Is this H&R model as inexpensive as "decent" quality got "back when" ?

[bigmtnman]

Is this H&R model as inexpensive as "decent" quality got "back when" ?

I saw this "classic" H&R a few years ago at the LGS and brought it home. I'm pretty sure back in late '50s they went new for $29.95 ($19.95 maybe ?). I remember as a boy looking at one in the sporting goods store/hobby shop where I bought my airplane model kits. Yep, one day I'm going to buy one of those ! So about 60 years later and for $125 plus the etc. "stuff". I made it happen. Yes, I have had (and have) a few other H&R .22 revolvers over those years, but this was my first very BOTTOM of that line. The reason I remember it as a boy was that it was being demonstrated to a customer and I was watching and listening. The salesman took out the cylinder and said you loaded it and then put it back in the gun. I thought "Well , that is different from how Sgt. Friday's gun works on Dragnet".

Range report - My first effort was a 9 shot double action only as fast as I could get 'em down and out the barrel. I was half expecting problems ... but NO... all 9 ....gone. Next effort was single action aimed fire at the 6 inch "dinger" about 20 yards away ..."Ding" ...close miss... "DING" ... close miss ...etc. Okey dokey, the sights are regulated OK Did I group it on paper ? Nope , left well enough alone A few more cylinders of just plinking went fine. So I thought this H&R would do it's job if called on.

Sooooo .... Is this H&R Model 900 the very most "inexspensivest" decent quality .22 revolver from this era ?

 

[bmcgilvray]

Decent is subjective, but I like ol' H&R .22 revolvers. Spent time around an H&R .22 snub when I was growing up, idly whiling away hot afternoons shooting at fuzzy weed heads from the porch of the lake cabin.

Good memories of just as much fun as I've had with handguns ever since.

 

[Inusuit]

My first handgun was an Iver Johnson Trailsman 66. My buddy had an H&R similar to the one in your pictures. My IJ went back to the factory twice without resolving a timing issue. My friend's H&R had no problems. I think it cost about half of the IJ, which was a break top and had excellent sights.

Based on that one example, the H&R was a better firearm.

 

[sigp220.45]

I buy all the cheap H&R revolvers I find - most recent was this NIB .32 at that place everyone says never has deals.

I think yours is the 922. I have its slightly swankier cousin, the 929 with the swing out cylinder.

I have never had any of them fail to function.

 

[DWalt]

My favorite fun gun is an H&R 4” barreled “Defender” (ca. 1960s) in .38 S&W. It is a top break. At 15 yards it will group as well as a K-38. I can say nothing bad about it.

 

[bigmtnman]

"I think yours is the 922. I have its slightly swankier cousin, the 929 with the swing out cylinder."

Mine is a Model 900 (double checked). I see that you got a RARE gun "bargain" from that "no bargain" store ... Looking good !

 

[sodacan]

This H&R "22 SPECIAL" dates to around 1935. For a "bargain" priced gun it is incredibly well made, and the finish is really nice. A fun nine shooter in spite of the puny rear sight.

 

[fiasconva]

I have a '55 version of the 922 that I got as a gift. I used it as a tackle box snake gun for years. It's pretty accurate and fun to shoot. I taught my granddaughter to shoot with it. She has since moved up to a Victory.

 

[DWalt]

My first revolver long ago was a .22 H&R Model 922. It had a 2” barrel, and had been used by a neighbor who was truck driver for a local slaughterhouse. He would go out and pick up livestock and occasionally had to slaughter and bleed out livestock in the truck bed. He changed jobs and no longer needed it, and I bought it for $20. It was in very good condition as he kept it in a case in the truck cab. I even used it in my early days of indoor Bullseye shooting, but it wasn’t ideal for that. The strange thing is I cannot remember whatever happened to it, as I am sure I never sold it or gave it away.

 

[Rubone]

Mine is a model 923, the nickel one. It was given to me by a friend who inherited it and said it was broken, that it wouldn't lock up. Well they don't lock up if they are filthy inside. A good cleaning and it is a fine shooting revolver. With 9 shots and decent groups it works for me! Bottom left with a few other 22s.

