H&R 929 Sidekick for $239.95,,,

[aarondhgraham]

I'm always on the lookout for a nice DA/SA rimfire revolver,,,
If it comes at a bargain price that's even better,,,
I may have found one that fits the bill.

The Evil Pawn Shop has an absolutely pristine H&R 929 Sidekick for $239.95,,,
I mean this 4" nine-shooter looks like it's never been fired even once,,,
There aren't any marks on the frame where the cylinder latch is,,,
And the forcing cone area is as clean as a whistle.



I have no personal need for this little rimfire shooter,,,
But I was thinking of it as a gift for some future OSU graduate.

I have reservations about 2nd tier guns,,,
Especially those guns that are not made anymore,,,
But this .

I handled the gun for quite a while yesterday evening,,,
Everything about it seems to be high and tight,,,
The plastic grips aren't even scratched up.

So my question is this,,,
Does anyone out their own one of these guns?

If so, what is your thought on the overall quality of the gun?

Is it something I could gift to a person with reasonable expectations of it lasting?

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Aarond

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[CWKahrFan]

Have you seen this?...

http://www.guns.com/review/2013/02/04/hr-22-sidekick/

There's a bunch of YouTubes on it too... for instance...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zn6035zx2zo

And a square-barrel example...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95D9EkIFmcs

[aarondhgraham]

I tried Google but I guess my search skills are lacking,,,
I never even thought about Youtube videos.

Thanks again,,,

Aarond

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[CWKahrFan]

Cool... Seems they're built real solid.

[vostracker]

Hey Aarond, great looking revolver. I dont think you would be disappointed in it. I have a model 949 that has been a great and reliable shooter. My wife has taken it away from me. I'm currently looking for a top break Sportsman 999 mdl. Sounds like the Evil Pawn Shop has struck again. I need to come down and browse. Tulsa gunshow this weekend.Attachment 92650

[aarondhgraham]

I found some more reviews,,,
Some like the trigger,,,
Some hate it.

They all agreed that overall,,,
It's a nicely made gun.

I'm going to go on my lunch hour and look at it again,,,
Do as much checking of everything as I can,,,
Unless I find something very wrong,,,
I'll probably end up buying it.

After all, a man can't have too many .22 revolvers.

It will be nice to have it laying in my cabinet,,,
All ready for the next OSU graduate.

Aarond

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[aarondhgraham]

I said: "David,,, what's my best out the door price?"

He said: "For my good friend Aarond,,, $225.00."

I said: "Write it up sir."

I'm tellin' ya gentlemen,,,
He treats me properly.

Whaddaya think?



I honestly don't think it's ever been fired,,,
The bluing on it is absolutely flawless,,,
Not a blemish anywhere on the gun.

Now to come up with a suitable name for this little girl.

I just did a bit of research and found that my serial number starts with "AY",,,
According to a chart posted on another forum,,,
Mine was supposedly manufactured in 1984.

The years of original production were from 1956 to 1985,,,
Then the gun was reintroduced for a short while in 1996.

Aarond

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[CWKahrFan]

Really nice find Aarond... Approaches "collector's item" status...

[aarondhgraham]

... Approaches "collector's item" status...

It is so clean it's almost a shame to start shooting it,,,
But I bought it to shoot,,,
So shoot it I will.

The bad thing is,,,
Daylight savings time kicked in.

It's dark at 5:30 now,,,
No more after work shooting for me.

I'll have to wait until Saturday to test her out,,,
I hate waiting.

Aarond

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[Backwoodsboy]

Very nice acquisition aarond, I myself have the top break 999 sportsman model and it goes everywhere with me. After shooting your new firearm you may find you don't want to gift it at all. Enjoy.

[aarondhgraham]

After shooting your new firearm you may find you don't want to gift it at all. Enjoy.

That's entirely possible my friend,,,
I've run into that very dilemma before.

I once purchased a used 3" Model 36,,,
The original plan was to use it for a birthday gift,,,
I ended up liking it so much my friend got a used Ruger 22/45 instead.

In this case after I've enjoyed shooting it for a while,,,
I'll make a slick belt, field holster, and cartridge pouch to fit it.

Perhaps something reminiscent of a 1950's safari movie,,,
Flap holster with African motif carvings,,,
Who knows what I'll decide on.

Aarond

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[bedbugbilly]

Not to be a damp rag but are the sidekicks really bringing that much?

I had a 929 Sidekick with a 6 inch barrel - I paid $100.00 for it - that was two years ago or so - it was like new and had been owned by a retired LE - his widow had sold it to the LGS. They are well built and rugged and all I read about them is how folks like 'em. I purchased it to teach my wife how to shoot - it actually was the worst handgun I've ever owned. It shot so low you could plow and plant beans with it. I had it looked at by a 'smith and neither he or I could figure out what the problem was with it. I'm not bad mouthing them . . I liked it a lot but it was a mystery as to why it was shooting so low. I ended up trading it back in to the LGS.

I would have no problems in getting another one though as long as I could try it out first. Your's looks very nice and I'm sure you'll really enjoy it. I always thought it would be nice to put together a set of the 929s in the various barrel lengths - 6, 4 and 2 if I remember correctly?

aaron - when I got mine, I did a little research on it - hopefully someone will chime in here to straighten me out? If I remeber correctly, there is a plastic or bakelite or something of that nature in the mechanism that can get brittle on these and break - my senile mind isn't allowing me to remember I remember a post on a thread about it and I believe Nurmrich Parts still carried it. I never had any problems in that regards with mine - I just wished that out of all the great 929s that wee made, I hadn't gotten the one that was the main ingredient of the lemonade mix!

