NEF Single Shots any good?

[ArmedBear]

I've kinda got a wild hare about getting a very simple gun to toss in the Jeep.

Anyone have experience with NEF Pardner or Topper shotguns?

Are they any good, quality and durability wise?

Do they take down easily, like a more expensive break-action?

Can you hit anything with one?

Is it worth extra money for the Topper with a rib, or is the more traditional Pardner just as useful?

I'm thinking 20, but maybe 12. Thoughts?

Thanks!

 

[Lon371]

NEF

Depends on what you are going to use it for. The Ultra Slug gun is suppose to be the stuff as far as a slug gun for deer. With the heavy barrel several guys I know are getting 100 yards plus with the 12 and 80 plus with the 20. As for the Pardner 20 I have one. For slugs forget it. Clay pigeons it is ok. For a youth or messing around gun it is ok. The sights are poor, only a notch at the rear by the hammer and a bead up front. As for the Topper I dont know. If it has the vent rib, that is a plus. The thing I do like about the NEF guns, is they are light and you can send the reciever back to H&R and get fitted for other barrels. You should study that a little. I think the Pardner can only get shotgun barrels. But the Handi Rifle can get rifle or shotgun. Hopfully this helps, and not just confuse you more.
Lonny

 

[ugaarguy]

Buddy of mine has a 20 ga pardner, got it used in great shape for $70 or maybe less if I remember. He bought it to toss in the back of his Trooper / keep it in the house. No its not a slug gun. As for the previous criticism of the sights, I disagree. Its got a front sight bead, same as every other shotgun I've used (except a slug gun), and it works just fine. I've shot several pardners and think they do a very good job of being an economical, rugged, and reliable general use single round shotgun. I've contemplated picking one up to throw in the toolbox on my truck for the above reasons. Your stated purpose is "... a very simple gun to toss in the Jeep." I think an NEF Pardner or Handi Rifle fits that requirement to a T.

 

[sm]

Armed Bear,

First allow me to formally welcome you to THR. I have really enjoyed your posts , participation and contributions!

Granted I grew up H&R Toppers, great guns. Always been a fan for what I call another best kept secret, the Youth Model 20ga single shot shotgun.

NEF was part of H&R, and I tried one. In short - GET ONE!

Basically a H&R with NEF on the thing. Works the same, looks the same, just different letters.

--

As you know about the Rule of 96s, 20 ga works better than a 12 gauge in this type of gun.

Youth Model is easy to tote and a big person can shoot a small gun, a small person cannot always shoot a bigger gun. NO need to shorten a gun and risk cutting too short and getting BATF troubles. comes with a Recoil pad, and Fixed Mod bbl.

I kid you not on this next part: This fixed Mod bbl throws some of the best pellet patterns AND slug groups I have shot/ seen!

I was so impressed, I bought others, then when I wanted to get one for my mom...I prefer Wood and Blue...my gun guy messed up the #'s and got the black wood with "white" receiver.
This gun also proved to be just like its wood and blue kin... I mean easy guess, a dozen folks bought one after shooting the one I got for mom.

Folks think about cutting down a 12 bore,single shot Why? 12 ga are light and with payload hurts, add no choke and no recoil pad on most...patterns pitiful and slugs worse.

Get the H&R / NEF , factory, PC, mod choke in 20 ga and be done with it. Looks just like a youth model shotgun (which in fact it is) and no worries about why a gun whacked.

I took a limit of 15 doves with 12 shells - taken varmits out to 50 steps with slugs...so yeah it shoots.

Also check into the fact one can get a rifle barrel that will work on the receiver as well. See the website for details.



I could not get the NEF site to come up, instead go here :

http://www.hr1871.com/Firearms/Shotguns/topper.aspx

Topper® Junior
20 Gauge (SB1-258)

HTH

Steve

 

[gp911]

I love 'em...

For a simple knock-around gun it's hard to beat an NEF shotgun. I have been through a couple of them, and they've all been pretty accurate and indestructible.

The multiple barrel option is a big plus. If you anticipate getting a single shot rifle at any time, buy an NEF Handi-Rifle and then send in the receiver to get the shotgun barrel(s) fitted to it.

Otherwise just get the shotgun and if you decide you like the gun but would like to have the same gun in a different guage you can still order a barrel in .410, 28, 16, etc...

Rifle receivers can fit rifle or shotgun barrels, but shotgun receivers aren't built to handle rifle pressure levels so it's strictly shotgun barrels for them.

I especially like that I can have a simple gun in several hard-to-find calibers/guages like 16 guage, 28 guage, 35 Whelen, etc. etc.

In other words, I highly recommend them. Check out the NEF forums on Graybeard's site for more info...


gp911

 

[Lon371]

As per ugaarguy comment on the sights. Thanks for correct me. I do have a front bead. On the rear is only a slot above the hammer. I do like the gun. My pardner is going in for a new barrel shortly. My kids are done with it, and moved to pump guns. As for me I am not. I do like the shorter length of the youth gun, and I can carry it for a long time. I dont think anyone would be disapointed in having one. Good luck.

