H&R Sportsman/ 999

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Waldo

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Saw a H&R Sportsman Revolver at a gun store. Top break, simultaneous ejection, .22. Adjustable sights, wood grips. Many years ago, while they were still being made, a friend of mine had one and loved it. I have long since lost track of him. I was not interested then because I had a K.22. I still have it, love it, one of the smartest purchases I ever made. But I an interested in this H&R. Does any one here have any experience with them or an opinion on them? I have done some research and am finding mixed reviews. I have no need for one, and I doubt I would use it as much as my K.22. But that as never stopped me from buying a gun before. Thanks, Waldo.
 
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I've never owned one, but I've always wanted one. I know that's not much help. They've always seemed to be handsome and well made guns.

If you don't mind me asking, what is the going rate for one?
 
Back in 2009 I paid $325 delivered for a lnib 4" 999 that I have yet to fire as 4" are kinda unusual. I see 6" guns occasionally priced at 250-350 at gun shows but a quick search of GB completed listings show good ones bringing north of $400. Sidekicks and the 949 cowboy models are a little cheaper but seems like all .22s are in demand.
 
I had a 6" version as a teenager back in the mid seventies. I really don't really remember too much about it other than it was a fun gun, a decent shooter, and I never had any problems with it.
 
A old version probley was the first handgun I ever shot in the 40s. My dad had a couple. I remember him tradeing one for a 1936 chev!
 
I bought one new about 15 years ago. It had one chamber that spit lead very bad. I didn't keep the gun long.
 
H&R 999

My H&R is a 4" barrel 926. I do like mine. Shoots fine - about 1.3" @ 25 yards for 5 shots with CCI MiniMags, as I recall. Thus, accuracy similar to two of my Model 17s.

The design is less sophisticated than the S&W K frame and the price less.
Purchased around 2000 for $125, a good price.

Look it over for usual mechanical issues and Good Luck to you!

Regards,

Dyson
 
I have two a4" and a 6".Both are pretty good guns and I enjoy shooting them. I have never had any problems with them other than that caused by dirty wax coated ammo. Both are accurate as my Smith revolvers though the triggers certainly don't compare. I like the 9 round capacity and actually have speed loaders for them. I have taken some small game with them.
Bob Ray 1915
 
I've got the single action version (Model 199). It's the first handgun I ever shot. Very accurate pistol.

H+R-760.jpg


Grampa_Paul_Dale_22_1960.jpg
 
I paid $138.00, OTD for this one, from 1955, a few months ago. It's tight as a tick with a little normal wear and tear. The rear sight was missing, and I've been meaning to order a new one, but never have gotten around to it. I "made one" that works well enough for shooting cans and such.

100_0140.jpg


Like a lot of people I wanted one for years before I saw this one in my LGS.
 
Like this one? I've had it since it was new in 1973. Wouldn't trade it for anything.

Very well made and a decent shooter.

They bring big bucks compared to what they were back in the seventies ($69.99 brand new)!
 
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A high school friend of mine had one that all of us shot quite a bit. I bought one new in the eighties for $99, and another last year for $150 at a gun show that was in excellent shape, but an older model. Both are excellent shooters, the best quality of all the H&R pistols, and pistols I would never dream of selling.
 
My father came to the conclusion that we needed a handgun in the house for "protection" when I was a kid back in the 60's. After looking over a few pistols and revolvers at a local shop, he chose a H&R 999 6". Back then, one had to get a permit to just purchase a handgun in the city we lived in...A medium sized city in Virginia. It took several weeks to get the permit and pick up the revolver. I thought the time would never come. I had never fired a handgun before but got fairly good with it when shooting it single action. The double action trigger was pretty heavy and rough.

I still have the revolver and its been fired a lot over the last forty five or so years. It is slightly out of time and the plastic collet that keeps the mainspring in place broke making the hammer strike too light to reliably fire all cartridges. It needs some TLC but it has been a pretty decent gun and I don't plan to ever get rid of it. It is somewhat less refined than the S&W and Colt .22 revolvers but it was a much cheaper handgun. If I came across a nice 4" at a decent price, I would consider buying it.
 
Family Heirloom

I still have the one my grandfather purchased new in 1931. Too bad, the box is now long gone, but I carried it on the ranch in Southern Cal. in the 1970's as a rattle snake dispatcher. The oversize grip is great for my large hands, but I've got to admit it looks somewhat odd with the thin barrel cross section. the only weakness I know of is the ejector star mechanism housed in the pivot area of the frame. Very smooth action on mine - comparable to a S&W of the day. 9 hole wheel is nice too! Overall, I'd consider the 999 Sportsman to be a great little revolver.

edit: Well, we just finished moving to a new home after living in the same place for almost 32 years. Low & behold, I found the original box stashed out in the old garage along with the box for my Ruger Redhawk which my wife purchased for me in 1981.
 
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I found one today. Looks like new. Paid $300.00 for it. Found it in a local gun shop. S# is AS58###. Does anyone have an idea when it was made? I am thinking mid 1980s but don't know for sure. Thanks, Waldo.
 
"AS" prefix is 1978 I think. IIRC it's the same year they added a transfer bar to the mechanism.

It's the only ser# code I recall because of the change over. But H&R ser# codes are a little scrambled depending on what list you read them off of.
You can probably find more info on ser#'s on AlGore's Internet.
 
H&R 999 Sportsman

I have one that I purchased new in 1970. It's a great gun for the $ shoots great. Still have the box and all the original paperwork too. I'll never part with it. :D
 

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