Gun Review of the Harrington & Richardson 949 .22 Revolver

The Harrington & Richardson Model 949 is a double action revolver that was produced by H&R in Gardner, Massachusetts. Various models were made, but the H&R Model 949 used in this review features blued metal (with the exception of the hammer) and one piece wood grips. Though the 949 has the appearance of a standard 'Old West' single action revolver, the 949's cylinder holds 9 rounds of .22 Long Rifle ammunition and fires double action. The H&R Model 949 also will safely fire .22 Long and .22 Short ammunition.

The H&R Model 949 is loaded through a loading gate on the right side of the gun. Pulling the hammer back one click will free the cylinder to rotate, the loading gate is opened and the cylinder can be loaded. There could be more room to load ammo into the cylinder but it is not too difficult. Spent rounds are ejected via a manual ejector rod running underneath the barrel. Everything locks up well and feels sturdy, through probably a few thousand rounds of use I've had no mechanical problems with the H&R Model 949. The wide trigger has a short pull when fired single action and though the double action pull is very long and heavy it is surprisingly smooth. The trigger actually pushes a small arm that is visible that releases the hammer, it makes no difference to the shooter but thought I'd mention it. Due to the presence of a transfer bar the gun cannot be fired by 'fanning' the hammer with the trigger pulled. However the transfer bar is an essential safety item as it is difficult to line up the 9 shot cylinder to make the hammer rest over an empty chamber. Sights on the H&R Model 949 are fairly good. The rear sight is adjustable for drift, but not elevation. The large front blade lines up well in the rear sight allowing for precise aiming.

The H&R Model 949 shows a definite preference for certain .22 ammunition types and loadings. In general, the H&R Model 949 shoots 40 grain standard velocity ammunition better than other types of ammunition. 1 inch groups at 25 yards is about the best that can be expected in my experience. This level of accuracy is good enough for small game and varmint hunting as long as shots are kept close.
The H&R Model 949 is a rugged and fun gun to shoot. While .22 ammo has gone up a lot in price recently, an afternoon can still be passed shooting targets and cans without breaking the bank. The H&R Model 949 can be found used in the $200 to $300 range.