I had a 1997 NEF Handi-Rifle in .45-70

by A K Church, Friday, December 13, 2024, 18:00 (8 days ago) @ AaronB

Mods were of a Williams aperture sight, and the tallest front sight the factory offered-.22 Hornet.

It was good for a 3 shot group at 100 yards of 1 1/2", with iron sights, me pulling the trigger, and using the first factory ammo I laid hands on. Winchester 300 grain.

It lacked nothing shooting-wise. With a good shot, I most expect it would have grouped yet mo bettuh.

But I never enjoyed shooting it. The fact it liked the hot-ish 300 grain stuff made it even more intimidating.

One of the supremo good luck events of my life was finding a guy at a gunshow. He was selling used rifles he brought down from the Alaska market. Never saw him before or since.

He had a weary looking 1979 Marlin 1895, with thin bluing, some loss of stock varnish, wood dents, and a little red freckling under some of the thin blue. A rifle which had been in rain, a certainement. Complete, and seemed to cycle as it should.

3 BILLS, out the door! I had been looking for a deal on a 95 since I was old enough to buy long guns on my own. Around 33 years. TAKE MY MONEY NOW!

Now it was good for 2 1/2 at best, and more often 3", 3 shots, 100 yards, me pulling the trigger, blah blah blah. But it was fun to shoot, and with the 405 Cowboy stuff, downright pleasant. It ran flawlessly, and I wasn't horrified if it got some rain on it. Point being: The extra pound or so made it all the better.