Author Topic: Is H&R/NEF prices getting a little outta control? (Read 4952 times)

buckslayer · « **on:** November 29, 2009, 07:49:10 AM »

with basic Handi Rifles around 250$ and Ultra Rifles at about 350$, dosnt that seem like alot? Savage Stevens 110's are 300$, and Weatherby Vanguards are 400$, with both, you are pretty much guaranteed outta the box shooters in EVERY caliber, not necessarily by the factory, but still its safe to say you will get a shooter when you buy either of these. They have all the basic standard calibers plus quite a few MAGNUM calibers. I absolutely love the H&R/NEF's I have, and wouldnt trade em for anything, but these prices are really pushing the limits, IMO. Especially the known issues with certain calibers, and the lack of magnums. What are your thoughts? Once again, this is not a bash, I love em, and am seriously looking at a couple more. The price of new ones does have me thinking though....

ncsurveyor · « **Reply #1 on:** November 29, 2009, 07:58:51 AM »

I agree.

I won't buy another new one in lieu of a bolt gun.

As long as folks here continue to buy/sell/and trade I'd rather do business here.

Sadly, I suspect the forum prices may eventually catch up with the industry.

kwells2006 · « **Reply #2 on:** November 29, 2009, 09:39:44 AM »

prices already are getting out of control, even on here... its like everyone has one of those "golden guns"

gendoc · « **Reply #3 on:** November 29, 2009, 09:58:38 AM »

well i guess its what you want.. and what you can do with it.
if ya want a bolt, get a bolt... its all good !!!

i like the deal of "one shot, make it count or don't do it"

the handi's are a lil different, making them shoot are the most enjoyable thing
i and several others here thrive on...among other barrel adaptivity ( i guess i spelled that right!!!)
a lil brain work, ask questions, and go at it...

i have lots of other brand rifles and shotguns, but once you get them where you want them...
the quest is over... not a handi.

as for t/c's there very fine thangs... i don't have any. because many many times i've out shot them with my
$200-$250 handi.... my 9 #1 rugers, there collection displays and they do get used from time to time.

yep, i have noticed the prices have been going up. but so are the others

my marlin leverguns have a use in my collection too.

bolt guns are kool.... they shoot at ranges that some people just can't believe.
got quite a few of them too.

i think the handi is the most fun of them all..... the tinker'n never stops
and the mind never rests with them..

i thank thatsa gud thang!!!!

Lazermule · « **Reply #4 on:** November 29, 2009, 11:14:12 AM »

I agree, they are climbing a bit too high..... I think the $200 mark for the basic Handi should be the limit.

Maybe start a poll?

LM

kwells2006 · « **Reply #5 on:** November 29, 2009, 11:19:21 AM »

but it will do no good... maybe get some opinions, but other than that...

dpe.ahoy · « **Reply #6 on:** November 29, 2009, 12:24:59 PM »

I think they are getting to high. I've seen 2 price increases this year in Billings, MT. Lord knows I got enough of the things, don't need anymore, but what does "need" have to do with it?

Some of the Bolts are very competitively priced now, picked up a new Marlin bolt that was only $50.00 more than a Handi settin' on the same shelf. DP

torpedoman · « **Reply #7 on:** November 29, 2009, 12:30:34 PM »

When you own most of the gun companies you can charge whatever you want to. Ceribus capitol owns rem, marlin, H&r, dan wesson, and a few others. They are floating the idea of a stock offering called freedon arms company.

ironglow · « **Reply #8 on:** November 29, 2009, 12:43:14 PM »

B etter start thinking Savage..hopefully, Savage will re-introduce their excellent 219 series. I have a 219L in a .22 Hornet...nice gun !@

http://www.gunandgame.com/forums/savage/69145-amazing-savage-model-219-rifle.html

trotterlg · « **Reply #9 on:** November 29, 2009, 12:43:46 PM »

