Surplus ammo & NEF Handi-Rifles

[seeker_two]

I'm thinking about buying a Handi-Rifle in either .223 or .308 to take advantage of the inexpensive surplus ammo that's being sold (.223 rifle ammo almost equal to 9mm ball prices... ). I have a .303 SMLE sporter that I use for hunting, but I don't want to run corrosive surplus through it (family heirloom) & I don't have the spare time to reload (got the equipment & data, though. Just not the time... ) And my current finances put the Handi's a lot closer than the AR's & FAL's...

Does anyone have experience using surplus .223/5.56 or .308/7.62 in a Handi-Rifle? Will they hold up, or am I just asking for trouble?...

Thanks in advance.....

 

[PAC 762]

Avoid the steel case Wolf ammo in handi rifles. It my experience, the extractor is not strong enough to eject them. Brass case 5.56 surplus in a .223 handi rifle worked fine.

 

[BTM]

seeker two
NEF is adding the 7.62x39 this year. That will be the cheapest surplus to shoot by far. I have not seen what the true bore diameter will be yet .308 or .310. That will make a difference on how well it shoots the cheap surplus ammo.

 

[Dave R]

I have a .223 Handi-Rifle. I shoot 5.56 surplus through it. I get about 1.5" groups at 100 yards with it. Handloads do better, but that's not bad for surplus.

I've also tried Wolf .223 in it. Not as accurate as Milsurp, but I did not have any ejection problems. I don't think you're asking for trouble.

 

[JA]

Tula Cartridge Works has stopped slopping the primer and bullet sealer on the Wolf 223 ammo. So 2004 or later production ammo will have no problem ejecting out of a Handi-Rifle.
Arrows point to how far the sealer has run down onto the cases of this 2002 production Wolf 223 ammo.

 

[RWMC]

Sticky 5.56 rounds in Handi - Rifle

I HAVE had ejection trouble with my .223 bull barrel handi rifle. I was shooting Winchester white-box, labeled 5.56. Around every 3rd or 4th case was sticking in the chamber. I called NEF and told them what was happening. They said that their rifles are designed to fire ammo that is marked on the rim, ".223 Remington", NOT 5.56 Nato. There is a very slight differance in the two, but enough to cause occasional cartridges to stick in the chamber if one fires 5.56 ammo in a Handi- Rifle. The owners manual even advises against using 5.56 rounds in the .223 chambered guns. And yes, I am very meticulous in cleaning my weapons.

 

[SpookyPistolero]

This is really interesting because I've been thinking the same thing over the last couple of days. I'd really like to have a fun little plinker that I can practice basic rifle skills with and a cheap single shot sounds great. And since I'm poor as dirt, surplus ammo would have to work in it.

It's a bit tough to decide what the best caliber is. I'd rather have a .30 cal, so either 7.62x39 or .308 would take the cake, probably .308. Anyone else have these rifles that would care to chime in and say if they are worth the cost?

I was reading an article in a gun rag and he said his weighed in at 7 lbs, as did cheap yearly price catalog. This seems really really heavy to me for a single shot rifle. Did I find some bad info or would it likely be something like a heavy barrelled version?

-spooky

 

[Z_Infidel]

I also had ejection trouble with 5.56 rounds in my Handi Rifle. SAAMI .223 has never caused a problem. Since I sold my AR I don't buy surplus 5.56 any more anyway, so it's a non-issue for me.

 

[Dave R]

Anyone else have these rifles that would care to chime in and say if they are worth the cost?

Yes, they are definitely worth the cost. They are a great value for the money. Durable and accurate.

And don't forget you can buy additional barrels for the rifle for like $90(?) but you have to send your "lower" in to have the barrel fitted.

 

[recondoc]

I'm planning on buying another NEF in the Survivor setup. I spoke with NEF's Customer Service folks today and they confirmed that the 7.62X39 barrels will be released this year. They will start out only fitting the barrels to existing rifles and not offering the complete 7.62 Russian rifles.
I'm hoping they will make the 22" Bull to fit the Survivor stock in this chambering as it would see tons of shooting by me and a lot of other folks.
I will most likely be purchasing the Survivor in .223 instead of .308 due to a rebuilt, right shoulder that starts to smart a bit with continuous recoil. .223 doesn't bother it much and the AK I carried during my time in Iraq didn't bother it much either. (That was with a lot of rounds fired.) With calibers larger than 30-30/ 7.62 Russian, I can only go about 8-10 rounds before it really bothers me. The Doctors moved quite a bit of muscle around in there and added a few staples to the bone to hold it all together. I think the recoil may be driving the staples deeper into the bone. While hanging out with our imbeded Sniper Platoon prior to going into Iraq, I got to squeeze on off from the Barrett. I think I'll pass on that experience should it ever arrise again.
Doc

 

[nipprdog]

I will most likely be purchasing the Survivor in .223 instead of .308

good choice, considering your shoulder. the Survivor stock is narrow, and has no recoil pad.

shot one in 308 a few times. not an all day shooter.

 

[nipprdog]

I have not seen what the true bore diameter will be yet .308 or .310.

bad news. :banghead:

http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=57239

 

[recondoc]

I forgot to mention that in the afore mentioned conversation, the Customer Service Rep. told me they were also considering 7.62X54R and .303 British.
I've killed a lot of game with the .303 round in an old Enfield that I bought for $62 out of a half oil drum in a general store. One of the best shooting, not to mention ugliest, little rifles I ever owned.
Doc

 

[nipprdog]

I've killed a lot of game with the .303 round in an old Enfield that I bought for $62 out of a half oil drum in a general store. One of the best shooting, not to mention ugliest, little rifles I ever owned.

the joy of a low-priced, effective firearm.