Guys I'm new here. I just bought a NEF SB2 in .270 from a neighbor. The serial # starts with a NJ. My first question is. Whats the difference in SB1 and SB2? Secondly,what does the NJ signify in the serial number ? I have been visiting this forum since I purchased the rifle and I am amazed at the following these rifle have. Will this rifle have to be modified if I want additional barrels ? Be patient guys. Like I said. I'm new at this. Thanks!
All that jibberish and no direct answers Dahelm! Welcome to GBO.
SB2 vs SB1? The SB2 will handle higher pressure metallic rounds like your .270, where the SB1 handles lower "shotgun-like" pressures.
The SB2 will take any Handi or H&R barrel that will coincide with the "NJ" time-frame -- with two general exceptions .....
Rimfire barrels only fit (and function on) the Sportster receiver. period. However if you're a tinkerer or wildcatter, frequently the 1-14twist .22WMR HB can be rechambered to handle a variety of rounds like the .218 Bee, .22 Jet, .221 Fireball, etc., etc, ...... any .224 cal rounds not offered by the factory. Many unique and even strange "rechamberings" have been discussed on GBO.
Of course barrels can be rebored too, at considerably more cost than just a rechambering.
Also any 10ga barrels ONLY fit the 10ga receiver - with ONE EXCEPTION ...... the Ultra Slug Hunter 12gauge is built on a 10ga blank and therefore only fits
that receiver!
However ANY OTHER barrel including
ALL 12, 16, 20, 28 and .410 barrels will fit and function on an SB2 receiver, whether they just drop on or possibly have to be fitted (and or shimmed).
BUT THE OPPOSITE is not [necessarily] the case! (and maybe dangerous?)
Even though H&R offers certain models and "combos" to be had in .357Mag and .44Mag on SB1 receivers ..... usally with a shotgun barrel ...... Actually the .410/.45Colt Survivor uses the same 20" barrel (with a choke device for shooting shotshells) and is built on an SB1 receiver.
Putting a high pressured round on a "softer" SB1 receiver (not case hardened nor of the stronger metallugy found in the SB2 action),
the SB1 might indeed fit and even fire, but I'm betting after a couple of shots will stretch and or loosen the SB1 receiver to the point of ruining it! That's what would happen with a Contender or G2 frame -
versus an Encore frame. The Contender will handle .30-30 pressures (@40-44K units of pressure) before stretching those frames.
Maybe the SB1 is similar??
I might be speculating about the SB1, and using anything for what it was NOT designed for is highly discouraged! I am sure about my comments on the "Contender" however.
EXTRA BARRELS? The "NJ" prefix or suffix is
key to knowing when your receiver was built and if that year falls within the period stipulated as being
"safe" and qualified to participate in the Barrel (Accessory) Exchange Program, "YES" you can order extra barrels and have them hand-fitted at the H&R/Remington factory >>> for the cost of the barrel + a fitting fee + postage both directions.
Fitting fee used to be $15 if it hasn't gone up.
In a nutshell,
"NO" your receiver doesn't need to be modified to take a different or extra barrel (altho a barrel might need to be!). I've bought 7 or 8 second-hand barrels from members on GBO for my .308 Survivor receiver that immediately fit, with ONLY ONE exception (a .30/06) failed to stay "locked," meaning it was a tad tight (better than a tad "loose" IMO).
You'll need to go into the sticky to find the chart of prefixes and suffixes
that denotes the year your receiver was made.
Good luck!
