Bad feeling with NEF/H&R

[Sourdough]

I just talked with NEF customer Service.  I ordered a new sight for my son's 45.70.  Anyway while talking I mentioned the .35 Whelen.  I told him how I have one in a Standard Handi, and how my Dad sort of confiscated it for his personnel use.  I told him I want another one, and will they be making anymore.  He said they made the RMEF comemrative for the Rocky Mountain Elk Federation.  They had a bunch of barrels left over and could not get rid of them.  They finally scrapped them.  Boy I hated hearing that, I told him it was a poor job on their part of not letting their customers know they had them.  If they could make another run of 50 that I'm sure there would be that many people that would buy them.  There would be a bunch from Graybeard that might be interested.  At that point he said that he did not want to hear about "Graybeard" that the graybeard crowd wanted .357 barrels, that they had enough people there to buy them if they would make a run.  They made the run and now are stuck with a bunch of barrels that no one wants.  Allso the muzzlebrakes, they made them, most have been sent back.  Complaints that there is too much noise from them, or people did not like them.  So now he is stuck with a bunch of muzzlebrakes no one wants.

I quess what I'm saying is we need to be sure of what we ask for before we ask for it.  If there is only one or two guys that want it, or we think we might want it but are not sure, then we need to reevaluate how loud we ask for things.  

My view, like the .357 barrel, really who is going to want one?  OK a few fellows who just use them for plinking.  It is not powerful enough for hunting anything bigger than varmits, at close range.  It's great for teaching kids how to shoot, that about it.  Look at the .762X39 again a good plinking cartridge.  Less power than a 30-30, same bullet.  Why ask for something that is inferior to something already made.  What I'm saying is we need to get it togeather before asking for something in the future.  

I may have stepped on someones toes,  but that's life.  These guns are made and bought mainly for hunting.

[Mac11700]

I just talked with NEF customer Service.  I ordered a new sight for my son's 45.70.  Anyway while talking I mentioned the .35 Whelen.  I told him how I have one in a Standard Handi, and how my Dad sort of confiscated it for his personnel use.  I told him I want another one, and will they be making anymore.  He said they made the RMEF comemrative for the Rocky Mountain Elk Federation.  They had a bunch of barrels left over and could not get rid of them.  They finally scrapped them.  Boy I hated hearing that, I told him it was a poor job on their part of not letting their customers know they had them.  If they could make another run of 50 that I'm sure there would be that many people that would buy them.  There would be a bunch from Graybeard that might be interested.  At that point he said that he did not want to hear about "Graybeard" that the graybeard crowd wanted .357 barrels, that they had enough people there to buy them if they would make a run.  They made the run and now are stuck with a bunch of barrels that no one wants.  Allso the muzzlebrakes, they made them, most have been sent back.  Complaints that there is too much noise from them, or people did not like them.  So now he is stuck with a bunch of muzzlebrakes no one wants.

I quess what I'm saying is we need to be sure of what we ask for before we ask for it.  If there is only one or two guys that want it, or we think we might want it but are not sure, then we need to reevaluate how loud we ask for things.  

My view, like the .357 barrel, really who is going to want one?  OK a few fellows who just use them for plinking.  It is not powerful enough for hunting anything bigger than varmits, at close range.  It's great for teaching kids how to shoot, that about it.  Look at the .762X39 again a good plinking cartridge.  Less power than a 30-30, same bullet.  Why ask for something that is inferior to something already made.  What I'm saying is we need to get it togeather before asking for something in the future.  

I may have stepped on someones toes,  but that's life.  These guns are made and bought mainly for hunting.

He said they made the RMEF comemrative for the Rocky Mountain Elk Federation.  They had a bunch of barrels left over and could not get rid of them.  They finally scrapped them

Who exactly there did you discuss this with...this is totally opposite of what I've been told over the last couple of months...and as to them scrapping them...a-lot of the barrels were fitted to standard Handi rifles and sold thru out their network of distributors that way too...just like the 444 Marlin they built...Davidsons bought 300 of them...and the rest went out as regular Handi's...

Allso the muzzlebrakes, they made them, most have been sent back. Complaints that there is too much noise from them, or people did not like them. So now he is stuck with a bunch of muzzlebrakes no one wants.

Again...who told you this...when I found out they had found a few of these  barrels I posted it...nothing was mentioned about almost all of them returned...some...yes...but nowhere as to what your contact was  alluding too...

If they could make another run of 50 that I'm sure there would be that many people that would buy them. There would be a bunch from Graybeard that might be interested. At that point he said that he did not want to hear about "Graybeard" that the graybeard crowd wanted .357 barrels, that they had enough people there to buy them if they would make a run. They made the run and now are stuck with a bunch of barrels that no one wants.

Again...I'm sure the folks I've been talking to recently would love to talk to this guy...or gal...I've heard nothing but good responses to us here at GBO...and this is from a much higher administrator than those fine folks in the C/S department...

So...Sourdough...who was it...???I'd really like to have a chance to talk this person...

Mac

PM sent...

