I'm about to take the plunge...have a few questions

[fastvfr]

Hello all--

Well, I want to get a knockabout .223 that I can convert to shoot other calibers, so it looks like it's NRF to the rescue!!!

However, I have heard about lots of problems with fit & finish causing problems with these rifles.

I just read a post that mentioned Fred's Notch, for helping the extractor along, and I wondered if polishing the chamber helps this problem at all?

I normally will chuck a short section of cleaning rod into a cordless drill, wrap an appropriately-sized bronze bore brush in fine steel wool and Flitz the bejeesuz out of a sticky chamber. Does this technique work on the Handi rifles' chamber?

I also had some accuracy questions answered by Fred's Tuneup, on the same page, but I'm wondering if there is a specific reason some of these barrels shoot so much worse than others? I mean, it must be that the bore and chamber are not aligned properly or a bad crown...does anyone here know for sure?

Are any of the chamberings markedly more accurate than others? I shoot .223, .270 Winchester, .30-30, .357 magnum, .45ACP and LC, and .454. Is there a chance that a custom barrelmaker could build me a .454 Casull barrel, do you think?

And finally, how much do new barrels cost and what is the procedure for getting a few other calibers? Do I need to send my stocked action to them for fitting, or are they pretty much a one-size-fits-all proposition?

Thanks in advance for sharing your wisdom!!

[quickdtoo]

Accessory barrels are listed at the H&R web site, you would send in your NEF stocked frame and forend, costs vary from $117 to $144 total including shipping. While it's there you might consider having them do a 2.5-3lb trigger job, will cost $20 at most, may be free depending on what the pull is from the factory already, free if over 5lbs, $20 if it's not. They charge $15 for barrel fitting, if you try to do it yourself, it may fit, may not, they aren't one size fits all like TC. I've done 2 and they both locked up fine with a little tuning of the forend spacer to get em to open freely.

I polish the chambers of all my NEF & H&R barrels, doesn't hurt, some are worse about failures to eject. All of the old barrels have ejectors, the new .204 ruger and .22-250 have extractors, maybe all will from now on. I think that most handis will shoot well, some require a little tinkering and bore clean up, all of mine have been really dirty from the factory. Using JB Bore compound on the bore before shooting them will help reduce the trigger time before the barrel attains best accuracy.

http://hr1871.com/barrelAcc/index.htm

[handirifle]

fastvfr
Welcome!
I did similar to my 223 UV and several hundred rounds later, I've yet to have a single stuck case.  Don't forget to make sure no junk got left in the extractor when you're prepping the gun.

Quick answered all your other questions.  By the way, I can usually cover three shots with a dime from mine and it's getting less and less picky about what I feed it.

[fastvfr]

Thanks for the replies, fellas!

Sounds great....I think I know what my next rifle is going to be!

Best regards,

FastVFR