H&R Sportsman

[deathrider1579]

I just saw an add for an H&R Sportsman revolver top - break 9 shot.

I think it would be a lot of fun to plink around with etc. and faster to reload than the single six.

I don't know any more details but the guy said make an offer so I emailed him with $150 depending on condition etc.

Anyone have any experience / thoughts?

-DR

[TESII]

Works as advertised.

Mines not for sale

[Rich Jordan]

My Dad has one; its what I learned to shoot handguns with, and a delight. Minimal problems for many decades.

I've heard that its a bear if things wear out or break because the spares available just about always need careful fitting, and its very difficult to reassemble if its detail stripped.

Check wear, lockup, timing, look for peening at the rear of the cylinder, don't dry fire it without empty cases in place (and rotate them between shots; you can peen the cylinder through the case after a few strikes... don't ask me how I know...)

I keep an eye open for one when I'm at the shops. Haven't found one I like yet.

[JAG2955]

Is this the 999 model? One of my buddies has one, and I liked it so much that I started trying to find my own top-break .22, and I bought an Iver Johnson Supershot Sealed Eight for $150. The Sportsman models seem to go for more, at least at the time I was looking for them.

[Flintlock Tom]

I picked one up at a gun show here in San Diego about 2 years ago. The seller wouldn't budge from $200. I took it and have been very happy with it.

[deathrider1579]

Well, someone paid the guy $250 for it, not worth that to me.
I like the top break thing better than the single six action, seems more straight forward to me.
Think I'll keep my eyes open for one!

[Whirlibird]

They can be surprisingly accurate, the triggers can be rough and not a lot can be done to help them. DA that is. SA they can be quite decent with a few touches.
The latch is the weak point, when it wears, you're pretty much done in.

I don't know that I'd choose one over a Single-Six, I've rebuilt Six's with thousands upon thousands of rounds through them. You know you've shot a Ruger .22 SA a lot to wear it out.
And they're rebuildable.

[rightisright]

As I've said before, the only downside to the Single Six is reloading and unloading. If you have sausage fingers like me, it's a royal PITA with those tiny little cartridges.

That said, it's a great gun for introducing newbs to pistols.

[SeekHer]

Works as advertised.

Mines not for sale

It's neat, because you can play Cowboys and lawman and be Billy the Kid as he used a top break S&W Model Three along with a DA Colt Lightning...

My two aren't for sale either!

[Bob K]

I had one years ago. As I recall, the DA pull was horrendous, the SA pull was clean & crisp.

Go for it if you find a good one at a good price.