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

[STORMINORMAN]

Picked up my 949 (AKA, the "49'er") for a song years ago...

It has 3 more shots than my Single Six (think "HIGH CAPACITY CYLINDER"?) so it potentially qualifies as an ASSAULT PISTOL!

The double action trigger possibly also moves it closer to the NEW definition of a machine gun...?

Cheers!

P.S. There is no factory provision for adding a brace so I probably won't convert it into an SBR...

 

[BlackAgnes]

This is a really fun gun!

Tim

 

[mtgianni]

My first handgun was a H & R with 22 lr and 22 mag cylinders. I enjoyed it and shot it for a few years. It started spitting lead and I sold it.

 

[Goony]

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

Adding photos of both the long and shorter barrelled versions.

 

[DWalt]

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

I was going to mention that earlier but didn't. The hammer spring strut with the Nylon socket should be replaced with an all-steel strut. That Nylon will break sooner or later, it is a poor design. It is a fairly cheap part and easy to install. Gun Parts Inc. used to carry the all steel struts and probably still do. At the very least, the Nylon strut should be inspected frequently for breakage. All you have to do is remove the grips to access it.

 

[mk70ss]

This little guy is my daily carry ranch gun. Always goes bang and is pretty accurate considering it basically has no rear sight.It's not worth much, but its one of my favorites.

 

[pharmer]

Back in the late '80s RSR was blowing out 929's, 930(nickel), and 732's for $60. I bought a bunch and sold them for $125. I sold the last one of the batch for $175 maybe 10 years ago. Never a complaint about the guns but did have case splitting problems with Federal .32 mag ammo. They did make it right. Enjoy. Joe

 

[kwill1911]

I do not have good memories of those guns. My father and grandfather bought a pair of them from Western Auto in the 1960s. They had those same mother of toilet seat grips. They would go bang about every third pull of the trigger. My brother and I called them click, click, bang guns. Finally, out of frustration, my grandfather taped a quarter to his and threw it in the lake. When asked why he taped a quarter to it he said, "So if somebody happens to drag it out they will have found a quarter."

 

[Goony]

The hammer spring strut with the Nylon socket should be replaced with an all-steel strut. That Nylon will break sooner or later, it is a poor design. It is a fairly cheap part and easy to install. Gun Parts Inc. used to carry the all steel struts and probably still do. At the very least, the Nylon strut should be inspected frequently for breakage. All you have to do is remove the grips to access it.

This is correct, but allow me to use H&R's nomenclature. The whole unit is termed a mainspring guide assembly. The little nylon/plastic part at the bottom of that which is prone to failure is the seat. The seats were switched over from metal sometime in the 1960's (roughly from AA prefixed serial numbers on). Whole assemblies with another nylon/plastic seat can be readily purchased, but if replacement metal seats alone are still available (I know they were at one time) to install on the existing mainspring guide rod, that'd probably be the way to go.

 

[DGNY]

To the OP, I can understand why you like that little revolver. Perhaps you'll favor us one day with some new pictures in which it wears a handsome set of stag grips!

Mine is a 4" 926; it is accurate (even compared with my S&W 18s) and highly reliable. One of the best buys I ever made for $125 ~15 years ago. Of course, yours is the solid frame and could be even more accurate. Happy shooting!

 

[kenjen]

My first 22 was a H&R mod. 686, 6 shot with an extra 22 mag. cyl. bough it in 1981 for $125 and have shot the snot out of it and it still works fine. Still have it today and plan on giving it to my grand son one day

 

[old tanker]

The finish on this old Iver Johnson Supershot Sealed Eight is not anywhere near as nice as your H&R. Made in 1938, it turned up in a pawn shop. It was a lucky find for a couple of reasons. I have an inexplicable fondness for old Owl head revolvers. They were quite an innovative company and made guns that were very good value for the money. This one was seemingly unloved and unwanted so it was cheap. It even likes the cheap CMP ammo, what's not to like?

 

[damienph]

I like all of those older .22 revolvers.
I have a 6" H&R 900 and an IJ Supershot Sealed Eight.
Both are fun to shoot and were "high cap" long before Ruger and S&W came out with their revolvers with a cylinder capacity higher than six rounds.

 

[Drm50]

The 1st handgun I shot was a Iver Johnson Sealed 8 while sitting in my old man's lap at 3 or 4 yr old. I must admit I was a gun snob even back then and had very little use for H&R or IJ revolvers. I've had a scad of them new and used. The last ones I bought new were 32magnum H&Rs when distributors were clearing them out at NE take over.
In fact my experiences with H&R and IJ revolvers turned me against DA revolvers of all kinds. Never saw the light till I touched off a K22. It was like being born again. Lots of people like the old H&Rs and IJs. I think it was because their grandpa had one or something like that. Many were kept in barns and sheds for utility use. Butcher guns. I never pass up opportunity to pick them up cheap because there is always somebody willing to take it off my hands.
I have one now that is more less a patient, not sure if it is going
to survive.

 

[.357magger]

I have the H&R that my Dad taught me to shoot handguns with, a Model 929 Sidekick Slabside. Probably worth $200 in the marketplace, priceless to me. Took more than a couple of squirrels and bunnies with this one.

And I also have a first year (1932) Sportsman Single Action, the Model 199. This gun is VERY accurate and is one of my favorites. Just a delight to handle and shoot. Still more accurate than I can hold it, it exhibits very fine machining and polishing, it would have served target shooters very well back in the day.