www.ultout.com/h&r-newengland-longguns.htm
http://www.goags.com/~c-r-ffl/archiv.../msg00104.html

**Bud Helms** · May 1, 2001, 09:47 PM

If you remove the forearm and unlock the action, the barrel swings right off the breech section. I have one in .223 with heavy sporter. I love it. Very accurate. $211 out the door.

aerod1 · May 2, 2001, 09:27 PM

I have 3 "Handi-Rifles", a .223 heavy barrel, .243 and a .45-70. All are great shooters. Jim Hall

Spectre · May 2, 2001, 10:27 PM

I'm hoping I can convince NEF to make a .454 Casull/.45 Colt carbine, preferably with a 16" bl! They've already made a .45 Colt, so they already have the correct bl diameter...do they have an email address?

Glamdring · May 2, 2001, 10:36 PM

FYI the PS & PPS links on first link should be http://www.milesfortis.com/church/akc03.htm
and http://www.milesfortis.com/church/akc08.htm

Cthulhu · May 22, 2001, 01:38 PM

I don't think we'll ever see a NEF rifle in .454 Casull. The working pressures that it operates at are way too high for the NEF action. Some people will point out that it is chambered in high pressure cartridges like .308, but the actual chamber pressure is only part of it. With large diameter cartridges like this, the stress from bolt face thrust is usually the limiting factor. I have heard of problems with these guns showing pressure signs with the .243 and .308. The .22-250 model was apparently discontinued for the same reason.
The Marlin Firearms board has tons of posts from people who for some reason want a .454 lever gun, and just as many responses that say the same thing about pressure/ bolt thrust. NEF has suggested that the Handy-Rifle action is about as strong as the Marlin 1895SS, at least in its .45-70 variety. While the .454 is smaller at the case head, its pressures generally run much higher.
I think they might be able to build one capable of firing lighter .454 loads, those with less pressure than the factory loads, but I can't imagine a modern manufacturer that would offer a gun that is insufficient to handle even SAMMI factory spec ammo.
Unless one was trying to put together a .454 rifle/handgun combo, I don't know why we would need a .454 Handy rifle, or lever action for that matter. The .45-70 will do anything the .454 will do and more at pressures which are tolerable to the NEF. A warm .45 Colt will in a rifle length barrel is also very capable.
The .454 Rifle route pretty much limited to the TC Encore, the Browning Hi-Wall, and custom Ruger # 1s.

scottaz · May 22, 2001, 03:19 PM

JUst wondering about the addition barrels. Will they know if you send them a sb1 reciever, as opposed to the sb2 . If they do will they send it back. Why will they not put a rifle barrel on a sb1, the shogun reciever.

Blinkme7182 · May 22, 2001, 06:50 PM

Will a handi rifle shoot .22 shorts? thanks

dZ · May 22, 2001, 07:41 PM

yep:

Sportster
Adult 22 Long Rifle
and 22 WMR 20" Scope mount
No Iron Sights 36-1/4" 14-1/4" 1-1/4" 1-3/8" 5-1/2 lbs.
22 Short, Long
Long Rifle
and 22 WMR

http://buffaloclassic.tripod.com/NEF_Prod_Spec.html

Blinkme7182 · May 22, 2001, 07:46 PM

Thanks DZ!!!!! Are there any places online that sell them for cheap? I hear they go for around $200??

dZ · May 22, 2001, 09:41 PM

nope the 22lr are under 100 bucks
http://www.ultout.com/h&r-newengland-longguns.htm

VIEJO · May 23, 2001, 07:01 AM

I paid $109.00 for my Sportster .22 LR. Unbelievable accuracy for a cheap rifle, making it one of the best gun values in the country.

My next NEF is going to be either the W/R 32" barrel in either .45-70 or (soon) .450 Marlin. Williams makes a tang sight that fits these rifles.

If you buy a Handi-Rifle, I'd be willing to bet you'll never regret it for a minute.

