While I am sure more than a few of us have fired off emails, if the H&R board really ment something to you, take the time to let the CEO know.

Obviously be polite, but I do think he needs to hear us tell him what the board meant to us as members. And it certainly meant something, look how fast we all found places we could get together each evening....

He also need to hear just what kind of marketing tool the board was. Mre than a few have said that they would not have bought an H&R had it not been for the board, he needs to know that. I was meber 1238 (or somethiig like that) a year ago. Membership was almost a 4000 when it was shut down and Marlin Talk was over 12000 6 months ago. No matter where we have gone, the boards we are at now will not ever attract the number of dedicated H&R shooters as the old site, and that would be a shame for H&R and us.

Mr. Robert Chipman
60 Industrial Rowe
Gardner, MA 01440

Hey guys, it's time to give it up!
The H&R board was great and I'll miss it, but it's not going to come back.
Sorry to be so blunt, but I've heard enough whinning about it and it's time to move on!

H&R put the boards up for free, you had the use (or in some cases misuse) of them for a long time. Many of the posts were very educational and helpful. Some people used it for an outlet to try to outdo other people in dangerous practices, or for juvenile entertainment. Some people did nothing but lambaste products from the boards owners. H&R in my opinion made an excellent product at a very reasonable price. They offered a very low priced service of barrel selling of an existing rifle, rather than just letting you buy another complete gun. In a time of law suites for spilling coffee on yourself and law suites against firearms manufacturers running rampant, they showed a lot of patience with what some of the posts on the board contained. Now some of the people are saying "they will never buy a H&R again", The design, quality, or price have not changed. Just the perception of some people that something that was given for free is no longer theirs to use and abuse.

I hope I have made myself clear that I don't think H&R did anything-wrong closing down something that they owned. The people that are going to go to a foreign owned company to buy their next gun, and then complain, I hold in low regard. To the people who look to firearms boards for entertainment, I can only say, "get a life". The writing of letters to H&R complaining and threatening will not accomplish anything, except in some cases showing the poor knowledge of English grammar.

Ed
While it is sad it is gone I have to agree with you. One only has to look at the tolerance of MORTIE on this forum and the NEF forum to see where it was and is headed. On another post on this forum a user complained about another forum with "rules", well I say good for them. Keep it professional and informative and curteous and the board will thrive. Allow the MORTIE's to post as they do and it will fail. That is not what the boards are here for.

Since the H&R boards have closed, I and others, have had to look elsewhere and in many ways it's kinda refreshing. I'll miss many of the old boards posters that were professional and informative, but not all the garbage in between.

Being on the H&R forum for almost a yr after being away from hunting for 10 to 15yrs I learnt more than I thought possible from the good people there, but it probley time to move on and expand. Different forums seem for different things this one for one thing and greaybeard for something else. Maybe MORTUE has a place here. It is nice to still be with frinds.

I apologize if my letter sounded as though my intent was to restart H&R Talk. Only a fool would think it is not dead, and though foolish at times, not on this. Rather, I thought it would be a good thing if the CEO heard form us. It would not surprise me to find him insulated from things like emails, hate mail and such, and I simply thought it good that he might hear what people got out of that board and what H&R got from it.

Ed, I am one of those who has suggested the buying of other firms arms, even foriegn firms. I am tired of spending my money supporting the "Made in USA" folks, when I as an American and a CONSUMER and above all a CUSTOMER being treated as though I am not there. I am angry that after a year of being on that board every day, and having every time that I spoke well of H&R go to aid their corporate cause....getting customers and making money...that I was not even given the repsect due a customer of an explaination or a chance to remedy the situation. Excuse me for being angry on your board. I will endeavor in future to mention neither manufacturers nor feelings.

I have to agree with the premise of the NEF Forum being an aid to the corporation. If I hadn't found out about floating the barrel, long throats and failures to lock up on the forum, I would have had a bad taste in my mouth that wouldn't have permitted me to buy another NEF product.



The Handi rifle is a cheap product, not an inexpensive one. The quality control isn't up to par and there are too many problems to deal with to consider it to be a good product. I just had to repair my neighbor's "NH" for failing to lock up, so it isn't just a recent problem.



To rejoice over 1" groups is ridiculus, but that is the best case scenario for far too many Handi rifles. I am apprehensive about the .357 barrel that is being fitted to my receiver as being another less than average shooter. Buying guns and extra barrels isn't supposed to be like playing the slot machines.

You tell em Paul! Glad you made it here.~~~~~~~~~`scott

I think marlin bought a proven H&R product added better metalurgy to the reciever along came highpower cartridges and quality went out the door hopefully they will still watch these forums for direction of what the shooter really wants maybe a list including the remington BR cartridges

Scott,

This is what I am trying to deal with.


This group was shot at 25 yards with a 9X scope. Groups of 1" at that range are totally unacceptable!

Back in the mid 90s I sent a letter to NEF asking them to chamber the Handi in .35 Whelen. They sent me a letter back saying reserch and development was cost prohibitave. Signed by Mr. Garrison CEO NEF/H&R 1871. Then the next year they came out with the Rocky Mountain Elk Federation Commerative in .35 Whelen. I dug out my letter from them and called Mr Garrison. I told him that I did not want to buy a commerative to take out into the woods hunting Moose in Alaska. That was too nice a gun to beat up in the Alaska wilderness. He had a .35 Whelen Handi barreled up for me. I love it. Great caliber for Alaska. Writing letters do get results sometimes.

Paul, what caliber was that? actually my .357 and .44 did worse out of the box! Maximum for the .357 and still playing with the .44. You know, I've heard so many excuses for shoddy chamberings and such that it's getting old. H&R is an old company that has been around a long time and they HAVE to know how to chamber a rifle by now. They were even approached in the 60s by Mr. Center about producing a new single-shot pistol he had designed called the Contender. H&R felt that there would be no market for such a gun. Smart thinking! There are so many other manufacturers that have figured out how to make guns that shoot well and H&R should up their game. I think the powers that be are hiding behind the apron strings of some panty-waisted lawyer that is dictating business practices. Anyone can sue anyone for any reason but I still go out of the house. H&R, with Marlins backing could defend itself from a frivolous lawsuit instead of laying down at every opportunity, inviting more lawsuits. If everyone is at full gallop retreating, who is going turn and fight?~~~~~~~~~~~~~scott

Scott,

It was a .223 that has shot its best, 1" at 100 yards, with 45 gr Win Varminters. That load was 55gr Rem HP with 24 gr surplus IMR 4895 and CCI SR primer. OAL is 2.32" which is long to try to reach the rifling.

The receiver and synthetic stock are at NEF right now. The barrel and receiver look like they were made in a Pakastani shop where they only had a file and a hammer!

It isn't a bull barrel, but the barrel measures about 5/8" at the muzzle. Probably big so it will handle the pressure instead of using the proper metal.