H&R Club

[Biblethumpncop]

I'm not very certain how many factory nickel 999's with a vent rib there are in the world. I don't believe I've ever seen one. Have you?

I picked this guy up locally today. The rear sight blade has been modified, but the remainder of the revolver is in overall good, shooting shape. Not perfect, but nice.

The Serial number is ATxxxxxx. I believe it was made around 1979.

Has anyone ever seen one like this? What would the value be? No box or papers.

 

[bannockburn]

Biblethumpncop

Couldn't find any reference to nickel plated Model 999s but there were a number of chrome plated Model 999s that were made from 1963 to 1966. Serial number letter code started with Z, AA, and AB. Have no idea as to possible value but they are considered to be fairly rare as not that many were made.

 

[Biblethumpncop]

Thanks for that info. I believe the chrome 999's you are referring to were called "silver sportsmans"? I think those had solid ribs, where this one has a vent rib. I appreciate your response. This is a nickel finish for sure. Still a mystery to me!

 

[adcoch1]

Thanks for sharing the picture, that thing is beautiful. Really makes me miss the blued one i stupidly sold...

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[WestKentucky]

Looks good. I saved the picture of the rear sight. I gotta make a new one for my sportsman 999. I haven't seen many 999s in good shape, but yours is up there with the best of em. First nicked one I have seen, and I have only seen 1 chromed 999 in person at a gun show. Chrome was flaking off pretty bad and they still wanted a lot for it.

 

[Biblethumpncop]

Thanks!


I took the 999 to the range today. I had some failure to fires. The gun was printing about 10" low as well. It's a good thing I ordered a new mainspring and rear sight blade from Numrich earlier in the week.

I got home from the range and I had an envelope from Numrich. The sight blade arrived, but the mainspring was being shipped separately.

I threw the sight blade in, and what a difference in height and sight picture! No wonder it was hitting nearly a foot low! The old "modified" rear blade was 1/2 the height of a stock blade.

While I was messing with the gun, I took the mainspring out. Yep! The plastic tip was gone. That was the reason for the FTF. I'm glad I had ordered a new steel one earlier in the week as a precaution.

I'd like to find a set of thinner grips so it isn't quite so thick. I might have to make a set if I can't find something.

 

[JohnnyCremains]

Bought this very rare auto ejecting .32 a while back. These were made before the manual ejectors for a very short time. It is thought that S&W still had the patent on the auto ejection system and were told to cease building them like this. Note the gear style ejector system that was similar to the S&W Baby Russian models. Later when the S&W patent expired they once again brought out auto ejecting guns. I think Goforth estimated they probably made maybe 500 or so like this give or take.
I was very happy to get this and bought it for a song.

 

[evan price]

Picked up a pre-999 Sportsman Double Action as a c&r last year.
Having an issue with the cylinder popping off when I eject the spent cases.

 

[Waveski]

Just came across this thread!

Here is my favorite topbreak - a ".22 Special" built in 1930. I was actually looking for a Sportsman when I came across this beauty - got into a bit of a bidding war on 'Broker - but no regrets! The bluing is exquisite , and the brass blade very classy too. I have no idea how it survived so many years in such good condition , but I can assure you that this classic has been very well preserved over the few years in my care.

 

[Kaeto]

Here's my pair of H&R Safety Hammerless in .38 S&W.

 

[webrx]

I'll join,

I picked up a 922 from a guy who just wanted to dump it, got it for $75 said it was his grandpas but he did not shoot it as the timing was off. A little clean up and it lines right up and shoot pretty well. My son and I were hitting shotgun clays pretty consistently from 10 yards no issues.

had some issues initially with rounds not firing on the first strike, but always fired on the second. I started making sure the round was fully seated and those issues went away. I guess the cylinder was a little tight and you had to make sure the round was fully seated when loading. Bulk ammo was the worst, CCIs loaded and fired every time.

