Author Topic: Changes coming from H&R (Read 1974 times)

lik2hunt · « **on:** December 10, 2004, 11:20:18 PM »

After Mac's great luck on his 25-06 purchase I have made it a point to inspect a couple. Looked at two yesterday and both had very light triggers :grin: . Each had the HU serial#'s indicating 2004 manufactured guns, and Mac has stated that his also has a 2.5 lb. trigger (tested) with no creep. Perhaps since they have made the decision to begin charging for the trigger jobs that are on triggers less than 5 lbs., they also decided to send out the new receivers with lighter triggers. Does anyone have an HU gun that is not a 25-06 to check this further.
Next, here is an excerpt from a member of the yahoo groups forum who sent in a .270 barrel and got it back with what appeared to be an extractor and not an ejector:

Okay okay......crisis averted. I just called NEF, and they're gonna
make it right for me. They said that the "extract and not eject"
thing is actually new. They changed the design to where they will
come out enough you can grab the cartridge, but it won't throw it
out of the gun. That's fine...I reload, so I always have to catch
the spent brass anyway.

Notice the design change.
Anyone else know of any more surprises we might expect from the new guns other than calibers.

lik2hunt · « **Reply #1 on:** December 10, 2004, 11:32:06 PM »

Ok well I apparently missed this post somehow which has a lot of good info in it too.
http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=48424
To this I'd like to add that it looks as if SportSouth will be having a 26" barreled Huntsman too. Another new and GOOD innovation by H&R/NEF for next year. Maybe they have beeen listening to us after all.

cricman · « **Reply #2 on:** December 11, 2004, 12:22:53 AM »

I have a new "NU" numbered in .204 that features the extractor and what I consider to be an excellent trigger (nicer than the excellent trigger job that I paid extra for on my .270 Handi.) It also came with a laminated stock. I hope this is a trend in the NEF/H&R line.

Long Live the Handi Rifle!

marv · « **Reply #3 on:** December 11, 2004, 01:06:18 AM »

It is about time They came up with a good trigger pull,
My 3 NEF's have extra heavy high pulls, 219 zipper has a 6 #
pull, 2 NN serails have 4# and 3 1/2 # , I have got to work on the 6#
pull. 72 model H&R shotgun has EIGHT Pounder that is H---.
Marv.

hellacatcher · « **Reply #4 on:** December 11, 2004, 10:04:07 AM »

I don't know if a sprotser counts, but my 17 m2 has N U in the serial and has a good trigger no creep pull seems a good pull but have no way of gaging it.

TCR · « **Reply #5 on:** December 11, 2004, 10:43:37 AM »

I have a NU 22-250 and there is no creep, but it is 4.5 to 5# pull. I'm for sure planning on a trigger job for this caliber.

gwhilikerz · « **Reply #6 on:** December 11, 2004, 11:28:45 AM »

Could it be that because many of us have been talking about the Rossi that the people at H&R/NEF are actually trying to put out more "user friendly" guns? Things like extractors and good trigger pulls. Probably not, but just in case I am going to mention "Rossi" every once in a while. :grin:

Sourdough · « **Reply #7 on:** December 12, 2004, 08:45:50 PM »

Was thinking about ordering a new 30-06 Handi, so I could get a .243 barrel on the same frame. But if they have changed to extractors, I'll stick with my old one. That's one of the reason's I got my first Handi, it had ejector's. That is another reason I carry it over my TCR, the TCR has extractors. When I need to reload fast I want that empty gone, so all I have to do is drop in a fresh shell. If I'm not in a hurry I simply put my hand behind the hammer as I open the action to catch the empty. Since I only shoot reloads I generally try and catch all my brass.

marv · « **Reply #8 on:** December 13, 2004, 12:25:22 AM »

Sourdoough, Gkad see you back here, Had not seen a post in quite
some time. Hope all is well with you, and the freezer is full.
Take care Marv.

lik2hunt · « **Reply #9 on:** December 13, 2004, 01:29:37 AM »

I would think that there should be enough of the 2003 and earlier 2004 produced guns left out there to provide a guy with an ejector barrel but I would hurry and definitely check it or have it checked ahead of time. Also I bet in ordering a new barrel, if a request was made for an ejector they would do it, maybe, at least for a while, and the chances are that there are still some of the non-extractor barrels left around the factory.