Problem they are going to have is that their H&R's are sitting on the rack right next to the Rossi's which, to the casual gun buyer, look exactly the same, and they are half the price of an H&R. The Rossi quality is not quite up to the H&R, but it is getting close, the finish on the newer ones is very good, the finish on the frame of the Rossi Youth 22/410 combo is really nice, but the .410 barrel is pure junk, but I got one (combo) for $97.00. It will not take long for people who aren't tied to either one of these to abandon the H&R's for the half price Rossi's. Larry

ironglow · « **Reply #10 on:** November 29, 2009, 12:56:50 PM »

I do believe that hiking the price may well cause other mfgrs to reconsider some of their old, shotgun based models..that could only be good news for us.
How about this?..Rossi raises prices to 3/4 of what NEF charges, but brings their quality up so it is such that one can buy an extra barrel without special fitting. In fact, a good gun shop could keep a couple dozen extra barrels of various calibers on hand to be sold over the counter.

trotterlg · « **Reply #11 on:** November 29, 2009, 01:29:48 PM »

From looking at both of these rifles, H&R & Rossi, it appears to me that Rossi has probably invested in some production equipment that requires less hand work to produce the product. The under lug appears to be a casting or forging, so does the ejector, the pins they use are just solid pins, (in the underlug) where H&R uses nice roll pins. The Rossi ejector release lever is stamped out and H&R's is machined. Rossi does have a nice feature that allows the ejector to come clear through the underlug and stick out the front a little. If a shell is stuck in the chamber, allowing the action to open completely forces the ejector to the rear breaking it free of the chamber with a positive mechanical push which allows an ejector to be used without the problems that H&R had with the ejector type rifles. Time will tell if H&R is killing them selves off with the higher prices, but having a lookalike rifle selling for half of what they charge cannot be helping them any. Larry

Spanky · « **Reply #12 on:** November 29, 2009, 02:30:14 PM »

Think of it like this with the Handi. For your $250 you are getting a good quality rifle that you can change barrels, stocks, sights, etc. to make it work for you. For $300 you can get some other companies lowest cost, bottom of the line bolt gun. Upgrades to the bolt gun will probably cost alot more than the same upgrades made to a Handi. $300 bolt guns will most likely have a cheap synthetic stock where the Handi will probably have a wood stock that can be refinished to look very nice. ( I do it all the time). A $300 bolt gun MIGHT shoot better but there's no guarantee on that. My 30-30 Handi might put a few bolt guns to shame.

I think the prices are getting a little high on some Handi stuff but I tend to think you get your money's worth.

Spanky

pmeisel · « **Reply #13 on:** November 29, 2009, 02:47:50 PM »

At that price point, $100 to $150 is a lot of money, so H&R still has a price advantage. And I prefer the handling to a bolt gun for most of what I do.

spikehorn · « **Reply #14 on:** November 29, 2009, 02:48:14 PM »

I'm not sure where you are getting your pricing on the Savage 110 being a $300 gun try around $450. The Stevens 200 on the other hand is a $300 gun. The first one of these I bought about 4 years ago was $269 I have both a 308 and a 223 and both are sub MOA guns. I was thinking about a 7-08 this last summer and now they are $336. I did pick up a H&R ultra varmint 308 Dick's SG camo combo with a 4X12X40 scope for $249 near the end of summer and have already taken a deer with it. I also picked up an H&R 30-30 for $240. My 44 mag handi cost me $239 a couple years ago. So for my area of the country it seems that the prices for handi rifles has stayed pretty consistent.

buckslayer · « **Reply #15 on:** November 29, 2009, 03:49:53 PM »

Quote from: spikehorn on November 29, 2009, 02:48:14 PM

I'm not sure where you are getting your pricing on the Savage 110 being a $300 gun try around $450. The Stevens 200 on the other hand is a $300 gun. The first one of these I bought about 4 years ago was $269 I have both a 308 and a 223 and both are sub MOA guns. I was thinking about a 7-08 this last summer and now they are $336. I did pick up a H&R ultra varmint 308 Dick's SG camo combo with a 4X12X40 scope for $249 near the end of summer and have already taken a deer with it. I also picked up an H&R 30-30 for $240. My 44 mag handi cost me $239 a couple years ago. So for my area of the country it seems that the prices for handi rifles has stayed pretty consistent.

