NEF/H&R/Handi-rifles Gone, Coming Back, replaced ???

Loyalist Dave · Jan 1, 2020

Hey folks,
I know the NEF Handi-Rifles stopped production. They were owned by Marlin, and then Remington bought Marlin and closed down the NEF plant.

I'm wondering if any company bought up the factory, or if Remington has any plans to start production again,

…, or if there is another company making inexpensive break action, single shot rifles similar to the Handi-Rifles.

Rossi it appears isn't importing single shot rifles. So does that leave only Henry Rifles, or is there something else?

LD

BigBL87 · Jan 1, 2020

Don't know what calibers you'd want, but the CVA Hunter series is available in .35 Whelen, .44 Magnum, .45-70, .243.

.455_Hunter · Jan 1, 2020

The discussion in the H&R section of the Marlin forum at the time of discontinuance indicated that all tooling had been scrapped based on input from either factory workers or firsthand communication with factory workers.

DocRock · Jan 1, 2020

Production continued at Ilion for several years and for a short time after the end of production, barrels and fitting were still available.

Can't see production ever coming back in the US. At the end, Handi Rifles were selling at the prices we now get MOA bolt guns for, and while I own several H&R break barrel rifles and shotguns, it takes luck and a good deal of fiddling to get anywhere near MOA territory.

The Turks are producing similar single barrel shotguns and there was talk of rifles, But I don't know what came of that.

someguy2800 · Jan 2, 2020

Gone with the wind and ain’t coming back.

Henry, CVA, and Thompson Center still make great break action rifles. The Thompson Centers are expensive but can be had in hundreds of calibers and barrels are interchangeable.

LoonWulf · Jan 2, 2020

IMO the current crop of singles from CVA, Henry, Traditions etc are better handling rifles, if not out right better rifles.

Pat Riot · Jan 2, 2020

Handy Rifles were cool because you had barrel / cartridge options. I searched for an HR in 45-70 and only put my hands on one and saw one that looked like and old boat oar. The one I handled the guy wanted $700 for it at a gun show. He called it “rare”. I called it “still part of his inventory” when I walked away.

Then I paid $369 for a Henry Single Shot Rifle at Cabela’s sight unseen. I had not even handled one and took a chance on ordering one.
Wow! What a nice rifle! And what a bargain. I am very happy with it. The fact that I can’t swap barrels and calibers doesn’t bother me at all.

“Photos or it didn’t happen” you are thinking?

Loyalist Dave · Jan 2, 2020

BigBL87 said:
Don't know what calibers you'd want, but the CVA Hunter series is available in .35 Whelen, .44 Magnum, .45-70, .243.

Thanks that looks like about what I'm looking for. ...THANKS.

DocRock said:
I own several H&R break barrel rifles and shotguns, it takes luck and a good deal of fiddling to get anywhere near MOA territory.

Really? Wow then I must've been lucky, as I have the bull-barrel version in .223 having a 1:9 twist, and I get very close to MOA when not exceeding 55 grain bullets in factory loads, and just under 1 MOA with handloads, again not exceeing 55 grains. But that rifle is almost 30 years old. :scrutiny:

LD

someguy2800 · Jan 2, 2020

Loyalist Dave said:
Really? Wow then I must've been lucky, as I have the bull-barrel version in .223 having a 1:9 twist, and I get very close to MOA when not exceeding 55 grain bullets in factory loads, and just under 1 MOA with handloads, again not exceeing 55 grains. But that rifle is almost 30 years old.

LD

Alot of them do shoot really well, as in moa or close to it so it’s not at all unusual that you have one that is. I wouldn’t say it’s typical though. I would say more like 2 moa is probably a good average for handi rifles that haven’t been fiddled and tuned. Unfortunately some are more like 5 or 6 moa. They are a notorious crap shoot.

JShirley · Jan 2, 2020

someguy2800 said:
Alot of them do shoot really well, as in moa or close to it so it’s not at all unusual that you have one that is. I wouldn’t say it’s typical though. I would say more like 2 moa is probably a good average for handi rifles that haven’t been fiddled and tuned. Unfortunately some are more like 5 or 6 moa. They are a notorious crap shoot.

Years ago (96?), NEF was coming out with a number of new models, including a bull barrel .308. I was looking for an inexpensive precision rifle, so I called and talked to them. 4 MOA was the accuracy I was told to expect.

.455_Hunter · Jan 2, 2020

Pat Riot said:
Handy Rifles were cool because you had barrel / cartridge options. I searched for an HR in 45-70 and only put my hands on one and saw one that looked like and old boat oar. The one I handled the guy wanted $700 for it at a gun show. He called it “rare”. I called it “still part of his inventory” when I walked away.

Then I paid $369 for a Henry Single Shot Rifle at Cabela’s sight unseen. I had not even handled one and took a chance on ordering one.
Wow! What a nice rifle! And what a bargain. I am very happy with it. The fact that I can’t swap barrels and calibers doesn’t bother me at all.

“Photos or it didn’t happen” you are thinking?

