I found this site while surfing the net. If you are considering a custom NEF/H&R re-barrel… maybe this would be an alternative idea to consider.

H&R barrel stubbing project:
www.thegungarage.com/3...8bellm.htm

Good reading chet that rifle came out pretty nice. Wonder how it shoots. I think thats what Flint54 is talking about, that would be a fun rifle .
Joe

They are GREAT little guns, but be careful of people offering to build barrels for them. I follow another forum on the Handie's and several people have been burned buy gun smiths offering to do all kinds of neat things.
PS I have a 243 Ultra and a 308 bull barrel for it and I love them. Am considering getting some more, but will probably get the whole gun next time.

I am familiar with "Stubbing" a barrel but in this situation I don't feel that this is possible with the .500 S&W Mag. This is a 65,000psi cartridge and the barrel needs to be one piece. I will need to find someone that makes the complete barrel or change my idea. This will not be a compromise in any shape or form. I it can't be done right it won't be done.

Flint54- I just checked the H&R site and you can buy a complete Handi rifle from them in .500 S&W, I did not see anything about the .500 on their barrel program. I would think that it won't be long until they offer just the barrel. You would have to have the barrel cut down, their barrel is 22".

Quote::

I did not see anything about the .500 on their barrel program. I would think that it won't be long until they offer just the barrel. You would have to have the barrel cut down, their barrel is 22"

When I purchased my extra barrels they did not have the 243 Win heavy barrel listed in the barrel program. I asked about it and they said 'sure no problem'. So I wound up with a 243 barrel when I sent my action in for the 22 Hornet barrel. Just because it's not listed don't let that keep you from asking if they can do it. They are famous for not updating the website's barrel program page regularly as new barrels become available. A quick call will tell you if you can get it now or in the near future. Friendly folks there.

Howdy I'm real impressed with my H@R ultra slug gun and have bin hearing good things about there rifles what are the prices for there Handi rifle.
Joe

Just what the Dr. ordered. Now to get one on order. I looked a while back and they only had the 45-70 but now I'm happy!!!

Since Marlin bought them out, they have improved greatly. The rifle frames are now heat treated and designated as SB2, the older frames and the shotgun frames are designated as SB1 and will not handle the pressures of some rifle calibers. The one exception to this is their 10 guage shotguns and their 12 guage slug guns that share a heavier duty frame. The trigger pull has also improved quite a bit.
I've owned several H+R/NEF rifles, my favorite being their H+R Buffalo Classic in 45/70. It comes with a 32" barrel and Williams peep and Lyman globe front sight. I modified it a bit by cutting the barrel down to 27". I used a hacksaw(argh) and rented a recrowning tool to smooth the barrel face out. I also added a low power Leupold scope. Using Winchester Supreme Partition Gold 300 gr. ammo, it will print overlapping holes in paper at 100 yards. It seems that their heavier calibers tend to be more consistant in accuaracy. I also have a H+R Ultra Varmint in .223 that likes the cheap Win. USA 45gr. ammo best. I've looked at their slug guns and the 12 guage is quite heavy, the 20 seems more practical from a weight perspective. My local gun dealer has 4 of the new for 2005 .500 S+W rifles in stock and I've been seriously considering getting one as a foul weather rifle and put a peep and firesight combo on it. I agree that it would be nice chopped to the 16 1/4" length. It would still benefit by extra FPS from the additional barrel length, but probably only about 10 FPS per extra inch. They come with really cheap plastic sights. It won't do anything the 45/70 won't do, but it does have some appeal. I've also owned a .308 Survivor and a 7mm-08 that never had consistant accuracy and were traded in. While most people have good luck with the sporter weight barrels, they say to stay clear of their lightweight barrels. The DIY trigger jobs are not real difficult, but the material in the trigger guard is plastic and won't take too much playing with. Luckily the triggers have improved enough that it is rare that one really needs adjusting. If they are over NEF's limit, they will adjust them if you send it back. On that note, be careful if you adjust one yourself and then send it in for a new barrel, they will redo the trigger to bring it back up to their specs.
Don

BigBlue wrote:

I've looked at their slug guns and the 12 guage is quite heavy, the 20 seems more practical from a weight perspective.

