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H&R Topper Jr question

limbhanger
I have a H&R Topper Jr.(20 ga.) for my son, the problem is, it shoots about 10" low at 10yards (even lower at further distances)
What, if anything, can I do to fix it or is it a case for bbl replacement?
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9 comments

Date Votes
  • geeguy
    Need more information.
    1. Are you sure the breech is closed fully. Some of these have been known to fire without being completely closed, rare, but I have seen one this way. Not a "good thing" for many reasons.

    2. Slugs or shot?

    3. How did you arrive at "low 10" at ten yards". Bench aim? Bench point? freehand?

    I'm confident some of the expert will know if you give some further information.
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  • limbhanger
    1. Yes it is fully closed, thought about that and double checked

    2. Shot, trying to pattern for him before turkey season, thought it was just him so I shot it. Paper turkey target at 20 yds. and most of the shot was off of the paper and in the cardboard. I shot various kinds and sizes of shells, including (2 3/4" and 3") then moved to 10 yds, on the paper but still low, good grouping, lousy placement, consistently shoots in the same area.

    3. Shooting from the sitting position, using knees as rest, just as if turkey hunting.
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  • uncle milo
    i wish more people would have responded to this problem. i have a similar problem with a mossburg 500 only mine patterns high. lowest edge of the pattern about 10 inchs above point of aim at 20 yards. [shooting from a bench rest. multiple people shooting the gun with the same results. [ loads skeet-buckshot.][?]
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  • nord
    And the problem is...

    Shotguns have no sights as such. What they do have is a sight-plane. The hardest thing to understand is that placement of a load of shot is determined by the stock. Proper length and drop is essential to where a load is placed (no pun intended[:I]).

    Have you ever noticed how your aim point changes with the addition of winter clothes? Your mind compensates after a few shots, but the change is there. Same with drop... Too much or too little and your pattern will be wildly high or low.

    But then there's a problem with that too, especially with a light single. Sometimes (often) the amount of drop affects the felt recoil. Quite often it's enough to make the firearm uncomfortable and there's really no good solution.

    Think about what I've shared when you shoot next time. You'll understand.

    Nord
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  • p0838
    Thought you might be interested in this original H&R Topper instruction sheet found in Gunbroker.com auction

    Harrington & Richardson H&R Sheet M148 and 188 Item # 18817343



    quote:Originally posted by limbhanger
    I have a H&R Topper Jr.(20 ga.) for my son, the problem is, it shoots about 10" low at 10yards (even lower at further distances)
    What, if anything, can I do to fix it or is it a case for bbl replacement?
    0
  • uncle milo
    NORD: i think you are confusing proper fit with sighting. my 500 has a groved top on the receiver and the normal bead at the bore. and i know that they are very crude as far as sights go. but it seems to work very well with my other barrels on the same receiver. the question is still what would cause this one barrel to shoot that far off of point of aim and can it be made right.[?]
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  • nord
    Ever hear of the Foxfire series of books? One of these explains how Pennsylvania riflesmiths trued a barrel. As I remember they took a length of horsehair and strung it tightly down the bore. They'd shine a light down the bore and look for a place where the shadow from the hair was offset. My guess is that this could be applied to scattergun tubes that don't seem to be true.

    Taking a hammer to a tube seems crude, but it worked 150 years ago.

    Nord
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  • THINMAN
    HAS THE FRONT BEAD BEEN CHANGED ? IF IT IS A RATHER LARGE BEAD TRY A SMALLER [SHORTER] ONE. THAT WILL GET YOU A LITTLE HIGHER.

    ON THE MOSSBERG YOU HAVE A NUMBER OF OPTIONS . MOSS. HAS A NUT ON THE FRONT BEAD , SO YOU MAY BE ABLE TO RAISE THE BEAD BY LOOSENING THE SMALL NUT UNDER IT.THERE ARE FIBER OPTICS FOR RIBBED AND PLAIN BARRELS THAT WOULD GIVE YOU A HIGHER FRONT SIGHT NEEDED TO LOWER PATTERN.

    THINMAN
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  • limbhanger
    nord, thanks for the advice but I don't see how the fit of the stock will affect the point of impact by that much.[?] I know it helps to be fitted to your stock but the "sight-plane" is pretty much fixed as I see it, since you have a bead and the top of the reciever for the 2 aiming points.

    In order to get the shot placement that I need, I see half of the bbl between the bead and the rcvr.

    I guess I could buy him a new gun, but this was given to him by his grandfather and he really would like to hunt (and be able to kill) with it.

    As for the book, yes i have read a few of them, still not real happy about taking the hammer to the bbl.

    Any help is still appreciated anyway,

    Limbhanger
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