NEF/H&R Action Strength

220Swifty

220Swifty

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Anybody around here know what kind of pressures the H&R/NEF hinge action can handle? I ask because i have a feeling that it might be fun to push the 45-70 past the anemic levels factory ammo offer, but dont want to/cant afford to spend the money on a ruger #1 for what will ultimately be a knockaround bush gun.
 
Since they guns in 308 and 30-06, I would say that level or when your teeth become loose. Which ever comes first would be the level.
K
 
In his journal on the 45/70, B. Mitchell took the NEF to levels between the "Trapdoor loads" and Marlin 1895 loads and reported 1800 fps with a 465gr. hardcast bullet w/gc, Accurate Arms(he was using AA2015) tested pressure to 35,000cup. Please note that max. for the BP guns(Trapdoor) is 25,000 psi, and Black Powder loads produce much less then that....He reported no problems with the NEF, none of the "opening on firing"/release problems one hears about!
 
Years ago I had one of the little "Handi rifles" chambered in 45-70.
Used it with great success on many Black Bear hunts. Had a pretty stout load with horny 350 grainers(Marlin 95 pressures) Fed it that load for several years without fail.
I did try one of my Bud's ruger No 1 Hot loads one time.......the rifle held up a heck of alot better then I did:redface:

I would not however want to feed one a steady diet of those loads....I'd stick to the loads rated for the 95 Marlins as a Max;)
 
a great big WARNING on these.....there are rifle receivers and shotgun receivers....don't try shooting a rifle barrel mounted on a shotgun receiver....they are some kind of pot metal not steel like the rifle receivers...
 
I read an old report of the strength of the NEF rifles. Seems that the frame will flex at a certain point and allow the gun to open when fired. Of course the point where that happened was waaaayyyy beyond what it (or any rifle) should have been loaded with. Some NEF rifles have apparently opened with standard loads upon firing. These rifle obviously needed some factory gunsmith attention. It was not the fault of the design only that the individual rifle was not up to spec before it left the factory.

regards, Darryl
 
I have one in 500SW, I believe the factory specs for the 500 is 60,000 psi (I could be wrong but thats the number I remember) The Win Platinum factory stuff chronos a 400 gr hollow point at 1900 fps out of the 20" barrel. I have had no opening upon firing problems with 100 rds to date. Fun little rifle for blowing stuff up.:p
 
"Pot metal" is a bit of an exaggeration, but the maker does say about their accessory barrel program that the shotgun receivers are not designed for rifle caliber pressures, so they will supply and fit a shotgun barrel to one of their rifle receivers, but they won't put a centrefire rifle barrel on one of their shotgun receivers (and if I recall correctly, rimfire receivers, too.)
 
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