Regards,

Viejo

nedfig · May 23, 2001, 09:28 AM

H&R 1871 Inc. Does have a web site. It's not much of one, but it is there. http://www.newenglandfirearms.com

I have one in 30-06 and .223. The .223 shoots sub MOA on a regular basis. Once I get used to the recoil of the 30-06, I'm sure it will shoot MOA or better.

When you send in the receiver, they probably do a serial number check of their records to see if it an SB1 or SB2. You can bet you a$$ that they won't put a rifle barrel on an SB1 frame. The lawyers would feast on that one.

Blink, The .22 rimfire rifles sell for @ $107 at Walmart. It's the centerfire rifles that go for @ $200.

Does anyone have an NEF in .22 WMR. How does it shoot?

__________________________________________________
Do you have an NEF or H&R single shot rifle or shotgun and can't
find any info on the web, then check out nef-singleshot website @
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nef-singleshot

May 1, 2001, 05:44 PM	#3
dZ Senior Member Join Date: June 1, 1999 Location: Exiled, Fetid Swamp, DC Posts: 7,548	some links: http://www.milesfortis.com/church/akc02.htm http://users.mwci.net/~chuckbri/nef.html http://www3.bc.sympatico.ca/Clinton_Coates/nef.htm http://buffaloclassic.tripod.com/NEF.html http://www.ultout.com/h&r-newengland-longguns.htm http://www.goags.com/~c-r-ffl/archiv.../msg00104.html

May 22, 2001, 06:50 PM	#10
Blinkme7182 Member Join Date: May 9, 2001 Location: CT Posts: 60	Shooting a Handi-Rifle w/ .22 Shorts? Will a handi rifle shoot .22 shorts? thanks

May 22, 2001, 07:46 PM	#12
Blinkme7182 Member Join Date: May 9, 2001 Location: CT Posts: 60	Now...where can I get one? Thanks DZ!!!!! Are there any places online that sell them for cheap? I hear they go for around $200??

May 1, 2001, 04:54 PM	#1
Nightcrawler Senior Member Join Date: September 23, 2000 Location: Northern Michigan Posts: 2,945	I'm having a hard time finding info on this rifle, as apparently NEF doesn't have a website. Anyhoo, how's it shoot? What price ranges are we looking at? It has interchangable barrels/chamberings, doesn't it? I've heard it breaks down for storage. Is this true?

May 1, 2001, 05:28 PM	#2
freedomlover Guest Posts: n/a	Nightcrawler, I have one in .308 and love it. Very accurate, in fact it's my most accurate rifle. I've got the heavy barreled version, so the recoil is not bad at all. Got mine for $189+tax last year, prices may have gone up a little since then. Outstanding bang for the buck. Yes, the barrels are interchangeable, but you have to send the rifle back to the factory--there's info about that included w/the rifle. It's not exactly convenient, at any rate. I haven't tried to break mine down, I don't think the pins securing the barrel to the receiver are meant to be removed by the owner. The manual doesn't say anything about it.

May 1, 2001, 09:47 PM	#4
Bud Helms Senior Member Join Date: December 31, 1999 Location: Middle Georgia, USA Posts: 13,198	If you remove the forearm and unlock the action, the barrel swings right off the breech section. I have one in .223 with heavy sporter. I love it. Very accurate. $211 out the door.

May 2, 2001, 09:27 PM	#5
aerod1 Senior Member Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Garland Texas U.S.A. Posts: 734	I have 3 "Handi-Rifles", a .223 heavy barrel, .243 and a .45-70. All are great shooters. Jim Hall

May 2, 2001, 10:27 PM	#6
Spectre Staff Alumnus Join Date: October 23, 1998 Location: ATL Posts: 3,277	I'm hoping I can convince NEF to make a .454 Casull/.45 Colt carbine, preferably with a 16" bl! They've already made a .45 Colt, so they already have the correct bl diameter...do they have an email address?

