I'm a sucker for a 22.

[CajunBass]

Back in day, when I was young, dumber, and really BROKE, I used to pour over the pages of an old Shooters Bible dreaming about getting a handgun. Any handgun really. There were a couple that I really liked, mostly because they were inexpensive enough that I could actually imagine having the money to buy them "someday." When someday finally came those inexpensive guns got forgotten for "bigger and better" things.

Well, one of those guns was a Ruger Bearcat. I got one of those a couple of years ago finally.

The other one was a Harrington & Richardson 999 "Sportsman." That was harder to find. H&R went out of business, and 999's got kinda scarce. When I saw one it was either priced a lot more than I was willing to spend, or so worn out it was falling apart, or both.

Until yesterday. I saw this one in the back of my dealers cabinet, up under the cash register, out of sight. They had what I thought was a good price, but I had to try to talk them down. They took my offer, then lowered it again when we noticed the rear sight was missing. (I've found a sight online, and will order it later today.) As best I can tell it was made in 1955 (SN R561xx) so it's almost as old as I am.



I doubt it will get shot much. One of these days, no doubt, my kids will wonder what dad wanted with this old 22 pistol. But then they never spent hours with a Shooters Bible, just wishing and dreaming.

 

[Sky]

Congrats on your find.

 

[Kernel]

Sweet. That's a fine firearm.

 

[CajunBass]

Sweet. That's a fine firearm

.

Yes it is. I just took it "out back" and ran a few cylinders of bulk pack ammo through it. Even without a rear sight, I was able to keep a can rolling around the hillside. It was fun to pop it open and see all those empties go flying.

I might shoot this one more than I thought.

I forgot to try the D/A (ran out of ammo in the pouch). Oh well. An excuse to go back later.

 

[MCgunner]

WOW, that jeweled hammer is pretty danged sharp! Very nice. One of the first .22 DA revolvers I had exprience with, other than my uncle's nickeled M17, was a H&R. Those guns were VERY cost effective plinkers and pretty accurate as outdoor guns. Wish they'd crank 'em up, again. I think they'd find a market. Just look how well the Heritage sells. Then again, might not be cost effective. Not sure what it cost them to make the things vs what they were selling for. A good option for the low priced .22 revolver, though.

 

[Guillermo]

that looks like a lot of fun

nice find

 

[788Ham]

Congrats Cajun! Not only did you get yourself a good deal, you've gotten one Hell of a good piece! My Pop got one of those a few years back, carried it when we went fishing, also shot it some when we weren't. Pop passed on about 3 1/2 years ago, this is one of the firearms I was given from his collection, still like new, I just need to get it out and do like you've done, bounce a can around with it, I know he'd be pleased. Enjoy, they were made many years ago, but still a good shooter, hope your rear sights arrive soon!

 

[jamesjo]

Cajun,
Nice 999!
I have several, including 2 1955 models.
A word of advice.
When you get your sight installed and the revolver sighted in, take one adjustment screw out, and put a drop of blue loctite on the threads.
Replace it, and do the other side.
Sportsman are notorious for having the windage screw come loose, and then having the sight blade get lost.
I finally found some online also. but I actually had a machinist friend make me a couple in the past.
Took awhile, but I learned.
I have Sportsman models from 1935-1980, and they all seem prone to this problem!
Here's pics of my 1955 models.

 

[KevininPa]

You have good taste Cajun!

But then I knew that when I found out you had a Firesrorm FS22. BTW, my 999 is dated 1957.