H&R / NEF Single Shot - Thoughts?

[dust_101]

Greetings folks,

Since I've been using a 12ga slug gun for whitetail hunting in this area for so long, i've decided to pick up a rifle for some of the other counties where rifles are allowed. I'm not looking to spend a wad of cash since i'm still primarily a slugger, but I would like something that will function well and take the abuse of crawling/hunting/etc in the woods.

I've been eyeing the NEF/H&R1871 line of single shots, and the SB2-608 in .308 Win with the bull barrel looks like a strong contender for my next purchase. I wanted to see if anyone ownes one, has used one, hates them, or just has a general opinion on that model line.

Keep in mind, this will be primarily used for whitetail hunting, in brush (light and heavy) and open farm areas.

Thoughts?

 

[kid_couteau]

I have a Handi in 30-30, 223 and 20 gauge

I love them all.

Light, not much to go wrong on them, and easy to clean.

If you look at it that it is a single shot and not an assault weapon I think you will like it also. Also you can get different barrels for the same receiver on the rifle ones.

Kid

 

[dust_101]

Interesting, did not know about the ability to swap barrels. Similar to the T/C Contenders?

 

[hoghunting]

Yes, you can swap barrels, but as far as I know, you need to send the receiver to the factory to have the barrel fitted.

I have seen a few people at the range with H&R/NEF single shots and they are very accurate with their loads. I was impressed considering the price of the rifle.

 

[superhornet]

dust 101---I don't think you want to be lugging a bull barrel around in the woods. FYI the standard barrel issued on the NEF is much thicker than most bolt action rifles. They also have a recessed crown and many are very accurate. The standard .308 should work fine...

 

[Ndenway]

look over at www.graybeardoutdoors.com, theres an entire section on NEF/handi rifles, plus theres instructions on how to accurize, tune the trigger and trouble shoot any problems,

I've got one in 22 hornet thats worked flawlessly,

 

[dust_101]

Weight was one consideration, but from the hr1871.com website, the
Model Survivor® Blued 308 Win. (SB2-608) has an advertised Weight 6-1/2 lbs....

While a Remington 700 BDL in 30-06 has an advertised weight of 7-3/8 lbs... Marlin 336 at 7lbs... even my Moss 500 is around 7lbs

Seems like a standard weight for a rifle, a bit barrel heavy but i've had a 10/22 with a stainless .920 bull barrel and it's not to bad.

 

[Fred Fuller]

My mom (at the tender age of 78) decided she wanted to take up deer hunting. So for her next birthday I got her a Handi in .30-30 with a youth stock backed by a premium recoil pad. I mounted a low-powered variable scope, zeroed it for her with 150 gr. Remington factory loads and she was set.

She didn't take a shot this past season, but she was hunting with my aunt one afternoon and my 60-something aunt used the little rifle to kill her first deer, with the first shot she ever fired from the gun, at about 75 yards. It was a spike, and mom was holding out for something bigger 8^).

I think Handis are great, I have one in .223.

lpl/nc

 

[B.D. Turner]

Rossi makes a three caliber package that is almost a carbon copy of the NEF. I have been looking at one for my stepson. It has a .50 muzzleloader, .243, and a .17hmr. They also have em in .50 muzzleloader, 12ga, and 30/06. These would all be great for hunting.

 

[C-grunt]

A few months ago, a guy next to me at the range had a H&R rifle and it was very accurate. I believe it was a .204 Ruger.

 

[nipprdog]

Weight was one consideration, but from the hr1871.com website, the
Model Survivor® Blued 308 Win. (SB2-608) has an advertised Weight 6-1/2 lbs....

the Survivor is a very different stock configureation. people love it, or hate it. don't order one without holding one first. btw, it has no recoil pad.

 

[dust_101]

the Survivor is a very different stock configureation. people love it, or hate it. don't order one without holding one first. btw, it has no recoil pad.

That will probably be the last 2 things to find, local shop near me has a few of the Handirifles in various calibers with the wood/synth stocks but not the survivor. have to find one first and get a feel for it. though that might prove to be harder to find than I realized.

and no recoil pad?! sheesh. seems like there is always something :banghead:

 

[gila_dog]

I have been getting hot, then cold about an NEF Handi Rifle. Maybe I want too much. I would like one gun that could mount .243, 50 cal muzzle loader, and 20 ga shotgun barrels, all with a single synthetic stock. I could actually get all that, according to the H&R website. But... I found a NEF shotgun (can't remember what they called it), and a Handi-Rifle on the used gun rack at a local store and picked them up. The shotgun's stock was made so your eye lines up down the barrel with the little bead (as it should). The rifle's stock was a little higher so your eye would line up properly with the open sights. I think the measurement that would define all this is "drop of comb" or somesuch. What this means is that I could buy a Handi-Rifle in .243, send it back and have it fit for the muzzle loader barrel and the shotgun barrel, but the shotgun barrel wouldn't line up with my eye right! Having a gun that could be easily modified between rifle and muzzleloader would be pretty cool tho. Maybe the shotgun is too much to ask for.