View attachment 881758 View attachment 881759 View attachment 881760 View attachment 881761 View attachment 881762 View attachment 881763 View attachment 881764

I usually not a big fan of Henry products, but that looks magnificent!

mshootnit · Jan 2, 2020

Loyalist Dave said:
Hey folks,
I know the NEF Handi-Rifles stopped production. They were owned by Marlin, and then Remington bought Marlin and closed down the NEF plant.

I'm wondering if any company bought up the factory, or if Remington has any plans to start production again,

…, or if there is another company making inexpensive break action, single shot rifles similar to the Handi-Rifles.

Rossi it appears isn't importing single shot rifles. So does that leave only Henry Rifles, or is there something else?

LD

Weren't these break opens made in China?

mshootnit · Jan 2, 2020

.455_Hunter said:
I usually not a big fan of Henry products, but that looks magnificent!

What would be your suggestions to Henry to improve the products?

Newtosavage · Jan 2, 2020

mshootnit said:
What would be your suggestions to Henry to improve the products?

Blued receivers instead of painted would be a good start.

.455_Hunter · Jan 2, 2020

mshootnit said:
What would be your suggestions to Henry to improve the products?

A few things since you asked...

I don't like the .22 style underbarrel liner tube loading on anything besides a .22. Having both a gate and the tube opening isn't any better.

The general profile of their lever actions look more appropriate in the "gift bar" area of Sportsman's Warehouse with the cap guns than behind the gun counter.

I think "brass" receivers look tacky on anything besides replicas of the 1860 Henry and 1866 Winchester.

The .22 Henry that I bought in 1999 had assorted plastic parts (like the front sight/barrel band combo) that seemed chintzy and the tube plug retention was poor, allow the brass liner to auto eject when loaded. I don't know about the current guns.

The only Henry lever gun I have interest in the one of the Original 1860 types, probably an iron frame in .44-40.

Rembrandt · Jan 2, 2020

Bought three CVA .44 magnums in the last couple years after straight walled cartridges were permitted for deer hunting. Inexpensive ($200-to-$250), Grandkids love 'em, less recoil than shotguns and much more accurate. May pick up one more before next season starts.

someguy2800 · Jan 2, 2020

mshootnit said:
Weren't these break opens made in China?

Absolutely not. H&R was an American company and they were made and serviced in Gardner Massachusetts. They had very good customer service. When Remington bought out Marlin and H&R they moved production to Ilion New York. Remington started importing pump shotguns from China which they rebranded as H&R, but all the break actions were 100% American.

Loyalist Dave · Jan 3, 2020

Rembrandt said:
Bought three CVA .44 magnums in the last couple years after straight walled cartridges were permitted for deer hunting. Inexpensive ($200-to-$250) .

Exactly..., and my thoughts too, only to find that they were gone in the H&R version. I thought about one of the H&R's in .500 S&W once, but the ammo is a bit pricey compared to the venerable .44.

Glad to see that CVA is offering such, as well as the .243 and another favorite of mine...the .35 Whelen. Even though those would not fall under the "straight walled cartridge" guidelines. There is tiny crack in the anti-gun anti-hunting armor around here and they may allow "pistol cartridges" of .44 Mag and .357 mag in "carbine" rifles to be used for hunting in "shotgun/muzzleloader only " areas in the future.

I'd like one really in .357 magnum...allows for deer, .38 Special for small game and plinking...sure there are some very good lever action options out there, but they are a tad more pricey than the CVA's. Looks like .44 Magnum for me. :thumbup:

LD

ApacheCoTodd · Jan 3, 2020

Pat Riot said:
Handy Rifles were cool because you had barrel / cartridge options. I searched for an HR in 45-70 and only put my hands on one and saw one that looked like and old boat oar. The one I handled the guy wanted $700 for it at a gun show. He called it “rare”. I called it “still part of his inventory” when I walked away.

Then I paid $369 for a Henry Single Shot Rifle at Cabela’s sight unseen. I had not even handled one and took a chance on ordering one.
Wow! What a nice rifle! And what a bargain. I am very happy with it. The fact that I can’t swap barrels and calibers doesn’t bother me at all.

“Photos or it didn’t happen” you are thinking?

View attachment 881758 View attachment 881759 View attachment 881760 View attachment 881761 View attachment 881762 View attachment 881763 View attachment 881764

That's a BEAUTE!
Wouldn't it be something if that could be built and supported in the market as a double rifle?

Todd.

rdnktrkr · Jan 4, 2020

I have a 30-06 and enjoy shooting it, it shoots 125gr better than any other, almost scary accurate, when we have a get together it gets shot more than bolt actions because of its accuracy. I installed a 3-9 Nikon yrs ago and haven't had to adjust anything. I could see owning another in 223, but with the bolt actions prices so close I probably would purchase one of them.

e rex · Jan 4, 2020

Bought a Handy many years ago when the .223 still had a 1-12 twist. Put a Tasco 6X scope on it and threw it in the tractor cab for corn picking. Grandson also carried it while spraying soybeans in the spring. That cheap rifle killed a lot of coyotes. Got some Hornady 52 grain match bullets (seconds) and a can of Varget and coyotes were in trouble.

NEF/H&R/Handi-rifles Gone, Coming Back, replaced ???

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