H & R U.S.R.A. Model Single Shot Pistol ammunition question
- Thread starter orpington
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Bazoo
Member
I believe they were made from 1928 until 1941. Remington introduced high velocity ammunition in 1930, with most manufacturers having proofed their guns for HV ammo by 1932. I don't know what year H&Rs started being safe for HV ammo, but depending on the year of manufacture, I'd say you could make a safe guess one way or the other.
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NIGHTLORD40K
Member
The USRA models evolved constantly over ther production run. I would be hesitant to use HV in one of the early guns.
Mine was one of the last few hundred made and the latching mechanism was very stout. While I felt perfectly safe firing HV ammo through it- and did on occasion- there was no real reason too as accuracy dropped off significantly wih the hot stuff. I mostly used CCI SV and got great results.
Mine was one of the last few hundred made and the latching mechanism was very stout. While I felt perfectly safe firing HV ammo through it- and did on occasion- there was no real reason too as accuracy dropped off significantly wih the hot stuff. I mostly used CCI SV and got great results.
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It’s later production, serial number 2853.
I have several older revolvers for which high velocity .22 LR ammunition is not appropriate and I’d like to save the standard velocity rounds for them. Hence the question of can I use the high velocity ammunition in this pistol? It seems like the answer is yes, but accuracy will be compromised.
Bazoo
Member
I'm interested to know what kind of accuracy they get with their preferred ammo vs what some of the HV stuff prints.
PistoleroWadcutterGANG
Member
Target gun made to use TARGET AMMO! .... TARGET VELOCITY! ..... pass the Nacho's!
Where does TARGET velocity fit in relative to STANDARD and HIGH velocity?
With the square barrel latch, from this article, we know your pistol dates from between 1934 and the end of production in 1941.
Harrington & Richardson U.S.R.A. Model
Originally Posted by Bakebfr480 Ed McGivern ysed to use those! Julian Hatcher shot a perfect score with one. Mine is an early one serial 300.
smith-wessonforum.com
What’s the serial number of your pistol?
I don’t know how to edit. See the article in Post #26:
Harrington & Richardson U.S.R.A. Model
Originally Posted by Bakebfr480 Ed McGivern ysed to use those! Julian Hatcher shot a perfect score with one. Mine is an early one serial 300.
smith-wessonforum.com
NIGHTLORD40K
Member
I sold it to another THR member, so its not my place to share the SN, but it was one of the last 100 produced.
NIGHTLORD40K
Member
At 20 yds, one-handed slow fire, I was getting 3-4" groups with SV, but this opened up to 6-8" with HV.
I'm sure the gun was capable of better, but Im not the best one-handed pistol shooter by far.
Bazoo
Member
Thanks for letting me know your results. Pretty interesting.
Jim Watson
Member
I wouldn't push it. I have no trouble buying standard velocity .22s for my target pistols and elderly rifle. Target Sports has Aguila SV for 6 cents a pop. Unfortunately no CCI SV in stock today.
Understood.
This is the latest .22 LR pistol I own, all the rest are 1927 production or earlier. (This pistol was manufactured between 1934 and 1941). I do have a .22 rifle dating from 1979, and so perhaps I should save the high velocity ammunition for that.
Should I fire high velocity rounds in this pistol, which seems unlikely now, what would be signs of failure, impending or otherwise?
NIGHTLORD40K
Member
Loosness in the latch lockup would probably be the only real symptom, maybe eventually difficult extraction. I seriously doubt the chamber would fail catastrophicly or anything like that.
Mine would lock up vault-tight. Absolutely zero play between the halves when latched.
someguy2800
Member
The pressure spec of 22lr has never changed. The primary issue with HV ammo is the bolt velocity in semi automatics.
doubleh
Member
I would stick with standard velocity ammo for two reasons. #1 is that I have never had HV ammo equal the accuracy of SV. #2 is that it will put a little less stress on an old gun. H & R did not build top tier handguns.
NIGHTLORD40K
Member
Between 1900-1941, H&Rs were built to a high standard. The USRA model was a passion project of their lead engineer and was every bit as well built as it's competitors like the S&W Straight Line and Colt Camp Perry- probably better.
After WW2, their fortunes waned- in part thanks to Govt. contracts that required expensive tooling but failed to secure large orders- and quality started a long, slow decline,
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