H&R Sportsman/ 999

[Double-O-Dave]

I had a 6.0 inch barreled Model 999 many years ago. It was my first handgun, and first revolver. It was good for plinking and such, but while using it for a target gun (bullseye and silhouette) I learned what a good revolver it wasn't: heavy trigger pull, poor adjustable sights that didn't take or hold adjustments, poor sights, poor grips with an odd grip angle, etc. It did get points for its 9-shot capacity, and "cool factor" for the simultaneous top-break opening and ejection.

Personally, I'd save my money and get something better.

Best of luck,

Dave

 

[billwill]

Got a 1952 6" and love it. Really neat gun, accurate and has a little different feel that other 22's out there. Still love my K-22 Masterpieces through.

 

[dogngun]

Back to this again over 1 year later...I found a serial number/date list for the H&R 999 Sportsman...link here...

Harrington & Richardson Serialization

Mine is a 6", with the vent rib barrel flat nose hammer, made in 1970.
VERY light SA and actually pretty good DA, and a good shooter. I have several 9 shot .22 revolvers - one of them a High Standard Sentinel steel frame .22 magnum snub - because I think they were a really good little gun to have around...and there are speedloaders for 9 shot .22's that seem to fit most of them...made by HKS. Got a few of those, too.

 

[Art Doc]

In the meantime I picked up another one. Paid $325 at a local show. Still high to me but the 4" isn't as common and I wanted it.

 

[lawandorder]

This thread sure brings back memories of better times............

............pre 68 a Buddy of mine and I were in Corpus Christi visiting my Sister and her family. We slipped off and hit the pawn shops downtown.

He bought one of the long barrel Sportsman models and when we went to the airport. The clerk checked it and said give it to the pilot when you board, think the flight crew played with it all the way to LR and seemed reluctant to give it back.

Wonder if he still has it?

 

[Otreb]

I have a later model 999, it was nearly mint cond when I bought it, but it had some buildup in the forcing cone, which affected accuracy. It took some effort getting it out, until I did, I had some erratic accuracy and key holing. One day I was able to literally pick this chunk of coagulated lead/copper out using bore brushes, toothpicks wrapped with screen, etc.
Now it really shoots. The DA is typical heavy and stiff like most H&R guns, but a nice clean SA break. I treat it like a SA revolver, never use DA at all (... And I'm really a DA shooter).
Shown with my Taurus 94, my other 9 shooter.

 

[GF]

Just picked up another one this summer to fill the hole that I made when foolishly sold the last one I had ...

... but I kept the holster for it.

GF

 

[John Eilertson]

I have also thought seriously about getting one. In the early '80s I took some buddies out after jackrabbits and other field varmints, and my oldest pal at the time brought a 6" DA version. I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed that weapon! A jack would streak by at full speed and a guy could crank out the bullets till he put it down. And it seemed pretty accurate to me on the longer, single action shots. Maybe some day I'll notice one at a good price and grab it up...

 

[Mr.Cip]

I still regret selling my H&R 999. I sold mine in the early '80s. I needed the money to buy a custom model 10 for PPC.

 

[wildenout]

My Dad taught us to shoot on an H&R Sportsman, the newer model I believe it's a 929? But it's a great gun! He still has it, still fun to shoot. It has the side cylinder release and a push-rod ejection system.

 

[doublesharp]

Here's my H&R 999 safe queen.

 

[Tex1001]

I own 3 H&Rs. A 922, called a push pin model, a 932, 6 shot 32 long swing out, and a 929 swing out cylinder. 922 & 929 are 9 shot 22s. Two I inherited and one I bought in 2003. They are sturdy, accurate, ugly fun guns. HKS makes a 9 shot speed loader that works well. H&Rs are probably really expensive now.
_______________________
I don't have Alzheimer's- My wife had me tested.

 

[WDF]

H&R 999

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.

Father gave me a 999 in 1957. Fantastic gun. Friend and I probably ran about 50,000 rounds through it (ammo was probably $2.00 a brick). Never misfired, excellent trigger, accurate. Was getting a little "loose" and should have sent it in for refurbishing instead of selling. Picked up another one in mid 70's. Still pretty nice but not the accuracy of earlier one, don't think the timing was quite right. Wish I had that first one. H&R made good guns. Wish they were still in business.

 

[L Pete]

In the meantime I picked up another one. Paid $325 at a local show. Still high to me but the 4" isn't as common and I wanted it.

I had one of those. It was a later produced model, and I learned that if I were going to shoot it, that I'd better eat my Wheaties before I did. That thing had the absolutely worst and heavy trigger pull of any gun I've ever fired (can you believe a blister on you trigger finger). I also learned to make sure the two opposing screws in the rear sight were tight, as they had a tendency to shoot loose after 30 or 40 rounds of LR. I also wasn't real crazy about the front sight elevation adjustment. I traded it a few years ago, and haven't missed it. A K-22 is head and shoulders above them in quality.

 

[eyegots2no]

I want one.

The prices are pretty high but as a percentage to a Smith----the ratio is still about the same as many years ago.

---I have observed that they sell at 400 plus. The last three in very good condition I observed was $435, $484, and 605! Yes, SIX-Oh-Five.

How come everything I really want costs money.

 

[Cyrano]

I've never either owned or shot one. But a friend held up his end on an indoor (50 foot) pistol team with one. Once the rear sight fell off, but that's the only trouble he had with it. It was very accurate.

 

[ladyT]

What's not to like about a 9 shot top break revolver.

 

[shouldazagged]

I've wanted one since I first handled one over fifty years ago. It just looked and felt so right...

 

[snuffy51]

H&R 999 Sportsman- on my wish list

I'ts nearly 2 AM and I'm bored. I have a H&R 949 9 shot, .22 double action with 5.5 inch barrel and a H&R 925 breaktop in .38 S&W. with 2.5 inch barrel. I've had them since the late 70's. Both are clean, tight, good shooters. Have killed a lot of all size cans with them. I wish I could run across a good 999. I have several .38 special M&P's from 1919 to about 1940. I can't afford to be a collector, but I love shootin' American Made steel. I just turned 64 today and always believed in the KISS principal. (keep it simple stupid) Guns are meant to be used.

 

[ditrina]

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