Alot of this choice comes down to taste. I shot a SSi in .308 at the range a few weeks back, and have shot several NEF singles (I own 2). Both are fine guns. For me, married with a mediocre job, mortgage and kids, the NEF is the obvious choice simply because of cost. I do not buy guns because they are pretty, which the SSi is, but rather for their function. Not to say the NEF is ugly, or the SSi is not functional!
Rather, that I would rather spend my gun money on 2-3 useable guns than spend the same amount of money on only one of the three in a different brand simply because it looks nicer.
As for triggers, NEF had a bad rep for triggers for a long time, and they have been addressing this. If you get a heavy-triggered gun, you can send it back to them and they will reset it to a 3# trigger at no cast. I have heard this from several people, but have not had it done on any of my guns.
As for triggers, NEF had a bad rep for triggers for a long time, and they have been addressing this. If you get a heavy-triggered gun, you can send it back to them and they will reset it to a 3# trigger at no cast. I have heard this from several people, but have not had it done on any of my guns.