Joined
·
5,114 Posts
fhj96
Member
Posts: 1
(1/29/02 2:57:31 am)
Reply | Edit | Del All NEF Handi rifle 243
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I purchased a NEF handi rifle in .243 caliber. I had read quite a lot of good reviews on these rifles, especially that they were very accurate for the money(mine has a beautiful laminate stock and cost just over $200.)
The problem is that I cannot get it to shoot better than 3" groups at 100 yrds. I have tried two scopes(leupold & bushnell) to make sure it wasn't a scope problem. I have only shot over-the-counter Remington 100 gr. pointed soft point ammo(appx. 50 rounds).
I realize that some rifles don't shoot certain brands of ammo well and may shoot much tighter groups with another brand.
Before I start experimenting with other ammo(I am even considering trying handloading)I was just wondering if anyone has experience with this rifle and/or this problem.
Thanks for any advice!
Different name
V.I.P. Forum Host
Posts: 1181
(1/29/02 5:15:18 am)
Reply | Edit | Del NEF Handi rifle 243
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WELCOME to TFF fhj96!
You are at the right Forum ----
(I am not one of the TQ&I "Experts")
Be patient, before long you will have TFF technical people who will share with you more information than you would ever expect!
ENJOY --- Really fine people here.
Stop in every chance you have
and you won't be sorry!
Charlie D aka Different name
AntiqueDr
Senior Chief Moderator Staff
Posts: 1903
(1/29/02 7:02:28 am)
Reply | Edit | Del
ezSupporter
Re: NEF Handi rifle 243
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Does the rifle string the rounds in a particular pattern? Vertical or horizontal?
We Buy Guns! 1 - 100, Antique or Modern!
www.apaxenterprises.com
LIKTOSHOOT
Senior Chief Moderator Staff
Posts: 3573
(1/29/02 9:53:26 am)
Reply | Edit | Del Re: NEF Handi rifle 243
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gotta a friend that carries on of these down on the river, his is .223 with a syn. stock. Very slick little single and the same problem as yours. He let me shoot it and I was quick to notice, the trigger SUCKED. Very heavy and gritty pull, at one hundred yards, just as yours....even from a rest, fifty yards reduced the group by more than half. Broke this beast down and stoned all the trigger components. This made it a 1 1/2" gun at one hundred yards and might be able to reduce that some with handloads, but I don`t think by much.....the lock time because of the exposed hammer fall, is now the remaining culprit and I see no way to change that.....except for a "very" steady resting shot. Regards LTS
BlackGun
Moderator
Posts: 2754
(1/29/02 2:37:10 pm)
Reply | Edit | Del Re: NEF Handi rifle 243
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Welcom aboard fhj96! We're always glad to have a new member join us here on TFF, drop by the Pump House, the first round of cold ones are are on me and Warpig!
Tread On Me, But, Leave My DONUT Alone! !
BlackGUN
the real fredneck
V.I.P. Member
Posts: 787
(1/30/02 8:12:59 am)
Reply | Edit | Del Re: NEF Handi rifle 243
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I think there was some company that offered a spring kit for the Handi-Rifles supposed to improve trigger pull and locktime I'll see is I can find the info
fhj96
Member
Posts: 2
(1/30/02 3:04:41 pm)
Reply | Edit | Del AntiqueDr
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AntiqueDr
The rifle sprays them everywhere, no pattern. It seems to function alot like "Liktoshoot" was saying about his friends, at 50 yrds. the groups are tighter but still nothing to brag about.
As it stands now this is a fairly decent 50 yrd. deer gun
Edited by: fhj96 at: 1/30/02 3:08:47 pm
AntiqueDr
Senior Chief Moderator Staff
Posts: 1917
(1/30/02 3:14:27 pm)
Reply | Edit | Del
ezSupporter
Re: AntiqueDr
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well, the crappy trigger may be the problem. Also, make sure the buttstock is tight to the receiver, I've seen these with a little slop too.
We Buy Guns! 1 - 100, Antique or Modern!
www.apaxenterprises.com
warpig883
Moderator
Posts: 2188
(1/30/02 9:07:41 pm)
Reply | Edit | Del Re: AntiqueDr
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Welcome and also check the muzzle for damage where the buddit exits
We can't be so fixated on our desire to preserve the rights of ordinary Americans... -- Bill Clinton, US President (USA Today, 11 Mar 1993, page 2a)
LIKTOSHOOT
Senior Chief Moderator Staff
Posts: 3590
(1/31/02 9:17:26 am)
Reply | Edit | Del Re: AntiqueDr
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
96....call me stupid (STUPID!) Whats the barrelweight on this rifle....I fergetted....there maybe another factor in play here. LTS
fhj96
Member
Posts: 3
(1/31/02 11:44:08 am)
Reply | Edit | Del LIKTOSHOOT
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I DO NOT KNOW THE BARRELWEIGHT(to be honest i have never heard the term "barrelweight"). In fact i do not even remember the twist rate for this barrel. All i can tell you now is that it is a 22" barrel. The rifle is practically new, only 50 rounds have been shot through it, so the barrel shouldn't be damaged
The one thing that i have not checked out is the factory mounted scope rail, I tried wiggling to assure it was tight before mounting the scope, I think now i will remove the scope and torque the rail mounting screws, just to make sure
i not chasing the wrong rabbit.
