Harrington & Richardson HANDI-RIFLE: Most Versatile Gun
Harrington & Richardson HANDI-RIFLE: Most Versatile Gun
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Have you ever wondered what the most versatile firearm design is? For me, it’s the Harrington & Richardson Handi-Rifle/1871, and I’ll explain why in this informative video. The gun for All seasons…for ANY need…the H & R Handi – Rifle/1871 platform is unstoppable! We’ll also have a look at some of the many different types of ammo you can use in a Harrington & Richardson. Enjoy and don’t forget to join me on Patreon for even more USOG content. Thanks for watching!
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Think I am probably only one or very, very, very few people with this H&R handi-rifle set up. Bought it in the 444 Marlin, then bought the 20 gauge barrel for it, then while I was at it, also bought the 45-70, 270 Win and the 308 Win barrels for it. This Handi-rifle is one of my favorite rifles that I own. But now like to get the 35 Whelan, and the 460 S&W or the 500 S&W barrels for it.
I have three of the rifles and 4 of the shotguns. Hope to complete the major gauges on the shotguns, but will just pick up the rifles when I find a deal. They made so many different rifle/pistol cartridge options, I would not have room for them all.
I really enjoy shooting these single shots.
Neat firearms. I wasn’t familiar with these at all.
Thanks for sharing. 😊👍
The most versatile firearm I personally own is a Remington bolt action shotgun.
It’s handy because it fits Texas center fire hunting laws.
And as long as it’s 12ga it was made to accept *any cartridge*
Barrel is an odd length as well.
Slightly longer than most but still shorter than others.
That actually helps balance it out though.
My FIL gave it to me. He used it to hunt ducks and geese when they lived up north I think.
It’s kind of weird but really handy and I haven’t ever used them but have 17 reloadable brass cartridges for it as well.
Thanks for the post. I’m wondering what all, if any, of the H&R barrels that would/will able to be used on a H&R Topper 158.
What I’ve found so far is not clear, other than saying not to use any of the high pressure barrels with the 158.
Thanks for being honest wish more folks were fact driven
Oh, I have been looking for a 10 gauge for years. Have not ran into one yet.
Had a 12gauge Topper. Less than 6 pounds, it was responsible for creating some nasty shoulder bruises when firing 3" mag slugs.
I think I will leave the 50BMG to others!
Thanks for another good video I wish I had a handy rifle with a few different barrels but I never did buy one and they stop making them so my loss and I never see them for sale anywhere where I’m at oh well thanks again.
Could you make a video on a Ruger ranch rifle ? and maybe some of the new Zastavas
I have a H&R Ultra Slug Hunter. I bought it new at Walmart a long time ago $149. It has a 10ga. barrel profile but bored and rifled for 12ga sabot slugs. As accurate as a rifle! Not at all picky about slugs although Remington Solid Coppers shoot like a laser beam. Regular slugs work great as well you just have to deal with the lead fouling then. I have never had any other shotgun regardless of cost out shoot it. Clearly it is a one trick pony since it is a rifled slug gun. I wish I had picked up a few more H&R’s back when they were cheap and they had such variety!
Hi Mike. Have you heard of an EK Purdy o/u circa 1830? I can’t find any info.
Courtesy of Mike – My Firearm knowledge has increased by leaps and bounds. Keep up the good work 👌
I have 45-70 Handi. It pops open every time I shoot anything more than the most mild loads. Not sure of the risks but makes me nervous. Maybe new ones are better but obviously I’m not impressed! I’d buy a cheapie Ruger bolt. I do have an HR Ultra Slug with no problems and shoots great, too bad slugs (or not) are so expensive and obsolete.
I had an H&R topper growing up in 12 gauge and had a bore obstruction that I did not see after I had a squib load and proceeded to put a 1-oz slug in behind it and blew the barrel up that was the only thing that was damaged on the gun and I magically walked away without a scratch
I’ve never seen one in .50 S&W, but the 45-70 version is great. … I don’t think 50 BMG would be a good idea though, since the recoil would be horrendous in such a light rifle.
I have been a fan of H&R for a long time, own a few and have studied their online catalogs. One thing I really like about them is that they did not simply sell extra barrels as another single shot maker does, they required that the action be sent back to them to have the new barrel(s) hand fitted. While they look the same, H&R states that while the shotgun barrels could be fitted to a rifle action, rifle barrels cannot be fitted to shotgun actions. I assume strength of the action is the issue with that.
I purchased a H&R Handi Rifle in .223 with a bull barrel and sent it back to have a .308 bull barrel fitted, as well as standard barrels for .22 Hornet, .30-30 and .44 Magnum. The .223 & the .308 make a nice pair, as do the Hornet & the .30-30. The .44 mates up with my Super Blackhawk. I am having difficulty locating a good high comb wood stock, and am getting the impression that there is not much demand for that.
I also have a .22 RF LR with a plastic stock and an older .54 caliber muzzle loader.
When I sent my action back to have the accessory barrels fitted, I could smell something was going on because the communications I received was from Remington.
While I will never understand what people see in the AR, I firmly believe that the H&R is THE BEST!
i got the Bergara single shot, its great……
Yes a single shot 12 guage with a couple of barrel inserts makes for a handy and versatile firearm. Thanks for sharing Mike.
I have one in 30 30 ..there are 2 types of breeches sb1 sb2 mime has a sb2 meant for the higher pressures of centerfire
Is that a rug your wearing or is it just boot polish ?
