NEF Ultra Varminter for beginner shooter?

[Deleted member 48126]

My cousin is in the 9th grade. His dad isnt much of an outdoorsman and asked me to get his son involved in hunting and shooting. He has some firearm and shooting experience with his shotgun and going to the clay range with his grandfather. My cousin is a big dude. He's 6'3" and 220lbs in 9th grade. I am not worried about recoil, weight, or length of pull issues like with typical youth rifles. I made the normal rifle suggestions for a beginner (Ruger American, Rem 700, Base model bergara, base model savages) but his parents are pressed financially. I found the NEF ultra varminter in .223 and .243 they go for about $250. Are these decent rifles? I feel like it would be a good beginner gun for long range shooting since it is a single shot. Does anyone have any suggestions? I am taking him on his first hunting trip december 20th, and hopefully Ill get him hooked.

Also, yes, I made the .22LR suggestions but he wants a "deer" rifle.

 

[dogbuster0006]

The handirifles get a bad rap some places but they will shoot well enough to get him hooked and get the basics. I'd definitely lean towards the 243 or 25-06, I've been killing deer with both since I was a teenager. I've killed many a critter with them and knowing you've got only one shot will force him to take his time and make it count.

 

[Deleted member 48126]

Can you squeeze decent accuracy out of them?

 

[nevada75]

I have a couple of NEF/H&R including a slug gun, 22 Hornet, and 280 Rem. I've used my 280 on pronghorn to 450 yards. Not exactly long range but still a pretty good poke for many folks.

While I have fancy bolt guns the single shots still get plenty of play time. I think one with both a 223 and 243 barrel would be a great place to start a youngster. 223 is cheap to shoot likely has a 1:9 twist so you can shoot some of the heavier bullets but double check as they made a variety of twist rates. And a 243 is a good starting point for deer hunting.

Being a single shot shooters have to take time and pick their shot a bit more than other rifle types. Helps install discipline when shooting.

I say go for it.

 

[Frog4aday]

Not sure how much the NEF is going for, but this looks like a good 'starter' gun for the kid: $321 + $12 S/H + $20 FFL fee at buyer's end = $353 Total
https://www.gensecarmament.com/products/rifles-remington-85842-047700858425-2735
This is a Remington 783 bolt action in .243 Win w/3-9X40mm scope already mounted.
Most accounts are that these are surprisingly accurate for their cost.

EDIT: If NEF is $250 but still needs a scope and rings, you come out about the same as the Rem 783 'package' deal, but get more gun with the bolt action

 

[Jud96]

I've never seen one of those that shot very well. I would lean more towards a Savage Axis or even a Remington 700 ADL for $379 from Walmart. Both come with a scope already mounted and is a much better platform than a Handi Rifle.

 

[dogbuster0006]

I just worked up a 783 for a good buddy, after adjusting the trigger and ensuring everything was tight I removed the junk *** china made scope that came with it. The rifle would group two shots nearly touching if not touching the third shot a flier, consistently. The scope adjustments while sounding good were inconsistent, completely unpredictable, even after adjusting and tapping them to make sure they took. While I don't claim to be an expert by any means I've set-up/sighted in done load development with/for several folks and shot well over a hundred different rifles. The adjustments on this scope were some of the worst I've witnessed. I'm not saying all the scopes are lemons but it was certainly the case here, I installed a redfield revolution I had collecting dust and within 6 shots had the rifle zeroed and shooting as it should. All of the "budget" combo rifles I've worked up or shot come with the cheapest low budget glass I've seen.
Even on "budget" rifles spend the extra money and get a decent piece of glass, I own a couple of nikons, one Simmons a-tec and several Leupolds of different varieties none of which cost me over $500 all of which move the appropriate distance when adjusting them, they all hold their zeros. Regardless of the rifle you choose do yourselves a favor and buy decent glass, you'll find a screaming deal or two on the forums if you watch a while.

 

[elf]

Mine is an older NEF in 223, with a Leupold 3-9 on top. It is my walk around ground hog rifle. My load was 55 gr. Hornadys and 24 grs. Varget. Shot decent. Only complaint is -horrible trigger.

 

[quigley257]

I had one in 223 Remington and it was amazingly accurate for what it was. It definitely got me hooked on Prairie Dogging and reloading 30 years ago. It was accurate enough that I got rid of the factory forearm and replaced it with a homemade one with a wide, flat bottom for shooting off of sandbags. I bought it with a Swift 4-12AO scope on it but then saved up money and bought one of the Simmons Whitetail Classic 6-20x50AO scopes which it wore until I traded it many years later. BTW, those are great bang-for-the-buck scopes. I still own and use two of them to this day. The biggest downside was the trigger pull. It was crisp, but heavy. I never did actually measure the pull weight but I'm guessing somewhere north of 6 pounds. Every Handi-Rifle I have crossed paths with has been a decent rig. Definitely worthy of a first timers setup.

 

[extremesolo]

If a .243 is on the menu and a budget is a major concern I would personally buy the Marlin XS7 from CDNN. I believe they had it on sale for $239 last week. I own one as does my dad and brother. All guns are easily sub MOA with 95 grain ballistic tips, 100 grain federal blue box and 70 grain ballistic tips. It really is a great rifle at a super price. If the package scope is not good enough for you, gun mag warehouse last week had Weaver Kaspa scopes with their BDC reticle and rings for $35. This is really a nice scope for that kind of money.

 

[quigley257]

Not sure how much the NEF is going for, but this looks like a good 'starter' gun for the kid: $321 + $12 S/H + $20 FFL fee at buyer's end = $353 Total
https://www.gensecarmament.com/products/rifles-remington-85842-047700858425-2735
This is a Remington 783 bolt action in .243 Win w/3-9X40mm scope already mounted.
Most accounts are that these are surprisingly accurate for their cost.

EDIT: If NEF is $250 but still needs a scope and rings, you come out about the same as the Rem 783 'package' deal, but get more gun with the bolt action

While it's true that some of the Remington 783s will shoot well, especially when put into a decent stock, the scopes that come on the package are some of the worst optics to be attached to a rifle in the history of Remingtons. While working at Cabela's, I saw more unhappy customers(usually beginners) complaining about brightness, clarity, not tracking at all, and parts coming loose inside that poorly made scope than any optic ever. Just a perfect storm and setup for failure for a beginner who doesn't know what's happening when their rifle won't group well or hold zero. Just be forewarned.

 

[30BR]

I'd suggest you look around for a used Axis ... Gunbroker.com has a 308 with a scope up for auction and the current bid is under $125...

 

[kamml53]

I am a Marlin XL fan and have been one for years. They are solid rifles and great shooters. The CDNN .243 is a great buy. They are no longer manufactured, but just like many of our classic rifles they still make very good shooters. aThey have high quality bluing, a very good adjustable trigger, a detachable mag. and with a Boyd stock make a handsome very accurate rifle.

 

[5.56×250]

I've owned several, mostly 270s. I had one in 30 06 and one in 45 70. The only one that shot respectable was the 45 70. It shot an honest sub moa with 300gn winchester factory ammo. The 270s shot 1.5 to 2 moa, the 30 06 was junk, maybe 4 moa ? Triggers are not good, and are difficult to work, although I could improve them slightly. I should have held on to the 45 70. It was a great rifle.
Almost forgot, had one in 22 hornet too. It shot moa sometimes, but never found a load it shot consistently decent.
I'd go the 783 route, or try to find a remington 700 adl synthetic on blowout sale or used.