best and worst nef barrel??

[Redcat376]

I just purchased a nef in 500 S&W. It's on order and should be here in 2 weeks. This is my first nef and I am also thinking about getting a 20 gauge slug barrel and a heavy 243.

How does the 500, 20gauge slug and heavy 243 shoot?

What is your favorite nef barrel and how does it shoot?

What is the worst nef barrel?

Should I stock up on nef barrels or buy a mossberg 20gauge slug gun and a savage 300wsm? I am thinking about getting the 243 barrel only if I don't sale my 243 reloading stuff! If interested in 243 reloading stuff PM me!

Just curious how you rate Nef firearms from fit to finish. Any major problems?  Thanks for your post/time!!

[jeff223]

as far as im concerned the 20ga ultraslug barrels are 2nd to none and they put meat in the freezer

NEFs slug barrels are very good shooters and i think they are NEFs best bargin.the 223s are also great shooters and im not saying anything bad about their 30-30 barrels either.

im sure there will be others adding to this with their ideas about NEFs best barrels.maybe someone will even add something about the nice "pallet wood" stocks too

the fit and finish isnt to bad for the cost of the gun.if you dont care for the "pallet wood" stocks you can get a nice lamo or plastic stock or even paint the "pallet wood" up nice.i have all of the above and have painted up some "pallet wood" :-D

[Mac11700]

I just purchased a nef in 500 S&W. It's on order and should be here in 2 weeks. This is my first nef and I am also thinking about getting a 20 gauge slug barrel and a heavy 243.

How does the 500, 20gauge slug and heavy 243 shoot?

What is your favorite nef barrel and how does it shoot?

What is the worst nef barrel?

Should I stock up on nef barrels or buy a mossberg 20gauge slug gun and a savage 300wsm? I am thinking about getting the 243 barrel only if I don't sale my 243 reloading stuff! If interested in 243 reloading stuff PM me!

Just curious how you rate Nef firearms from fit to finish. Any major problems?  Thanks for your post/time!!

Congrats on the new Handi

Can't say for the 20ga or the 500...but I can tell you...the heavy 24" 243 shoots pretty darn good...



All of them are my favorite barrels...I am a Handi-holic after all... :wink:

I've never had a Bad one...so I don't know

This isn't the place to offer your reloading equipment for sale...we have a NEF Classifieds...and also a regular classifieds on this site...so please...use those forums..

Should you stock up on NEF barrels...of course you should :-D Should you buy the Mossy or the Savage... well...If you need a repeter shotgun...then go for it...but if your wanting a serious slug gun...then either the 20ga Ultra Slug Hunter ...or the 12 ga Ultra Slug Hunter would be the way to go...they are some of the most accurate slug guns made today...as far as the Savage...well...I have no-use for any bolt guns...I sold my last one to fund  having a Custom Handi...in 338-06...take a look




And I'm getting ready to do it again...but with something a little different in mind this time...

Fit and Finish is ok for what your spending...sure you can always find faults with them if you look hard enough..



.but when you can shoot sub 1/4"  MOA groups with them... Who-Cares..  :-D  

Mac

[Phoneman]

One shot one kill is my motto. I've owned bolt guns before and have always sold them shortly after because of little to no use for more than one shot. I hold consistent 1 in. and under groups at 200 yards with my .223 ultra.
  Some of the guys have said this before and it is one of the truest statements made here. The handi doesn't come finished. Most do a trigger job,lap the barrel, polish and fine tune these guns into real shooters. When I bought mine it was shooting 2 in. groups at 100 yards. acceptable for coyote hunting but not for what I wanted. With a couple of hours worth of "tinkering" and a couple rounds I would match it against any 600 dollar gun with confidence.
   Good luck with your new purchases and hope to here more from you.

[mt3030]

Best: Without a doubt, my Ultra 25-06. Shoots into .5 with factory or handloads. Has never failed to eject a case.

Worst: 243s (two), 308s (two) and several 223s. Would not group and multple fail to eject problems. One went back to NEF twice before issue was resolved. (And several members as had stocks damaged while at NEF for repairs or new barrels.) I've spent enough on shipping to buy.....Aww, let's not go there!

Do not take this as Handi bashing. You asked. Others have had better experiences. (Just as some members has not had the good luck I've enjoyed with my 25-06, 7x57, 45-70s, 30-30s, and Ultr 357 Max).

Phoneman is correct, that they are not finshed at factory. If you have the time to invest into fu..ssing with then, a lot of the issues can be worked out (rough chambers, rough bores, barrel bedding problems, poor triggers). The triggers have improved on later rifles. The factory is trying to improve ejection by going to a mechanical, rather then spring, ejector. (But I find this feature less Handi!) Some of the issues (over sized bores, undersided bores, inconsitant bores) can only corrected by NEF (or maybe Green Mountain) improving their quality control. This has been discussed several times on other threads.

These rifles are a tinkers dream come true. And that is the attraction to some owners. If you have time and desire you can fuss and tinker with them until the cows come home. But if you are expecting to be able to have a trouble free and accurate rifle right out of the box, you might be disappointed.

I take it as a crap shoot, sometimes you just get...reamed!! But I keep buying them. In fact, I'm waiting for my new 444 Marlin to arrive anyday.(Now, how sick is that?)

Wally

[MtJerry]

The handi doesn't come finished. Most do a trigger job,lap the barrel, polish and fine tune these guns into real shooters. When I bought mine it was shooting 2 in. groups at 100 yards. acceptable for coyote hunting but not for what I wanted. With a couple of hours worth of "tinkering" and a couple rounds I would match it against any 600 dollar gun with confidence.

These rifles are a tinkers dream come true.

Two of the most accurate statements anyone could make about the Handi Rifle.

For about $200 you can make this rifle what you want it to be and not break the bank.

My fav's are:

.223 (sorry Wally   ) - this was my first Handi and it will easily shoot .5 with 40 to 55gr. bullets and will eject everytime if I keep the chanber clean.

.44mag - it came to me overbored but shoots .5 also with cast bullets sized to the bore diameter (.432).

[mt3030]

Jerry:
No need to be sorry. Already stated others have had different experiences.
And I finally found a 223 that will shoot to my specs. Just took too many purchases to find it. I'm just interested to see if any others will ADMIT that they have had bad barrels.

Wally

[Redcat376]

Thanks for the info!! Sounds like I'm getting into somthing good..!!! IF I sell my 243 stuff, (sorry to post it here), I might move up the the 25-06 or the Heavy 308.

Anyone have or shoot the heavy 308?  Thanks again!!

[Mac11700]

Yep...sure have...It started life as a Survivor but I replaced the stocks with some Cinnamon Laminates...put on a steel forend spacer and steel trigger gaurd...it has 2 favorite loads... 168 grain Federal Match and Winchesters 150 grain Power Points.. Both shoot 1/2" or less....I sold it to my next door neighbor who had to have it..My biggest concern with it at the time was it's incredibly long throat...but as many here can attest to the fact...that doesn't hurt these fine little rifles accuracy as much as one tends to believe :agree:

Mac