Welcome aboard!!
Are the QC problems so bad that if the store has 3 in stock, I should look at all 3 new-in-box rifles, disassemble them, shake them, check for wiggle/gaps and decide that way?Read the top sticky, has a few things to look for, it mostly applies to a used gun but some of it applies to a new one too.
Read all the stickys, there's a ton of info in there that will answer a lot of your questions. Use the easy search tips sticky to get the most out of the search function, you can bet that whatever you want to know has been asked at least once before. :wink:
So
how has the performance of NEW small caliber Handis (.22H, .223, .204, .243) been for you? Problems? I have a .17M2, .17Hmr, 22Mag, 22 Hornet .204, .223, .22-250 and .243, they all shoot very well. The .223 is notorious for sticking brass, but most new rifles will have extractors, but a good chamber polish will usually solve that issue on an ejector equipped barrel.
Is the Handi any better/worse than the dedicated rifles from Spartan (now Rem formerly Braztech) or Rossi? The prices are about the same. What about the quality?Rossi doesn't make the Rem Spartans, they're made in Russia by EAA Baikal. The quality of the single shot shotguns is crap from what I've looked at, have never seen any of their rifles and I doubt anyone will for a while, Rem has put the eta back so many times, it's not funny.
Is it true that a single dry-fire of the NEF will ruin accuracy?Dry firing most any firearm can have detrimental effects, not a good idea unless the mfr states it's ok. I would be worried more about breaking a firing pin or transfer bar and making the gun inoperable than causing an accuracy problem which I dunno where you got that idea.