May 2, 2001, 10:36 PM	#7
Glamdring Senior Member Join Date: April 24, 2000 Location: MN Posts: 1,388	FYI the PS & PPS links on first link should be http://www.milesfortis.com/church/akc03.htm and http://www.milesfortis.com/church/akc08.htm

May 22, 2001, 01:38 PM	#8
Cthulhu Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2001 Location: Illinois Posts: 132	I don't think we'll ever see a NEF rifle in .454 Casull. The working pressures that it operates at are way too high for the NEF action. Some people will point out that it is chambered in high pressure cartridges like .308, but the actual chamber pressure is only part of it. With large diameter cartridges like this, the stress from bolt face thrust is usually the limiting factor. I have heard of problems with these guns showing pressure signs with the .243 and .308. The .22-250 model was apparently discontinued for the same reason. The Marlin Firearms board has tons of posts from people who for some reason want a .454 lever gun, and just as many responses that say the same thing about pressure/ bolt thrust. NEF has suggested that the Handy-Rifle action is about as strong as the Marlin 1895SS, at least in its .45-70 variety. While the .454 is smaller at the case head, its pressures generally run much higher. I think they might be able to build one capable of firing lighter .454 loads, those with less pressure than the factory loads, but I can't imagine a modern manufacturer that would offer a gun that is insufficient to handle even SAMMI factory spec ammo. Unless one was trying to put together a .454 rifle/handgun combo, I don't know why we would need a .454 Handy rifle, or lever action for that matter. The .45-70 will do anything the .454 will do and more at pressures which are tolerable to the NEF. A warm .45 Colt will in a rifle length barrel is also very capable. The .454 Rifle route pretty much limited to the TC Encore, the Browning Hi-Wall, and custom Ruger # 1s.

May 22, 2001, 03:19 PM	#9
scottaz Member Join Date: March 25, 2001 Location: Cave Creek AZ Posts: 18	JUst wondering about the addition barrels. Will they know if you send them a sb1 reciever, as opposed to the sb2 . If they do will they send it back. Why will they not put a rifle barrel on a sb1, the shogun reciever.

May 22, 2001, 07:41 PM	#11
dZ Senior Member Join Date: June 1, 1999 Location: Exiled, Fetid Swamp, DC Posts: 7,548	yep: Sportster Adult 22 Long Rifle and 22 WMR 20" Scope mount No Iron Sights 36-1/4" 14-1/4" 1-1/4" 1-3/8" 5-1/2 lbs. 22 Short, Long Long Rifle and 22 WMR http://buffaloclassic.tripod.com/NEF_Prod_Spec.html

May 22, 2001, 09:41 PM	#13
dZ Senior Member Join Date: June 1, 1999 Location: Exiled, Fetid Swamp, DC Posts: 7,548	nope the 22lr are under 100 bucks http://www.ultout.com/h&r-newengland-longguns.htm

May 23, 2001, 07:01 AM	#14
VIEJO Senior Member Join Date: March 10, 2001 Location: MI Posts: 144	I paid $109.00 for my Sportster .22 LR. Unbelievable accuracy for a cheap rifle, making it one of the best gun values in the country. My next NEF is going to be either the W/R 32" barrel in either .45-70 or (soon) .450 Marlin. Williams makes a tang sight that fits these rifles. If you buy a Handi-Rifle, I'd be willing to bet you'll never regret it for a minute. Regards, Viejo

May 23, 2001, 09:28 AM	#15
nedfig Senior Member Join Date: March 2, 2000 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 263	H&R 1871 Inc. Does have a web site. It's not much of one, but it is there. http://www.newenglandfirearms.com I have one in 30-06 and .223. The .223 shoots sub MOA on a regular basis. Once I get used to the recoil of the 30-06, I'm sure it will shoot MOA or better. When you send in the receiver, they probably do a serial number check of their records to see if it an SB1 or SB2. You can bet you a$$ that they won't put a rifle barrel on an SB1 frame. The lawyers would feast on that one. Blink, The .22 rimfire rifles sell for @ $107 at Walmart. It's the centerfire rifles that go for @ $200. Does anyone have an NEF in .22 WMR. How does it shoot? __________________________________________________ Do you have an NEF or H&R single shot rifle or shotgun and can't find any info on the web, then check out nef-singleshot website @ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nef-singleshot