Harrington Richardson Heavy Breach 10ga

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maint1517

maint1517

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A few years ago I traded one of my coworkers a small plano tackle box full of broadheads for a sigle shot shotgun, really just the barrel and receiver, that we both thought was a 12ga.
That night I started wiping the pieces down to put them away until I could find the parts, stock and forgrip I needed to rebuild and restore it. When I went to run a 12ga bore swab through it, it fell through with no resistance. At first I thought I had mistakenly put a 20ga swab on. But when I confirmed it was a 12ga swab, the holler and laughter woke my wife up. I knew that I had just traded for a 10ga.
It has Harrington Richardson Heavey Breach stamped on the recever. It took me over a year and a half to find all the parts I needed and to complete the restoration. But I still know pretty much nothing about this shotgun, mainly manufacturer dates. I thought I had a picture of it on my tablet, but I will have to take one and upload it later.
So, does anyone have any information on the Harrington Richardson heavy breach 10ga?
Any help with info will be greatly appreciated!
 
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Good morning
What a find ! You should be able to load starting with any starting 10 Gauge loads.
Ballisticsproducts.com should have everything you need. They specialize in shotguns.
Jab some keys their way and they can probably steer you about.
If you have any Lyman shotgun manual check that out also. Mine are 5000 miles away or else I could peek in the two we have for reloading shotguns.
Mike in Peru
 
Thanks Missionary. I'll give them a try. I have yet to fire a 10ga shell through it yet. I'm just not sure if it is safe for modern ammunition, because I dont know the manufacturer date.
 
Thank you Jim!!! That is why I haven't tried shooting it yet, I just didn't know.
VERY useful information! Thank you again!
 
A college friend of mine had one that he kept in his duck boat for the occasional high flying bird. It was huge and heavy so I never figured out the usefulness. I do know though it got used on turkeys a time or two, and again I can’t figure out why they wanted to pack that big heavy PITA into the woods. Neat gun to have around but impractical.
 
Blkhrt13 said:
Sounds awesome.I found myself staring at a 10 gauge nef for a hot minute but they wanted a buck fifty for it and I could get a 500 in 12 gauge for that.
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Please let me know where you found mossberg 500's for $150.... I will be making a trip there!
 
[QUOTE="WestKentucky said:
A college friend of mine had one that he kept in his duck boat for the occasional high flying bird. It was huge and heavy so I never figured out the usefulness. I do know though it got used on turkeys a time or two, and again I can’t figure out why they wanted to pack that big heavy PITA into the woods. Neat gun to have around but impractical.
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For me, I my hobby is restoring and collecting older firearms. Ones such as this are for my collection. It will never be used for hunting. Although there is no telling how much game it has taken down in the past.
 
RMc said:
The 3.5 inch 10 Gauge cartridge was introduced to the market by Winchester-Western in 1932.
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Footnote in 1939 Stoegers Western Super X listing say: "Adapted only to guns weighing 10 1/2 lbs or more, with 3 1/2" chambers and modern steel barrels."
If there was a gun then suitable other than the Ithaca NID Magnum, I haven't heard about it.
I don't think an $11 single at 7 1/2 pounds qualifies.
 
I bought a H&R 10 gauge single shot in the mid 1970's. The novelty wore off quite soon as a duck boat only shotgun. It swung like a lead pipe on a 4X4 landscape timber. I had it a few years, and sold it to a guy I worked with. He had it a few years, and also sold it to a friend of his. After that I lost track of it. The only thing I miss about that shotgun would be the 2 7/8 inch shells. I found some new and old boxes at a sporting goods store when it was selling out all of its older ammo. The idea was 2 7/8 for ducks, and 3 1/2 for geese. Some of the older boxes are worth more now than when I bought them.
 
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