Old H&R 44mag/20ga combo rifle info needed

[96eunos]

Hi all--

New member here with a question on a HR 44/20ga. combo that I've had for 20 years or so.  It's wood stocked, case hardened receiver, model O58, serial# AY606XXX.  Shotgun barrel long since lost or misplaced, but I occasionally shoot the .44 mag with mixed results with the buckhorn fixed sights.

I just recently got a synthetic stock .223 handi rifle and my interest in single shots has been rekindled.

Any info on the H&R would be appreciated--year built, types of ammo best suited, or any other advice the board members might have.

Thanks,

eunos

[quickdtoo]

Welcome to GBO! Read the FAQ and Help sticky, build year info is there for the reading and a whole lot more. I'm sure there will be some 44mag owners posting info on loads for ya.

Tim

[96eunos]

Tim

Thanks for the welcome.  I'm otherwise underwhelmed by the response to my request.  I have gone through the FAQ and it really does not speak to the old HR single shtos.  The serial # list ends at AT.  I guess by extrapolation an AY would indicate made in 1984-85.  The serial# on my rifle does not begin with an H, but it is clearly an H&R.

Is this 22 year old 44 mag the same as a Handi?  Can it be fit with additional rifle barrels via the NEF program?  Are there better iron sight options than the buckhorns it came with?  I'm not really interested in optics or red dots.

Is there anyone out there who has an old HR liike this in .44 mag or any other calibre?

As I said, it originally came with a 20ga barrel.  Does this preclude additional rifle barrels, and can I fit another shotgun barrel?

I don't reload, and would be interested in recommendations for factory ammo in .44 mag.

So many questions.  Someone out there must have an answer or recommendation or two.

Thanks again.

eunos

[quickdtoo]

The H&R that built your firearm went out of business in 1986, the current owner of NEF/H&R is Marlin, H&R won't fit any barrels to any H&R firearm built prior to 1987 as stated in the FAQ and Help, also on their web site on the accessory barrel page.

Your extrapolation of the build year would be correct. Current production serial prefixes start with N for NEF or H for H&R.

There are lots of folks here with older H&Rs, you may be able to fit a shotgun barrel to your frame, barrel fitting instructions are in the FAQ and Help also.

I don't have a 44mag, so I can't help ya on loads for it, but there's a current thread on 44mag loads right now that you should check out.

Tim


http://hr1871.com/Support/accessoryProgram.aspx

[mt3030]

Tim

Thanks for the welcome.  I'm otherwise underwhelmed by the response to my request.

(Sorry you feel underwhelmed. Not everyone can sit here in front of the computor by the hour or even visit it everyday. Some have jobs away from the "screen".)

I have gone through the FAQ and it really does not speak to the old HR single shtos.  The serial # list ends at AT.  I guess by extrapolation an AY would indicate made in 1984-85.  The serial# on my rifle does not begin with an H, but it is clearly an H&R.

(Prior to becoming New England Firearms, H&R rifles did not have serial numbers starting with H. I have several which have no serial number at all.)

Is this 22 year old 44 mag the same as a Handi? 

(No, the term "Handi" was trade marked by the then newly formed New England Firearms.)

Can it be fit with additional rifle barrels via the NEF program? 

(NO.) 

Are there better iron sight options than the buckhorns it came with? 

(Probably not. Those old buckhorn sights were better then any other combination I've seen since they were used. {Only my opinion})

I'm not really interested in optics or red dots.

Is there anyone out there who has an old HR liike this in .44 mag or any other calibre?

(Yes, 22 Rem Jet, 357 Mag, 30-30 and 45-70. All with cut rifling and all great shooters.)

As I said, it originally came with a 20ga barrel.  Does this preclude additional rifle barrels, and can I fit another shotgun barrel?

(No, not at the factory. But if you do it yourself or at a local gunshop, you can fit anything you feel is safe. Just be aware that the old H&R receivers were not heat treated and will not stand up to many of the newer calibers.)

I don't reload, and would be interested in recommendations for factory ammo in .44 mag.

(Would recommend whichever factory load it prefers, matched to the target.)

So many questions.  Someone out there must have an answer or recommendation or two.

(Hope I had a answer or two for you. Maybe others will have more.)

Thanks again.

eunos

You are welcome, mt3030

[Swampman]

Sounds like a great gun, and a combination I'd sure like to have.  If you want other calibers have them fitted to your .223 SB2.