Hey 204shooter, that's the first I've ever heard of that. I've had an H&R 25-06 before and it was a tack driver. My brother and nephew both have .243's and they practicaly one-holed at 100. Unless they've let quality slip to be having that much of a problem, I'd say maybe you got ahold of an oddball. Nobody else that I know of has had a problem like that.

d_hoffman, the heavier barrels seem to shoot better than the lighter barrels. NEF/H&R have been having a lot of problems with the .243 and .223 light weight barrels. Both exhibit the problems I described before. H&R doesn't admit there is a problem but they do admit that they do not stress relieve their barrels. They has been a lot of discussion on the Graybeard forum about the .243/.223 light weight problems. Take a look at:

www.go2gbo.com/forums

under the NEF rifle discussion. NEF has told me that they will TRY to get my rifle to shoot 2 inch groups at 100 yards before returning it to me. That is not exactly a "tack driver" in my book. :-) Perhaps the 25-06 does a lot better?

Thanx for the heads up on this 204shooter. Thier problems must have come about in the last few years.

It seems that the problem is somewhat isolated to the .243 according to the site you've suggested.

I was wondering if buying the H&R .500 S&W is such a good idea. That's the next gun I planned to get. That site gave the .500 S&W high marks.

It also was kind to the 25-06 so I don't think dstegjas wouldn't go wrong with buying it, esspecially in the ultra.

d_hoffman, I think you are correct. The larger bore guns seem to do better for accuracy and I think some of that may come from the fact that the barrel is quite large. The larger the barrel the better it would dissipate heat. The 45/70 or 500 S&W are a couple of calibers that a lot of the people buy in the Handi rifle. I think most of NEF/H&Rs problems are related to the thinner barrels. Their bull barrels seem to be much more accurate. If I can't get my .243 to come in more accurate, I am going to order one of the 24 inch bull barrels. The people on the Graybeard site seem to know the H&R rifle well and most seem to think the biggest problem on the .243 is the Superlight barrel model. Unfortunately, that is the model I purchased. :-) You live and you learn. At least some of us do.

I'm also considering getting the ultra varmint in .243 and send it to your neighbor down there, Deersniper, and have him rechamber it for the 6mm Ackley. Re-crown it @ 11deg. and add a custom made muzzle break.

I hate to rain on someone's parade, but wasn't the H&R recently identified as having a "lock-up" problem? (maybe it was the Handi-Rifle?) I'll report back once the rest of the internet starts working....