Question about topper 158 barrel

[v8r]

Does anyone know if a ultra light 22 hornet barrel has the same contour as a 158 topper 22 hornet barrel? will it fit? I have tried other barrels I have and they fit the topper frame ,but the topper barrel won't fit the other frames.

[quickdtoo]

The Topper 158 30-30 that I traded back to Tallyho, wouldn't even come close to fitting any of my 25 SB2 frames, the underlug was about .100" longer than a Handi underlug. But others have reported using 158 barrels on modern frames, so it's probably just a matter of having one that fits!! The 30-30 158 barrel was a very thin contour, pretty straight from just ahead of the chamber swell, just as the superlight barrels are, about .590" at the muzzle, IIRC.

Tim

[v8r]

Quick, do you think it would be safe if a newer barrel fits.I want to get another 22 hornet barrel for it, and i figured H&R wouldn't fit a new barrel to it,even though it is a factory 22 hornet rifle.I was going to send one of my other rifles in.

[quickdtoo]

Unfortunately H&R won't touch any frame made before 1987, but if it locked up good, it should work. The Hornet has such a small case head, I seriously doubt there would be any problem, but I'd be real cautious, what works on one frame, may not on another. Another member bought 2 used barrels that were originally fitted to one SB2 frame, one of the barrels would close with no gap at all between frame and barrel on his SB2 frame, the other had a noticable gap on the same frame, neither would lock up. He worked the latch on both, one fit, the other ended up loose. The geometry of the latch can make a big difference just on SB2 barrels and frames, putting a Handi Hornet barrel on the older H&R frame may not work for the same reason.

Tim