pawn shop NEF 20g

[gstewart44]

Need some advice.  Our local pawn shop has an NEF 20g for sale.  Asking $99.   Ser.No starts  NAxxxxxxxx.   I believe that indicates it was manufactured in 1986.     The barrel locks up like a bank vault when closed,  the bore is bright and shiny, and the case color is beautiful.   However when the action is open the barrel/lug/hinge has a lot of play in it.....almost to where you would think the barrel will come off.  Just by eyeballing it I would say the play is about 1/16th inch on either side.   

The shotgun looks great but I have an uneasy feeling about the "loose" open action.   

Your thoughts are appreciated.   

Thanks. 

[quickdtoo]

Remove the forend and and check for looseness when the action is closed, when open doesn't matter, if it's loose when locked up without the forend on, you don't want it unless you can get it real cheap. You can buy a brand new Pardner for not much more, in fact the local chain store has em on sale for $99.99 a few times a year, I wouldn't give more than $50-$60 for a used one myself.

Tim

[gstewart44]

thanks Tim,

I'll head by there on my way home and check it w/o the foreend.   Also, is the 1986 frame strong enough for a 357 or 44 mag barrel?   Just curious.  Thanks again. 

[quickdtoo]

It's an SB1, H&R has said they'll fit those barrels to 1987 and later frames, but the NA serial number means it was made by H&R1871, not H&R Inc, so they should fit acc barrels to it, or you can. H&R1871 bought the company out of bankruptcy in late 1986, hence the pre '87 NA serial number prefix which is an exception to the 1987 cutoff. 

Tim

[gstewart44]

Thanks again Tim,

I'll let you know what I find out this evening. 

[Daman]

Offer them $70 out the door or go buy a new one for $20 bucks more than they are asking. A new Pardner around here goes for $120.

Daman