has anyone ever owned on or hunted with one? i'm thinking of buying one but need some input. cjr8fan@yahoo.com thanks chad

Which H&R, if you're talking about the single shot Ultra rifles, some shoot pretty well. But, and this is a big but, the quality from one gun to the next is unbelievable. Some of the rifles I've seen looked like a high school shop class machined them. Even with all that said, some of the ratty looking ones shoot well. On the other hand I've read a lot of posts where people were really having a time getting them to group worth a darn. The triggers from the factory range from poor to pretty decent. Recently, I thought about buying one in .223 at a local gunshop, the trigger was unbelievably light and crisp. I couldn't believe it got out of the factory that way. But, in the end I decided I didn't need it. (Although my wife would never believe I looked at a gun I didn't buy!)
You pays your money and you takes your chances.

Dude, save up your money and get a real gun in a Marlin Guide Gun!! You'll never be sorry that you did. Most Marlins only need a quick trigger job to group under an inch and half with five shot groups.

I had one for a while in .35 Whelen, it was the RMEF model which I think they only made for a year. Shot very well, averaged about 1-1.25" with various factory loads, the laminated stock never had any problems in the two years I hunted with it. I didn't reload at the time so never got to work up a load specifically for it.

I got a Handi Rifle which is similar in 45-70 a few years back and have been satisfied with it. The trigger on mine was set at about 11 lbs. so I sent it in to the factory where it was set to 3 1/2 at no charge (not sure what the current arrangement might be).

I used it to take a 280 lb. boar two years ago. Since then I sent it back in to have a .223 bull barrel fitted ; with the right ammo I can get 1/2" groups all day with it.

They are utilitarian and nothing to drool over. If you want to have some fun plinking or hunting and have budget considerations the Handi Rifles are a very good value.

[ 09-09-2003, 16:59: Message edited by: Borealis Bob ]

I have the light rifle NEF in .223.
My 8 year old son and I use it for target shooting.
I also use it for coyote hunting.
Shoots 1" groups or so.
Trigger was good from the factory.
Mine is a good reliable accurate rifle.
What a buy at $190.

I have an M1 Garand made by them. The thing will put 8 shots of M2 ball ammo in a 1 1/2" circle at 100 yards from the bench.

Seems H&R doesn't make rifles like that anymore.

[ 09-09-2003, 20:29: Message edited by: Orion 1 ]

You might want to post your inquiry at the H & R Talk site, which has a forum strictly for H & R rifle enthusiasts:

http://www.hr1871.com/talk/index.htm

I am considering getting one in 7mm-08 and, from what I have read, the reply to your inquiry from Bobby seems to hold true. Probably a rifle that you want to personally see and handle before purchasing.

thanks everyone for your imput i really appreciate it

I have an H & R Ultra in .308 that I use as my foul-weather rifle. If I'm hunting when it's dark and stormy this is the one I grab. I have a 30mm tubed 1.5-6x scope on it and get about 1.5" groups with 168 grain Winchester Supreme Ballistic Silvertips. A better shot would probably get tighter groups.

I love the simplicity of it and it goes "bang" every time I pull the trigger. It's also fairly light and easy to carry all day long. I got mine used for $175 and feel that it's one of the best values I've ever gotten.

I had an old H&R TOPPER 30-30, with a 4X Bushnell scope, that had a magnetic post crosshair, that I used for a jeep rifle! It road in the rifle rack for years, in all kinds of weather, and dust to snow! It trained four kids how to shoot centerfire, and never gave one minute of trouble. My son is training his kids with the rusty old thing today. That rifle has a 1 in 10" twist barrel that will print 150 gr bullets in my handloads inside 1" at 100 yds still today, and the rifle is almost 30 years old, and looks like an old water pipe, but it never failed! I can't say so much for a lot of more expensive rifles, made today. If you buy, go to the store, and look a few over, because as others have said, they are not all created equally!

The mechanism is VERY dependable. I've had my Topper 12 GA all over the world, sometimes transported in the middle of a duffel bag and it is still kickin'. Like Mac's it is is over 30 years old.

They are good utility rifles. I own a nef ultra .223, and have killed everything I have pointed it at.
Nice little rifle at a nice little price.

Ive had a 12 ga and later a 223 bull bbl that was very accurate. The only problems I ever had was an occasional stuck case. Pop it out and clean the chamber and problem gone, just dont let it happen in the field. Also the Handi rifle was used when I got it and after I took it home I found that the previous owner had closed the breach a couple times with the cartridge not completly inserted, that caused some undue wear by the firing pin hole, something else to guard against.

I wouldnt hesitate to own another, single shots make great marksmen. I really like the buffalo classic.

I don't know what people expect for about $200.00. However in a utility rifle, those single shot H & Rs really deliver, especially for the price.

I have never seen a bad shooter, and if you don't like the trigger, the factory will adjust it, or a gun smith can. I have seen some adjusted to a pretty respectable feel to them.

Their 223's models are great for kids. And accurate enough for the average varmint shooter.

I own two rimfires in them, One a 22 Mag, and the other a 17 HRM. For the $109.00 price tag on each, you can't beat them. With a synthetic stock, and a decent inexpensive scope, they make a great " truck" rifle. Both are really accurate, and even tho 22 Mags are normally finicky, the 22 Mag H & R digests anything I put down the barrel, and gives me groups you can cover with a dime at 50 yds.

I am not expecting a Mercedes at a Yugo price when I buy one, and they all have really impressed me.

Remember when guns were a utility item, instead of a show piece to impress all of your buddies? Well the H & R still is a utility item, that really delivers.


[ 09-11-2003, 07:02: Message edited by: seafire/ B17G ]

Baack in the 70's, when nobody made a bolt action .22 Hornet I bought an "H&R TOPPER" in Hornet. The little break open gave me 150 yard groups, you could cover with a nickel.

cjr8fan,

Something to consider is that the NEF/H&R design is great when using a rimmed case(30-30,45-70) These cartridges have the rim gripped by a quarter/half moon type extractor that offers positve ejection of the spent case 100% of the time in my experiences.

The rimless cartridge versions (.308,30-06)have a narrow block type ejector that pushes up and in toward the case, and sometimes will not eject the spent cases. A lot of remedies are mentioned over at H&R talk and I have tried them all and still would get an occaisional stuck case that would easily pop out with a slight bump with a cleaning rod.

For this reason I sold my .308 and 30-06. I still have an NEF 30-30 that is great, and an older pre bancruptcy (1980's) H&R with a slim profile barrel that weighs less than 6lbs. with a Leupold 1.5-5 scope on it. Both the 30-30's shoot 1 inch or less groups consistently with 130 and 140 grain bullets. I use the older one for hunting whitetail every year and love the quick handling and shorter length of these rifles.

Can't say enough about how the 30-30 Handi's have preformed.------------Chainsaw