Tell me a little about H&R revolvers.

[Deus Machina]

Every gun show I go to, I see a few H&R's, mostly in .22, ranging everywhere from $40 to $120, in varying conditions.

They always leave me with a bit of a sour taste because they're always on the table between Rohms that lost timing, and Hi-Standards that have turned smoothbore, and various and sundry potmetal .38-caliber grenades, some of the newest of which have lawyer marks that proclaim "+P ammunition will freaking kill you".

On the other hand, I respect their modern-day offerings, but know next to nothing on their older handguns.

Edit: On that note, always see a couple Iver Johnsons around, too. Still want a nice cheap revolver, if it will hold up.

 

[W.E.G.]

I got mine!

 

[22-rimfire]

The H&R revolvers were inexpensive guns. They are safe and shoot just fine. My first revolver and handgun was a H&R 999 Sportsman (22LR). I knew nothing about handguns when I bought it. I simply looked at the price and how it felt for me prior to purchase. I compare it to folks that buy the Heritage Rough Rider or Taurus revolvers these days.

I shot the H&R a lot for a couple years. I especially liked the top break feature and nine shot cylinder for plinking. On my particular revolver, I slowly became aware that getting burnt by hot lead and gun powder while shooting a handgun was not necessarily "normal". They all did not have cylinder gap or timing problems. My sights always worked loose too and I gave up trying to "sight it in" and just shot it. Eventually I bought a 4" Colt Diamondback in 22LR and was pleasantly surprised that all guns were simply not like my H&R revolver. I could just as easily have bought a Smith Model 17 or 18 and been just as pleased. I became a "colt guy" for years and only in the last few years have started to buy Smith & Wesson revolvers.

 

[thunder173]

I have a little 929 nine shooter that I bought new in 73. Have ran thousands of rounds through it over the years,..I still shoot it now and then for plinking and giggles. Not an expensive gun,..not the greatest gun I ever owned,...but a very very servicable firearm. If you can find one indecent shape,..they are a good little "kit gun".

 

[CajunBass]

I had a 650 (I think it was) 22. Satin nickle plated, six shot 22/22 mag. Good little gun I thought. It was one of those "I've never had one of these" deals. I didn't keep it long because I have a bunch of other 22 handguns, most of which I paid two or three times the price for, but it was a servicable gun. Heavy trigger in D/A but the S/A wasn't too bad.

 

[CZguy]

The H&R revolvers were inexpensive guns. They are safe and shoot just fine. My first revolver and handgun was a H&R 999 Sportsman (22LR). I knew nothing about handguns when I bought it. I simply looked at the price and how it felt for me prior to purchase. I compare it to folks that buy the Heritage Rough Rider or Taurus revolvers these days.

I shot the H&R a lot for a couple years. I especially liked the top break feature and nine shot cylinder for plinking. On my particular revolver, I slowly became aware that getting burnt by hot lead and gun powder while shooting a handgun was not necessarily "normal". They all did not have cylinder gap or timing problems. My sights always worked loose too and I gave up trying to "sight it in" and just shot it. Eventually I bought a 4" Colt Diamondback in 22LR and was pleasantly surprised that all guns were simply not like my H&R revolver. I could just as easily have bought a Smith Model 17 or 18 and been just as pleased. I became a "colt guy" for years and only in the last few years have started to buy Smith & Wesson revolvers.

I read this with great interest. I bought a H&R model 900 (.22LR) years ago as my first handgun. (I couldn't afford the model 999) The model 900 is a pin pull without the swing out cylinder, the cylinder just comes separate from the gun. My experiences with it were very similar with 22-rimfires and after a couple of years I bought a S&W model 17, and have only recently discovered Colt.

 

[dagger dog]

Ed McGivern had good things to say about H&R .22 caliber revolvers, the Sportsman, in specific. He classed them in with the S&W K22 Masterpeice and the .22 Colt Officers Model.

You can read what he said about them in his book ''FAST AND FANCY REVOLVER SHOOTING" he touted all three as being suitable for practice, for working up to the centerfires, and using them when and were it wasn't practical for the centerfires.

 

[savit260]

I picked up this little .22 Iver Johnson Model 55 back in the winter time for a little over $100. H&R makes one that's almost a twin. This one is 8 shots, with a non-swing out cylinder.

While it's NO Colt Officers Model Target, or K-22, it IS a fun , quirky little plinker that sees LOT'S of trigger time. It's solidly built, and functions as it should. I own more expensive , and prettier revolvers, but I find this to be one charming little smile generator.
The Tyler T-Grip belongs on a J frame but was modified to fit the I/J.

 

[Pyro]

I just picked up a 949 last weekend at a gun show. Fun little thing.

 

[Jim K]

H&R and Iver Johnson at one time were almost in the category of S&W or Colt for quality, but their designs aged and as "second string" makers they never really had the money (or maybe the desire) for a complete overhaul. As a result, they fell behind and, while small improvements were forthcoming, they were too little, too late. Another thing that seriously hurt H&R was their government contracting for the M1 and M14 rifles. Most folks think a government contract is the road to unimaginable riches; it is not. It is more likely a road to frustration and bankruptcy, and that was nearly the case with H&R; they never fully recovered. Also, on the lower level of handgun makers, they had less of a financial cushion to deal with the increased costs of doing business imposed by the various gun control laws as well as by real or threatened lawsuits.

Jim

 

[jad0110]

While it's NO Colt Officers Model Target, or K-22, it IS a fun , quirky little plinker that sees LOT'S of trigger time. It's solidly built, and functions as it should. I own more expensive , and prettier revolvers, but I find this to be one charming little smile generator.