I had two I regret selling, a 28 gauge with a laminate stock I paid $80 new, and a .45-70 Buffalo Classic I couldnt afford to feed at the time. I now have a .17HM2 that is like a laser beam. Firiing it is like dry firing, the only zero recoil firearm I have used, even less than an AT4 9mm trainer.
i have 2 in 20ga and 243.nice light and simple.
I have 2 Handi Rifles. One in .30-06 with a heavy barrel. It is a scope only gun. And one in .30-30 with a Williams peep sight and synthetic stock. It has a 20 gauge extra barrel. Both are excellent and I’m lucky to have them .
Thank you for your videos. I enjoy them very much.
The Handi rifle truly was a great gun and damn cheap to boot. My .45-70 Handi rifle cost me $165 back in the mid 90s.
As far as the strength of these rifle , back in the 1950s, either E.H. Harrison or Julian Hatcher (I’m not sure which it was) had an article in the American Rifleman analyzing the strength of the typical American single shot shotgun. The article showed that regardless of the maker, either H&R or Iver Johnson, these shotguns had bolting systems of incredible strength easily capable of handling any shotgun load that might be fired through it. The H&R Handi Rifle uses the same bolting system but upgraded with superior materials, gun quality steel rather than cast iron.
I’ve owned many H&R rifles and shotguns through the years and I have a collection of them today. My favorite is my Topper deluxe 12 gage with all the chokes. I’ve taken numerous turkey etc. the 25-06 handy ultra was awesome, I took plenty of deer and 2 pronghorn. A friend had to buy it from me😢 I now use a Ruger# 1 and I tell you I miss my H&R ,rugged simple and fairly light. Thank you sir for sharing.
Remington killed the handie rifle a dam shame i have a few 22 hornet up to 308 my favorite is a 7/08
My first shotgun hand me down was a 20 gadge H R Topper . With 5 boys it was a hand me down .
Usually it’s Americans who use the wrong words, compared to us English, but you’ve got us when it comes to gauge – we say bore (12 bore, 20 bore, though 410 is just 410)
What about the sb1 and sb2 frame?
i have the h&r in .243 and .30-06. very good rifle.
Was my first gun. Have the barrel still but the receiver went missing after my mom had her basement cleaned out.
Great video. I love the concept. It is especially relevant today with the unknown policies of this administration on firearms. There is talk about taxing our guns.
I have an Encore, "How many guns do you have?". ONE " What caliber?" MULTI, it works for me.
Those single shot guns like the Encore or Handi-Rifle are far more accurate then I ever will be.
My H&R like his is a 45-70 and it hurts when you shoot it.
Picked a up a Rocky Mtn Elk Foundation in 35 Whelen for 400 bucks. So simple with a great cartridge. Very Handi
I bought my first H&R last year, a 12g slug gun with a rifled barrel. Do tou mean to tell me that I can just pick up different barrels forbthe receiver, just like that?
Wow, has my view of this solid chassis improved even more.
Thanks.
I bought my grandson a Rossi Pick 4 which is a copy of the H&R and he used it to get his first deer. With the 4 barrels he could choose between .22 LR, .410, 20 gauge, and .243 Winchester.
Thank you for reviewing the venerable H&R. Most of us country boys grew up shooting these beautiful shotguns and rifles. Always appreciate your reviews. You have such a calm matter-of-fact delivery. Subscribed!
doesn’t the rimfire barrel bore offset enough so that centerfire and rimfire bithe shoot from the same platform? for instance, I have a .243 barrel and 22 mag barrel and they both swap with the same action. ?
at 6:30 you state that the center fire receiver even though it mates fine, won’t fire the rimfire? is that correct with the barrel and receiver you are showing?
My first gun was a h&r 30-30 with a. 20g barrel with it. My brother got it for me in 1983 from the S.I.R mail order catalog. I still hunt with it. Mine has a straight grip stock like a model 94
How do I uncock the hammer it’s stuck
I had an H&R single shot 12 Ga. back in the ’70’s when I was a teenager, shot a lot of dove & quail with it..
Talking of things going wrong, I seem to remember there being a muzzleloading version of this with a push in breech plug that had the potential to come back at the shooter if you opened it on a hangfire.
My cousin bought an H&R semi auto 22 magnum, I had a Stirling bolt action 22 magnum, and we went target shooting. My rifle grouped really well, his shot all over the place.
I remember these being available in just about any handgun or long gun caliber . You could buy one with many other barrels . Buying other barrels was just as expensive as complete guns so not many people bought extra barrels.
H r made in China now
My father had one in 45/70 (Buffalo Bill edition). It failed while I was shooting it. The barrel lock broke even though it was only a few years old. The breach blew open and sent the primer into my face – would have lost my eye if not for my glasses. Loosing a $500 pair of glasses was a good trade off to keep my vision. When I’ve told this to people in the past, two others had this happen to them. I feel it’s a mistake to chamber a gun that was designed as a shotgun in high pressure rifle cartridges. I agree it would have been worse if there was a piece that could have loose like in the 50 BMG video you spoke of, still was not a very good experience. I also think that 45/70 makes this and any other older and weaker design more likely to fail. The large powder capacity and hot loadings now available can easily cause a pressure mismatch with them. I’ll stick with my bolt action.
I bought my son one for his first deer rifle when he was 10. It is chambered in .243. He’s 26 now and still loves that H&R rifle.
Very informative thank you for sharing love my Harrington and Richardson 30 CAL
Do they exist in 45-70 also?