H&R 999 Sportsman - undervalued revo’s?

I found one at an LGS last year. It was in great shape so I just had to "adopt" it. Shoots great a d is pretty accurate. As others have said, oarts would be tough to come by. I suggest only using standard velocity ammo and not some of the more potent stuff.
 
Diamondback is making a revolver based on the hi standard double nine. A 9 shot 22 lr revolvers styled to look like a SAA, but is da/sa. had a hi standard back in the day. Nice inexpensive revolvers. The Diamondback version I looked at was ok. About what you would expect from Hartage at double the price. Nothing against Hartage, I got two of them and like them both.
 
P.O. Ackley wrote that the HR was not a solidly made as a Colt or Smith but had a good barrel and a good single action, especially in the SAO model 199. Also the top of the line IJ.
 
Like a lot of guns, I HAD one many years ago. As a youngster, I used to drool over the pictures of them in the Shooters Bible, and imagine myself running a trapline somewhere in Canada, or Alaska with a H&R topbreak at my side. No idea why, I hated cold weather, and still do. I was more akin to Sam McGee, than to Yukon Cornelius. The only advantage to cold weather, was no ticks or chiggers to worry about.

Still the one I had, I liked, but it was lacking a rear sight. I didn't notice it was missing when I bought the gun, and was never able to find a replacement. I tried a couple of homemade ones, but they worked about as well as most thing I try to make. No knowledge and no tools generally make for unsatisfactory results I suppose. Even without a rear sight it was tin can accurate at tin can ranges though.

I sold it off eventually with full disclosure. The fellow who bought it said he didn't care about the rear sight. It was going to be "for his daughter", something I heard a lot when selling guns like it. Hopefully he had better luck or more skill than I had.

I don't think I ever saw another one.
 
I inherited a 1978 example. The top break action is unique for a rimfire pistol. I will echo everyone else's sentiments on the double action trigger, it is rough.

But it goes bang everytime, wwhich is what it was designed to do. It would be a great farm gun/kit gun if that is what you were looking for.
 
As a kid I would liked to have one but my budget would barely keep me in ammo for my 22 rifle which I did not waste and I wasn't going to get any parental help. If "cool" had been a description back then I would have termed them that. Now they are just a interesting item from the past.

I finally managed a Iver Johnson revolver, a much less expensive gun, in my teens. When rains filled our stock tank I would take it turtle shooting and put paid to many a turtle. Very early version of pop up targets when they had to breathe.
 
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Freudianfloyd said:
This is a timely thread. I was just looking at a cheap project Sportsman and debating it if was worth me buying and tinkering with. My grandpa seemed really fond of these revolvers. He has had several over the years, and I have one of his in my safe now that I am holding onto for my mom who inherited it after grandpa died.
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Careful. Internals (of all the H&R revolvers) come in two versions, and the older hands (pawl) are constructed of unobtainum.
 
Cajunbass, I love the reference to Sam McGee! Few people I’m sure recognize the reference to the Robert Service poem, sadly. I memorized the whole thing in 4th grade and it still gives me chills when I read it. Nothing to do with the 999 but nostalgia, but I always appreciate it.
 
vanfunk said:
Cajunbass, I love the reference to Sam McGee! Few people I’m sure recognize the reference to the Robert Service poem, sadly. I memorized the whole thing in 4th grade and it still gives me chills when I read it. Nothing to do with the 999 but nostalgia, but I always appreciate it.
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Vanfunk, you weren't the only one to pick up on Sam McGee.
Thanks,
Moon
 
The WW2 8th variation 999's were of a limited production from 1942-1952 with plastic grips being standard. I can't tell by the photo if they are plastic or not. The serial number is noticable but can't see the letter prefix or make out the numbers. Don't see many of these WW2 era's. Can you post a few more photos.
 
I have a 1981 made H&R 999. It's a super fun old school revolver. Sure, the trigger in DA and even SA aren't great in mine, but that break open feature is pretty dang nifty. I consider my 999 a plinker with adjustable sights, which sure beats dealing with Kentucky windage.

One thing is for certain, buying a break open 999 sure is cheaper than buying a break open Webley with .22 conversion.
 
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