my new baby

bigblueraptor

By bigblueraptor
in Rifles & Accessories

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bigblueraptor 4-Pointer

bigblueraptor

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Re: my new baby

th gun doesnt cost anymore than the average handirifle

walmart carries them even though i got mine a the local gun store because it was a shorter time to wait

factory bull barrel and the stocks are made by choate

they are also factory

ive always been scared of bsa scopes but this is the top of their line so i gtot it and tried it

imo next to a used leupold rifleman it looked clearer

but thats just me

i figured since it was on a 223 shock would never be a issue

i have already installed the rubber washer trick in the front stock piece and that made wonders

i give credit to this forum for that

and to think i actually was tossing this and a rossi single

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AJ Monster Buck

AJ

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Re: my new baby

I wrote this in 1998 or so. It will work on any of the Handi Rifles.

Making the NEF Handi Rifle Better

by AJ Jordan

The NEF/H&R 1871 SB2 Handi Rifle is a very good bargain. It can be had in most areas around the $200 range. The gun balances very well and is compact due to the short receiver and 22" barrel. For a walk around gun it is great. I have a NEF rifle that was bought as a 223 Rem Heavy Barrel. I sent in for the extra barrel offer and purchased the 22 Hornet, 45-70, .410 bore shotgun and another 223 Rem that was rechambered to a 22-250 Rem.

The biggest complaint about the SB2 is the trigger pull. It is crisp from the factory but in the 7 lb. range. This hardly leads to great accuracy. A good gunsmith can get a safe 2-lb. trigger pull from this gun. It is not a do it yourself job like the Remington 700. BE ADVISED that if you want the extra barrel offer from NEF they will make your trigger the way it was originally. So get the barrels first, and then get a trigger job. H&R 1871 will do a trigger job on your receiver.

There are a couple things that will make the SB2 shoot well. One is to float the forend. I remove about 1/8" of wood to float the barrel. After that, I make a rubber washer out of 1/8" rubber or use a rubber O-ring. This goes in the forend, in the inletting for the forend hanger stud. This will get rid of the vibration that is transferred to the forend while the barrel is doing its thing when a bullet is going through it. This vibration will cause the gun to bounce off the rest un-naturally. This spacer will dampen these unwanted vibrations.

The SB2 uses a transfer bar to move the firing pin when the hammer drops. This is for safety, in case the hammer drops prematurely. To get consistent results the trigger must be fully depressed through the follow through. This may sound like a minor thing, but it greatly impacts how the ammo is ignited. I have seen on the chronograph standard deviations in the 70-100 fps range from just flicking the trigger just enough to get a bang from the rifle. A deliberate and full squeeze dropped SD's down to the high teens.

Another useful trick is to use bedding compound under the scope mount. Because of the way the mount fits it is not the most helpful item towards accuracy. I like to use Accraglass by Brownells to help the mount be as rigid as possible. This is most helpful when long heavy scopes are installed. Be sure to put release agent on the barrel and screws, or it might become a permanent fixture.

I installed a scope level on my gun. If you are shooting from a bipod, it is not totally necessary as the bipod will keep you level and consistant. I shoot from mechanical rests. It helps shrink the groups to have the gun sitting consistently on the bags.

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