NEF Pardner Advice

[DaleCooper51]

I have an extra NEF Pardner receiver that has been bugging me sitting on the shelf with out a barrel on it. I had a 24" 12ga turkey barrel which I sold a couple years ago. I'm trying to figure out which replacement barrel I should get for it. My father just gave me his old MEC 600, but I haven't picked it up yet. It is set up for 12 ga which would cover my other guns.

I wouldn't have given much thought to anything other than a 12ga, but I see SM tout the 20 ga. youth gun as being handy and throwing great patterns. Do the other sub-gauge pardners pattern well? I'm not so keen on the .410, but the 28 has me thinking.

This will be a fun gun, might go camping or woods bumming, will probably hang out near the back door to take care of vermin up to groundhog size. I already have a Topper Deluxe Classic 12 ga. and would like something else to use this receiver.

What would you get in my situation?

 

[gp911]

I'd get the 28ga. mod choke barrel, in 22". I have one and love it. Up to groundhog it would work fine. Short barrel would be handy for jumping out the doorway, doing the tuck-n-roll, and popping up behind the trashcan that the raccoons are feasting from. More totable in the woods, etc. as well.

They also offer a 26" barrel, which would work too.

gp911

 

[goon]

I'd go with 20 gauge.
It's readily available and about the same price as 12 gauge and it's also a well balanced gauge.
It's got enough size for most jobs but not too much. It throws enough pellets to be about as effective as a 12 gauge for rabbit and squirrel hunting and for dealing with pests.
For defense, 20 gauge slugs are also putting 7/8 ounce of lead into something and the're starting out at around a .60 caliber so it's definitely not something to underestimate. I have only tried one type of buck shot through mine and it was disappointing but I still might find something that works better. If not, I'll just stick with slugs.
I don't know about 28 gauge, but .410 is really expensive but pretty tiny and anemic compared to a 20 gauge.
IMO, it makes no sense to go with a small, expensive gauge when you could have a bigger, cheaper gauge that will probably be more effective.

Like SM, I also like the youth guns. They're very light and handy and they're simple.
Not much to go wrong and they can be had for about $75 in good shape.

IIRC, H&R/NEF will fit a new barrel to your frame for about $50.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Any of the above, and have fun.

 

[chris in va]

Wish 410 wasn't so expensive. Love shooting mine. Very little recoil and quick handling.

 

[gregormeister]

Where can you find the NEF PP barrels? I've had no luck!!!

 

[gp911]

www.hr1871.com

They list extra barrels on their website for the pardner pump. Go to the website, click "customer support" then click "barrel accessory program" and the pp barrels are toward the bottom.

Pardner® Pump Barrels
Part # Description Price
S03595 12 Ga., 18.5", Cyl. Bore, Bead frt. Sight $61.00
705 12 Ga., 28" Vent Rib, Screw-In Choke (Mod.) $103.00
S03613 12 Ga., 22" Rifled Bore, Adj. Rifle Sights $111.00
S03610 Pardner Pump Scope Rail** $13.95


As you can see, they're pricey except for the 18.5" version.


gp911