[74sharps]

I bought an old H&R and need help with I.D.ing it. On the top of the barrel it says ".44 caliber" and is a smooth bore. It was pattened in 1901. I did find one like it online in .44-40 selling for $990. Hope these pics. help. Thanks for the help.
God's Blessings,
Ken

[JohnBT]

This is all I've found so far. The books I have are worthless. John

"This .44 caliber H&R has a 2 1/4" chamber with a cylinder choke. No doubt made for the 44 XL shot cartridge serial No. A13697. The gun was built with a frame take down screw with the flap now missing. Overall good external condition with a fair shotable bore. Needs a good cleaning." - $185.00

www.joesalter.com/detail.php?f_qryitem=3709

[74sharps]

This is all I've found so far. The books I have are worthless. John

"This .44 caliber H&R has a 2 1/4" chamber with a cylinder choke. No doubt made for the 44 XL shot cartridge serial No. A13697. The gun was built with a frame take down screw with the flap now missing. Overall good external condition with a fair shotable bore. Needs a good cleaning." - $185.00

www.joesalter.com/detail.php?f_qryitem=3709

Thanks. Do you know if ammo. is still available for it? or is there loading info. somewhere? Mine still has all its parts and is in good condition, I would even say it's shootable. A couple folks have told me "just use 410 in it" I don't know if this is wise, what do you think? Hope you don't mind me picking you brain.

In Jesus,
Ken

[Jim K]

The base size would be OK for .410, but the .410 is much too long for the chamber. Even if you could get a .410 into the chamber, firing it would be very dangerous. In addition, that .44 XL used a brass case and a sort of shot cup (like some modern pistol shot shells) rather than having the shot charge within the shell like modern shotgun shells, so those guns don't have a lead to allow the case to unfold like modern shotguns. It might be possible to cut down .410 shells and then use some kind of plastic shot cup or a glued in wad, but that would be a lot of trouble.

I would not recommend rechambering for the .410 as the barrels on those guns get thinner beyond the chamber and a modern .410 might be too much for it. My recommendation is to treat the gun as a wall hanger.

.44 XL shotshells are available at gun shows from time to time (they were pretty common around 1900) so you might try to get a couple just to show what the shell was like.

Jim

[Oldnamvet]

Or you could also buy some brass .410 shells and cut them to the right length. There are instructions for loading the old brass shells on the Internet.
But then, if you really wanted to shoot .410, there are lots of single shot guns out there dirt cheap. Use it as a piece of history on the wall rather than risk damaging it (or yourself) by trying to shoot it.

[74sharps]

I'll check at the shows and the .410 cut down thing. Thanks folks.