NEF Handi Rifle

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I have one in .308 with a spare .223 barrel, but I'm skeptical if the .223 barrel was fitted at the factory, it's a looser fit on the frame than the .308 barrel is.

I'd consider myself a fan to a point. If you already have one and have had it a while, they're great, if you're looking at buying one, I wouldn't recommend it given H&R is no longer in business and there's no more support for them if you have issues or want another barrel.

The .45-70 and .500 S&W Magnum are two calibers I would get a Handi Rifle for. For .223, .308, .357, .44 Mag, common calibers like that, I'd look elsewhere. Rossi Wizards you can get used for cheap and the factory I think will still service them, CVA makes well priced, good single shots, Midland has had single shot rifle barrels in the works for years and I've been waiting a long time for them to come out, but when they do, they'll be the new H&R/NEF.

There's also the possibility that Savage will be making rifle barrels for the single shot Stevens 301 shotguns. They look almost exactly the same as the H&R/NEF guns.

So, I still think there's a place for single shot break action rifles. Their low price and simplicity combined with multiple barrel options all with the same LOP, trigger pull, ergonomics, etc. across a variety of calibers makes for a great package. Accuracy may not be what an Axis or Ruger American can give for $400, but if you were looking for a big bore like .45-70 and a flat shooting small caliber for distance and maybe a 12 or 20 ga slug gun, you can get all that with a single shot platform for the same price as one of the budget bolt actions.

Not too mention those single shot rifles/shotguns make great Christmas gifts for not much money.
 
Great rifles but NEF isn’t in business anymore so good luck finding one.
 
I have 3.

Tracker 2 20 gauge rifled.
44 mag reamed to .445 super mag.
.45 Colt classic carbine reamed to .454 Casull.
 
The only 223 I own is a Handi-rifle. I haven't stretched it out yet, but I can put 3 rounds in a quarter at 75 yds.
That's with bulk FMJ, shot off a rickety portable bench.

Also a 44 Mag, and a 357 Mag.
 
Contender Carbine here.
No love of the TCR or Encore.
And even less for the H&R.
Bud runs a CVA Hunter.
I almost bought a CVA Scout 2.
If they made em in wood like they do in Europe...........maybe.
 
This one in 444 marlin is one of my favorite rifles. I have a love hate relationship with handi rifles. Some of them shoot good, some of them shoot pretty bad. There are lots of little tricks and remidys to make them shoot better. Some have pretty good triggers, some are downright awful. A guy can sink a lot of time into one getting it shooting nice. I have had half a dozen of them but this is the only one I kept. I have a hankering at the moment for a 35 Remington or a 30-30

IMG-2587.jpg
 
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I had a 223 for a while. Too heavy and not accurate enough for what I wanted. It ran away. I still like the H&R shotguns, and would consider a few calibers of rifle if they popped up, but I’m a contender man and that’s where my money would prefer to go.
 
I have one in 17 HMR and 357 but rarely ever shoot them. As said above H&R is no longer in business. Henry kinda took up where H&R left off and is making some very nice single shot rifles. They recently added quite a few new calibers to the list so that may be a option.
 
The 30-06 sometimes fires, mostly does not. I have never understood why all the new break actions have some sort of disconnect between the hammer and the firing pin. KISS!
 
LRDGCO said:
Yes. I have several in centerfire rifle calibers and shotguns. 454 Casull, 444 Marlin, 30-30, two 20 ga, the latter a rifled barrel which makes for a faux poor man's dangerous game rifle: 370grs RB over 93 grs Black Powder in a 20 ga brass hull. Hell on hogs.
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I have wanted to do exactly that for a long time. Part of why I bought my 16... it’s not rifled but it’s still going to sling a 1oz ball or 1-1/4oz slug at about 1000fps. Will be fun.
 
I'm not a fan of break-open single shots. It seems that many of them have problems sooner or later and ammo inconsistencies can be a nightmare. Weak extraction, inconsistent firing pin strikes, and vertical stringing are problems encountered and the less expensive, the worse they seem to shoot.

Bolt actions can also have problems, but a huge percentage don't have ANY problems. Yes, some shoot better than others, but that's usually due to barrels and/or bedding instead of actions. Bolt actions are robust, repeatable, have strong firing pins/mainsprings. Barrels are attached very well, and many stocks are set-up to accommodate scopes without much fuss. They also seem to be less fussy with ammo than other types of actions.
 
TTv2 said:
Why?
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I had one in .223. It was absolutely the most inaccurate rifle I have ever owned. I tried every trick I could think of and all those on the internet and there are a lot to no avail. I spent quite a bit more traveling back and forth to the range and on reloading for the thing than it cost. I even made two different stock sets for it as I was determined to make it shoot but failed in all my efforts. I finally traded it back to the LGS for a Stevens 200 in the same caliber. It shot some of the ammo I had loaded for the Handi into slightly less than minute of angle groups right out of the box which was proof that it was the rifle and not me or the ammo that was at fault. I'm sure they made some good rifles but there used to be a lot of internet chatter about how to make them shoot better so I'm not all by myself in having problem with them.

They are no longer made but I ran across one that looked new in the LGS just a couple of months ago. It was the bull barreled, laminated stock version and I was still attracted to the thing but the bad memories kicked in and I left it there. It's gone now so someone has a Handi and I hope it isn't the frustrating headache mine was.
 
As others have pointed out, they aren't made anymore so you are looking for a used gun or (unlikely) NOS on a dusty shelf somewhere. The guns themselves generally have rough, heavy triggers and the QC was spotty. I bought a 223 for my dad and it had the most unpleasant habit of unlocking every time I pulled the trigger.

I would suggest one of the CVA single shots. I know they are available in 44, the cost is reasonable, they are new guns with a warranty, and the triggers are pretty good.

https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog...stock+w/scope+mount+break+open+44+remington+m
 
I have to say, the H&R is my absolute favorite rifle action ever made. I just love the shape and layout and the way they feel breaking them open and closed. It started with my brother’s NEF .410 shotgun I learned to shoot as a kid. I have contenders and an encore, and I prefer the way the perform, but I still prefer the handling of the H&R. I second all the above comments though. If you find one that shoots consistently and has a good trigger, keep it, if not your best off to move it along. It can be a frustrating an often unfruitful adventure trying to turn one into a good shooter.
 
Snidely70431 said:
The 30-06 sometimes fires, mostly does not. I have never understood why all the new break actions have some sort of disconnect between the hammer and the firing pin. KISS!
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I have that issue with mine too
 
I have a 17hmr, 223, and 35 Whelen. The 223 gets cases stuck. The other 2 are good.
I would recommend a low pressure cartridge.
 
My buddy has 308 and 44 handi's, the 44 from me...he made me an offer I simply couldnt say no too.

I did take a deer with the 44 before it went away.

He really likes them, he is also the kind of guy that really enjoys tinkering to make them shoot better, and more reliable
 
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