Being gun-poor from .22rf to 6.5x55, I'm looking at geting an NEF .223 for varmits, but I don't know anything about them.

First, what does it take to change a barrel on them? Simple, not simple or why bother? Doesn't have to be a quick-change, but if it can be done, it'd be nice.

Second, can the .223's be safely rechambered to .22-250?

Looks like this is not THE PLACE for NEF questions

Actually, since H&R shut down the BB on their website, this is THE place.

Changing the barrel is very simple, remove the forearm screw and remove forearm, open action and lift off barrel, place barrel on hinge pin, close action and replace forearm and screw, continue shooting.

Yes, the 223 can be rechambered to 22-250, but as H&R is offering this chambering as a stock item again, there is little point. The rifling in the .223 and 22 Hornet barrel as well is 1 in 12 which prety much limits use to bullets of 55 grains and less. We can only assume at this point in time that they are using the same barrel blanks for the 22-250 chambering.

That being the case you would be no worse off than if you rechambered a 223.

Hope this helps, Good Shooting, JP

JPH
In my opinion one might be better off rechambering a 223 to 22-250 than buying their offering, that is if the freebore is a long as it is on the 223. You could make the chamber to tighter specs and limit the freebore and probably make it more accurate with a wider range of bullets/powders.

Thanks, where does one get replacement barrels and what do they cost?

Go to
hr1871.com

There you will find the additional barrel info you need.

OOPS, I didn't think of that Handrifle, a good point indeed. It is good to be surrounded by astute people, otherwise we lose sight of our shortcomings and begin to think we know it all.