I could not have said it better. They may not be pretty, and most may not have the convenience of a swing out cylinder. And while their triggers are often a little stiff (like a S&W J Frame), the ones I have tried have been surprisingly smooth, if a bit rough upon hammer release. They do have a reputation for reliability, durability and reasonably good accuracy.

I just picked up this H&R 622 last week at a pawn shop for $120. Perhaps a little overpriced for a 622, but not out of reason for my area. The "plood" stocks are surprisingly comfortable, and the gun balances nicely in the hand. Like most H&Rs, the DA trigger is a bit stiff, but it is very smooth. I'm really looking forward to trying it out this weekend.








I do have one question. That lever, on the bottom of the trigger gaurd pictured below, appears to act as a sort of manual hammer block safety when activated. Can anyone confirm this?

Another thing that seriously hurt H&R was their government contracting for the M1 and M14 rifles. Most folks think a government contract is the road to unimaginable riches; it is not. It is more likely a road to frustration and bankruptcy, and that was nearly the case with H&R; they never fully recovered.

I work in government contracting, and fully agree with your assessment. Lots of small business owners have asked my advice about getting into government contracts. I have advised them that while it is certainly worth researching, I've always advised them that you really need to have a good, steady cash flow and lots of cash on hand. That's because Big Brother is notoriously bad about paying their bills in anything resembling a timely manner. Really, if you are going to do business with Fedzilla, plan to not get paid for a year to be on the safe side. Though I've seen one company go 2 YEARS trying to get paid over truly bureaucratic bullcrap.

 

[savit260]

The small part behind the trigger is what actually drops the hammer.

 

[Guillermo]

I don't own an H&R revolver but I do have a story about one.

There was an old man named Jack that I did business with. He couldn’t get around much so I often dropped his goods off to him. We didn't deliver but in his case it was the right thing to do.

Nice guy, congestive heart failure. Wife was in a home. Really sad watching him struggle.

One day I was dropping some stuff off to him. Being lonely he asked me to come in. I went in and sat down. We didn’t have much in common so we began to chat about guns. He told me that was trying to sell his guns before he died because he knew that his daughters would crush them. I was glad to help him find fair prices for them.

I mentioned that my 10 yr old daughter had been shooting for years and really enjoyed it. For the first time this deathly ill man visibly brightened. He instructed me where to go fetch a gun case.

I did so and he unzipped it and handed me a like new H&R .22. He told me to give it to my daughter. I exclaimed that I couldn’t accept it he said firmly “I wasn’t giving it to you!”

I really didn’t have an answer to that so I thanked him profusely and after a while left, warmed by his generosity.

Well I told my daughter the story. It was his first new gun. Paid $29 for it in the 60’s. She wrote him a nice thank you letter and put a photo of herself at the range into the envelope and sent it off.

I didn’t hear from Jack for a while. I guess it was about 3 weeks, his daughter called saying that Jack had died. She also asked me to thank my daughter for the note. She said that Jack showed every nurse, doctor and candy striper that came into his room the photo and note. It tickled him at a time when nothing else could. At the moment that he met his maker the picture was on the tray in front of him.

As you might imagine, I don’t mind that I didn’t give my daughter her first gun. She hopefully learned about how a small act of kindness can mean a lot to someone. IN this case she helped a man at a time when he needed it the most.

BTW

When she turned 15 I gave her a Smith model 19…but I doubt that it is her most cherished handgun.

 

[Floppy_D]

Cool story, Guillermo. I've wanted a Sportsman for quite awhile. If I find one at a decent price, I'll jump on it. My grandfather-in-law has one, the top break nine shot, and I think it's awesome.

 

[jad0110]

^^^ I'm about speechless. Wonderful story. Thank you for sharing it, that is one of those stories that I'll always remember.

 

[jamesjo]

Can't beat a good H&R Sportsman!

 

[Guillermo]

Floppy and Jad,

Thank you for the kind words.

It is a great reminder that sometimes the little things in life are the ones that mean the most.

May Jack rest in peace.

And may you, my fellow gun guys, be well.

 

[Deus Machina]

Guillermo, wonderful story. Wish I had anything of the sort to share.

Jamesjo, those are some sexy little pieces! Gonna keep my eye out, next show I hit.

 

[NCSUPackman]

I love H&Rs. I bought a 929 "NIB" from a used case about a year ago. Great little gun.

An easy way to date modern H&Rs:

They started their serial numbers with a letter beginning in 1940; starting with A. The next year would be the next letter of the alphabet, 1941 would be B. When they reached the end of the alphabet they started over with two letters, AA, next year AB, etc. That continued until the company went out of business 1986.

 

[hatchetbearer]

Guillermo, That story was very touching. good to know an old gun found a good home.

jamesjo, you have made me want to keep my eye out for a sportsman now.

 

[jamesjo]

Thanks guys!
Lots of Good stuff came from H&R, very under rated company.
H&R also made some excellent convertibles.
I'd put them up against a Ruger any day, plus they are double action.
Here's a few pics.

Model 686 4.5" 1980


Model 686 5.5" 1980


Model 686 7.5" 1980


Model 686 10" 1982


Model 686 12" 1980


Model 649 5.5" 1980


Model 649 7.5" 1980


Model 650 1980

 

[Onmilo]

My very first handgun purchased with my own money was an H&R 929 revolver.
My Dad had to buy it for me because I wasn't yet 21.

I used that gun for a few years while running trap lines as it was a whole lot easier to carry than my Ruger 10/22
Not exactly legal in Illinois, even then, but I knew the local Conservation Officers and they chose to look the other way on that issue because i kept everything else in compliance.

Anyway, that 929 performed well and never failed to work.
I sold it off when I went into the Army in 1978.