Interesting NEF .45/70 single shot

[Deaf Smith]

View attachment 231733

It looks just like that one except I think the scope is a bushnell 'bone collector' with a reticle that has a small circle in the middle where the cross hairs meet.

Does the gun you're looking at have a front sight? If not, you could probably buy a good scope for less than the cost of installing one unless you can do the work yourself.

Yes, it has the original front and rear sight as well as the scope.

Deaf

 

[Dog Soldier]

I wanna come visit!!!! One day my wife and I will be at Yellowstone! Someday.... but we all know that is a code word.

Great looking critter there!

Deaf

I just got off the phone with my Grand Son in Texas. He will be up here this summer. Yes, those young moose are dangerous "lawn Ornaments". We have some Mtn Lion problems this time of year. The big game migration is on so the Lions are here in town. The police are putting out warnings. We had a 10 year old killed a few years ago by a Lion. I will take a picture of an elk they feed on our grass. I should post a Big Cat that I took behind the house. It is now a full body mount.
Yes, I am 250 miles South of the Yellowstone on the Bear River Divide. We don't just hunt animals we live with them.

 

[Deaf Smith]

So Dog Soldier, can I move in with ya?

If you have a game camera, that would be an easy (and lazy) way to photo them.

So Cougars are there. Even a 10 year old kid killed. Sometimes I think the government protecting gators and Cougars is not so wise an idea.

Anyway, I'll sniff at that 45/70 Monday again.

Deaf

 

[stoky]

In a Rifles of the West competition I use to participate in, the NEF had a reputation for not being accurate enough to be competitive.
IIRC, the rifling was better suited to jacketed bullets than cast.
That's not to say they lack utility..........and the kwel factor pegs the meter.

 

[Dog Soldier]

So Dog Soldier, can I move in with ya?

If you have a game camera, that would be an easy (and lazy) way to photo them.

So Cougars are there. Even a 10 year old kid killed. Sometimes I think the government protecting gators and Cougars is not so wise an idea.

Anyway, I'll sniff at that 45/70 Monday again.

Deaf

Yes, They were considered varmints until 1974. We hunted them for Bounty money. The scalp and ears were used to claim the Bounty from private mostly sheep outfits.
This was not sport hunting. Preditor control is not neat or pretty. They were often treed and shot in the rear with a 10 gauge double ought shot blowing away the rear end parts. You did not want to damage the ears or scalp. Irish Wolf Hounds often finished the mess.
The Game & Fish found that people sport hunters would pay big bucks to hunt lions. So now they are under regulated season. Another part of the Frontier Days gone.
Yes, the California Greens object to hunting Wolves and Lions etc. They pump big dollars into many Inter-Mtn States. Sport Hunters bring in money.

 

[Dog Soldier]

In a Rifles of the West competition I use to participate in, the NEF had a reputation for not being accurate enough to be competitive.
IIRC, the rifling was better suited to jacketed bullets than cast.
That's not to say they lack utility..........and the kwel factor pegs the meter.

Yes, That was my only experience with the NEF Buffalo Rifles. The shooters often had problems opening the breeches. They did not stabilize the 505 grs. cast bullets at long range. The hopes were that the economy priced NEF could compete with the Sharps and Ballards. I can not pass judgement on other calibers and jacketed bullets.

 

[stoky]

Yes, They were considered varmints until 1974. We hunted them for Bounty money. The scalp and ears were used to claim the Bounty from private mostly sheep outfits.
This was not sport hunting. Preditor control is not neat or pretty. They were often treed and shot in the rear with a 10 gauge double ought shot blowing away the rear end parts. You did not want to damage the ears or scalp. Irish Wolf Hounds often finished the mess.
The Game & Fish found that people sport hunters would pay big bucks to hunt lions. So now they are under regulated season. Another part of the Frontier Days gone.
Yes, the California Greens object to hunting Wolves and Lions etc. They pump big dollars into many Inter-Mtn States. Sport Hunters bring in money.

I was acquainted with the gentleman that ran the Ranching For Wildlife in Kim (Southern Colorado). He hunted lions as a favor to local ranchers. He used blood hounds to track and tree them. He'd shoot them in the tree with a .22 and let them bleed out, so as not to enrage them to where they'd tear up the dogs. A couple of the ones he had mounted were HUGE, three feet high at the shoulders and eight feel long snout to tail tip. I had no idea they got that big.