Ill get a picture and post up when I get a minute

d

 

[dscampbell]

My 929 has the same issue. The charge holes in three chambers are not drilled properly. It takes making sure all rounds are fully seated and accepting two strikes.


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[Geldarr]

Posted in another thread about making the holster, but here's my 1952 H&R 922 "Camper" with 4 in barrel. It shoots really well.

 

[Biblethumpncop]

I took my nickel 999 to the range again today. The CCI's shot wonderfully, no issues at all. But, the Aguilla and Federal bulk had several misfires. The Winchester SuperX would have 1 misfire per cylinder.

After research, I discovered that my 999's mainspring does not have a plastic tip. This model isn't designed with one. It has a metal post instead. Perhaps putting a washer between the spring and the base would compress the spring more and give the hammer more force?

Finally, I ordered a set of walnut grip blanks off ebay. They arrives this week, but they were undersized and about 1/2" too short. The seller is making a larger pair and shipping them to me.

The 999 with the CCI ammo is a hoot to shoot! Accurate too! I like the larger rear sight I put on it. Still don't care for the nickel finish, but the gun is fun.

 

[Biblethumpncop]

I put two small washers on the mainspring guide rod at the top of the spring. The total thickness was 3/32". I hope that gives the hammer a little more "pop" since the spring is compressed a little more.

 

[Waveski]

In the upper photo the spring assembly is temporarily hanging on the grip frame , correct?

I do not see why your solution should not cure the soft strike problem. FWIW , I have never had that problem with my Sportsman...

Please let us know if your mod is successful.

 

[Biblethumpncop]

The picture doesn't show it well, but there is no interference between the mainspring assembly (including washers) and the grip or frame.

 

[chicharrones]

Let us know how the washer trick works for you.

I have a 1981 issue 999 that has occasional misfires on Fiocchi .22LR. the trouble is my Beretta Neos misfires on the same ammo. So, in my situation, I think the ammo is flaky.

 

[Waveski]

The picture doesn't show it well, but there is no interference between the mainspring assembly (including washers) and the grip or frame.

My mistake - I thought that you temporarily suspended the washers on the grip frame in order to put them into a visible position for the photo. Your solution looks like a good one , and I hope that the function is corrected.

 

[Biblethumpncop]

I came back from shooting at the range this morning... IT WORKED!

The mainspring being compressed with the two washers did the trick! I shot Winchester SuperX, Aguilla, Federal bulk CCI mini-mags and Federal Automatch ammo. Not one single misfire. I shot around 250 rounds.

The new walnut grips I made also felt good. I just wish this gun wasn't nickel...

 

[Waveski]

Mr 'thumpncop -

You have yourself a nice old shooter. It's great that your easy fix worked. Ya gotta love a top break. 'Ski

 

[webrx]

circling back as promised with a pics
my old hr-922 it has an "R" designation in the serial number so from what I have found that makes it a 1955 H&R 922





here is the letter designations:

from a web search:
Year starting S.N. Prefix for H&R firearms.
1940 A
1941 B
1942 C
1943 D
1944 E
1945 F
1946 G
1947 H
1948 I
1949 J
1950 K
1951 L
1952 M
1953 N
1954 P
1955 R
1956 S
1957 T
1958 U
1958 V
1960 W
1961 X
1962 Y
1963 Z
1964 AA
1965 AB
1966 AC
1967 AD
1968 AE
1969 AF
1970 AG
1971 AH
1972 AJ
1973 AL
1974 AM
1975 AN
1976 AP
1977 AR
1978 AS
1979 AT
1980 AU
1981 AX
1982 AY
1983 AZ
1984 BA
1985 BB
1986 BC

 

[Biblethumpncop]

I received a new set of walnut grip panels that were very oversized. I wanted to change the grip up some, and overall I am happy. I sealed the pores with superglue. I am still working sanding with wet 1000 grit.

Before:





After:





No more 2x4 thickness. I added a slight palm swell.

 

[Waveski]

So , you now have a nickeled Sportsman with custom grips! Truly "Your" revolver. Nice work.