[MSP Ret]

Boy that sure does not seem to jive with all the guys here that are looking for .35 Whelen barrels or any others. I just heard of a bunch of .270 Comp and .30-06 Comp barrels they had or "found" at the factory, by the time I heard and called all the .270 Comp barrels were gone but I was lucky enough to get a 30-06 Comp barrel. While it was at the factory I heard of some Tracker I 20 and 12 gauge barrels that had be "found" at the factory. Well after a year at least of looking for a reasonably priced Tracker I, one was located in Maine in pristine condition, I immediately bought it. That ended my year+ search for a 12 gauge Tracker I. As soon as I found out they had some barrels at the factory I called and had them add a Tracker I in 20 gauge to my 30-06 Ultra Comp order. If I had known of any of these barrels being at the factory I would have ordered them long ago, as I am sure others here would have!!! The story about .35 Whelen barrels being "scrapped" is very hard to swallow, if they have some of these barrels available why don't they list them for us all to see and purchase, it does not make any sense to have customers checking all over the county for a year for a barrel or gun when the company says they have some just gathering dust and they "scrap" them to get rid of them!!! If this is the case someone really fouled up and I don't believe it was the customer like me that had money in his hand and searched for a year to find a barrel. I am lucky enough to have among my barrels a 7x57 and .35 Whelen and have had many people ask that I notify them if I EVER wanted to sell either or both, and they never even asked the price!!!....<><.... :grin:

[Mac11700]

Same here MSp...I paid $350 for a used RMEF Whelen...and I beat several people out for it last year...and sold it...for what I had in it...no questions asked...

I honestly think...that the person Sourdough spoke to at NEF...was wrong...for a number of reasons...first off ..I've been told that NEF is selling everything they can make...secondly...that the main C/S reps there know what we've been asking for...and will go out of their way to let us know when we call...and third...well...let's just say for now...a few of the uppermanagement know full well what we've been asking for...and that they have already talked to the C/S reps...

This shows me that they really need to get everyone on the same page there  ...it took a-lot of negative complaints for  another major manufacture  to do that... namely Remington .....their c/s department got a major overhaul recently...and it shows when you call them now...

Mac

[myarmor]

........sooooo, who was it he spoke to again??? :?:

[Sourdough]

I'm sorry I did not write the guys name down.  With my memory I should have, because as soon as I started writing I could not remember his name.  I did tell him at the time that it was a problem with them if they had those .35 Whelen barrels and no one knew about it that they would have definnately sold if people had known about them.  They had a marketing/advertising     problem.
  I got interupted by the phone before I finished with what I had to say.  When we ask for something out of NEF, we need to really think about it and try to be sensiable in what we ask for.  I personally use my Handi's for hunting.  I like the fact they are simple, few moving parts to break, almost indestructiable.  I also like the fact that they have ejectors, that makes getting a second shot a lot easier, especially when hunting dangerous game.  Now they are changing to extractors, to me they are ruining a good thing.  I have gone to exclusively carring single shots.  I carry a 30-06 Handi during the winter, but carry my TCR in .338 during the summer when I will run into bears.  The TCR only has extractors but at least it shoots the .338Win Mag cartridge.  My Dad sort of confiscated my .35 Whelen for his personal use, he does not handle recoil well so he can't shoot a .338.  I really need something more potant than a 30-06 for summer use.  That is why I keep asking them for the .35 Whelen.  

     Maybe it's just a communication problem between NEF and the end users.  I hear differant stories from others here than what the Customer Service Rep told me.  The only thing I know for sure is that I love my Handi's and don't want anything else.

[cheatermk3]

Maybe they moved the guy who was overtightening the buttplate screws up to the customer service--like maybe he was someone's relation that couldn't be fired so they put him where he couldn't overtighten any more screws?    :roll:

[James B]

I sent a reciever in right away when I heard about the 357 barrels that they found. They are a good little pick-up gun and close range varmit and pest gun. Besides they are fun and cheap to shoot. I would buy a 35 Whelen barrel in a heartbeat. Probable a 444 barrel as well. And OH give me a 375 Winchester barrel.

[Mac11700]

Maybe they moved the guy who was overtightening the buttplate screws up to the customer service--like maybe he was someone's relation that couldn't be fired so they put him where he couldn't overtighten any more screws?    :roll:

 :oh:  :yeah:  :gulp:

Mac

[shaner]

well i dont know about the he said she said  about barrels there , last i heard they only had a few 357 left, so i doubt they got stuck with  to many if they only had 100 to start with??? my question is who said the 357 wasnt big enought o take deer sized animals??? hell man they take a lot of big deer here in ohio with 6" 357 every year, and if u shoot full house 357 out of a 22 in barrel iam pretty sure that deer would be just as deer as if it was a 30/30, or a 45/70 wow thats a hard one to figure???

[Mitch in MI]

When I called in about the barrel sale yesterday, I asked if I needed to reserve my 357 barrels in advance, and she told me they had plenty. Didn't somebody say they only had 33 left a couple of weeks ago?

[Mac11700]

That would be me...http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=59834&highlight=357

And that was the number available at that time...

Mac

[Deadeye47]

.....well.....I too have gotten conflicting info from their CS Dept....it obviously boils down to who ya talk to there....they need to all singing to the same piece of music... It's getting  very frustrating......the whole department  is apparently like a bunch of geese....they wake up in a new world everyday. :roll:

[Mac11700]

Sourdough:

but carry my TCR in .338 during the summer when I will run into bears. The TCR only has extractors but at least it shoots the .338Win Mag cartridge.

Would that be a Thompson Contender Rifle in 338  Win Mag??

Mac

[Sourdough]

MAC:  That's a Thompson Center Rifle.  Break-open, hammerless, duel-set triggers, with interchangable barrels.  It's no longer made.  The Encore is supposed to replace it, but there is no comparason between the two.  The TCR is a high quality, well designed, piece of gun art.  The Encore is not near the same quality gun.  I own both.