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Offline pelican717

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Gun show find
« on: March 27, 2011, 02:20:30 PM »
Yesterday at the gun show in Birmingham, Al., I found a H&R 357/20ga combo in SS/nickle finish. Pretty good finish on the wood, not too many dings. The silver matte finish on the metal was even better.  I was thinking about trying to get a better deal than the $250 price marked on it, so I was asking questions about it. In this conversation the seller mentioned casually that the 357 barrel had been reamed to fire the 357 Max. What!!!?
I did not let this slip away. Got a little better price and couldn't wait to get it home and clean it up and check it out.
Cleaned up very nicely, both barrels. Took the marked .357 barrel and measured down to the lip  the case would rest on. Best I could figured , it was 1.637. Looked it up , seemed to be close enough. Hope someone here will tell me it is good to go.
Then I came in and looked up the serial number to see what year it was built. It has a number starting with AYxxxxxx. If I read the FAQ's right it was built in 1982. 29 years old!?! Holy cow!
On the right side of the receiver it says H & R "Handy Gun II". Yeah, Handy with a Y. Haven't seen that before, but haven't seen one this age either. Left side says Model 258. I saw a pic of CW's 357 MAX, it was a Model 158, so I guess the 258 is the SS/ nickle version .
If any one can shed more light of this gun, I would really appreciate it a bunch.

Pictures. Yeah, I know, but my camera has bitten the dust, lens won't open. Guess this is a new opportunity/excuse to look at cameras now.
Again, any help with idenifying this gun would be great.
Thanks, Robert   
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Offline petemi

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Re: Gun show find
« Reply #1 on: March 27, 2011, 02:45:31 PM »
I think you got a deal.  A rare thing at gun shows today.  Tim and CW will be along soon to confirm that.  I'm too lazy just now to go down to the shop and confirm the case length, but the guys will.

Pete
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Offline quickdtoo

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Re: Gun show find
« Reply #2 on: March 27, 2011, 02:49:46 PM »
Congrats, sounds like a fair deal to me!! They've been discussed several times, been a few in the classified too. It was made in .22 Hornet, .30-30 Win., .357 Mag., .357 Max., or .44 Mag. and 20 ga. smooth bore, electroless nickel finish, walnut stained hardwood pistol grip buttstock, includes fitted canvas carrying case, 6½ lbs. Mfg. 1982-1986.


Tim

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Offline pelican717

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Re: Gun show find
« Reply #3 on: March 27, 2011, 03:20:02 PM »
Thanks, Tim. Didn't get the case, guess it's long gone by now.
Pretty excited, can't wait to try it out, Got some .357 Max ammo ordered for it. I'll be watching the box every day now!
Thanks, Robert
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Offline dave29

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Re: Gun show find
« Reply #4 on: March 27, 2011, 03:23:58 PM »
Nice buy! I would have picked that combo up in a heartbeat.  ;)
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Offline bikerbeans

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Re: Gun show find
« Reply #5 on: March 27, 2011, 04:30:47 PM »
My best friend has the Handy Gun II, electroless nickel 357/20 combo in 357 Mag.  He bought it new and still has the canvas storage bag.  He replaced the furniture with synthetic and gave me the wood a couple of years ago.  It is not pistol grip, but a straight stock.  Looks great on my 357 Maxi Trapper, thanks for the refinish Andy. ;D

BTW, be nice to the barrel stud unless you own a TIG welder. As someone around here would say "don't ask me how I know this". :o

BB
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Offline gcrank1

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Re: Gun show find
« Reply #6 on: March 27, 2011, 06:07:22 PM »
Maybe a guy should beef up the welds on those BEFORE they break loose.
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Offline pelican717

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Re: Gun show find
« Reply #7 on: March 28, 2011, 12:30:29 AM »
Funny you would mention the barrel stud. The 357 barrel has had the stud redone for sure, and the 20 ga. looks un-factory to me. Are these nickel barrels more prone to break that weld than the blued ones, or is it the age?
Thanks, Robert
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Offline cwlongshot

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Re: Gun show find
« Reply #8 on: March 28, 2011, 12:41:14 AM »
Mornin',
 Very nice buy!!!

 Yea, My orig Maxi is a M 158 with a AY SN prefix as well!!  The stud is round. Its not attached very securely and in 1/4-28 thread with a straight screw.

CW
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Offline gcrank1

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Re: Gun show find
« Reply #9 on: March 28, 2011, 05:08:32 AM »
Dont trust that mount with a sling stud on the wood either (I have a sling with a barrel loop up top and a QR at the bottom for the buttstock stud) which adds more load stress.
It isnt unusual for nickel plating to look different at a weld joint; some discororation, etc.; rewelding will look just like welding.
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"Halt while I adjust my accoutrements!"
      ><   ->
We are only temporary caretakers of the past heading toward an uncertain future
22Mag UV / 22LR  Sportster
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45-70  SS Ultra Hunter with UV cin.lam. wood
12ga. 'Ol' Ugly OverKill', Buck barrel c/w  SpeedStock  and swap 28" x Full bird barrel, 1974
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