H&R Sportsman disassembly

jamesjo

I have 1976 Sportsman that has some internal problems, it will not rotate the cylinder when cocking. I have had it to all the local gunsmiths I can find, and no one is interested in working on it. They all say the sportsman is a pain to work on. So I guess that leaves me.
I am a tinkerer, but not a smith. I have a decent schematic, but I am wondering if anyone here would know if an assembly/disassembly manual or instructions is available?
I would really appreciate any information!!
Thanks
Jim

rhmc24

First off I'm doing this from memory which may or not be exact. Other posters probably will find corrections they can make, particularly in disassembly, etc.

Maybe get started in the right direction. First I have never taken apart one of my Sports but have with several other H&Rs - so assuming they are much alike inside -- find out first what's wrong. Maybe the hand spring. Point it down and operate it (cock and let down). If it rotates when pointing down it is probably needs a hand spring.

Open the top latch and look at the slot where the hand should come thru to revolve the cylinder. Cock it and see if it comes in sight. It probably will. Then feel if its spring pushes it out when you push it in. Try this in several hammer positions between down and cocked. If hand is not moving in and out with hammer movement, you have a more serious issue with the hand inside. Hand spring or otherwise you have to take the gun apart. Remove grip. If mainspring is flat push aside and remove it. Coil mainspsring has a tiny hole at bottom of its guide rod hat receives a pin (paper clip) to hold it partially compressed. With a suitable punch, push out the triggerguard pins and remove it, noting the position of parts it releases and there are several. The hand comes out with the trigger. You will see what the problem is and what needs repair
or replacement. Then remove hammer screw and hammer.

Taking apart was the simple part. The reason gunsmiths don't want to work on H&Rs is that it is hard to get all the parts in place at once to put back together, particularly the trigger, spring, guard, all at once while holding parts in the right position against the force of the spring. I have used pointed pins to locate the part holes to frame holes. I can't give more than these cautions and wish you luck if you want to tackle it.

There are books out by Gun Digest and NRA on firearms dis/assy you can probably find on (deleted) auction or Amazon for a few dollars well worth adding to your library.

Hope this helps.