 

[Dog Soldier]

I have an old Photo Stoky of one taken just after they were declared a Game Animal. The Lion was taken in the Spring of 1974. It is a big female 6 foot nose to tip and was 150 pounds.
If you ever get to Casper go to the Wernier Wild Life Museum. It is a full body mount there on display. We donated it to the University Wyoming so long a go.

 

[DPris]

Years ago I had one in .45-70 & could not get it to shoot straight with any of several lead handloads I tried in it.

Heavy, light, different powders, nothing would settle in.
Sold it off.
May have done OK with jacketed, but I didn't get it to be firing jacked.

And equal to heavy Ruger loads in strength?
No way in hell would I even try.
Denis

 

[Sunray]

"...they say it can..." 'They' are confused. As I recall, NEF's were TrapDoor load rifles. Under 30,000 CUP max loads vs close to 50,000 CUP max loads with "Modern Rifle" loads. Think shotgun pressures not rifle.
"...sling the empty over your shoulder. The factory fixed that..." That wasn't broken. They supposed to do that. Just like a single shot or SXS shotgun.
One thing about NEF single shots that's undeniable. Friggin' metal at the chamber is thick. Mind you, so are single shot shotguns. Always thought slugs with a single shot 12 gauge cut to 24" or so and fitted with ghost rings would make a decent big beast gun.

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

Wow, .45-70 should kick like a mule. Neat rifles, but pardon the pun, handi rifles are a hit and miss deal......bottom line, you get what you pay for... a cheap rifle.

 

[bandur60]

Working our club's hunter sight-in days, the handi-rifles I've seen will shoot as good as the glass they wear. These are 243 - 30 caliber, not the big boys. Good glass, good handlers, good results.

 

[Cocked & Locked]

Friend of mine has set aside his years of hunting with Ruger 77's and now deer hunts with a NEF Handi...in .223 of all things. Gets plenty of deer as always.

 

[Armored farmer]

Now that I think of it..... my 30-06 Handi-Rifle has traveled with me from central Ontario Canada to within 2miles of Mexican border at Eagle pass texas. All I ever took was one scrawny wild gilt.

 

[Elkins45]

"...sling the empty over your shoulder. The factory fixed that..." That wasn't broken. They supposed to do that. Just like a single shot or SXS shotgun.

You misread my post. It opened and ejected WHEN THE TRIGGER WAS PULLED, not when you lowered it away from your face and intentionally pushed the opening lever. I hope none of your SXS shotguns do that.

 

[Sun Tzu warrior]

I'm really surprised that no one has complained about misfires, I have seen a few guys have this happen to them while shooting my Buffalo classic in 45/70.
They hit the trigger and let off allowing the transfer block to fall before setting the cartridge off. I have 4 friends who have the same rifle. They are all very accurate.
what I have heard about the 20 inch models is some are accurate some are not.
Also they will not eject an empty, just pulls the case out a little so you can grab it, or tilt the barrel up and the empty falls out.
STW

 

[fireman 9731]

My experience with the H&R Buffalo Classic has been very good. I would scoop up a Handi for $225 as long as it was in decent shape. As far a loads go, I wouldn't go near a "Ruger only" in a break-action. I would stick with lever gun levels. That really is all you need.

 

[stoky]

My 30-06 Handi-Rifle has traveled with me from central Ontario Canada to within 2miles of Mexican border at Eagle pass texas. All I ever took was one scrawny wild gilt.

..........too long for a T shirt

 

[Armored farmer]

..........too long for a T shirt

I get it.
Lol

 

[jaysouth]

You can part it out and sell the stock, barrel and action for more than $225 at Graybeard outdoors.

The Handis are a hit and a miss. i have a .223 that shoots 3" with my best handloads. My 357 Maximum shoots sub MOA all day with red line loads. Imagine a full bore .35 Remington with half the recoil.

 

[Liberty1776]

RE: the OP. I wouldn't push it as hard as the Ruger. They are not in the same class. They should handle moderate loads no problem, but the locking system is not that stout (compared to the Ruger). Having said that, I love mine in 30-30. I have a Weaver 4x on it, and it is reliable as heck and will do 1 1/2" groups all day long.

 

[RPRNY]

RE: the OP. I wouldn't push it as hard as the Ruger. They are not in the same class. They should handle moderate loads no problem, but the locking system is not that stout (compared to the Ruger). Having said that, I love mine in 30-30. I have a Weaver 4x on it, and it is reliable as heck and will do 1 1/2" groups all day long.

The Handi Rifle was chambered in 25-06 and 270 Win, both of which are SAAMI pressure rated at 65,000 psi. Any published 45-70 load will be fine in a steel SB2 receiver.