410 NEF Question

[sxcamaro05]

I finally got around to putting a few shells through my New England Firearms Pardner 410 (Mag). It is a single shot wood stock that I picked up used for $100 OTD (I know it is older as it lacks a safety). Cleaned it up, lubed, and took the sticker residue off the stock. Looks great now and handled 20 rounds of Rem. game loads 6 shot, 5 rounds of Remington Sluggers, and 20 rounds of Winchester Target 9 shot. Fired well, patterns were good I suppose (the slugs were alright but I didn't expect much). I even chopped down a huge hornet nest that has been rotting in the oak tree out back for the last 3 years.

My question is, how can I find out the age of the shotgun? I know H&R own the NEF brand, do I have to contact them? Also, the gun tensed up after about 12-13 shots, the break action seemed tight, where as it is usually very easy to break. My buddy says single shots will do this do to expansion of metal (heat etc). Is this the case or will some gun grease help ease this issue?

 

[P.B.Walsh]

Well, I have one of these, give a few more, and you can open it up with the flick of your wrist. Very fun to shoot (especially one handed)!!

 

[Onmilo]

Don't hold me to this as gospel. but I believe New England Firearms came on the market somewhere around 1990 and certainly no earlier than 1988 at least that I can remember.

Harrington Richardson ceased operations around that time and the NEF line basically rebirthed the company.
After a bout of reorganization H&R started back up and reabsorbed the NEF line of firearms.

The only way you could learn the age of your shotgun is to contact New England Firearms/ Harrington Richardson direct and give them the serial number of your gun.
They could tell you when it was made better than anyone.,
http://www.hr1871.com/default.asp

 

[sert01]

Try this link at shotgunworld.com. Hope it helps. http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?t=74967. If that doesn't work, just do a search on shotgunworld.com. The topic is Production Dates forH&R and NEF firearms. Sert01

 

[sxcamaro05]

Thanks sert01, looks like I'm dealing with a 91'. It appears NEF started around 87' so it is nice to finally find something out about the shotgun. Now I lube the it up with some birchwood casey gun grease and try a few more rounds. Thanks guys.