Overcoming NEF Peculiarities

[Greysky]

When I purchased my .243 NEF, I initially used Win. 80-100 grain ammo to familiarize myself with it until I could start handloading for this caliber. These factory loads proved a bit too hot for my taste, and sometimes caused the action to break automatically upon discharging. I found this phenomenon a bit unnerving the first few times it happened, but I really don't think it poses any danger because it only occurs after all the gases leave the muzzle. Anyway, I later discovered that keeping the lock free of lubricant seems to alleviate this peculiarity... And it has never happened since I started shooting handloads.

When I first started using my NEF, I experienced poor accuracy. After installing an O-ring spacer on the mounting lug of the forestock, I found that resting the recess just behind the knurl in the yoke of my shooting perch improved downrange performance even with factory ammo... And with my handloads, I can maintain groups less than the size of a dime... Not bad for a $200.00 rifle.  :grin:

Although I have never experienced the problem of stuck cases I've heard others complain about, I occasionally mop any residue from the chamber and throat while at the range... I also carefully clean my brass.

These NEF peculiarities can be solved with a little imagination coupled with some patience.

Would I recommend a NEF to a prospective buyer... I sure would.

[Mac11700]

 Welcome Aboard Greysky...


You are correct in your evaluation on these fine little rifles....it would seem that a few folks just like to bash them about because of not taking the time or effort in cleaning them...or not doing the posted remedies for the accuracy problems...every now and then there will be a few of them that have mis-aligned chambers or other qaulity control issues...but more often than not they are a great value for the dollars you spend...and all one has to do is to look to some of the other forums to find all manufactures have their fair share of problems as well...

Mac

[handirifle]

Graysky
Welcome!

You hit the nail on the head.  glad you're perceptive enough to work through their minor issues and get down the enjoying these fine little guns.

By the way, how do the 100's do in your 243 now?

[Greysky]

Thanks for the kind welcome, gentlemen.

I decided when I started handloading I would pay special attention to each stage of the process. With the .243, I full length size all of my cases. I trim each one back to 2.035", and debur the flash holes. I then sort my cases into lots according to weight... I also weigh rifle bullets.

After experimenting with several loads, both on the low side and high side of the power scale, I finally worked up the following medium/hot load, which has proven to be especially accurate for me:

85 grain Sierra BTHP bullets.
Winchester cases... I never mix brands.
37.5 grains of RE-15 powder... I weigh every metered charge.
BR-2 primers... I seat rifle primers with an RCBS hand priming tool.

C.O.A.L. is 2.700"

When firing my NEF, which is equipped with a standard barrel, I fire two rounds and let the barrel cool.

Without quality ammunition, the most expensive benchrest rifle will only deliver mediocre performance downrange.

[/b]

[handirifle]

Have you and any luck with heavier bullets?  Most do not, that's why I'm wondering.

[Greysky]

Have you and any luck with heavier bullets?  Most do not, that's why I'm wondering.

The 100 grain Win. ammo grouped reasonably well for me.

I've been experimenting with 90 grain Sierra FMJ bullets. So far though, the groups I'm cutting with these are still too open.

The 1-10" twist rate in a .243 NEF seems to prefer 80-100 grain bullets. A 1-8" twist is recommended for bullets heavier than 100 grains... If any of you are splitting hairs at 100 yards with 55-60 grain bullets please don't yell at me for stating this... Just give me your load data!  :-)  

Anyway, I prefer using Sierra 85 grain BTHP bullets. They hit the mark without draining the wallet... Some manufacturers must be using platinum in their incredibly expensive bullets... Good grief! They aren't going to be used but once.  :roll:

[marv]

Greysky, I agree with you on some,  I have never got good group with FMJ bullets  in any caliber :?  In my 243  (not nef)  It shoots great with
Sierra 85 Gr HPBT's. Using top load of IMR 4320, any brass any primers.
 Marv.

[Winter Hawk]

My .30-06 NEF also had the problem of popping open every couple of shots.  I contacted the factory and they had me send it in post-haste.  It came back and the problem was fixed.  While they had it I asked them to do a trigger job and that was also taken care of.

