I bought a new gun today and I have a question. Has anyone ever heard of one of these guns when you shoot it the barrel un-latches. Not every time but almost every time I pull the trigger the barrel will un-latch while laying on the resting bag when I shoot the gun. The gun shoots fine it just auto un-latches. Any thoughts?

one of the guys i work with, his brother had 2 of them and they would both do it and the empty would eject and hit him in the head. he sent one back and still did it afterwards so he got rid of them. i looked at one i the store one day and you could probably open by just pulling on it. it was just catching on the lock by a fraction of an inch. ive known a couple of other guys that have been having bad luck with accuracy too. ive heard enough bad that i wouldnt buy one, but also on the other hand my dad has one that he loves, so it might just be the luck of the draw. i would send it back at least because somthing isnt right and see if they can fix it

Man, I was going to buy the Rossi and every one said to get the NEF that it was a much better gun. I have had a 12 gauge for years and it has never done any thing like that. I cleaned the gun really good and will try it again to see if it still does it. Mine does not eject the shell like tha olds ones did, that was changed. I read that in the manual. It feel very solid when latched and the relase button has to be depressed all the way for it to release. But the recoil releases it just file! LOL Just my luck. I will contact the company if it does it again tomorrow when I try it. Thanks for your reply.

coolarrow welcome to the forum. Rules are simple, be nice and join in.

Here is their site. Give them a call or email and see what they want to do to the gun. It is not working right.

http://www.hr1871.com/support/repairs.aspx

my son and I both have NEF ins 25-06 my son loves his, but well I dont!! We have both experienced the rifle breaking open when fired but normally it is corrected by using a little more force when closing, like slamming it shut. It doesnt happen all the time but we are going to work the action a little more to see if the latch will wear a little and correct the problem.

The gun does shoot pretty well and now after shooting about 200 rounds through it, it is settling down and producing some better groups. In hind sight I think lapping the barrel would have been an idea and taking a file to the latch and leveling it out a little would correct the breaking open upon firing problem

John

There is something quite strange about this post. Dixie Slugs has used these guns in various calibers and gauges for some time and have never had one pop open? The design of the NEF is a compensating lockup system. Otherwords, a wear take up that is quite sound. The cut in the barrel should never be touched with a file! The best way to see the depth the lockup in the frame is engauged.......is the smoke the lock recess in the barrel with a candle. Lock and unlock the gun a few times and examine the cut in the barrel. many times it is nothing more than a slight burr where the cut was milled out. #400 or #600 emery backed by a flat surface will remove any burrs, etc.......but never alter the angle of the cut. And...never, like some do, put any abrasive paste on either the locking cut on the barrel or the pivot locking block in the frame.This action has a strange habit of settling down and increased accuracy after about 100 rounds, as long as the gun is rested on the bags under the frame and not the forearm.They have excellent barrels that also smooth up after some rounds are fired through them. On our lead bullet guns, we have lapped the barrels with Cerium Oxide on a tight fitting patch.........James

There is something quite strange about this post. Dixie Slugs has used these guns in various calibers and gauges for some time and have never had one pop open? The design of the NEF is a compensating lockup system. Otherwords, a wear take up that is quite sound. The cut in the barrel should never be touched with a file! The best way to see the depth the lockup in the frame is engauged.......is the smoke the lock recess in the barrel with a candle. Lock and unlock the gun a few times and examine the cut in the barrel. many times it is nothing more than a slight burr where the cut was milled out. #400 or #600 emery backed by a flat surface will remove any burrs, etc.......but never alter the angle of the cut. And...never, like some do, put any abrasive paste on either the locking cut on the barrel or the pivot locking block in the frame.This action has a strange habit of settling down and increased accuracy after about 100 rounds, as long as the gun is rested on the bags under the frame and not the forearm.They have excellent barrels that also smooth up after some rounds are fired through them. On our lead bullet guns, we have lapped the barrels with Cerium Oxide on a tight fitting patch.........James

Bad choice of words on my part, file is a generalization of just making sure there were no burrs and to make sure the surfaces were consistant with each other so there would be good lock up. Using a file can over heat and stress the metal and even lose it temper so if using emory cloth is the way to go then thanks for the tip. I am convinced that the problem of opening upon firing will go away when the action has worn properly. Just like a good pump action shotgun and a semi-auto, the more it is used the better it functions after the parts have worn somewhat.

John

John........I thought that was what you meant, but was just being sure.
Now......Some day when your nerves are very calm, eveything is just right, and your attitude is great.......you can smooth up the inside and trigger!
But.........before you knock out the first pin, be sure to go to www.perkloafm.com and print out all the pages!.....Regards, James

Thanks for all the insite! I will shoot it again and use more force when closing to see if that helps. I did leave a message on the voice mail at NEF today but with the holiday and all no one was at the office. I hope to get it worked out though. The gun looks to be and fells fun to shoot I just hate that if falls open after each shot. I'll let you know how it works out. Sincerely Coolarrow

From this site (http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?p=504758#504758) by wrongtarget.
Once you get that tolerance, you need to check the latch engagement. Clean, then smoke the latch shelf on the barrel with a candle, then mount the barrel and close the action, you should have approx 1/8" latch engagement on the latch shelf as shown by the mark in the smoked shelf. If it barely engages, hone the latch shelf on the barrel with a stone to remove some metal and smooth the surface, check it again, continue until you get good engagement.

I have a 06 in the handi,as far as a shooter the gun is a tack driver with handloads,but 3 shots just under 7/8" at the 100 yard target from a bench.I also have found the first time out the action did break open on me a few times.I seem to quick fix the problem givening a little more on closing the action ,more like a good snap and remove any oil from the inside of the locking latch,seem to solve the problem.I also had run into the problem having a few stuck cases after firing the round,quick fix also was to reduce the charge by .5 grains seem the problem is gone
I also have a 45-70 BC and again needs a little more to close then just a push more like a good snap.

John........I thought that was what you meant, but was just being sure.
Now......Some day when your nerves are very calm, eveything is just right, and your attitude is great.......you can smooth up the inside and trigger!
But.........before you knock out the first pin, be sure to go to www.perkloafm.com and print out all the pages!.....Regards, James

Thanks James, I really do like the feel of the rifle, it is just taking a little time to smooth things out. My son shot three whitetails last year with his Handi Rifle and all the bullets hit right where he was aiming.

I am going to give the rifle a little longer before I contemplate even thinking of tinkering with the barrel latch.

Thanks for the link to the website. I am going to dig into it and see what else my pea brain can absorb.

John

Hey, while we are on the subject of NEF rifles, has anyone got a preferance to scopes? I had a Nikon Buckmasters special on mine from Walmart and I hated it. My son has a Simmons on his and he loves it. I need to try another scope on the rifle before I start to lose confidence in it.

Thanks
John

Mine came with a Simmons 10 point scope. A $50 scope I think, it also came with a plastic hard case. I got the gun a Academy sporting good for $259.95. That was the main reason I went with the NEF rifle. I hope my is like the rest of you say and it works out.

I've never had the problems you describe with my NEF rifles or shotguns but I have read about them enough to know it's not uncommon. I polished the chamber of my rifle with FLITZ before ever firing a shot to nip stuck cases in the bud. lonewolf's advice on removing any oil off the lug a good idea. These guns are great shooters even though tad excentric, I love mine.