 

[Fred Fuller]

I too have found them to be great little guns, toughly built, inexpensive, reliable and durable. I think you'd be happy with one for a truck gun, they do take down easily and there are some new barrel combos available now that might be of interest, allowing a switch from rifle to shotgun:

=========================================
http://www.hr1871.com/News/pressreleases.aspx#news2

2-Barrel and 3-Barrel Handi-Rifle Combos Added to H&R Line

Seven new 2-barrel sets and six new 3-barrel sets have been added to the H&R line for 2006. Providing a variety of rifle/shotgun combinations for a reasonable price, and being available in youth and adult models, these combos are sure to appeal to a wide variety of hunters and shooters of all ages.

Adult 2-barrel combos include models in 22/250, 223, 243, 270, and 30/06. All have 20 Gauge accessory barrels, black synthetic stocks and nickel plated receivers. The 223 and 243 also are available in youth models.

Adult 3-barrel combos are offered in various configurations. All include a 22LR barrel matched up with either two additional rifle barrels (223 and 17HMR), or combined with a shotgun barrel along with either a 30/06; 243; or 270 rifle barrel. There are also two youth 3-barrel combos. Both come with 22LR and 243 rifle barrels, paired up with either a 20 Gauge or a .410 Bore shotgun barrel.
=========================================

There are a several HandiRifles in the family, a .30-30, a .243, a .223 varmint, and a .223/.410 combo. The little rifles shoot well, and lately seem to have pretty decent triggers from the factory. I cannot think of a better knockaround truck gun than one of these combos.

There's a little 20 ga. Youth gun of the older style (20" Mod choked barrel, no recoil pad) behind the front door here with a box of #8 game loads at hand for critter control, it came used for 60 ot 70 bucks in as-new condition. Been meaning to send it in for a 28 ga. barrel, need to get that done.

lpl/nc

 

[ArmedBear]

Thanks all!

What do you have to do to break down the gun or swap barrels?

Does it require tools?

Also, how far does the barrel come down if the gun is left assembled? Does it just drop 30 degrees or so like a trap single, or does it fold all the way back until it almost hits the trigger guard?

In other words, can you just break it open, flip the barrel all the way as far as it would go, and stuff it under a Jeep rear seat? Or would the gun have to be taken down?

 

[648E]

What do you have to do to break down the gun or swap barrels?

Remove 1 phillips screw in the forend, and remove the forend. Hit the break-open lever, open it, and pull the barrel off.

Does it require tools?

A #2 Phillips screwdriver

Also, how far does the barrel come down if the gun is left assembled? Does it just drop 30 degrees or so like a trap single

I would guess about 30 deg. yes.

 

[sm]

H&R / NEF:
Phillps screwdriver to remove forearm wood, then barrel off.

Stoeger:

Pull forearm "back" toward receiver while "pulling" front of forearm "down". No screwdrivers required, again wood removed, barrel off.

When the action is open just like the SxS or O/U actions. With the Youth Models, OAL being 'short' easy to store with the action open.

NOTE: Stoegers require one to pull the trigger guard back to open action, instead of the lever as found on H&R /NEF. I am not comfortable with kids and less experienced shooters using the Stoegers -concerned with slipping and slapping trigger.

 

[ABTOMAT]

Don't forget, you can get 10ga NEF singles, too. Something to run those 3.5" slugs through.

 

[Fred Fuller]

The 20 ga. youth gun is 36 1/2" long assembled, and the .223 varmint rifle (22" barrel) is 37 1/2". The youth shotgun has a shorter length of pull, and it too has a 22" barrel and not 20" as I misremembered earlier. You might not have to fold or disassemble one to get it under your seat...

lpl/nc

 

[ArmedBear]

I just watched a kid, maybe 8 or 9 years old, shooting trap with a NEF youth 20 last night. I had a league round to shoot, and he took off before I could ask if I could shoulder it.

It fit him pretty well, and he wasn't a big kid. It sure looks tiny next to the hefty trap and sporting clays guns the rest of us had. I'm still wondering what it would be like for me to shoot a 12.5" LOP shotgun!

Anyway, thanks for the welcome and kind words sm, and for all the info everyone!

The only downside I can see to the NEF/H&R shotguns is that shipping and FFL transfer fees might make it pointless to buy a used one, unless I can find one locally and do a face-to-face purchase.

 

[ID_shooting]

I bought my 20ga H&R topper youth for $50.00 used.

BEST $50.00 I EVER SPENT!

I bougt it a week before dove season last year, shot clays one after noon the proceeded to darn near limit out the evening of openning day.

I can not beleive how well these shoot. I tied one guy that was shooing an auto loader for most taken in our group. Not under gunned at all shooting a single.

 

[Wannagohunting]

I have a 12 and 20 ga Topper and a youth 410 NEF. Went to a range with
pull your own clay machines. Standing beside the machine with my buddy pulling I hit 22 out of 25 with a "410". Surprised me. What a blast !