-WH-

[Sourdough]

You know I keep reading about all the bad experiencies people have with Handi's.  And all the trouble they go to break-in the barrel.  I quess I must be one of the luckiest guys around.  I seldom clean one, I beat them around by strapping them to the windshield frame of my dune buggy, the handlebars of my dirt bike, handlebars of my four-wheeler, bouncing around in the floor of my pick-up, or strapped to the luggage rack of a snowmachine.  All of mine shoot great, all the time.  Only the .35 Whelen had any difficulties, it failed to fire factory loads sometimes.  It always fired my handloads.  I have never experienced a stuck case, or opening upon firing.  And once I find the right powder, bullet combination they are always right on with good groups.  I have had three scope failures though, wish they were as tough as the guns.  And I never worry about breaking in the barrel, or running anything through it.  I just shoot them, A lot.  With my 30-06 Handi, using 125gr Speer TNTs I can hit a 4" clay target consistantly at 500 yards.    I've gone through seven or eight boxes of these bullets.  I also shoot 165 and 180 grain bullets in this gun.

[RussB]

Sourdough, I guess I fell off the same truck.
I'm to the point where I almost anticipate some of these failures, but they never seem to happen. (somehow I feel I'm over due).
My NEF rifles have been not been "abused" per se, It's just that I just don't seem to give them as much consideration as I do a rifle that I have paid two / three times as much for, and I'm sure that is not good!
None have been through a "break-in" stage, all of them shoot as good, some better, than any of my other rifles, and not one has ever had a single problem. None, Zero, Zilch.
I guess ignorance can be bliss. I'm not complaining, just stating a simple fact that, in this little rifle, you get a lot for your money. I personally know several people who have, through their own choice,  sold / traded their other "brand name, high dollar" guns off in favor of these little jewels. Of course, they will never replace those "other" guns, but they certainly give more bang for the buck than anything I'm aware of.
This is all just my opinion, and others experience may differ a bit, but from what I hear, service is fairly prompt, and the warranty work seems to cover a lot.
Russ

[olredhead]

I think that there are more of us lucky ones than you know, or maybe we just hear more about the unlucky few. Last week a young fellow from down the road asked me to sight in his new handi. I jumped at the chance , of course. When he brought it by I wasn't home from work   but when I got a chance to look at it I was sure in doubt. It is a ultra hunter, standard barrel 270 with laminate. First thing that struck me was how far out of alinement the forearm was. Rubbin hard on the left side of the barrel, big gap on the right. I was gonna take it apart for the brake clean so I hoped I would have enough slack in the screwholes to straighten it a bit. When i took the forearm off I found the holes for the plastic piece were oversize and had been plugged. Imagine what I thought when I took the screws out of the recoil pad and the were the same way. Called the young man and he had bought the gun at Wal-Mart a month or so back so this had to be a factory fix.
   To make this shorter, went ahead and cleaned it did a moly spray and put it back together thinkin it might be good enough for deer season this year.
Suprise of the year, this thing is a real tack driver with 130 gr Win and has the best trigger I've ever felt on a handi hands down.  Guess it proves they don't have to look perfect to shoot well. :shock:

[Mac11700]

The only failures I have had on my Whelen so far was...3 of 20 factory rounds failed to fire...and 2 of another 20 same thing...different lots too...took both boxes back...my gundealer replaced both boxes...no questions asked...so would have Remington...I called them and told them what happened...they would have even reinbursed for the shipping...but would have been 2-4 weeks turnaround...my other failure on the Whelen was on a paticular handload...using CCI benchrest primers and the 180 grain Barnes X bullet...had several flattened primers and 1 pierced one and it stuck...that was a weee bit scary when that happened...the load was well under the Barnes recommended loading as well so...I rest the fault squarly on myself...back to the drawing board on that paticular loading...I have several different combinations to work up...but my confidence in the Factory loading surely gives me doubt...I wouldn't want to  have the buck of a lifetime walk out in front of me and it just go click...as far as cartridges sticking and failing to extract...just 1 in the Whelen...my handload...and 1 in my 308 Survivor...that was some cheap butted imported NATO crap that I won't ever waste my time on again,it got stuck and stuck real tight...not worth the few dollars spent on it...I do keep all my rifles very clean...and clean them very good prior to shooting them...that's just me though...as you can see others have good luck doing nothing with theirs...so...I guess it would be your personal preference as to any cleaning regimes you may or may not do...

Mac

[Deadeye47]

WoW mac...you don't recon a call to NEF about the FTF's would be in order would you....I agree with ya that the loudest sound you'll ever hear in the woods while looking at a tropy buck is a... big  CLICK!!!  :shock:   I'd send it in to H&R and let them check it out....  Something don't sound right and it's that click for sure....

[Mac11700]

Normally I would fully agree with you...but  all the shells had a full strike on the primer...I even cocked the hammer again and tried a second time on each shell...they just wouldn't fire...bad ammo that's all...out of the 3 boxes of factoryI have shot...only 2 boxes had this problem...but it still makes me leerry on using factory ammo in  it for my hunting...

Mac