New Shotgun (possibly)

[LJ-MosinFreak-Buck]

Okay, so my gunshop has an H&R Topper singleshot break action 12 gauge and I am wondering how much these usually cost. This one is for 80 bucks and it's got a case-hardened reciever (I think, the colors look like it) and is in VG condition. Any thoughts? Reviews? Experience?

Thanks in advance. LJ-MF-B

 

[rantingredneck]

I've got one in .410 I've had since I was 10.

Been thinking about picking up a 12 ga version myself here lately. For 80 bucks I would have taken it home.

 

[LJ-MosinFreak-Buck]

Well I get paid tomorrow, I might just do so.

 

[Deer Hunter]

Do these guns have ejectors or extractors?

 

[DaleCooper51]

I believe that the new NEF singles range from about $110 up to $300 or so for the trap gun. They are a whole lot of gun for the money. If it has the hard plastic butt-plate, I would recommend getting a recoil pad for it as they do tend to thump a bit.

Deer hunter: Both mine and my pop's have ejectors. I'm not sure if they all do.

 

[rantingredneck]

My .410 version has a rather healthy ejector. Those spent shells go flying a good bit.

 

[LJ-MosinFreak-Buck]

same with a 12 gauge. I was looking at the shotgun and he gave me an empty shell to snap on, well, I did, opened it up, and landed his shell on top of his cabinet, lol.

I'm going down today to pick it up.

 

[LJ-MosinFreak-Buck]

Another question, what kind of slugs can be shot through this barrel? It's a 3" chamber, witha smooth-bore barrel and a modified choke.

 

[hatchetbearer]

I shoot Remington Slugger rifled slugs with great results. they are cheap too.

 

[LJ-MosinFreak-Buck]

Sweet thanks.

 

[rantingredneck]

Any non-saboted slug can be shot through it. Saboted slugs can be too actually, but you're wasting cash if you do.

Remington Sluggers, Federal Classics, Federal Tru-ball's, Brenneke KO's, lots of others.

 

[LJ-MosinFreak-Buck]

So rifled slugs then. I take it the sabot's are for the rifled barrels.

 

[rantingredneck]

Yep. They'll shoot through a smoothbore, but not very well and certainly not well enough to justify the pricetag on them.

 

[LJ-MosinFreak-Buck]

Heh, well I'll pick up some 00 and some slugs then lol.

Will post pics if my camera stops acting up.

 

[gp911]

Just to add to the chorus:

Buy it! $80 is a good deal as long as it isn't really beat up. They go for about $120 new, but they're hard to break and aside from a Mosin what else can you get for the money? Now you just need a Makarov or CZ for your handgun and you have all the bases covered!

gp911

 

[LJ-MosinFreak-Buck]

Here 'tis.
(Apologixe in advance for possible poor quality, cell phone camera.

 

[LJ-MosinFreak-Buck]

oh and I bought some ammo for it today, it's the

Winchester Drylok Super Steel Supreme High Velocity shot.

12 gauge, 3 inches, 1450 FPS, 1-1/4 oz. BB shot.

Is this safe to run through my shotgun.

 

[Al Thompson]

Probably safe for the gun - check the barrel - should say 3' chamber. Sort of hard on the shoulder and wallet though. I'd recommend some cheap loads for warm up.

 

[shevrock]

get some of those federal arms package deals. they have some okayish shotgun shells. nice gun though. good luck with it.

 

[gp911]

Looks like an aftermarket recoil pad. A lot of these came with a plastic buttplate. That should take some of the wallop out of it. You can find out when it was manufactured by calling H&R with the serial #. I'd then ask if it qualifies for the barrel accessory program. If so, you can get more barrels for about $42 each, in various shotgun gauges, chokes, and barrel lengths. You just have to ship them the gun and wait awhile for the barrels to be hand-fitted.


Go to www.hr1871.com click customer support then click barrel accessory program to see what they offer.

gp911

 

[DaleCooper51]

Here are serial prefix date ranges. I copied them from graybeards.

Year starting S.N. Prefix
1940 A
1941 B
1942 C
1943 D
1944 E
1945 F
1946 G
1947 H
1948 I
1949 J
1950 K
1951 L
1952 M
1953 N
1954 P
1955 R
1956 S
1957 T
1958 U
1958 V
1960 W
1961 X
1962 Y
1963 Z
1964 AA
1965 AB
1966 AC
1967 AD
1968 AE
1969 AF
1970 AG
1971 AH(snap on foecap)
1972 AJ
1973 AL
1974 AM
1975 AN
1976 AP
1977 AR
1978 AS
1979 AT
1980 AU
1981 AV
1982 AW
1983 AX
1984 AY
1985 AZ

Second letter of prefix
A= 1986
B= 1987
C= 1988
D= 1989
E= 1990
F= 1991
G= 1992
H= 1993
I= 1994
J= 1995
k= 1996
L=1997
M=1998
N=1999
P=2000
R=2001
S=2002
T=2003
U=2004
V=2005
W=2006
X=2007
Y=2008
Z=2009

The first letter N = NEF, H = H&R, the second letter denotes year of manufacture.
You're looking for a N or later if you want to be able to order barrels marked with * an asterisk on the accessory barrel page.

 

[rantingredneck]

Appears to be in good shape. I'd say you did good for 80 bucks.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Your's looks like the one I bought Son when he was in the 9th grade. Except for the pad.

His weighs 5.5 lbs. Heavy loads in that will tear you a new one.

Start off with 1 oz or 7/8 oz bird shot loads. You'll thank me for it.

Re 3" rounds, these work well with 2 3/4" loads which are gentler on you and thy wallet.

 

[SASS#23149]

Nice gun,but a light single shot is gonna beat the snot outta ya with heavy loads.You WLL know you have a tiger by the tail. !
The loads you bouigfht are expensive hunting loads,prolly eight bucks a box or more? The five dollar stuff will get the job done,and you can have more to shoot for yor money.

Let us know when it's for sale cheap because of the recoil. LOL

 

[rantingredneck]

Yeah, you may just want to sell the steel 3 inchers to someone else and pick up some 2 3/4" loads. Did you plan to waterfowl hunt with this or was that ammo for range/HD use?