Here's some new info from the yahoo forum. It's kinda confusing on a couple of calibers but notice the date of the post.

Date: Sat Dec 11, 2004 10:14 am
Subject: new calibers

I called h&r customer service yesterday to check on the barrel
ass. program and found out that they are offering some new cals.for
next year. If memory serves me right they are 480 ruger,7.62x39, 204
ruger and another big pistol cal(memory failed again..lol). On the
down side they said they were dropping the 357 mag. I inquired if
they might offer some medium bores like the 35 rem. ,358 win or in a
perfect world 8mm mauser, but I was told that costomer demand
determines the new cals.,and not much call for the 35's & 8mm's
Speaking of demand they also said that they were considering
expanding there factory due to growing demand for there product. TC
better look out they might be in trouble..lol

Isn't that interesting :eek: 480 ruger and 7.62x39........and we know that the other big pistol cal is the 500S&W. I guess with the great success of the 45-70 they decided a few big bores might get sold easy enough.

Mac11700 · « **Reply #10 on:** December 13, 2004, 05:36:17 AM »

The 7.62x39 is definatly on the new list...I just got off the phone with Jennifer in C/S...and it will be offered...that was the only new one she would confirm too.....

NEF will be closed from 12-23-04 to 1-4-05...and the expected turn-around is 3-4 weeks on work being done...

Mac

aulrich · « **Reply #11 on:** December 13, 2004, 08:38:53 AM »

Could this apparent increase in quality (even if it is just incremental) be due to the Marlin takeover. Maybe it just took some time for the changes to filter down into production? To be honest I can't remember if it has been 2 or 3 years so I could be out to lunch?

That said I can't wait until I get my 204 paid off and out of layaway. One reason I went 204 instead of 223 was when I hear the rumers about the extracter change I gambled that the marlin take over was a positive thing I figured that the 204 would be new production where a 223 might not have been.

riddleofsteel · « **Reply #12 on:** December 13, 2004, 10:50:45 AM »

I wonder if the 7.63x39 will have a .311 bore or a .308 bore with a squeeze throat like the Ruger Mini-Thirty?

quickdtoo · « **Reply #13 on:** December 13, 2004, 10:51:36 AM »

Quote from: riddleofsteel

I wonder if the 7.63x39 will have a .311 bore or a .308 bore with a squeeze throat like the Ruger Mini-Thirty?

That gives new meaning to swaged bullets!

riddleofsteel · « **Reply #14 on:** December 13, 2004, 10:58:10 AM »

Yeah accuracy sucks when you mash a bullet. Plus if you try and shoot cheap steel jacket .311 (7.62) ammo it's hard on a moly steel barrel when the bore is undersize.
If it has a .308 bore and I have to load all my ammo with a set of 7.62x39 dies with a .308 neck I would rather have a 30-30. If it has a .311 bore then it would be cheap to shoot with surplus ammo, just be sure and clean it like a black powder barrel or it WILL rust as 90% of surplus and cheap eastern European ammo is corrosive or at leat mildly so.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #15 on:** December 13, 2004, 11:01:32 AM »

Knowing H&R's large variance in bore diameters according to Fred and Handirifle, it's hard to tell what you'll get, probably something in the middle that is neither nor! :cry:

riddleofsteel · « **Reply #16 on:** December 13, 2004, 11:19:55 AM »

The problem is that if NEF is buying its barrel blanks from a vendor then .308 barrels will be cheap and plentiful. This is one reason Ruger supplied the Mini-Thirty with a .308 barrel and cursed it with mediocre accuracy from the start.
.311 bore barrels are a little harder to get in the US because they are so few cartridges popular here that are of that bore.

