H&R Revolver...

Federalis

Federalis

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Not sure of the model number and I'll post some pics later, but does anybody know anything about HR revolvers? I got one in about 95+% condition chambered in 32 SW Long, looks like a 4-inch barrel? Looks pretty stout also... and ugly. When were they made and is it worth shooting... or trading. Thanks for any info... TW
 
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My experience is that H&R is right up there in quality with Iver-Johnson. I have fired 3 different H&R's. I'm too old to take that chance again. Shooting at a piece of wood about 5' away the .22lr I was shooting sights were only about 3' off center. The second round was worse. Had an aunt fend off a burglary suspect with and H&R revolver. She fired 5 times at a range of 10'. Hit the floor, ceiling, a picture window etc. The bad guy departed, so I guess it worked fine.
I am speaking to the crudhole revolvers, not the H&R that made a great M1 Garand.
 
slfree, Not my experience at all. I have a couple H&R 22 cal. revolvers I inherited from relatives and although not a "target" quality revolver, they shoot very well. Actually better than I thought they would.
 
H&R revolvers were generally well made, reliable firearms. Biggest weakness was that they usually had heavy trigger pulls. Sights were usually non adjustable (or very limited adjustment) and some may not shoot to the point of aim. That, unfortunately is often the case with many other fixed sight guns. The 32's usually shot to point of aim for me. A couple of the 22's didn't, grouped well but off center. Still, I liked them and shot them often enough to get good use out of them.
 
I have a recent example. Seems to be well made, but definitely on the ugly side.

I gave this one to my father-in-law for Xmas in 1981 and he test-fired 6 rounds of .22 LR. It hasn't been shot since. He gave it back to me earlier this year.

HR 649.JPG
 
I have a H&R Model 905 which is a 4" Bull Barrel nickle .22LR. I bought it to take fishing with me. It has killed a lot of snakes and a lot of empty beer cans. It shoots where I aim it.
 
Federalis said:
Not sure of the model number and I'll post some pics later, but does anybody know anything about HR revolvers? I got one in about 95+% condition chambered in 32 SW Long, looks like a 4-inch barrel? Looks pretty stout also... and ugly. When were they made and is it worth shooting... or trading. Thanks for any info... TW
Click to expand...

Terrible revolver. When I tried it out at an indoor shooting range in Denver on April 3 2006 it was an instant fail.

Single action shooting was ok, but double action was terrible. Several misfires in the double action mode and the double action trigger pull was very gritty and rough. Not only that, the empties would not eject properly after the gun got a little dirty with powder residue. I had to just declare that revolver a loser.
 

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Well then, not sure if I'll keep this little revolver or trade it... at least its in real good condition. .32 SW long ammo sure is a pain to find though. Thanks for all the info... TW
 
Just purchased at the gun show a mint, never fired 929 4 inch bbl. With an AL prefix this gun was manufactured in 1973.No ring around the cylinder or any sign of firing.40 years old and never used.Paid a little more than it was worth but still happy with the find.Have also owned a model 900 6 inch bbl. for many years.A little loose, but still accurate.
 
I've got a 32 H&R that my dad used to own and I've had 3 of their "target" 22s myself. Quality on these was consistent but B-. Springs were cheap and often needed replacing. Adjustable sights tended to rattle loose. Triggers horrible. They shot close to POA though and did go "bang" most of the time.
That said, yours sounds like a good beater "kit gun" and worth keeping for that if you have such needs. Otherwise, it's likely only worth $100 +/- in a trade.
 
In the late 1960's Kmart decided they no longer wanted to sell handguns. I bought an Iver Johnson 626 six shot .22 cal revolver. To load you have to pull the base pin and drop out the cylinder. The base pin (I believe) can be used to poke out empties. I sold the gun to my brother. I think the sale price for a brand new revolver was $26 or $27. The gun only had one screw in the entire gun (grip screw). Later, by brother expressed an interest in selling it and I asked why. He said he could not hit anything with it. I took it back and took it to the range on practice night. It grouped at 7:00 o'clock. I filed the front sight till I had a group at 9:00. Then I took some pliers and bent the front sight blade. It now shoots point of aim. Some time later I asked my brother if he still wanted to sell it and he said "no, now I can hit what I shoot at".

IMHO IJ revolvers are an example of what you get when you try to sell at the absolute lowest possible cost.
 
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Edited: I just noted that this thread was resurrected from the dead today. Hope this is of interest.

You might enjoy this thread: http://smith-wessonforum.com/lounge/280675-any-love-harrington-richardson.html

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd222/505Erich/Handguns/20mar12HR005.jpg

These guns take you back to a time where labor was not the most expensive line item in a handgun build. They occupy the same market niche as a Hi-Point, but they do it with a little more elegance, in my opinion. :)

My solid-frame swingout H&R 732 .32 Long is stout and ugly as sin - even uglier with the Pachmayr stocks on. It handles hot (1k fps with a cast 100-gr RNFP from the 2.5" tube, from '30s books) .32 Long handloads with aplomb. Amazingly heavy DA trigger, decently accurate nevertheless. Well worth the $85 I gave for it a year and a half ago.

FWIW, it got me interested enough in the .32 Long as a cartridge that I finally got serious about getting a S&W in the caliber. :)

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd222/505Erich/Handguns/20mar12HR007.jpg

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd222/505Erich/Handguns/2012-11-09_14-19-53_110.jpg
 
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I have several H&R and Iver Johnson 32's, 32 longs, and 38 S&W's about 12 total. Mine are of the "top break" design. The 3" and longer ones shoot fairly well with my handloads of Hornady 90 grain LSWC at the mild Factory velocities. Do not try to load any hot loads for them and you should be fine. You will notice most of the Nickel revolvers of this type are missing most of their finish much worse than their blued brothers. This is mostly from people cleaning them with Hoppes no.9. CLP, RemOil and other cleaners won't harm your Nickle, but especially the old formula Hoppes flaked them badly. Ivan
 
Don't have the gun but I do have a beautiful set of H&R grips on the Accessories for Sale Forum here if anyone is interested.
 
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