H&R & NEF Handi 30-30 The Same Rifle?

[blacksan]

I'm new to these and have a hankering for the 30-30 Win cause I like to tinker with that caliber. During my prolific Google session today I found both H&R and NEF Handi's in 30-30. From what I could tell the H&R model had a straight tapper/heavier profile barrel that I liked vs the standard tapper of the NEF. Since I am a dummy when it comes to these rifles I really don't know what I am looking at and assume the H&R was an older model, correct? One other question before I go. I assume that tight lockup would produce better accuracy, correct? The reason I ask is because I picked up a Handi at Wally-World and there was a lot of wiggle with the action properly locked up.

Thanks in advance! 

[wreckhog]

wiggle is bad with the exception of the release lever.

[carbineman]

Just recently (in the last couple of years) the NEF designation was assigned to the imported line of semi auto and slide/pump action shotguns. The NEF line used to include the "Pardner" shotgun line. 

Now from what I can tell, only H&R or Harrington and Richardson branded items encompass all the single shot rifles and shotguns. This has been for about a year or more. There are no more single shots with the NEF designation. The barrels are all the same. Before 1987 the bancrupt H&R made 30-30 barrels with a slimmer profile taper and a different forend that was also with a thinner inlet to accomodate the thinner profile barrel.

Check out the FAQ at the top of the forum and the serial number designation will let you see when a rifle or shotgun was made. Read it all and hopefully the information you seek will become clear.