Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Single Shots Thoughts on NEF handi rifles

Accuracy ,trigger pull,dependability ?

My son has a couple, and for what you pay, they are very reliable. Sometimes the trigger pull needs work. Many shoot better with a dirty barrel, rather than clean. Two of the better calibers in a handy are the 30-30 and 45-70. Both tend to be very accurate and reliable. If you need a lot of info on all things handi, go to graybeard outdoors. They have a section on H&R/NEF rifles and shotguns that is probably the most extensive on the internet.


maddog

Maddog has it right The triggers lighten up with just polishing and graphite. I have a 45-70 and it shoots better than I can and the trigger is a crisp 3.25 lbs

The early rifles had horrible triggers. A few years back H&R started shipping guns with 3#-4# triggers. Most are very accurate with the possible exception of their .243 barrels and many of the Superlight barrels both of which have accuracy issues. A friend of mine had two .243s for is daughters. One was a shooter and the other would be lucky to hit a baseball a 100 yards.

Often they need a bit of tinkering with forend pressure to shoot well. Most sporter weight barrels will string vertically after 3 or 4 shots, which is understandable with the forend mounting by one screw to the barrel. But for hunting situations, they are fine for two or three shots. The heavy barrel guns may be tack drivers.

I have gone through a few over the years and was satisfied with them. I am a lefty and appreciated their ambidextrous controls. Finally I moved them off in favor of left hand bolt guns and Contenders. The only H&R I currently own is the 12 gauge turkey special.

The H&R I think the best single shot made I have a few

I like the feel of the Survivor stock, but have never owned
one.

A friend bought his son one, for the money and its intended use it is pretty good. Trigger is not that bad and can be made better with a little work. This one is in 30-06 and has good accuracy. It's not Winchester or Tikka, but nor is the price.

I was at the range today with a Handi in 35 Whelen I had picked up awhile back. Bore sighted and got it on paper at 25 yards. Moved out to 100 yards and zeroed it two inches high. Two groups shot at 100 yards measured .9 and 1.1 inches. Used my deer load with Hornady 200 gr. SPs. After that I shot 10 inch steel plates at 200 and 300 yards. Put the crosshairs on the plate, pull the trigger and hit the plate.

I would just as soon use this rifle as the Encore it sets next to in the safe.

I have 2 NEFs'. One, a Ultra Varmiter. A real sweet shooter. Super accurate, with a fine trigger. However, I also have a .45-70 Handi-Rifle, that has a very tuff trigger---Ya know, like a gnat tryin' to pull a brick! However, when I get layed off from my summer job, I'll take care of that problem. I must say, for the $, IMO, a very fine gun.

My son took a NEF handi, 30-06 on our plains game hunt, to RSA in the summer of 2008. Here's a few pics of what you can do with a handi.....














maddog

I did a stress analysis on my Handi rifle 45/70, with the help of my gun designing chief engineer father and also from an old gun nut professor of mechanical engineering.

Reference loads for the three levels of 45/70:

1) "Loads for the 45/70" from the H.P.White laboratory via "American
Rifleman" 1950~1968 via "NRA Handloader's Guide" 1969 says:
405 gr Rem S.P., 17.5 gr Unique, 1286 fps, 25,240 pounds pressure, for 1886 Win

2) "Lyman's 47th" 1992 says:
400 gr cast, 16.5 gr Unique, 1286 fps, 27,000 cup, for 1886 Win

3) "Lyman's 47th" 1992 says:
385 cast gr cast, 17.5 gr Unique, 1411 fps, 38,500 cup, for Ruger #1


I have validated my calculations when I worked up to in the handi rifle before the brass flowed:

4) 405 gr cast 32 gr Unique 87,841 psi [Quickload]

Those are some great pics maddog. I like the "put your money where your mouth is" confindence in this rifle for such a hunt. I imagine most people would not want to show up for an African hunt with a $125 single shot I like it!

He actually had to borrow it from my buddy that went on the same hunt. He had a fancier version of the handi, in a 30-06, that broke, literaly the day before we were to leave. He had to make a quick run to customs in Indy to get a 4457 form, to be able to take it. He shot 7 head of plains game, with it, in 8 shots. When he got home, my buddy sold it to him, with the scope for $200.


maddog

Good story!


DMc

My son is a pastor, in grad sChool and on a tight budget. A fellow pastor gave him a HR in 45/70 with a Simmons scope. Here in Mississippi, during "primitive weapons" deer season, you can use a .35 caliber and up to hunt with, in single shot. The HR Handi Rifle fills the bill. Popular calibers are.35 Whelan, .444 Marlin, and 45/70. Many MS hunters revert to one gun. Hardly anyone uses traditional muzzleloaders. Our deer herd is second to Texas and the insurance lobby wants the herd thinned because of so many collision payouts.Only problem for my son is that he had to invest in freezer for all the venison. There is a website called Greybeard that is top notch for tips on the HR Handi Rifle. DIY stuff.

I've got two buds that have them. One has a 223 and 45-70, other has the Hunter model in 25-06 ( 26" heavy barrel, laminate stock ). All shoot great. Good value for the investment.
Edit to add, know a third with a 500S&W, won it at an NRA dinner. Also a good shooter.

Well... I only have 14 so I guess I think they're pretty good. Sorta got to be a habit. JMHO...

They have their place. I've had an older 22hornet and the newer sb2 in 280 rem. The 280 had a pretty stout 26'bbl and shot less than an inch at 100.

I had an earlier NEF Handi in 243 for my wife. It shot good, but the trigger was less than satisfactory. She graduated to my older 30-06 Ithaca (Tikka). I peddled the NEF.

I have a H&R Buffalo Classic in 45-70 -- 32" bbl. Absolutely a great rifle in that chambering. I use it for plinking with 405 gr cast bullets and 10 grains of Trail Boss powder. FUN!

Thanks everyone for your input sounds like te 22 Hornet I picked up used will be a keeper,just shot some off brand stuff through it seemed decent