NEF Pardner 20 gauge Shotgun

NEF Pardner - remake of the Remington 870

Anyone have one of these? I'm looking at a "youth" model for $155 (maybe less with discounts) - new. The few write ups I've seen say they are fair to good. I'm looking at one for my son to use for a couple years before he graduates to a full sized unit. The only issue I noticed was they seemed a bit heavy - especially for their "official" weight of 6.5 pounds.

I don't think that's a "remake of the Remington 870" as you stated.

Two different shot guns with the 870 definitely higher quality.

But-my BIL has a NEF and it's OK.

They're made in some third world hole. Buy him a single shot H&R.

I have a NEF Pardner in .410 - has been a nice little gun. Also have a NEF .223/50 cal muzzle loader. (interchangable barrels.) Have been very happy with all. Had a broken firing pin on one, and they took care of it promptly and free.

Remington 870 is a slide action repeater.

NEF Pardner is single shot break action.

I have both.

They are now making a NEF Pardner pump...see this link:
NEF Pardner Pump

I have one, mine is a single shot..

Dad bought it for me about 16 years ago..

I'd guess I've shot 1,000+/- rounds out of it (Me, dad, uncles, and cousins used to trap shoot almost every nice weekend)

Other than I somehow broke off the sight at the end of the barrel, it's been fine for me.

Brad

I would start him with the NEF single shot 20 gauge.My grand son got the youth model 10 years ago.I liked it so much I bought one for my self.WalMart sold the youth model for 88 bucks.It didnt have the rubber recoil pad.Remington is producing the single shot models now.The case hardened finish is gone.I have 2 pump shotguns but use my NEF and Stevens singles the most.The NEF has a 20 inch barrel, modified choke.37 inches long,weighs 5 and a half pounds.H&R and NEF proved that there was still a strong market for single shot rifles and shot guns.I would be shy of a pump gun made in China.

Right- Good enough but it's still not quite the same "level" as a Rem. 870.

I have a couple of the NEF single shot break actions. Many, many kids got their start with these guns.

In fact, as I get older (AND LAZIER), I use my NEF Handi-Rifle in 45/70 for deer hunting. Easy to carry, Williams peep sight on it and all else I need are the cartridges and my knife.

As I'm sure you know, years ago, the Winchester Model 12 was the standard by which all other pump shotguns were measured. We all know what happened to Winchester. But for quite awhile, the Remington 870 has been considered the "one" and the Mossbergs are second.

I have both an 870 and a Mossberg 500. Like them both. The Mossy is a little more "crude ?" and clinkity-clanks when you work the action but it is a rugged piece of equipment.

What's made in some "third world hole?" H&R and NEF are both the same company and are owned by Marlin which is owned by Remington.

Little bit of research would have clarified things for you. You might have been thinking of "Rossi."

Ive not heard of nef making a 870 pump,but i'm going to sort of rock the boat here.I like nef single shot shotguns,and own several.BUT, if i were looking today for a shotgun to start some one on,i would go imediatly to the maverick pump shotguns.very reliable,very good value for the money.if , (and in my humble opinion a single shot shotgun has ruined more young shooters because of the excessive recoil than any other thing),i were to buy a single shot for a starter gun i would look around for a bakail shotgun,sold here sometimes by remington under the spartan name.they are very good guns,i carry one coyote hunting,they have a safety,and are hammerless which is a big plus in my opinion.BUT best way to teach a young person is to buy him a quality fire arm to begin with,pump ,auto,break open, whatever doesnt matter.have him(or her) carry it empty with action open. hand them one shell,and load singly when on station or when dogs point if you are training in feild.this teaches lots of valuable lessons.if its too heavy,just let him carry it empty,and build up the strenght needed to mount and swing.in my opinion,single shot any thing is more for an experienced shooter who takes the time to make that shot count.not a youngster who may have to use both hands to cock back hammer,remember to leave finger off trigger while mounting,get on target,adjust lead, pull trigger all the while knowing its going to hurt them when he does fire.simply too much to try to put together all at once,and no one likes to miss all the time, or have the snot knocked out of them.i have a maverick pump twenty guage,that i like to carry some bird hunting,its fairly light weight,probably not over a couple of pounds heavier than a good single,comes with choke tubes so you can put in a cyl choke. reliable little guns patterned on the 500 .this would make a good starter gun in my opinion.be hard to beat a 870 or one of its clones also though.

I started my girls on a NEF .243 Handi-Rifle and it's been a darn good little rifle. I wouldn't shy away from their products. Having said that, $155 sound ridiculously cheap.

I bought my youngest daughter her first shotgun last year. I didn't know anything about the NEF pump and I ended up comparing the 870 with the Mossberg 500 Youth Model.

After allot of consideration I went with the Mossberg.

The one write up I found on the Pardner pump (12 gauge full size) found them to be consistantly "fair to good" in their fit, finish and operation. They compared them side by side with the Remington 870 and even swapped parts between them checking to see if the were a true "clone". The parts fit for the most part (barrel is specifically designed to NOT fit).

http://www.thehighroad.org/archive/index.php/t-307967.html

They found the 870 to be as I've found them to be, some great and some looking like they fell off a truck from North Korea. It seems that Remington's quality can be VERY GOOD and some times VERY BAD.

I'm looking at the Pardner Youth model because of the price and its locally available in stock where I can actually handle it. If my sons only use it for 4-5 years and out grow it I can always sell it for the same $150 as long as they don't destroy it. It has screw in chokes and a very thick recoil pad - something lacking on all the single shots I looked at and as mentioned above the recoil on single shots is enough to make any young shooter flinch. If I wanted to go that route I have an old Stevens Fox 311 20 gauge side by side they could use - but there's some serious recoil with it too. I'm working with an extremely small 12 year old and a large 9 year old (actually the same size).

A Friend gave me a Stevens 20 ga pump shot gun and I bought an Ithaca 37 a few years ago.I would say a Stevens 94 single shot 12 ga that my wife gave me for my birthday get used often..The NEF 20 ga is light and handy.My son in law has a Mossberg.The are plenty of good used guns for sale, I see no reason to buy an import pump shot gun.Marlin produced a lot of good basic rifles that the average man could afford, too bad they are gone now.

I think you will find the pump gun is from China.Start the kids with light loads.I hunted for many years with a muzzle loading shot gun with 1/2 loads to save powder and shot.Took all the pheasnts, rabbits and gray squirrels I wanted.

You're right about the pump gun. My mistake. But the break actions I think, are now being made at the Remingotn plant in Ilion, NY. I think production was moved there from Mass.

The NEF youth single has a thick recoil pad.I find modified choke works fine for most hunting.There are special light recoil loads that can be used for kids.Screw in chokes are famous for being impossible to remove.I have an extra barrel for my Stevens 94 that has an adjustable choke on it.There is the 28 gauge for kids.The 410 is for expert shooters.I sold my 410 50 years ago.Friend used a 410 and had trouble finding shells for it.The 28 gauge shells are high priced and have a limited choice of loads.

I might add that most shot guns are cocked when loaded.semi autos, pumps, doubles and bolt actions are cocked when loaded.The NEF wont fire until the trigger is pulled.Kids may not set safetys or take them off when they shouldnt.Two of my friends have had Winchester 94 rifles fire when gloves hands slipped the hammer.