H&R Single Shot Topper

ghettoestl · February 8, 2006, 01:00 AM

I want to know what people think about the Harrington & Richardson Topper Deluxe 12 gauge single shot shotgun with a 28" barrel and 3 1/2 inch chamber. Its blued with a silver receiver, modified choke tube and a ventilated recoil pad. I already have a 410 of the same thing but it is 45 years old and I want to know if they have gone down hill in quality since then

aspen1964 · February 8, 2006, 01:09 AM

I don't know the current state of the company now but the original H&R closed some years back..good news is that there are many fine used guns around..my brother each own a topper....great value...shotguns don't have to be repeaters..and i believe single shots can make better marksman as there is only one chance to hit the mark..

Dave McC · February 8, 2006, 09:04 AM

Singles like this are fine tools and the minimalist's approach to shotgunning. There is a downside...

The NEF here is a 12 gauge, has a 3" chamber, and weighs 5 lbs, 9 oz. I'm big, tough, been shooting for about 50 years and wouldn't touch off a mag load in it unless it was a DIRE emergency. Felt recoil would be about what lighting off a 458 Winchester in an 8 lb rifle would be.

These are great with the light loads recently developed. Son learned to shoot shotguns with the NEF and 3/4 oz handloads.

russcomp · February 8, 2006, 10:05 AM

good,,, i have shot but don't own one

itchy1 · February 11, 2006, 04:32 PM

I beleive that H&R became part of NEF but may be wrong. Anyways. I bought my wife an NEF youth model .410 last year so she could have something to shoot in between pulling the trap for me. It has performed flawlessly and poi/poa is spot on. She is routinely able to hit around 75% with the 2.5 in. shells. Not too shabby for a beginner using a .410. The gun is a great value for under $100. I used to have both a 20 and 12 in the old topper models. Good serviceable guns but kicked like hell because of the light weight. A 3.5 would only be for the masochistic in my opinion.

aspen1964 · February 11, 2006, 05:30 PM

..thats true..the lighter weight in a single shot does make a difference...

loosecannon · February 11, 2006, 09:03 PM

I have a 20 gauge Topper I don't hunt with it but use it as a snake gun and general plinker.I pull the trigger it goes BANG no problem.

DonR101395 · February 11, 2006, 09:32 PM

I had a 12ga topper for years and after it got traded off I bought a 20ga Topper and have kept it nearly 20 years. For under a $100 it's some of the most fun you can have.

ghettoestl · February 15, 2006, 01:11 AM

well i think the topper is being retired. i went ALL over the damn place tryin to special order a topper or a topper deluxe and i just couldnt get one anywhere!! so i wind up at dicks sporting goods to special order one and couldnt get one. i talked to the distributor at dicks and he said he cant get them anymore so i got one of the last topper deluxe classics he had. its got the recoil pad and vent rib 3 inch chamber o and its a 12 gauge of course. so in short if u want one u better get ur ass out there NOW and see if u can get one. when they are gone thats it they are gone!!

well at least i will have my dads 410 topper he got abotu 40 years ago and the 12 gauge i just ordered today

nope im never sellin them!

roy reali · February 15, 2006, 01:24 AM

I was at a local gun store a few weeks ago. They had an interesting New England single shot shotgun. The interesting thing was that it was chambered in 10 gauge with a magnum chamber.

I bet that would make an effective snake gun.

I bet it would be fun to shoot!

ghettoestl · February 15, 2006, 01:28 AM

lol yea do u live in the amazon with anacondas

roy reali · February 15, 2006, 01:34 AM

The 10 gauge New England was quite short. I am not sure of the barrel lenght, but it couldn't have been much more then 24 inches. The gun also was considerably heavier then the other single shots. I doubt it was enough to really tame it completely.

I do have one of their slug guns in 12 gauge with a three inch chamber It is a brutal gun to shoot from the bench. I won't even dare try a three inch slug.