LIKTOSHOOT
Senior Chief Moderator Staff
Posts: 3593
(1/31/02 12:47:27 pm)
Reply | Edit | Del Re: LIKTOSHOOT
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
96, I should have been more specific. The rifles come in two barrel weights, a standard contour and a heavy contour....sometimes refered to as a "Heavy Barrel/Target Barrel" not sure if the .243 was or not.....I know the .223 and .308 do. The reason I asked was this and it`s been a couple of years since I have looked at my friends....so this is from a feeble old gunpowder mind. Help me answer this question... "how is the forestock attached to the barrel??" I can`t remember. Thanks LTS
kdub01
Senior Chief Moderator Staff
Posts: 200
(1/31/02 6:33:42 pm)
Reply | Edit | Del Re: LIKTOSHOOT
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Welcome to the board, FHJ96 -
Hope you enjoy the forum and will stick around and join in the discussions.
Think LTS is trackin' right on for you. A heavy trigger pull will destroy the best of groups. Most .243's have a rate of twist to stabilize the 85 - 95 gr bullets. The 100 - 105's are usually for deer hunting and don't have the same accuracy as the lighter (varmit) loads. I had a Sako .243 that loved the 85 gr Nosler Partitions when they were mfg'd years ago. The present 95 grainers did OK, but not like the 85's. The smaller bullet accounted for it's share of whitetail, tho.
A muzzle may be damaged, even on a new rifle, so look close for any burr, nick or gouge in the crown.
velvetnsteel
Member
Posts: 7
(1/31/02 11:08:47 pm)
Reply | Edit | Del Re: LIKTOSHOOT
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I will throw my opinion in here too. I have had about 8 or nine of these H&R/NEF singles, and the trigger was rough on all of them. I found a gunsmith who could work magic on them, and he reworked 3 for me that made them sweet. He got them all down to 2 lbs. pull, and one was even a bit lighter. Broke with no creep. But not everybody likes to work on them since you have to re-assemble the whole system just to see where you are. One was a .25-06, one a 35 Whelen, and one a .45-70. Made excellent shooters out of them all.
Member
Posts: 1
(1/29/02 2:57:31 am)
Reply | Edit | Del All NEF Handi rifle 243
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I purchased a NEF handi rifle in .243 caliber. I had read quite a lot of good reviews on these rifles, especially that they were very accurate for the money(mine has a beautiful laminate stock and cost just over $200.)
The problem is that I cannot get it to shoot better than 3" groups at 100 yrds. I have tried two scopes(leupold & bushnell) to make sure it wasn't a scope problem. I have only shot over-the-counter Remington 100 gr. pointed soft point ammo(appx. 50 rounds).
I realize that some rifles don't shoot certain brands of ammo well and may shoot much tighter groups with another brand.
Before I start experimenting with other ammo(I am even considering trying handloading)I was just wondering if anyone has experience with this rifle and/or this problem.
Thanks for any advice!
Different name
V.I.P. Forum Host
Posts: 1181
(1/29/02 5:15:18 am)
Reply | Edit | Del NEF Handi rifle 243
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WELCOME to TFF fhj96!
You are at the right Forum ----
(I am not one of the TQ&I "Experts")
Be patient, before long you will have TFF technical people who will share with you more information than you would ever expect!
ENJOY --- Really fine people here.
Stop in every chance you have
and you won't be sorry!
Charlie D aka Different name
AntiqueDr
Senior Chief Moderator Staff
Posts: 1903
(1/29/02 7:02:28 am)
Reply | Edit | Del
ezSupporter
Re: NEF Handi rifle 243
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Does the rifle string the rounds in a particular pattern? Vertical or horizontal?
We Buy Guns! 1 - 100, Antique or Modern!
www.apaxenterprises.com
LIKTOSHOOT
Senior Chief Moderator Staff
Posts: 3573
(1/29/02 9:53:26 am)
Reply | Edit | Del Re: NEF Handi rifle 243
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gotta a friend that carries on of these down on the river, his is .223 with a syn. stock. Very slick little single and the same problem as yours. He let me shoot it and I was quick to notice, the trigger SUCKED. Very heavy and gritty pull, at one hundred yards, just as yours....even from a rest, fifty yards reduced the group by more than half. Broke this beast down and stoned all the trigger components. This made it a 1 1/2" gun at one hundred yards and might be able to reduce that some with handloads, but I don`t think by much.....the lock time because of the exposed hammer fall, is now the remaining culprit and I see no way to change that.....except for a "very" steady resting shot. Regards LTS
BlackGun
Moderator
Posts: 2754
(1/29/02 2:37:10 pm)
Reply | Edit | Del Re: NEF Handi rifle 243
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Welcom aboard fhj96! We're always glad to have a new member join us here on TFF, drop by the Pump House, the first round of cold ones are are on me and Warpig!
