***** First Project H and R*****

[rimfiresniper]

Ok I picked up this 22 hornet for my daughter. Looks kinda rough but going to give it a face lift.  It's says topper model 158. What's the difference from a regular handi? Going to replace the wood stock and forearm and get the gun reblued or just dura coated.

[johnnybravoo77]

Very cool, hope to pick up a project soon as well.

[tacklebury]

Model 158's had the soldered on Lug still, so it's not recommended to hot rod too much.  I want to say the stocks are slightly different too, but that might not be too old.  Hopefully one of the perfessionel Handi builders will chime in.    Looks like a fun project. 

[quickdtoo]

Congrats, looks like a good project! The biggest difference is it has a cast iron frame and as tacklebury said, a soldered underlug as opposed to modern welded underlugs, modern SB2 Handi frames are heat treated investment cast alloy steel, it was made by H&R Inc that went out of business in 1986. Other differences are the much desired slimmer barrel profile and dovetailed sights and appears to have the lower profile hammer of the older M158s.  You can determine the year of mfr by the serial number prefix on this model, there's a year code list in the FAQs sticky, looks like AP or AR to me which would be 1976 or '77.

Tim 

[jackddavis]

I had a Topper in 20 ga. many years ago. Passed it on to one of my sons. Cut the barrel to 18"+ and it accounted for many grouse and quail. It served us both very well.

[rimfiresniper]

yeah its a ar so a 1977 model. Will the stocks be different from a modern? Ill keep you guys posted all the way to its first kill. thanks for the help and info. oh one more thing, HOT RODDING you mean watch the loads I put throught it? More than anything I want a safe gun.

[dpe.ahoy]

I don't think you will have any problems with the Hornet knockin the lug off.  LilGun is the powder of choice in both of my Hornets, 40gr. Hornady V-Max bullets shoot well.  DP

[PHATINJUN]

It probly has a 1-12 twist bbl but it may also be a 1-16 twist  can't really hot rod it to much as you can only get so much powder in the little case but a full case of LilGun is all you need anyway. If it's a 1-16 you should be shootin 35-40gr 223 bullets for best accuracy but the 224's are not that much differant. congrats on a nice find. Kurt 
 
PS if you want a Stainless steel look buy a can of Steel-It from McMaster Carr. Kurt

[bikerbeans]

Will the stocks be different from a modern?

sniper,
 
I got a wood stock set off a Handy Gun II that had the slim profile barrel.  I had to relieve the barrel channel in the forestock to get it to fit a post 1986 standard profile barrel.  The stock fit without modification.  If you are changing the forestock on this gun be careful that the new forestock isn't too tight.  You may need to relieve the back of the spacer or the pivot on a synethic set.  The problem is you can break off the stud off the barrel if it is too tight, which is what I did to my friends nickle plated 357 mag barrel.
 
BB