Yeah, I called it the Stevens 110, it is actually called the 200. It is the non accutrigger savage 110 with a new name, and any 110 part can be used on it, like triggers, stocks, barrels, whatever. It is one of the best deals on the market. the 110 was/is an extremely accurate and easily (and cheaply) customizable.

wreckhog · « **Reply #16 on:** November 29, 2009, 05:29:32 PM »

The prices are OK. I just wish they would eliminate SB-1's. What is the point? Almost like they don't want the $120 shotguns to have rifle friendly receivers.

Spanky · « **Reply #17 on:** November 29, 2009, 07:25:48 PM »

Quote from: wreckhog on November 29, 2009, 05:29:32 PM

The prices are OK. I just wish they would eliminate SB-1's. What is the point? Almost like they don't want the $120 shotguns to have rifle friendly receivers.

The price of the Pardners would go up about 100 bucks if it was on an SB2 frame.

Spanky

LaOtto222 · « **Reply #18 on:** November 30, 2009, 12:09:50 AM »

I complained a year ago about Handi rifles costing so much. Of course Indiana just passed a pistol cartridge law for rifles so plain wood stocked S&W 500's and 44 Mags were selling for $300. then I would have to pay sales tax + get a mount and rings. I am talking $350 now. I bought a Gander Mountain "Special" for $250 in 44 mag with an SB 2 frame and synthetic stocks. It was still no real deal, but was as good as I could get. When I said the price was too high, all I got here was, you got to expect them to go higher, manufacturing costs were up, shipping costs (fuel) are up, etc. Basically I was told to suck it up and quit complaining. Well shipping costs are down, but the price did not come down. I quit complaining alright, I found an alternate rifle. I just bought a Stevens 200 with mounts and a scope in 30-06 for $300 out the door that included a 7% sales tax. Granted the scope is not much, but I got mounts and rings that are easily worth $20. I really like single shot rifles and the Handi rifle has grown on me. I wanted a 30-06 in a Handi, but the Stevens was the same price with the mounts and rings, it just did not make any sense to me to buy the Handi. I personally think they are pricing them selves out of the market. Good Luck to you all, your choice is your business.

jlwilliams · « **Reply #19 on:** November 30, 2009, 01:23:43 AM »

The prices haven't gone up much, the value if the money has gone down. $250 just doesn't buy what it used to; same if were talking guns, gas, or groceries.

carbineman · « **Reply #20 on:** November 30, 2009, 02:22:18 AM »

Quote from: jlwilliams on November 30, 2009, 01:23:43 AM

The prices haven't gone up much, the value if the money has gone down. $250 just doesn't buy what it used to; same if were talking guns, gas, or groceries.

Precisely!-Well stated.
While I'm not on the A List as a handi-holic, I do own three Toppers in 30-30 and a 24" barreled .223 in the Ultra version, I can see where for some, the fun of "collecting" is being ruined by the diminshing value of our fiat currency, or should I say monopoly money.

As things happen in America though, truly "handi" Americans counteract the actions of the powers that be, by buying and trading stocks barrels and receivers, or by cruising the local shows and shops for those bargains that are still availble "only in America".

Sometime back, I owned a Handi in 30-30/20 ga.Tracker II, that my buddy coveted and I eventually sold it to him but not before I secured a second Topper in 30-30. Now with a third recently put together with a barrel purchased on GBO, I have three neat little light rifles and very little invested. (except for the scopes). I suspect the true handi-holic will also persevere.