Tread On Me, But, Leave My DONUT Alone! !
BlackGUN
the real fredneck
V.I.P. Member
Posts: 787
(1/30/02 8:12:59 am)
Reply | Edit | Del Re: NEF Handi rifle 243
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I think there was some company that offered a spring kit for the Handi-Rifles supposed to improve trigger pull and locktime I'll see is I can find the info
fhj96
Member
Posts: 2
(1/30/02 3:04:41 pm)
Reply | Edit | Del AntiqueDr
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AntiqueDr
The rifle sprays them everywhere, no pattern. It seems to function alot like "Liktoshoot" was saying about his friends, at 50 yrds. the groups are tighter but still nothing to brag about.
As it stands now this is a fairly decent 50 yrd. deer gun
Edited by: fhj96 at: 1/30/02 3:08:47 pm
AntiqueDr
Senior Chief Moderator Staff
Posts: 1917
(1/30/02 3:14:27 pm)
Reply | Edit | Del
ezSupporter
Re: AntiqueDr
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well, the crappy trigger may be the problem. Also, make sure the buttstock is tight to the receiver, I've seen these with a little slop too.
We Buy Guns! 1 - 100, Antique or Modern!
www.apaxenterprises.com
warpig883
Moderator
Posts: 2188
(1/30/02 9:07:41 pm)
Reply | Edit | Del Re: AntiqueDr
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Welcome and also check the muzzle for damage where the buddit exits
We can't be so fixated on our desire to preserve the rights of ordinary Americans... -- Bill Clinton, US President (USA Today, 11 Mar 1993, page 2a)
LIKTOSHOOT
Senior Chief Moderator Staff
Posts: 3590
(1/31/02 9:17:26 am)
Reply | Edit | Del Re: AntiqueDr
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
96....call me stupid (STUPID!) Whats the barrelweight on this rifle....I fergetted....there maybe another factor in play here. LTS
fhj96
Member
Posts: 3
(1/31/02 11:44:08 am)
Reply | Edit | Del LIKTOSHOOT
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I DO NOT KNOW THE BARRELWEIGHT(to be honest i have never heard the term "barrelweight"). In fact i do not even remember the twist rate for this barrel. All i can tell you now is that it is a 22" barrel. The rifle is practically new, only 50 rounds have been shot through it, so the barrel shouldn't be damaged
The one thing that i have not checked out is the factory mounted scope rail, I tried wiggling to assure it was tight before mounting the scope, I think now i will remove the scope and torque the rail mounting screws, just to make sure
i not chasing the wrong rabbit.
LIKTOSHOOT
Senior Chief Moderator Staff
Posts: 3593
(1/31/02 12:47:27 pm)
Reply | Edit | Del Re: LIKTOSHOOT
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
96, I should have been more specific. The rifles come in two barrel weights, a standard contour and a heavy contour....sometimes refered to as a "Heavy Barrel/Target Barrel" not sure if the .243 was or not.....I know the .223 and .308 do. The reason I asked was this and it`s been a couple of years since I have looked at my friends....so this is from a feeble old gunpowder mind. Help me answer this question... "how is the forestock attached to the barrel??" I can`t remember. Thanks LTS
kdub01
Senior Chief Moderator Staff
Posts: 200
(1/31/02 6:33:42 pm)
Reply | Edit | Del Re: LIKTOSHOOT
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Welcome to the board, FHJ96 -
Hope you enjoy the forum and will stick around and join in the discussions.
Think LTS is trackin' right on for you. A heavy trigger pull will destroy the best of groups. Most .243's have a rate of twist to stabilize the 85 - 95 gr bullets. The 100 - 105's are usually for deer hunting and don't have the same accuracy as the lighter (varmit) loads. I had a Sako .243 that loved the 85 gr Nosler Partitions when they were mfg'd years ago. The present 95 grainers did OK, but not like the 85's. The smaller bullet accounted for it's share of whitetail, tho.
A muzzle may be damaged, even on a new rifle, so look close for any burr, nick or gouge in the crown.
velvetnsteel
Member
Posts: 7
(1/31/02 11:08:47 pm)
Reply | Edit | Del Re: LIKTOSHOOT
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I will throw my opinion in here too. I have had about 8 or nine of these H&R/NEF singles, and the trigger was rough on all of them. I found a gunsmith who could work magic on them, and he reworked 3 for me that made them sweet. He got them all down to 2 lbs. pull, and one was even a bit lighter. Broke with no creep. But not everybody likes to work on them since you have to re-assemble the whole system just to see where you are. One was a .25-06, one a 35 Whelen, and one a .45-70. Made excellent shooters out of them all.