JPH45 · « **Reply #17 on:** December 13, 2004, 12:33:19 PM »

I had one of the early Ruger Mini Thirties, I could't tell any difference in accuracy from surplus, to civilian factory to handloads. The thing shot 3" groups at 100 yards all day long. You could even mix and match the magazine, didn't matter. I hear they have since gone to a .311 bore barrel, but I'd bet it didn't do a thing for accuracy. My bet would be on a 308 bore, they are already making three 30 cals on it, why change now? The nice thing about a Russian Handi would be tons of cheap shooting with surplus WC 680 in addition to the cheap surplus ammo. Might have to find one of these toward the summer.....

Big Blue · « **Reply #18 on:** December 13, 2004, 02:57:39 PM »

The loss of the ejectors is both a blessing and a curse. While it gave me plenty of problems from my .223, and 7mm-08, it is a pleasure on the 45/70 for hunting and quick follow up shots, not that the 45/70 needs any.
Don

v8r · « **Reply #19 on:** December 13, 2004, 04:58:56 PM »

A 7.63x39 with the proper bore diameter would be really fun to plink with.Maybe they will do it like they should.

lik2hunt · « **Reply #20 on:** December 16, 2004, 12:59:21 AM »

Another interesting post from the yahoo group forum.............

Quote

Subject: Update on 357mag barrels

Back in Sept. when I heard that H&R was going to make small run of
357mag barrels I sent my receiver back right away to get in line
(actually first in line) Anyway, just got off the phone with customer
service, my receiver and new 357mag barrel is shipping out tomorrow.
It's gonna be a good Christmas

catfishingham · « **Reply #21 on:** December 19, 2004, 01:27:26 PM »

Hi Fellas,
I see a post here mentioning a new Handy in 7.62x39.
If you have a .308 or 30/06 you can buy a removable adapter
for 7.62x39 from the sight below and save some money. Also
other calibers.

Catfishingham

http://www.mcace.com/shotguninserts.htm

quickdtoo · « **Reply #22 on:** December 19, 2004, 01:42:16 PM »

Yup, like these...
http://eabco.com/sale8.html

riddleofsteel · « **Reply #23 on:** December 19, 2004, 02:15:25 PM »

Somehow I do not see the ejector working with one of those.
Even the website states better extraction with a claw type extractor.

MSP Ret · « **Reply #24 on:** December 19, 2004, 02:37:05 PM »

QUOTE - "I was told that customer demand
determines the new cals.,and not much call for the 35's"

Yeah sure, we have all been clamoring for .35 Whelens and .35 Remingtons since the old forum that was hosted by H&R/NEF!!! Then they drop the .357 to our roars of disappointment, only to re-introduce it for a "limited run" of barrels, come on now, if they are going to screw us couldn't they at least give us a little kiss on the cheek!!!....<><.... :cry:

Deadeye47 · « **Reply #25 on:** December 19, 2004, 04:05:38 PM »

"if they are going to screw us couldn't they at least give us a little kiss on the cheek!!!" :-D Yeah...I feel that way about the IRS,DMV, State and local taxes and my internet provider too.....I had no idea I was gettin so much action and no kisses.....

MSP Ret · « **Reply #26 on:** December 19, 2004, 04:35:18 PM »

Deadeye, do you get any snow down there? We oldtimers have to stick together, I'll send you an e-mail notification of a snow shoveling scam to watch out for, the perpurtrators usually look for older men at home alone, be careful....<><.... :shock:

Donaldo · « **Reply #27 on:** December 21, 2004, 05:02:40 AM »

MSP, sent you an email, not sure it went thru.

MSP Ret · « **Reply #28 on:** December 21, 2004, 05:40:55 AM »

Nothing here Donaldo, the address is armartin1(at)comcast.net

Merry CHRISTmas and I'll be looking for it....<><.... :grin:

MGMorden · « **Reply #29 on:** December 21, 2004, 02:52:54 PM »

I really hope that the 7.62x39 has a .311" bore. I've already got an SKS and it's a hoot to plink with, but it's not that accurate and the scope mounting solutions aren't great (not to mention it just doesn't look right with a scope). If the Handi 7.62x39 has the .311" bore then I would have a fun plinker that I could really "play" with :grin:.