I have also noticed that the barrels on the Handi Rifles are pretty thick and bulky. I guess that's so they can use the same material, just drill it different, for all the possible different calibers. That's how they keep the price so low. But it does make them heavier than necessary.

 

[rangerruck]

if you are gonna low crawl in the woods, I'd go lever 3030 lever of some kind first.
yes you can send nef's and get extra bbls, for 50 to 90 bucks, they will custom fit, you can also ask to have trigger lightened, and they will do it for free.

 

[Don't Tread On Me]

I heard they don't do it anymore (trigger work) for free.

 

[B.D. Turner]

I bought an NEF in .223 several years ago from a gunshop in town. I added a used tasco worldclass a set of rings and one of those elastic buttstock ammo holders. I had a grand total of $220 invested. It shot great.

 

[rangerruck]

they will if you are sending it in, to get other work done.

 

[Ranger J]

I have a Handi in .308 with a bull barrel and it shoots great. I took two deer with it last year. I encourage you to get the bull barrel as the gun is kind of light and when shooting paper you will need the extra weight. I am very happy with this gun but if I had it to do over again and had not got hooked on the interchangeable barrels I probably would have gone for a 308 Savage 200 bold action. Never the less I do like the Handi.
RJ

 

[B.D. Turner]

NEF also comes in the new 500 S&W this would be a great deer gun too.

 

[dust_101]

Well great, in asking around I've found a friend who may have a line on a 7mm-08 Handi that already has the Choate Stock/Forend that looks very similar to the Survivor... no bull barrel but if the price is right

So... then the fun of 7mm-08 or 308, enough discussion on that in other posts... have to go check this rifle out first before deciding on anything.

Any thoughts or advice on this stock:

Of course, have to hold it and/or test fire first, could outright hate it. Looks more designed for bench shooting than hunting in the woods...

 

[1911 guy]

I've got one.

I've got one, bought it as a .223 Rem. Sent the reciever back to them and had it fitted with a 45-70 barrel, 20ga mod choke barrel and a 12ga rifled barrel.

Shotgun rec's can have only shotgun barrels fitted. Rifle rec's can have both. There are two reciever designations for rifles, SB1 and SB2. The SB2 can be fitted with a few calibers that the SB1 cannot.

For what they are, basic hunting guns with no frills, they are great. Triggers are usually pretty stiff, but not much creep at all. Think shotgun weight with rifle travel. The O.D. on all barrels is the same so you don't have to switch out forearms with each barrel. You will, however, get a forearms screw for each barrel. Most, if not all, rifle barrels come with no irons, but are drilled and tapped for scope bases. I forget if the bases were included or if I bought them seperately.

 

[Geno]

NEF and H&R Don't Make Sense

Years back I thought of buying either an NEF or H&R, then I learned that for each new (alternate) barrel I wanted to add, I would have to return the receiver to the factory.

Alternately, one can purchase a T/C Contender or T/C Encore, go anywhere around the world and all barrels respective to the model interchange. Furthermore, ALL T/C models have a 1 M.O.A guarantee, and they also have a life-time guarantee--

EVEN IF YOU BOUGHT YOUR T/C USED IT'S WARRANTED

The Encore is chambered now, in everything from .22LR (a new firing pin has been designed for the Encore similar to Contender) through .375 H&H. You can even have your T/C in rifle, carbine or pistola.

Barrels are to be had in 16" through 28" barrels, and even slugger and muzzleloader. There is even one company that chambers the .458 Win Mag. and certain other massive custom centerfire cartridges. Neither H&R, and nor NEF do that. Best of all, these are to be had or added, all with never sending it anywhere.

That does it for me.

Doc2005

 

[Ranger J]

Another thought. If I bought an encore it would be about $600 while the Handi is a little over $200. Also if I bought the Encore I would have to look at that goofy looking stock every day. All kidding aside I have never used an Encore or even handled one. Having to send your Handi in to the factory to have a new barrel hand fitted each time is a pain in the...Interchangeable parts were invented for firearms as early as the War of 1812. I own four different barrels for my Handi and am happy with everything but the .44 mag.
RJ

 

[Dan Tanna]

Why not the .44 mag?

I have a Handi in .44 mag, but I haven't had a chance to shoot it much. What is it that you don't like?

 

[dust_101]

Don't get me wrong on the T/C Contender/Encore line, love the gun, great concept, just pricey...

I have found frames only on gunbroker for $200-$250 and then get whatever barrels, stocks, etc but that is for later when I have some cash to spend. For now I am personally just trying to find a decent no frills rifle for hunting. One of these days I am really hoping to have the T/C with the 45LC/410 12" barrel and shoot clays with it