So the state of handi-dom across our fruited plain is still going strong......... Like my Dad used to say, the trouble with a good nickel cigar is that it now costs a quarter. That is unless one is real handi.

tykempster · « **Reply #21 on:** November 30, 2009, 03:15:31 AM »

I know I'm not gonna pay $350 for a pretty poorly designed firearm, that I consider ugly. Unless I got a great deal on another barrel or gun, I consider my 45-120 most likely my only venture into the Handi world.

mike@nds · « **Reply #22 on:** November 30, 2009, 04:24:53 AM »

Quote from: Spanky on November 29, 2009, 07:25:48 PM

Quote from: wreckhog on November 29, 2009, 05:29:32 PM
The prices are OK. I just wish they would eliminate SB-1's. What is the point? Almost like they don't want the $120 shotguns to have rifle friendly receivers.

The price of the Pardners would go up about 100 bucks if it was on an SB2 frame.

Spanky

This is correct.

I spoke to a gal that works at Marlin/NEF at an ATF manufactures conference last April, and asked her the same exact question.

Cottonwood · « **Reply #23 on:** November 30, 2009, 04:38:07 AM »

I think for the money, for the guy who is on a budget the H&R Handi Rifle is the way to go. I mean look at all your barrel options without including any belted magnums in the group. If a guy can just deal with a single shot rifle, it is the way to go if you price a T/C as their barrels are running I believe in the upwards $330 range where as H&R barrels are pretty cheap.

Yes, some of these take some tweaking to get them to shoot MOA.

As far as bolt guns, I don't think anyone can go wrong with a Savage and its accu-trigger.

JMHO

Swampman · « **Reply #24 on:** November 30, 2009, 04:59:58 AM »

While I wouldn't own the bolt actions mentioned, I can't get a bolt action in .45-70, .30-30, or .357. I only like the handis chambered for rimmed cartridges.

STUMPJMPR · « **Reply #25 on:** November 30, 2009, 06:24:41 AM »

I believe the price is starting to get too high. Handi's are running about $250 right now. You can get a mossberg ATR or marlin XL7 in the same price range. Even the Rem 700 adls are pushing 450. Its not about cost of manufacturing as much as corparate greed. CEO's and share holders still want their huge bonus at a time when sales are shrinking due to the economic situation..

AtlLaw · « **Reply #26 on:** November 30, 2009, 06:34:41 AM »

Quote from: tykempster on November 30, 2009, 03:15:31 AM

... poorly designed ... ugly ... Unless I got a great deal ... my 45-120 <will> most likely my only venture into the Handi world.

Tyler Tyler Tyler...

Boy, do I gotta learn you everything!? $:-\$

This is the Handi Rifle forum! You wouldn't walk into his house and tell the daddy of some girl you takin out "well, she fat as a hog and ugly as sin, but if she do the dirty deed good enough I may take her out again."

'course you wouldn't! There is such a thing as being "too" honest! 'specially when there be wimmins involved!

Now, I'm sure you meant something like: As much as I love my 45-120, I don't believe I would be willing to pay $350.00 for the basic model.

Dixie Dude · « **Reply #27 on:** November 30, 2009, 07:01:58 AM »

I saw a bolt action Mauser in 45-70 someone made years ago for $400 at a gun show Saturday. Handi's were in the $250+ range new and $150-200 range used.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #28 on:** November 30, 2009, 07:23:55 AM »

The SB1 357mag sells for $209 shipped at Bud's for a price comparison of SB1 to SB2, an SB2 rifle sells for $50 more.

Tim

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/36_262/products_id/52891

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/351/products_id/89084

carbineman · « **Reply #29 on:** November 30, 2009, 07:37:54 AM »

Quote from: quickdtoo on November 30, 2009, 07:23:55 AM

The SB1 357mag sells for $209 shipped at Bud's for a price comparison of SB1 to SB2, an SB2 rifle sells for $50 more.

Tim

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/36_262/products_id/52891

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/351/products_id/89084

Quick, That is a really good price in todays world. Kinda like the nickel cigar only costing a dime instead of a quarter.