H&R 22LR Sidekick issues...

[tsidorus]

Ok here goes... I was given an H&R 22lr Sidekick like the title suggests and Ive been having issues. The brass sticks in the chambers causing extreme force nessessary to eject (Ive been tempted to use a mallet) and it misfires about 50% of the time. I assume the sticky chambers can be fixed by polishing but with what? I havent a clue! Im unsure where to start about the FTF issue as well. Is it springs? coil? leaf? I havent found anywhere that carries H&R parts. Should I just hang on to this thing to unload during a buyback or something.

I dont want to sink a bunch of money in a gun that isnt worth much to begin with nor is it accurate but it would be nice to make it work.

-Tsi

 

[Chawbaccer]

Rimfire guns often develop a burr on the chamber from the firing pin, especially if dry-fired often. Also with the burr, the cartridge won't seat all the way into the chamber and the firing pin uses its force to seat the round.
Brownells sells a tool to iron out the chamber.

 

[Rex B]

Judicious use of a jewelers half-round file will also address the above burr.

The H&R 622 I have has a hammer block over a floating firing pin. It can't peen the cylinder. Yours must have the firing pin integral with the hammer?

 

[tsidorus]

that may explain both issues, Ill look into it thanks.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

My neighbor's son inherited a H & R 22 revolver. It was plaqued with missfires. He asked me if I would take it to a gunsmith to see if it could be fixed. I told him to bring it over. I removed the grips and turned the strain screw all the way in and then back it out a few turns. Works like a champ now.

 

[GP100man]

i also have a side kick model 929 6" barrel shoots good when it fires !!
the pin is on the hammer & it runs off of coil springs.
ive worked at it & had a (smith ) to look at it he said to clean it up good & hang it up for a conversation peice.
parts are to be had though scarce ,my best finds were at numerichs gun parts.
sweet little gun ,shame they were built with such cheesy springs!!!
i packed mine away hoping to find a smith to work on it ,its the most intrekit works ive ever tackled !!!!!

GP100man

 

[TEDDY]

H & R

look up H & R and also 1871?arms they are in Gardner Mass.what strain screw H & R never had strain screw on ther mainsprings.I grew up with them and also have few center pins.I worked in job shop that made thousands of parts but mostly rifle parts.I have one now that was in a fire a side swing.it was loaded but not when I got it as they all exploded.make sure they lock as that was the biggest problem,timing.:banghead:

 

[arcticap]

Remington Subsonic .22's may not stick as much in the chambers because they're made of harder brass or with smaller diameter cases, and have less case expansion due to their lower velocity. Try lower subsonic or standard/target velocity ammo first.
H&R revolver parts are only going to get more scarce than they already are, so try to sell it as a parts gun on a gun auction site if you can't fix it.
Bore paste might be used to polish the chambers, or inexpensive valve grinding compound from any auto parts store, but don't over do it, only do a small number of laps at a time. Maybe someone was firing a lot of .22 shorts in it which created rings in the chambers?
A friend mentioned to me how these guns can develop timing issues that can be difficult to correct as was already mentioned, maybe that's why some of the parts are hard to come by for some folks.
Have you given the gun a good cleaning and dose of oil?

 

[tsidorus]

Upon further inspection, yes it seems to have timing issues as well. There are several chambers that do not lock up reliably and when it does there is enough endshake to make Travolta jealous. Although it could probably benefit from having the chamber ironing tool done to it Im just not prepared to spend 20 bucks on a gun that will only make it slightly less crappy. Not to look a gift horse in the mouth so to say but... I'll just keep it around for company and leave 22lr pistol duty to my MK2 Govt Tgt. (which BTW is a sweet pistol). Someday Ill get a model 63 to fulfill my revolver 22 desires.

-Tsi