Harrington & Richardson Model 865 "Plainsman"

[bbrins]

Does anybody know anything about these rifles, maybe how old it is? Were there a lot made? Here is the info from the gun:

MODEL 865 "PLAINSMAN" .22 CAL. S. - L. - L.R.
HARRINGTON & RICHARDSON ARMS CO. WORC., MASS.

S/N: 262XX

It's in near perfect condition. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[bigjer]

I have one of these H&R .22, it is a great shooting gun but i also have the same problem. Does any one know about these guns? I inherited it about 12 years ago.

 

[LouZ123]

i have one too

these are antiques boys...

 

[Poor East Texan]

I just picked up one today!

It has a pretty bore, a pretty nice stock, clean metal and no rear sight.

It has a Shooter's Edge PF 4x32 scope on it.

I got it for $149 plus uncle sams share.

Will find out how it shoots soon!

The same shop had one beat up Marlin 60, a Squirrel Stock Glenfield 60, a couple 10/22 and a few others I don't remember.

This one looked nice and I had the bucks so I brought it home!

Anyone know where we could date them by serial number?

 

[JohnBT]

This is all I have on them. I didn't save the site I copied it from, but it was all they had on it.

"The Model 865 Plainsman was the longest-lived of the series; it was built from 1949 to the buyout of Harrington & Richardson by New England Firearms in 1986. It could be had with a 22 or 24-inch barrel and a variety of iron sights. Drilling and tapping was optional. A minor variant of the Model 865 was the Model 866; built only for a few short months in 1971, it had a full-length fore-end. The Model 866 is the same as the Model 865 for game purposes."

 

[Poor East Texan]

Mine is 22 inch and rear sight WOULD be held on with two screws (sight not in sight!) and has a grooved receiver top for scope mount (3/8"). Serial # starts AJ2xxxxx

Hmmmm. I first shot 5 CCI Blazers. From the beginning the magazine wouldn't feed correctly with more than one cartridge. Any more than that and the top cartridge would jam with the rim not free of the magazine and the nose against the top of the chamber opening.

So I'd pop the mag out, put one cartridge in, fire it and repeat.

I managed one 4 shot bughole with Remingtom Golden Bullet bulk. Sprayed three other groups shotgun style.

Lastly as I was picking up (folding up the table etc.) I tried to insert the mag empty. There was a "sproing" and the follower and mag spring took off. I found the spring easy, but the follower is SOMEWHERE in the grass out there. I swept a magnet around looking for it and will try again when the sun is overhead tomorrow.

Shop I bought it from said 30 day warranty so I guess you know who I'm gonna call....

 

[Poor East Texan]

bump

 

[Poor East Texan]

Trigger is a WHOLE lot like my Marlin 25N. It had a bad arse spring trigger return and a somewhat lighter sear spring. I changed them around and did some Dremel buffing of the contact points.

I don't have a scale of over 16oz but it takes a fair bit more than that to go off. No slam fire or anything like that.

When I get the mag situation under control it should be a fair amount easier to shoot for one hole.

 

[Napoleon_jo]

I had a similar problem with the magazine on mine - the floorplate flew off the bottom of the mag, and I can't find the follower anywhere now either. Best of luck finding yours!

 

[Poor East Texan]

Followup: I got a magazine from E-Gunparts.

I ran into another problem. The only empty it'll kick out with authority is the last one. Also number two and sometimes three or four will be stuck in the mag nose down instead of up.

Other than those issues I haven't found an ammo it really likes yet, but I reckon squirrels better watch out...

 

[Poor East Texan]

Further update: I never have found an ammo it really likes. I never have had 5 clean load/bang/eject rounds.

Since getting my CZ 452 Military Trainer it hasn't seen daylight!

 

[jesse mckean]

model 865

I have a plainsmen model 865. It is a family heirloom that I received from my grandpa after he died. It was not well looked after and is a little rusty, what is the best whey to remove rust from it. Also in a vain attempt to customize the gun part of the safety was ground down and it can still fire when on safety is there any place that sells parts or is a gun maker the best rough. Please email me at [email protected]. Thank you.
It is a 22 cal

 

[Poor East Texan]

I plum forgot I even had this gun!

I got a Remington 514 single shot a couple months ago and it is my main plinker.

May try to sell the H&R....

 

[olekkerra]

Nice 865 Plainsman

Hi Im new to thehighroad. Im an avid fan of checking for information but now i have a request

I have a 865 plainsman in great condition inherited from my grandfather. The only exclusion being a worn notch at the top of the firing pin causing the bolt to jiggle when at rest. I ordered a replacment from numrich. He had the original sights which he ordered many years ago and a Weaver G4 scope he sat aside due to the lense getting scuffed and the lower part of the crosshair bending at an angle.

I was wondering for novelty if theres a place to buy Weaver G4 or sufficient information about what kind of mounts or screws to mount a modern scope to it, just a cheepy kind. I know nothing about scopes and mounts. id appreciate any information so i can get out and peck a few squirrels.

Also when taking it apart to clean the magazine release spring came loose and i cant find any way to get it in any position that works, if anyone could snap a pic of their Harrington and Richardson Plainsman 865 and its magazine release spring and lever i would greatly appreciate it.



Thanks

 

[sleded42]

Spring realease on Model 865 Plainsman

I have a harrington & richardson model 865 plainman that I enheireted from my Dad. I was missing several parts( bolt, magazine, magazine carrier, and rear sight. I assumed that there was only one variation of this gun so I ordered the parts from a wholesaler in western Canada. (not So!) The mag carrier and magazine do not fit, nor does the bolt appear to be the correct one. However the gun you have pictured appears to be very much like mine. If you could possibly send some clearer pics of the bolt assembly and the magazine and carrier(is it a curved magazine?) I may be able to identify and source the correct parts for it. Also some pics of the inner chamber including the bolt guide would be great

I have figured out how the magazine realease spring goes together, so I am attaching a pic of it for you to see. hope this will help

 

[easy]

Curved magazine from Remington 511, 513, 521 will fit. Check e-gunparts.com for other parts.

This rifle is just like the Remingtons. Safety, bolt, mags all seem the same.

 

[smithstick]

I too have a plainsman rifle my problem is on scematic from e-gunparts it shows a plunger but i have tried two different plungers and they both wont fit. Is there any possibility that it does not need one. How long is the correct plunger and where can I find the right one.

 

[smithstick]

Thanks for the pic it helped me with the magazine spring that popped off.

 

[olekkerra]

Im very late in reply, but many thanks, sir.