First day with my H&R ultra varmint, disappointing

D

Don Armstrong

Member
Took the ultra varmint 204 out today. Had some hand loads with varmint nightmare bullets and 25. 6 and 26.4 grains of Benchmark. Cleaned the gun after every 5-10 shots. Trigger was a little better than I figured it would be, but groups were dismal. Got a lot of vertical stringing with the 25.6 loads, about 5". The 26.4 loads would group 2 and then open up to about 3". I am going to try some 26.4 grain loads and seat the bullets out some. If I can't get any better groups the gun will be for sale. I may try some different powder and bullets but don't have any right now. I'm a little bummed but I guess I shouldn't have expected any better, without a lot of work. I was shooting off sand bags so the gun was not on anything hard. I have had a few encores and this made a lot of difference. I guess a bolt gun would have been a better choice but I didn't have enough money at the time. Don
 
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Where are you resting the rifle on the fore end? try to rest it right where the hing pin is. If that doesn't help take the fore end off and shoot a group with out it. If that fixes it put an O ring between the fore end and the barrel stud this should free float it and fix the problem.
 
Me and most folk I talk to find best results with the rest right up against the trigger guard. Go here GBO NEF/H&R page and check out the FAQ's they guys know all the ins and outs of these rifles.
 
It took my AR around 100 rounds before it really shot tight groups. It sounds like right now you're seeing a different issue, but putting some cheap ammo through the barrel might get an accuracy improvement.
I went from 1 1/2" groups to a little over .5" just from shooting it.

I'm just sayin
wink.gif
 
The H&R/NEF single shot can be very tempermental rifles to get to shoot well.

I played with them for a few years and had accumulated several. I've since weeded out the troublesome versions and settled on those that shoot as expected.

There are many ways to tinker with them to gain better and consistant accuracy, including different ways of holding them (caused by a weakness created with the hinge design).

I have had several that shot excellent out of the box and others that I could never get to shoot.

I suggest you check out Graybeard Outdoors. There is a forum there dedicated to the Handi Rifle with some of the most creative and informed souls you will find.
 
Don, don't waste another nickel on that gun. Dump it now. Further efforts and fixes are only going to get you deeper ($$$) into the gun and for what? Those rifles have lousy lock up, crappy barrels (factory tolerances are .002 either way), and poor ejection systems. I have worked with a bunch of them and none of them ever shot worth a dang.

Good rifles shoot well right out of the box. Even the least accurate ammo will shoot half way decent in a good rifle.

You can go over to Graybeard Outdoors and consult with the Handi rifle "experts" and you will get loads of advice but for the most part you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. While you are over there, ask your self "why is this whole forum devoted to the myriad of fixes apparently needed to make these guns shoot?" Answer; cause they are crappy guns!!!

My .223 Tikka T3 Lite came out of the box and went to the range and proceeded to put just about any ammo tried into a MOA or less group. The load work up process was non existent. I bought a pile of inexpensive Winchester factroy ammo and will continue to shoot it till it runs out. Long term average for that ammo is .91 MOA.

So, head on over to Greybeards and put your gun up for sale in the classifieds. Those guys over there will buy it!!!

Sorry, this may have been just a little too much of what I "really think"
 
Sorry, but I will have to totally agree with Longcruise. The Handi/NEF/H-R, are IMO a total waste of money. I even called to ask about a problem and H&R said a 2" group at 100 yds. was acceptable. Well, not to me! Really not trying to be a Richard Cranium, but I personally will never own another.
 
I've got 2 in 3 calibers. My .243 has been a pain and I haven't had the heart to mess with it. I dislike it.

My .223/45-70 though I haven't hand to tinker with a bit. Both shoot very well. I like this one quite a bit.
 
I went to the range today. I stopped and got a plastic washer and an O rings as suggested on GBO. I installed the washer and it wasn't enough to get the barrel floated so I put the O ring in it also. Stringing problem gone. I don't think the gun likes the varmint nightmares or the Benchmark powder but at a 100 yards, I can get about 2" now. Time for some different loads. Thanks, Don
 
I'm getting a 1/4 inch group at 100 yrds with my NEF handi rifle in 22-250.

Don't bash Nef saying there crap, beacuse there not

o yea also my rifle is 100% stock

55 grain federal soft points
 
I usually will not reply to things like this, but silk purse and sow's ear do come to mind with the NEF/H&R guns. I have known too many people that tried in vain to get theirs to shoot and ended doing what they should have done all along and that is to get a bolt gun of some sort. True, some will shoot OK on occasion, but they few and far between.

I know someone that has been trying to get his NEF (No Excuse for a Firearm he calls it) in .204 to shoot for years. I think that he enjoys trying, but I'm pretty sure he gets mighty frustrated too.
 
Originally Posted By: pyscodogAll day long??

If that was to me than yes all day. I'm
sure I could get tighter groups if I had the bipod on it or a lead sled
 
Originally Posted By: Bryan8Originally Posted By: pyscodogAll day long??

If that was to me than yes all day. I'm
sure I could get tighter groups if I had the bipod on it or a lead sled

There was no intent on my part to insult your NEF. That's just my opinion after having been down the road with two .223s, two 30-30s and one 308. All five were crap. And all of them shot an occasional fantastic three shot group. But, even a sling shot will do that now and then! None of those five rifles could manage a 10 shot group smaller than five inches. My SKS will do that and is a whole lot more fun to shoot.

My advice to our OP was meant to convince him that pursueing excellence with the NEF can be a waste of time and money. He bought the rifle as an economy measure. It won't be long before he has invested the price of a Stevens 200 into it just with reloading components.

I'm glad you have a good one.
 
Bryan8- before a war gets started, let me back up and say that if your rifle shoots 1/4in. groups, that is great. I have to say that none of mine did. I tried several different loads in all of the ones I owned, wishing they would shoot, and never got accecptable accuracy. I don't a pissing contest to start, so I apoligize if I offended you or your rifle. My comments were based only on my personal experiences and that alone. pyscodog
 
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