H&R Model 999
- Thread starter Havok7416
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chicharrones
needs more ammo
It took me several years to get up the nerve. I'm pretty sure I don't want to do it again.
WestKentucky
Member
Why not? It’s not as bad as a Ruger MK pistol!!! The important thing to remember is to use a sticky lube to hold pieces where you want them held.It took me several years to get up the nerve. I'm pretty sure I don't want to do it again.
chicharrones
needs more ammo
I've done it twice to that gun already.
First time I cleaned up the single action sear of burrs, and shortened the trigger spring by 1.5 coils. The second time to take off another coil. That trigger spring was too long and too stiff. The spring is still too stiff, but now the excessive pre-load is taken out of it. I never did find a hardware spring that would fit in the bore where that spring goes.
Then you gotta use a cut toothpick piece to use as a slave pin to get the trigger group back in the gun. Even then the trigger spring and sear spring like to pop into the wrong spots.
WestKentucky
Member
Worst thing for me was getting the cylinder latched back onto the pin...if only I had 13 hands.
I went back to the shop today since they called me to let me know a gunsmith project was done. I looked at the H&R a bit more with the knowledge imparted by you fine folks here and decided to go ahead and buy it. It has the plastic hammer spring strut, but a quick look showed that wasn't terribly hard to replace. Single action the trigger is pretty nice and being intended for target use the double action will be irrelevant. I only managed to get one mediocre photo before I had to run off to other commitments, but I'll try and follow up here later with better ones.
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bannockburn
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Havoc7416
Well done sir! Looks to be in fine shape and I would have gone for it too at that price!
Well done sir! Looks to be in fine shape and I would have gone for it too at that price!
There is no turn line on the cylinder. Apparently the person who put it up for sale had another 999 as a kid and bought this one out of nostalgia. He fired it a few times, but it mostly just sat in his safe, so it's essentially brand new.
chicharrones
needs more ammo
Very nice. Congrats on a getting a fun revolver. 
JFrame
Member
I must admit --- Looking at the picture of this 999 makes me want one again. Love the trigger guard.
Warning to OP --- You WILL go through lots of ammunition! East to load , 9 at a time , and ejection is really quick , and fun. (Barrel up when breaking - cases GONE!!!)
Good thing it's a .22 , and that .22 is currently readily available. Have fun , and report back , please.
Good thing it's a .22 , and that .22 is currently readily available. Have fun , and report back , please.
EIB0879
Member
I have one that I inherited. It's a nice little revolver. My only complaint is the rear sight works loose. I have had the leaf fall out before.
I intend to post an update soon. I am going on a brief trip next week that will take me very close to a collegiate Olympic shooter training facility for rimfires only. I should have time to stop in.
22-rimfire
Member
Hope you enjoy your H&R 999 22 revolver. The 999 Sportsman was the very first handgun I ever owned. Turns out that the timing was really off and it blew hot powder and lead particles all over my hands and sometimes my face when I would shoot it. I didn't know any better then. Asked a gunsmith in Dallas to fix it and he just said get a real revolver if you want me to work on it. I would never buy another one of those for any reason other than to re-sell if I got it really really cheaply. They were $100 guns then and are still $100 guns as far as I'm concerned.
The adjustable sight loosed up after only a box of ammo. I didn't want to locktite is in one position although that is precisely what I would do now. So, I kept a screw driver with me when I shot it. Memories from the 70's.
The adjustable sight loosed up after only a box of ammo. I didn't want to locktite is in one position although that is precisely what I would do now. So, I kept a screw driver with me when I shot it. Memories from the 70's.
chicharrones
needs more ammo
He didn't want to pop out the frame pins either.
Monac
Member
I can't blame you, based on your experience, 22-rimfire, even though a lot of people (including me) here have had much better luck with H&R 999s than you did. But H&R's niche was inexpensive revolvers, so even though the 999 was their top-of-the-line gun, lemons were going to get through. They did (and do) even with the top-of-the-line manufacturers.
A gunsmith with MANY years of experience, who went by the name of Jim K, used to post here, and he definitely agreed with your gunsmith when it came to a 1950's vintage Iver Johnson 8-shot top break I asked about. I forget if he said the same thing about H&R, but adjusting the timing on a 9-shot revolver that has no sideplate would seem like a big job to me.
And, per chicarrones, I have never taken the pins out of my H&R 999, and I never will. Just removing the sideplates from a couple of oddball revolvers lately gave me headaches.
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Janos Dracwlya
Member
That looks just like mine. I traded an .22 Luger that I was tired of getting replacement parts for one years ago. Other than the heavy trigger pull, it is a fantastic gun. I would love to find one with a three or four inch barrel and the more-rounded grips.
Enjoy.
Enjoy.
Uhh, you do realize just how few parts there are in the First MK's don't you? Can't speak for the new and improved (?) models, but the MKI is about as simple as you can get. Well, actually an M3 submachine guns is simpler.
WestKentucky
Member
Yeah, but you need about 82 hands to get one of those jokers back together the first few times.
chicharrones
needs more ammo
Other than what looks like some dry fire marks on the chambers, that 999 looks brand spanking new. What a great find!
It was the hand gun my dad taught me to shoot with. It had a poor DA, but an absolutely great SA. I sold it just rencently. My heirs won't appreciate it. It's only a 9 shot and if I do compete with a .22 revo, it rather have a 10 shot. And one with a better DA.
LUCKYDAWG13
Member
I still have mine my Dad gave it to me sooo long a go it's like i had it all my life I think it's time i give it to my son
TTv2
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I want to like H&R revolvers, I really do, but anytime I look at one that has a long barrel and claims to be a "target" revolver, I don't think they'll be accurate. H&R made their guns to be cheap and their barrels aren't going to be anything special and for $400+, you could get yourself a good quality Single Six, Single Nine, or Single Ten instead.
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