View Poll Results: What do you think of the H&R single shots?
Excellent	16	48.48%
Good	17	51.52%
Not So Good	0	0%
Bad	0	0%
Voters: 33. You may not vote on this poll

February 8, 2006, 01:00 AM	#1
ghettoestl Junior member Join Date: December 24, 2005 Location: IL Posts: 166	H&R Single Shot Topper I want to know what people think about the Harrington & Richardson Topper Deluxe 12 gauge single shot shotgun with a 28" barrel and 3 1/2 inch chamber. Its blued with a silver receiver, modified choke tube and a ventilated recoil pad. I already have a 410 of the same thing but it is 45 years old and I want to know if they have gone down hill in quality since then

February 11, 2006, 04:32 PM	#5
itchy1 Member Join Date: November 8, 2005 Location: SOKY Posts: 85	NEF same thing? I beleive that H&R became part of NEF but may be wrong. Anyways. I bought my wife an NEF youth model .410 last year so she could have something to shoot in between pulling the trap for me. It has performed flawlessly and poi/poa is spot on. She is routinely able to hit around 75% with the 2.5 in. shells. Not too shabby for a beginner using a .410. The gun is a great value for under $100. I used to have both a 20 and 12 in the old topper models. Good serviceable guns but kicked like hell because of the light weight. A 3.5 would only be for the masochistic in my opinion. __________________ I want at least one of everything

February 15, 2006, 01:24 AM	#10
roy reali Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2005 Posts: 3,248	Bigger Brother I was at a local gun store a few weeks ago. They had an interesting New England single shot shotgun. The interesting thing was that it was chambered in 10 gauge with a magnum chamber. I bet that would make an effective snake gun. I bet it would be fun to shoot!

February 15, 2006, 01:34 AM	#12
roy reali Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2005 Posts: 3,248	Short And Heavy The 10 gauge New England was quite short. I am not sure of the barrel lenght, but it couldn't have been much more then 24 inches. The gun also was considerably heavier then the other single shots. I doubt it was enough to really tame it completely. I do have one of their slug guns in 12 gauge with a three inch chamber It is a brutal gun to shoot from the bench. I won't even dare try a three inch slug.

February 8, 2006, 01:09 AM	#2
aspen1964 Senior Member Join Date: August 20, 2005 Posts: 1,030	I don't know the current state of the company now but the original H&R closed some years back..good news is that there are many fine used guns around..my brother each own a topper....great value...shotguns don't have to be repeaters..and i believe single shots can make better marksman as there is only one chance to hit the mark..

February 8, 2006, 09:04 AM	#3
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 13, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,811	Singles like this are fine tools and the minimalist's approach to shotgunning. There is a downside... The NEF here is a 12 gauge, has a 3" chamber, and weighs 5 lbs, 9 oz. I'm big, tough, been shooting for about 50 years and wouldn't touch off a mag load in it unless it was a DIRE emergency. Felt recoil would be about what lighting off a 458 Winchester in an 8 lb rifle would be. These are great with the light loads recently developed. Son learned to shoot shotguns with the NEF and 3/4 oz handloads.

February 8, 2006, 10:05 AM	#4
russcomp Member Join Date: February 7, 2006 Location: In.,,,,USA Posts: 15	good,,, i have shot but don't own one

February 11, 2006, 05:30 PM	#6
aspen1964 Senior Member Join Date: August 20, 2005 Posts: 1,030	..thats true..the lighter weight in a single shot does make a difference...

February 11, 2006, 09:03 PM	#7
loosecannon Junior member Join Date: January 6, 2006 Posts: 168	I have a 20 gauge Topper I don't hunt with it but use it as a snake gun and general plinker.I pull the trigger it goes BANG no problem.

February 11, 2006, 09:32 PM	#8
DonR101395 Senior Member Join Date: October 30, 2005 Location: NWFL Posts: 3,031	I had a 12ga topper for years and after it got traded off I bought a 20ga Topper and have kept it nearly 20 years. For under a $100 it's some of the most fun you can have.

February 15, 2006, 01:11 AM	#9
ghettoestl Junior member Join Date: December 24, 2005 Location: IL Posts: 166	well i think the topper is being retired. i went ALL over the damn place tryin to special order a topper or a topper deluxe and i just couldnt get one anywhere!! so i wind up at dicks sporting goods to special order one and couldnt get one. i talked to the distributor at dicks and he said he cant get them anymore so i got one of the last topper deluxe classics he had. its got the recoil pad and vent rib 3 inch chamber o and its a 12 gauge of course. so in short if u want one u better get ur ass out there NOW and see if u can get one. when they are gone thats it they are gone!! well at least i will have my dads 410 topper he got abotu 40 years ago and the 12 gauge i just ordered today nope im never sellin them!

February 15, 2006, 01:28 AM	#11
ghettoestl Junior member Join Date: December 24, 2005 Location: IL Posts: 166	lol yea do u live in the amazon with anacondas