[Borrowed time]

Friend of mine bought an N.E.F. Handi-rifle in .243 for his son to use on his first deer hunt. The guy that sold it didnt bother to tell him that when the round is firedthe action breaks open. Ok, so, he bought it "as-is" i guess and he understands that.

HOWEVER, when he took it to our local gunsmith, they thought it would be best to send it into the factory for the best possible fix as they knew the guns and probably had the stuff to fix it better AND cheaper.

N.E.F. REFUSED to receive the rifle as they said that it is over 10 years old and they refuse to work on their own firearm that old!!!

Tells you that they know they build crap, also tells you to avoid buying any N.E.F. firearms!

The gunsmith did decide to fix it after the company's refusal.

NEF = Crap​

 

[Neptune]

Smith and Wesson did the same on a buddy's Model 28 .357 Mag. "Too old", they said. "We won't touch it". That's why I like Ruger.




__

 

[quirt]

Single shot firearms are a bad idea in the first place. In fact, non-auto firearms, in general, are a lot more of a handicap than an advantage. The autos are plenty accurate and reliable enough, so why give up the advantage of that easy repeat hit speed, ease of parts replacement (military types, at least), etc, etc.?

 

[tobkis]

Single shot firearms are a bad idea in the first place. In fact, non-auto firearms, in general, are a lot more of a handicap than an advantage. The autos are plenty accurate and reliable enough, so why give up the advantage of that easy repeat hit speed, ease of parts replacement (military types, at least), etc, etc.?

You sir need to be educated.

 

[redneckwildman]

Single shot firearms are a bad idea in the first place. In fact, non-auto firearms, in general, are a lot more of a handicap than an advantage. The autos are plenty accurate and reliable enough, so why give up the advantage of that easy repeat hit speed, ease of parts replacement (military types, at least), etc, etc.?

I have worked as a Wildgame processor and checked in alot of deer, elk, and although we don't check them in for the State, we weigh in Hogs and measure their tusks for record purposes.
Many of them would come in mangled from auto weapon fire. Many times novice shooters go "Trigger Happy" and just keep firing. I have seen deer come in with as many a 15 shots in them. As far as I'm concerned and many Department of Wildlife Game Wardens, they are one of the worst hunting rifles out on the market for a novice to shoot with. And the singleshot, or bolt action is more about shot placement. There for it takes better skill and accuracy to shoot with such firearms. I always hunt with my NEF single shot 30-30 or my Super Comanche single 410/45 pistol and never had a problem, or need that second shot. I guess that's the difference between a good shooter and a rapidfire trigger happy novice out it the woods.

Before I got my single shot I would only place 2 rounds in my .270 bolt, or anything else I would hunt with. I do carry extra shells just incase something happens, but I have been graced enough to not need them.

 

[redneckwildman]

Friend of mine bought an N.E.F. Handi-rifle in .243 for his son to use on his first deer hunt. The guy that sold it didnt bother to tell him that when the round is firedthe action breaks open. Ok, so, he bought it "as-is" i guess and he understands that.

HOWEVER, when he took it to our local gunsmith, they thought it would be best to send it into the factory for the best possible fix as they knew the guns and probably had the stuff to fix it better AND cheaper.

N.E.F. REFUSED to receive the rifle as they said that it is over 10 years old and they refuse to work on their own firearm that old!!!

Tells you that they know they build crap, also tells you to avoid buying any N.E.F. firearms!

The gunsmith did decide to fix it after the company's refusal.

NEF = Crap​

I'll put my NEF up against a TC or a Rossi any day of the week. Somebody fell and broke the rifle, or played with it until they wore it down. I have shot NEF or H&R for years and have some that are over 30 years old, no problems like that. They were bought out by Marlin Firearms who redesigned the Handi-Rifle and started making to different specs than they used to, and the dies, and pins are no longer the same as the older models.

I bet it was more of they no longer had or made those exact parts to repair that old of a model. And not enough of the old guns wore out like the problem at hand to merit a person or department to repair said problem. This makes more sense to me anyway.


I have an old 12 guage by NEF, and a newer one as well. Then newer barrel fits loosley on the old reciever, and the old barrel fits so tight on the new reciever it will barely close, and will not lock. This may have been part of the problem, different years with different specs. It is not noticable with the naked eye, and only a few micrometers different.
They tell you not to change in different year models and send back to factory for replacement barrels for this reason in the owners manual.

 

[zemio]

Only ten years old and they refused to have anything to do with it? That's both telling and disappointing. More to the point, the guy sold a rifle with a major and frankly very dangerous fault and didn't mention it? **** him AND the horse he rode in on! Twice.

I read in one of the posts here something to the effect of that semi-autos are the best way to miss the same bolting target 3 or 4 times instead of just once. I'm glad I spent the first half of my time hunting using an air rifle for rabbits, magpies etc. Get close, do it right.

 

[tonyt]

I wouldn't be mad at NEF, You should be mad at the guy. Get your money back. The gun is 10test yrs old and who knows what kind of abuse it had from that guy. I have tons of NEF and not a problem. This guy sells you a dangerous gun for your kid to use?? If that was me I would be pounding on that guys door to rip him a new one....