Congrats on your find! Let us know how she shoots!

[aarondhgraham]

...but are the sidekicks really bringing that much?

Two to three years ago,,,
I would have thought the same thing.

In my three year old (2010 Edition) Standard Catalogue of Firearms,,,
It listed the value of one in "excellent" condition at $225.00,,,
This one certainly hit the excellent condition criteria.

I perused Gunbroker and saw several active bids of 200-plus dollars.

In this climate where any raggedy-arse DA/SA rimfire goes for 300 or more dollars,,,
I didn't think the price was too out of line for one in this nice condition.

But I do have a safety net that some others don't have,,,
The Evil Pawn Shop guy will buy it back if there is something wrong with it.

The first time I asked him about this I offered a 10% restocking fee if I returned a used gun,,,
I do a lot of business with him so he said that was a fair practice,,,
I've returned 2 guns to him over the years,,,
He's never charged me that 10% fee.

I hope this little 9-shooter works out though,,,
I really think it's very cute and loveable,,,
Somewhat similar to a homely kitten.

Aarond

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[publius]

I would say that a like-new one is worth that kind of money if you really want a perfect example. I look at the H&R's as shooters that are going to be really used. That is what I put on when I'm doing farm work and it ain't gonna stay pristine long. Very good pistols.

[aarondhgraham]

Hello bedbugbilly:

Did your sidekick have the adjustable rear sight,,,
Or the grooved frame rear sight?

In another forum a gentleman said if I had the groove sights,,,
I might have to file the front sight down a bit,,,
Otherwise "It will shoot very low".

He said they often used the same front sight blade for both versions of the Sidekick,,,
That sounded a bit far fetched to me but he's an H&R collector,,,
He might know what he's talking about on the subject.

Hello publius:

The purpose in buying this particular gun is to have it ready as a gift,,,
I'm a 62 year old single man with no heirs who like guns,,,
I habituate at a restaurant bar in a college town,,,
I also work at Oklahoma State University.

The place is staffed mostly by undergrads at OSU,,,
It's my pleasure and pastime to take some of them shooting,,,
I've gotten several young people interested enough that they now shoot regularly.

Some of the young people have become very dear friends to this old coot,,,
Because of that I have gifted a few with rimfire handguns,,,
And a custom rig to go with their handgun,,,
I do the leatherwork myself.

So I'm always on the lookout for a suitable used handgun,,,
This one was inexpensive and pristine enough to risk trying it out,,,
I know The Evil Pawnshop Guy will buy it back from me if I'm not happy with it.

After I proof shoot I for a while and have had my fun with it,,,
I'll super clean it again and make the belt, ammo pouch, and holster for it,,,
Then it will sit waiting for the next young person who shows the proper interest in shooting.

Aarond

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[2damnold4this]

I had one that had a terrible DA trigger pull and problems with sight regulation. It wasn't for me but the fellow who bought it from me enjoys it.

[hammie]

@aaron: You did right. That's a great buy. I have a 999 sportsman and enjoy it a lot. If I could find a companion piece like yours, I would certainly get it also.

You mentioned that you were looking for a name. Since the serial number starts with AY, how about Amy? I've always thought that cars, ships and guns (e.g. ol' betsy) were of feminine gender. However, knives are definitely masculine gender (fang or sting). Reloading supplies are probably neuter gender.

[aarondhgraham]

Actually Amy is very close to one I am considering.

Amity \a-mi-ty\ as a girl's name is pronounced AM-ih-tee. It is of Latin origin, and the meaning of Amity is "friendship, harmony". A virtue name.

This works for me on several levels,,,
But mainly because the person I'll gift it to,,,
Will obviously be a friend of mine so friendship is apropos.

That settles it,,,
Amity is the little shooters new name.

Thanks hammie.

Aarond

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[glenncal1]

Aaron- you will like the SA trigger and probably not like the DA trigger. Since the gun is so new in appearance it will probably be pretty accurate. These second tier guns go out of time after a lot of firing/mishandling. I have a 4" top break h&r. That is a good little kit gun.

[aarondhgraham]

That is a 999 Sportsman isn't it?

Your pistol is one of the last ones on my must-have list,,,
I just haven't seen a nice one like yours when I had the available cash.

If I ever see one as clean as yours it's mine,,,
If it can be had for a reasonable price.

I love the semi-Victorian styling of your gun,,,
It just begs to be wrapped in velvet lined leather.

Aarond

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[BigD_in_FL]

I had a 929 years ago, bought it new for $69 and sold it a few years later for $50 at a garage sale. It wasn't a bad gun, but my MKII was a lot more accurate; but it was fun for plinking

[hammie]

Since everyone is showing their top breaks, then I should show mine. And yes they do have a victorian look. If you practice with them, make sure that you put bullet holes in the wall to spell "VR", as Sherlock Holmes did.

@Aaron: "Amity" is a good name. However, if you start naming your cans of unique and IMR-4895, then I may start worrying about you. (LOL)

[aarondhgraham]

However, if you start naming your cans of unique and IMR-4895, then I may start worrying about you. (LOL)

Not to worry,,,
I only name my firearms.

Aarond

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[glenncal1]

Aaron- mine is actually a 926 which is like the 999 except it doesn't the automatic ejection feature. You can see the ejector rod on the gun. I don't think they made many of these which is why it appeals to me.

[hammie]

@gllenncal: The ejection rod in your picture puzzled me. I didn't know about that other model. It's a cool top break revolver, and its rarity makes it special.