It's not impossible that Remington saw NEF as competition to their Russian imported single shot and decided to remove the competition by buying them out and closing them down. I just dunno what to make of it. However it doesn't seem at least so far that the buy out is helping NEF and may be hurting them.
Yep...........and I can't help but wonder if BIG GREEN called the last minute shot on taking the Handi 22 Hornet out of the line up..........BECAUSE..........of their large investment in the .17 Fireball............so large in fact they droped there own .221 Fireball this year.
They have a lot of bucks from set up to major advertising in the 17 Fireball.
If compared to the 22 Hornet it was not - so much louder, did not barrel foul as much (Hornet can go hundreds of rounds), had as long of a accurate barrel life, other besides BIG GREEN actually had brass (monopoly), more bullets for reloading, heavier bullets, not such high priced ammo, more ammo besides just BIG GREEN...........etc,etc,etc, I may actually want one !!!
Again.........I have to believe............"have to"..............that NEF was selling a good amount of Handi Hornets............likely in their top 5 calibers for sales.................I suspect BIG GREENS............17 Fireball !!.............eliminate the competition ...........the less Hornets out there the more our PROPRIETARY 17 Fireballs rifles, bullets,brass and ammo sales !