Howdy. There 12ga slug gun is heavy but it has a great feel to it, it's not top heavy at all if i'm not mistaken they put a counter weight in the stock to balance it. The gun handles great and accuracy has bin incredible with the 300gr SST's. I am very pleased with mine but from what I have heard the 20ga is a real shooter as well, I think either one should serve a hunter well and Hornady is producing the SST's for the 20ga this year they should be out in the fall .
Joe

BigBlue, welcome


Your comments and opinions are very interesting...

Quote::

Since Marlin bought them out, they have improved greatly. The rifle frames are now heat treated and designated as SB2, the older frames and the shotgun frames are designated as SB1 and will not handle the pressures of some rifle calibers.

For what it's worth, this was done Pre-Marlin ownership. After New England Arms bought production rights from the now defunct Harrison and Richardson company. To remove themselves from any possible legality/warranty conflict with the old H&R products, the name was changed to H&R/NEF 1871. The new NEF single shot firearm's frames were marked SB-1 & SB-2. Like you stated, the SB-2 action being the stronger. A few years ago H&R/NEF 1871 sold to Marlin.

Quote::

While most people have good luck with the sporter weight barrels, they say to stay clear of their lightweight barrels.

This I don’t understand. Why do “they” say that?

Has NEF/Marlin changed their barrels?

I shoot both sporter and varmint weights. Mine are pre-Marlin factory and reported to be mfg by Green Mountain Barrels , I have not personally noted any major accuracy discrepancy between the two weights.


Just curious,

Chet

Chet,
Thanks for the Welcome!

I was under the impression that Marlin had changed to heat treated frames, but I may be mistaken and it may, as you stated, have been H+R/NEF that made the change. I know your limited, if you have the SB1! frame, as to what caliber barrels they will install in their accessory barrel program.
The "they", I was referring to are past or present owners of lightweight barreled Handis. If you own sporter and varmint weight barreled rifles, you don't have the lightweight. From what I've been told by many that have actually had experience with them, they tend to heat much more quickly than the other weight barrels. I would imagine that they might also be affected more by changes in the forearm lug pressure.
Several years ago, H+R/NEF along with Marlin, sponsered talk forums. They have since both folded. Many of the former members of the, "H+R/NEF Talk", have settled into a new home at Greybeards Outdoors Forums. Bill was kind enough to take them in and set up several forums based on these rifles. It's a good source for imformation on Handis. A lot of experience with them can be drawn on.
Don

shrpshtrjoe wrote:

BigBlue wrote: I've looked at their slug guns and the 12 guage is quite heavy, the 20 seems more practical from a weight perspective. Howdy. There 12ga slug gun is heavy but it has a great feel to it, it's not top heavy at all if i'm not mistaken they put a counter weight in the stock to balance it. The gun handles great and accuracy has bin incredible with the 300gr SST's. I am very pleased with mine but from what I have heard the 20ga is a real shooter as well, I think either one should serve a hunter well and Hornady is producing the SST's for the 20ga this year they should be out in the fall . Joe

Joe,
I was told they are very accurate. I used a 3/4" piece of copper pipe about eight inches long filled with lead to offset the recoil of my Bufallo Classic when shooting 45/70 level two loads from the bench. That was before I put a X-coil pad on it and got rid of that *$@#^&$% steel butt plate. They probably did something similar in the stock of the Ultra Slug. The first time I saw one at the store, I was shocked by the outside diameter of the barrel.
Don

Not all of us from the H&R/NEF Talk settled at Gray Beards

kbis wrote:

Not all of us from the H&R/NEF Talk settled at Gray Beards

That's alright, not everyone from Marlin Talk settled at Marlin Owners either.
Do I remember correctly that you once went by a more simplified version of your current name, Bis? I know I shouldn't bring up this name, but do you remember Mortie from H+R/NEF Talk?
Don