clearanceman

I own one and it has been great. It had a failure (popped open when fired) after about 40 rounds, NEF fixed it and this season it seemed ok. I was going to dump it, but it is close to perfect for me. Muzzle heavy for offhand shots, short enough not to be annoying (with 26 inch barrel, it is the same length as my short action Browning .308 with 22 inch barrel). The handi doesn't really kick at all with 117s even compared to the .308 with 150s. I don't mind a single shot, I wait for a decent shot anyway. Plus the thing has the synthetic stock blued barrel. If I scratch and nick it, who cares? I feel guilty everytime I scratch my browning medallion...

Anyway, I have an extra youth stock and .223 lite 20 inch barrel (my handi was originally a .223 synthetic lite model and I bought the extra youth stock). I considered buying a new lite synthetic model in .243 and then I could make a youth .243 or a lite model, either would be a blast to carry and not kick too bad with 100 grain bullets. But it looks like I can get another 25-06 model for the same price. That 25-06 ultra barrel is more money to buy later than the lite barrels. It would also give me three stock options, my lite stock, my youth stock and the regular synthetic stock. Plus I could have my kid use it with the youth stock when he gets older or even with the .223 barrel (believe it or not, ANY centerfire rifle is legal for deer in WV).

In any case, just knocking around my options. What do you guys think? Never thought I would leave the .308 and 30-06 at home but 25-06 is a great whitetailed deer round.

The advantage of the .243 lite would be I know that stock fits me, I could add another barrel later. Also, with barnes 95 grain, I'm sure a deer would be dead. I use barnes in the muzzleloader and have never had one get away, those bullets are just amazing. Also, hornady SST interlock would probably kill any medium sized deer even in .223. They expand so violently and then penetrate too that in 117 grain 25-06 anywhere you hit, the meat is ruined. You have to make a head shot or rib cage heart/lung shot. Hit a shoulder and you aren't eating any of it and that is with factory ammo. I have shot five deer so far with that ammo and only one ran at all after being hit. Four fell right where they were hit, the fifth one went about 30 yards. I have never had that happen with any other ammo.

clearanceman

This is what I have decided to do:

I like the stock on my 25-06 and after looking at the pictures on the NEF website again I have concluded that the stock is the same for the super lite and the regular synthetic handi rifle. Only the youth model gets a different stock (and the survival model).

The difference between the superlight (only available in .22 hornet, .223, and .243) and the regular synthetic version is the barrel. Superlites have 20 vs. 22 inch barrels and they are turned down. IMO, from shooting my .223 superlite barrel vs. my 25-06 26 inch ultra barrel (fits on the same frame) the super lite is a disadvantage. They are hard to shoot offhand, the barrel is too light IMO.

So I am going to get the regular synthetic .243. It will have a 22 inch barrel which is better than the 20 inch superlite barrel, it will have the same stock as my 25-06. Also, I can later teach my kid to hunt with it and even put on the .223 superlite barrel if needed.

I think with Hornady SST interlock bullets .243 will be fine and it should be nice to shoot. Hornady makes a SST in 95 grains for 243.

My 25-06 is too barrel heavy to teach a kid to hunt with. Also, it is always nice to have an excuse to buy another gun. And I don't have a .243. Rounds it out nicely, because I have centerfires in .223, 25-06, .308 and 30-06.

James B

You sound like one of those handiholics. Ain't it great? I love the handi rifles. I have a 44 Mag synthetic and a BC, a handi 45-70 a stainless 223 sybnthetic and my favorite the 26 inch 280. I also have a turkey 12 Ga. I still want a 30-30 barrel and a new 22 Hornet barrel. Good luck with yours. I think my new 25-06 is going to retire several other guns . What a deer thumper.

clearanceman

I really like mine a lot, especially the 25-06 barrel. I never thought a $180 gun would cause me to leave my browning A-bolt medallion at home. That's hillarious but the 25-06 kicks less, shoots offhand better, is less loud. And I don't have to worry about scratching the fine wood because it is the synthetic stock. A lot of people don't like a single shot but honestly it is not a big deal. I rarely get a second shot on deer anyway and it is pretty fast to reload with the bullets in a holder on the stock. .243 should be fun, .22 hornet sounds like fun. I don't like the superlite barrels. Just too light in weight. 20 inches and turned down like a pencil.

Rockfish1

I'm not into the NEF, Encores for me but here's a site that both guns sit well in... David White is a strong advocate of the NEF and does some amazing things with them... I've had him do some barrel work for me on the Encores and can attest to his proficency... hope ya'll enjoy the site...

[link]http://www.bellmtcs.com/forum/index.php?s=b10c459a89433addc8b22cb7acf31d2a[/link]

clearanceman

Thanks!