N.E.F. 45-70 opinions ?

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luftmech

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I was looking for anyone experienced with this lite "tree trimmer". The only person that I have known to fire one said it was the most fun rifle he has ever played with. Are the NEF a good deal for three hundred clams?
 
I recently traded mine off when I got a Browning 86 SRC in .45-70. I loved the little gun. It was strong, accurate and light. It did have some hefty recoil with heavy loads but the factory 405's were not too bad. I added Williams aperture sights and a Williams fire site on the front. The gun was fast and very handy. (no pun intended) Watch out when you open the gun without firing it. An unfired 405 load will hit you right between the eyes when it is ejected. I even loaded shot loads for it and shot several grouse while doing deer drives. Great gun for the money.
cheers Darryl
 
I had a Handi Rifle in 30-30 and additional 20 ga to which I adapted a 45-70 barrel. The gun was accurate and fun to carry. I added a scope with the hammer spur so that the hammer could be thumbed easily with the scope. Using black powder and cast 385 grains it was capable of under 7/8 inch for 5 at 100.
I did have problems with the gun after years of use including hundreds of very hot 30-30 loads, well over max and showing pressure signs , the firing pin developed a 'mushroom " effect and I began experiencing hang fires. Replacing the firing pin is a complicated job and when the problem came back the gun went as trade bait.
These guns are very easy to re stock as the inletting is a ball and socket like fit. I made a beautiful stock from a piece of 2 inch thick nicely figured walnut, added a brass fitting where the forestock and reciever join as well as a brass butt plate. The problem with a shotgun and scoped rifle is easier to fix by having different dimensioned stocks than any other method I can think of. Switching only involved a through the butt stock bolt.
The gun accounted for mulies, whitetails, huns and sharpies.

Despite the firing pin troubles which are at least partly my doing I would like to have another.....maybe a full length forestock, walnut butt, schoetzen style complete with those wild looking hooked butt plates, brass trigger guard etc .
 
Woah! a little out of my range.

Thanks for the other opinions I will have to get a closer look at one before finally deciding to purchase one. I am still thinking of getting a 12ga. Benelli Nova slugger for pushing bush. Atleast then I can cross into the shotgun zone if needed.
 
I own an H&R Buffalo Classic 45/70,I really like it.I just recently mounted a scope on her.I fired the NEF 45/70 version a few years ago,not bad at all.
I'm loading Hornady 300gr FNHP and using IMR4198 with Win.brass.
My next 45/70 will be a lever action!
 
I looked at a Marlin lever the other day, a very nice rifle indeed but I didn't like the throw of the lever. I think it is around 100 degrees, which isn't too bad but not what I was looking for at this time.
 
I also own a 30-30/20 ga handi rifle combo. I love the gun. My only dislikes are the ejector that can't be turned off (I don't like trying to catch the empties) and that I can't get more barrels for it because NEF will only fit new barrels to US rifles.

Budd
 
luftmech said:
I looked at a Marlin lever the other day, a very nice rifle indeed but I didn't like the throw of the lever. I think it is around 100 degrees, which isn't too bad but not what I was looking for at this time.
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Ya but you can get em workin as smooth as a silk worms pecker. And when your lookin down the tube at the big one you'll crank her...
 
NEF 45/70 ,accurate, reliable,easy to clean, ejector will kill you if you stand behind the flying case,best with 325 lite bullets, shoots lead bullets well. YES get it.
 
Yup, I had one aswell at one time.....real accurate....but heavy on recoil with heavy loads...I prefer my 1895 Marlin in 45-70 with Burris Fullfield II 1.75-5 scope on it...Love it!!!
 
gunasauras said:
Yup, I had one aswell at one time.....real accurate....but heavy on recoil with heavy loads...I prefer my 1895 Marlin in 45-70 with Burris Fullfield II 1.75-5 scope on it...Love it!!!
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..........Someday I'll have mine too...I kinda like the Marlin Cowboy 45/70 as well!
 
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I was looking at NEF's web site and they only show the 45-70 in synthetic/blue. Does anyone know if they chamber it in the wood stock?....with iron sights.
 
I know it used to come with the wood stock ,I'm pretty sure it come with iron sights too, I considered buying one of these myself but the wood they use looks pretty bad.Too bad you can't get a walnut stock as an option.I think they still have a $20 us rebate if you buy one before the end of November, that would make it really cheap.
 
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