H&R Handguns

[Star1pup]

Has H&R stopped making handguns?  I kind of wanted one of those old .22s that broke open on top.

[**oneshot**]

I don't know if H&R are still making pistols or not but you can find them at the gun auction sites.  email me and I'll send you to some sites.  nghtowls308@hotmail.com.

[quickdtoo]

H&R who used to make the handguns, went out of business in 1986, the current H&R 1871/NEF owned by Marlin, doesn't make them, they still make a starter pistol, tho.

Tim

http://hr1871.com/

[coyotejoe]

One can still pick them up pretty cheap on the used gun market but "pretty cheap" is more than they ever were worth, they are soft and wear out quickly. The solid frames are a bit better, top breaks with the rear latch setup won't function properly once the latch wears even very slightly. I really don't know why that design ever caught on, the Webley type of latch is a much better design. Smith&Wesson had that latch on the Schofield but then returned to the very flimsy rear latch, go figure.

[Star1pup]

After consideration I think I'll just stick with the .22 handguns I have.  Thanks for the input.

[Cookiemann]

I have a friend that has a H&R 22revolver.  He bought it back in the 80's and has put thousands of rounds through it.  It still functions flawlessly.  Had I been able to find one with a 4 or 5 inch barrel, I would have bought it instead of the Buckmark.  Yes, they were and are inexpensive to purchase, but like their long guns, they were well made and very accurate.

cookiemann

[Glanceblamm]

A friend had the break-top model. It was very accurate but then started wallowing the throat as the timing must have gone south.
My Own is a 32yr old model 649 convertible. I had to replace a broken pawl spring four or five years ago but was well worth it as it shoots alot better than you would ever belive with the LR cylinder.
Parts are still avalible through Numrich and even for the older model 999 if I am not mistaken.

[ed1921]

I have the break top & it's pretty accurate & shows no sign of wear. Sometimes the DA gets sticky when I first get it out, but a little oil & cocking it gets it going. It doesn't matter though because the DA is terrible & I only shoot it SA. It's a fun gun to shoot & people always like it..

[rockbilly]

I own two of the H&R pistols that I purchased back in the early sixties, both have diguested many, many, bricks of ammo.  Neither has ever given me a problem, nor do they show any evidence of excessive wear.  The break top is still very tight, and very accurate, although it has been kicked around, and not always provided the best of care.

I strongly recommend the H&R if it can be purchased at a resonable price, I think you will find it a "fun gun", and reguardless of what anyone says, it should perform well for you for many years.

[irold]

I was left a "Super Sealed 8 " H & R by a great uncle, I'm told he bought it around the end of WWII.....I have shot it, not really that accurate.  Actually it isn't much of a revolver at all, but it does function.  It breaks open at the top, the rear sight acts as the latch. I keep it clean and oiled.....my Ruger single six is 100 times the gun !    Just my 2 cents worth !

[44 Man]

I also have a 999 that I acquired several years ago.  It is accurate and reliable and is on the short list of guns I will never sell.  I do make it a policy to put a few drops of oil on the trigger mechanism every few months.  If I do not, I will occasionally have a failure for the trigger to return to the forward position.  I've had lots of fun at bowling pin matches with it.  Here's a picture of it with some other .22s of mine.  44 Man

[Star1pup]

44man:  Is that gun at the top a Colt New Frontier?

[Wingman26]

A very long time ago my Aunt asked me about buying a handgun for protection, she lived in another state so I couldn't go shopping with her, I recommended a Smith & Wesson 38 Special revolver, you can't go wrong with one of those.   A few months later she told me she had bought one, but it was a few years later before I found out some scumbag salesman had sold her an H&R top break revolver in 38 S&W, NOT 38 Special, but 38 S&W!  That guy was a scumbag, selling her a crappy pistol he probably wanted to get rid of instead of what I had recommended. 

After she passed I was given that pistol, not that I want it, it sits in my safe collecting dust, I don't even have any ammo for it, darn thing locks up every 5 or 10 rounds, won't even turn the cylinder, I don't even want to sell it to someone since a malfunctioning revolver is worthless for self defense, or most any other function.

[S.S.]

we bought a truck from a guy about 10 years ago that had one of those Colts Frontier models sitting in the glove box when I got the truck home... The fella had forgot about it.. It was real hard giving that back, But we reluctantly did.
As far as H&R handguns, I have a model 930 (solid frame 9 shot) that only the Lord knows how many rounds have been through it. I have had it for about 25 years and I never remember even having a misfire in that time. I do miss occasionally with it though..
Missed a running cat with it about an hour ago in the front yard.. It was about dark though 

[44 Man]

No, I wish I did have a New Frontier!  That top gun in the picture is an EAA Bounty Hunter Convertible.  I picked it up used a few years ago as it is a full sized gun and we were shooting a lot of .22 blanks in our Cowboy theatrical group.  I was very pleasantly surprised to find that it is a very accurate revolver!  It's better than I can shoot.  I did a little filing on the front sight to bring it to point of aim at 40 yds.  My eyes are not what they used to be with open sights but the gun will still out shoot me.  The gun has an aluminim frame and grip frame but is still fairly heavy.  With that weight, it doesn't move at all when the hammer drops and it's very easy to hit with.  I'd recommend one of these to anyone that wants a durable full sized .22, and they're only around $200 new.  44 Man

[Star1pup]

To show how times have changed, I bought my Colt New Frontier at Woolworth's for $91 back in 1973.  It's really accurate with .22 long rifle, but not as good with the .22 mag cylinder.