H&R Topper .22 Hornet

[fatelk]

I think I messed up and bought a junker.
I went to a gun show last weekend and on a whim bought an old H&R Topper 158 in .22 Hornet. It had an old WesternField 2.5x scope and looked pretty good externally. I was in a hurry and didn't look it over as carefully as I should have.

I now realize that Bubba has had his hands on it, and I also failed to notice the very slight pitting in the bore.
It would not even chamber a round because someone had apparantly replaced the extractor/ejector and not fit the new one. I fixed that; took it out and contoured it to fit.

The question here is about the bolt face and firing pin. The bolt face looks a bit beat up around the firing pin hole, and the firing pin is sloppy in the hole. I took the pin out and it looks like "Bubba" ground it down or something, and the spring is missing. I hope the oversized hole is just due to the pin.

Is there anything that can be done about the bolt face, if it needs it? I assume that any kind of welding would ruin it, as well as cost more than it's worth. Perhaps a sleeve of some kind?
Also, any idea where one can get a new firing pin? Numrich doesn't have the older style it looks like I need.

I feel like a dunce for not seeing at least some of these problems before laying down my $140, it was just one of those "I've always wanted a .22 Hornet; I can afford that" without thinking. Now I hope I can at least make the darn thing useable.

Added: on top of everything else, the trigger pull is horrendous.

 

[darkwing]

It sounds like a rifle barrel on a shotgun frame. Go to Graybeards site www.go2bo.com for more info. You may be able to get a cheap shotgun barrel for it and make a firing pin to fit the hole. With the rumors of Remington closing down H&R your Hornet barrel maybe worth more by itself. My 58 Hornet has pitting but its still a 1moa gun.

 

[Big Az Al]

Almost unlimited options

Numrich sells parts and barrels,

Firing pins can be bought from Brownells,

I don't know if Remington will change things, but H&R would fit new barrels to your action I think they started at 75.00, for the barrel and fitting.

If the barrel doesn't shoot well, have it sleeved for something like a 32-20, if you reload this is a fun plinking round, with the same or better ballistics as the 30 carbine round.

 

[fatelk]

I fired a few rounds at 50 yards. I think something's up with the scope because I got two nice 1" groups side-by-side a couple inches apart, without moving my point of aim! It was also very hard to break open after each shot because of the firing pin flowing into the oversized hole.

I didn't think to check Brownell's, hope the one they have is right, and will fix the problem.

The bore is really pretty good. Without a trained eye, you wouldn't even see the pitting. The barrel and frame have matching serial numbers, so they are original. I think this thing is salvageable and I will be happy if I can get it working right.

 

[darkwing]

Forearm fit and tension is real important on the Toppers causing them to walk off target as they heat up. H&R will only fit barrels on newer guns SB1 shotgun only, SB2 high power, SB4 10 gauge. Hold off shooting it till you get your problem fixed. The Hornet is rated at 43,000 cup so if you have a pierced primer where is that high pressure gas going.