 

[Lost_ID]

Sounds like some idiot was slamming it closed one handed, like in the bad old spaghetti Westerns.
Never had a problem with a NEF, nor an H&R.
Action type really doesn't matter, its the person behind the trigger. Whether they are adult enough to practice, and shoot ethically & morally.

 

[WolfSpring]

First, I am in no way knowledgeable about rifles that much and therefor what I am about to write is more a thought than any fact, Second what I am about to write is more what someone I know to be knowledgeable and admits he does not know NEF, BUT:

I was told that NEF a few years back completely redesigned some of there stuff and the Handi rifles was one of them and that is why a lot of people want the older ones because they are better. Is it possible that this gun falls into that realm and when they did the changes no one there actually knows anything about it or have the parts? Again this is merely a thought and I may be way off and usually gun manufacturers stick by there weapons for decades after they are built, but this may be one of those instances that for them it's not cost effective to track down old parts or find someone who actually worked on that model?

With that said, you'd think that it's a firearm, and most firearms are generally the same moving parts and it'd be simple to track down the issue. Either way that's nuts that they won't even touch there own rifle, I've only heard good things about NEF and HR and this is one of the very few I've even heard being broken at all. Glad you got it fixed, sucks the company wouldn't even help you out though.

 

[swamppapa]

I'm glad I spent the first half of my time hunting using an air rifle for rabbits, magpies etc. Get close, do it right.

learn to be "a sneaky bastard" and practice everyday

 

[Sentry18]

Smith and Wesson did the same on a buddy's Model 28 .357 Mag.

That's odd as I sent in a very early Model 28 Highway Patrolman about 5-6 years ago and S&W was glad to work on it for free. Smith & Wesson has one of the best customer service departments in the firearms industry.

 

[remus]

Single shot firearms are a bad idea in the first place. In fact, non-auto firearms, in general, are a lot more of a handicap than an advantage. The autos are plenty accurate and reliable enough, so why give up the advantage of that easy repeat hit speed, ease of parts replacement (military types, at least), etc, etc.?

You really have no clue do you?

 

[falloutmike]

Remus, he really doesn't.

 

[old guy]

I totally hate to even hunt in the same area as a newbie hunter armed with an auto loader!!!

 

[falloutmike]

From his other posts on the board his meaning of "ease of parts replacement (military types at least)", is that if shtf he said all the military and national guard armories would be open.

 

[remus]

Wow...just wow. I don't even have the words. Semi auto and auto weapons have their place however a bolt gun or even a break action single shot still have their place as well. Bolts are still being used in combat and every hunter in the country has one in their safe. In a true survival situation ammo will be limited every shot will count even if you get in a fight you need to make your shots count. Spray and pray will NOT be an option unless you want to die just that much faster.

Be a sneaky bastard, don't be seen, choose your shots and make them count. You will put food in your belly more often and keep yourself alive in a dangerous situation.

 

[Tackleberry41]

Theres a serial number break down on the H&R rifles for their barrel program. The old ones they won't mess with, changed stuff and not economically feasible to stock both styles of parts maybe. Also remember NEF/H&R is now owned by Marlin which is owned by Remington, which is owned by Wall street people now. Making money is more important than making people happy. Maybe NEF looked at it and said 'whoa this is no good, our lawyers won't let us touch it'. its pretty clear under the barrel program it must pass an inspection, if it doesn't they won't do anything.

Theres no telling what was done to the gun. But if it opens on firing, theres a good chance the original owner figured out he couldn't get it fixed so pawned it off on somebody else.

I imagine you could sell it to somebody as a part gun, hell I would take it.

 

[Sweeper80]

Couldn't agree more, Remus.

I've got a few auto's, but if SHTF, I'll probably be relying more on the old J.C. Higgins pair that I bought my boy, a single shot .22, and a single shot 20 gauge, they absolutely destroy that possibility of a hasty and poorly aimed follow up shot (though I could do it with my old Eastern Arms 20 gauge when I was younger :thumb and, the most important part, they are simple and durable, and you can fix 'em with some chewing gum and a rock.......... :

 

[remus]

Couldn't agree more, Remus.

I've got a few auto's, but if SHTF, I'll probably be relying more on the old J.C. Higgins pair that I bought my boy, a single shot .22, and a single shot 20 gauge, they absolutely destroy that possibility of a hasty and poorly aimed follow up shot (though I could do it with my old Eastern Arms 20 gauge when I was younger :thumb and, the most important part, they are simple and durable, and you can fix 'em with some chewing gum and a rock.......... :

Yeah I have a old Marlin .22 bolt that wouldn't eject shells. I fixed the problem with some needle nosed pliers. It is one of my SHTF guns and my wife is deadly accurate with the thing. No small game is safe if she is hungry and has that rifle. For larger game I have a sporterized 1903 Mark I with a Redfield peep sight on it. I can hit a 6 inch target at 300 yard with that thing no problem what so ever. Scares the crap outa folks that need a scope for 50 yards.