Is there any one out there that can say for sure how you can tell a SB1 frame from a SB2 frame I have 2 one is older and one is newer the newer one is a 44 Mag and the Barrel and box said SB2 on it but the older one a 243 win has a diffrant colerd fram and says nothing and it seems to be hevyer than the other is there any markings or casting codes to tell ???

Plus the newer frame that the 44 rem mag came on the older 243 win barrel mates right up with like a perfect fit and the old frame the 44 rem mag barrel dose not fit...if I can use the 243 and the 44 together I was thinking of sending the other frame in and getting the 32" Buffalo classic barrel put on it..

This is a quote from the Gray Beards forum
http://www.go2gbo.com/forums/i...php/board,126.0.html
probably your best source of information all things H&R/NEF Handi. Check them out!

From member Busta:
http://www.go2gbo.com/forums//...p/topic,80979.0.html
There are three things that stand out on a SB-2 rifle frame to be able to tell it apart from a SB-1 shotgun frame. Wish I had my new digital camera, maybe someone could take a pic of the differences and post them in the stickies. Quick? I know you don't have a shortage of frames. :grin:

The front of the SB-2 frame where the forend hinges has a lip machined around the radius to where the spacer only makes contact with the outer most edge. The SB-1 frame will have a uniform radius all the way accross. You will need to remove the forend to see this


The inside of the SB-2 frame is machined smooth while the SB-1 frame will show the casting marks from the mould. You will need to remove barrel from frame to see this.

The firing pin on the SB-2 frame is much smaller in diameter than the SB-1 frames shotgun sized firing pin. I believe the smaller rifle firing pin and firing pin hole is for keeping the high pressure rifle's primers from flowing back into this hole and therefore locking up the breech.

There may be other differences, but those are the ones that stand out to me. The older rifle frames may be different, my SB-2 example is about 5 years old and it is a Ultra Varmint. I also have several SB-1 examples and they are consistent.

Hopefully someone can post some pics of a side by side comparison of the two frames.

SB2 frames have a much smaller firing pin hole to handle higher pressures too.

I figured it was after seeing some of the picks but called and asked and was told it was by it SN number ... now going to see if the 243 barrels head space and everything checks out and if so I will use it on the newer frame and send it in and have a 280rem barrel put on and a 357mag barrel as well. The other frame is going to get a Lament stock and a 32" 45/70 barrel put on it...

Go to Graybeard NEF forums...all your questions will be answered in the FAQS with side by side pictures, serial and frame number nomenclature...it's much simpler...read ALL the FAQS and all will become crystal clear. One picture is worth a million words in this case.

Luck