 

[6string]

I have mixed feelings about these old H&R and Iver Johnson .22 revolvers.
Years ago, Gil Hebard wrote an article for his catalog and book, "Pistol Shooter's Treasury" about these guns. He was good friends with all the top American target (as in Bullseye) shooters of the day, like Joe Benner, Bill MacMillan, Harry Reeves, etc. He had a group of them get together and shoot the National Match course using these .22 revolvers.
These guys as a rule would normally shoot in the high 280s / low 290s out of 300 points using their K-22s or Colt Officer's Match revolvers.
We've all heard the saying "It's the Indian not the Arrow", or "A bad workman blames his tools."....
Well every one of these national champions lost about 50 points using these inexpensive H&R or Iver Johnson revolvers.

On the other hand, I guess that's not the purpose, right? I'd rather not toss a K-22 in a camping kit or tool box. (Not that I'd treat any firearm that way!) Still, I'd rather select a J-frame .22 Kit gun for casual use.

But....One thing I REALLY like about these inexpensive revolvers is that they are real American made products. (There's no room in my house for a Taurus, Rossi, etc!!) As a kid, I always liked seeing them in back section of Gun Digest and thinking, "Hey, I have enough money to buy one of those....If only Mom 'n Dad would let me!"
Plus, it's something to think about that, once upon a time, average people bought these little handguns for shooting fun. These days, it's all about buying handguns for the possibility of shooting a miscreant. (Kinda sad if you think about it!)
That's a real testimony to a different time in America.

 

[Moo Moo]

It's funny to think that H&R had 9 shot revolvers way back then and S&W only increased their .22lr cylinder capacities in around 1996/97 with the 10 shot 617's.

 

[Goony]

While many H&R's were rather pedestrian and intended to appeal to the value minded customer, in the 1930's the company introduced their top of the line Sportsman line in both single and double action versions. Designed expressly for target use, these were very nicely finished, and capable enough for the purpose of competitive shooting. Pictured below is my single action specimen. I'm also including a period advertisement that shows the array of optional grip configurations.

 

[swsig]

This H&R "22 SPECIAL" dates to around 1935. For a "bargain" priced gun it is incredibly well made, and the finish is really nice. A fun nine shooter in spite of the puny rear sight.

Right you are, especially about the puny rear sight. Here's a close look at mine.

The notch is approximately 1/16" wide by 1/32" deep. Unless the lighting is very strong, it is difficult to line it up with the nice gold-colored front sight.

Here is an overall view of my H&R, an "Expert" 9-shot 9" .22lr circa 1938, inherited from Dad. Looks good, works perfectly.

 

[6string]

OK, we have some interesting posts about the more "deluxe" target models from the 1930s.
Here's part of an evaluation by Julian Hatcher, from the 1930s.
He has a generally positive impression, but puts things into comparative perspective.
Overall, not bad!

If you're on a budget, searching out one of these is certainly a much better choice than buying a pot-metal "Heritage" SA, IMHO!

PS: in reference to Goony's post above (#13), those grips in the catalog photo were designed by the Walter Roper, originally intended for the H&R USRA Single Shot.
See third picture.

 

[6string]

more on the H&R USRA Single Shot

OK, so I'm on a bit of a roll, I guess!

Here's a little more about Walter Roper and his work with H&R in designing the USRA Single Shot target pistol.
You can see some important details, like the adjustable trigger, the spring loaded empty shell ejector, and the two hooks on the trigger extension. One is for the half-cock notch while loading, while the other is for the full-cock engagement with the hammer. This helps preserve the fine, crisp trigger release from excess wear.
Read the comments by Julian Hatcher in the third image.

For target use, the USRA was the best pistol H&R ever made.

 

[CajunBass]

I've owned a couple of H&R revolvers over the years. They were good, solid revolvers, but from that era, I'd give the nod to the High Standard Sentinel as the better revolver. I suspect the High Standard was more expensive than the least expensive H&R though.

 

[erikpolcrack]

I have owned several H&Rs in various calibers over the years and have always found them to be good, reliable shooters and more than worth their price.

 

[shil]

After 40+ years, I still have my 6" 999 Sportsman and enjoy occasionally shooting it. It may not be as "refined" as other .22 revolvers, but it works and works well. The only problem with it I ever had was a broken cylinder retainer. Easy fix, even for a klutz like me.

 

[Stevens]

The first gun I ever bought was an H&R 900, that was about 1966. I still have it and have shot it plenty, plinking and for the occasional bad snake. I bought a nice Hunter holster which fits it fine. After a couple of years the pinned barrel got loose and would move slightly up and down, a couple of drops of Loctite solved that, years later the plastic piece on the mainspring that pushes the hammer broke I ordered one ,in the meantime I whittled one out of a piece of nylon which is still working fine still, the factory one came in, but, I keep it as a spare.
Steve W