H&R Pioneer 750 (22cal)

[doctorj77]

Looking for some background info on a H&R Pioneer 750 bolt action 22.

Several years ago I bought this rifle for $60 minus a bolt. At the time, spare parts like a bolt were scarce. Eventually I came across a complete bolt on GB listed for the same model, and equal to what I paid for the file, but I HAD TO HAVE IT lol

Visually the bolt matched pictures with Numrich's schematic. First year or so the rifle shot fine, but eventually started having light-strikes with various bulk ammo. And yes, its bulk, but that same ammo would shoot fine in other single shot rifles I have. So I decided to look at Numrich recently and noticed they have two firing pins listed, a 4 1/8 and a 4 3/8. When I took mine out to verify which one I had, apparently I have neither . My firing pin is just over 3in. It doesn't appear to be broken or anything. Is it entirely possible the bolt (while visually accurate) I bought for my model may belong to a entirely different rifle? Absolutely!

But does anyone who owns this file, able to measure what their firing pin length is?

 

[d2wing]

I don't know about your rifle but I bought another bolt for my Winchester 74 and it turns out to be from another version and does not interchange.

 

[Scooter22]

If it shot fine for a year it's the right bolt. Give it a good cleaning. Sounds like it,s gummed up inside. WD40 is not your friend if you use it. Good luck.

 

[doctorj77]

well that was my thoughts exactly, I did give it a thorough cleaning and same issues. It really seems to light off CCI or Winchester bulk just fine. But Remington, like the golden bullets is where it has light strikes. But, same ammo works just fine in other single shots I have.

I might just order the shorter of the two FP listed on numrich and see what happens. Although 1in longer, makes me think it won't even fit

 

[LoonWulf]

Numrich list 3 pins for that gun, shortest being 3 9/32s
https://www.gunpartscorp.com/products/428160C

 

[d2wing]

If it shot fine for a year it's the right bolt. Give it a good cleaning. Sounds like it,s gummed up inside. WD40 is not your friend if you use it. Good luck.

WD40 or something like it glued the trigger on my 540 so it was stuck. I had to disassemble it to clean it. I don't want to do that again.

 

[mio]

well that was my thoughts exactly, I did give it a thorough cleaning and same issues. It really seems to light off CCI or Winchester bulk just fine. But Remington, like the golden bullets is where it has light strikes. But, same ammo works just fine in other single shots I have.

I might just order the shorter of the two FP listed on numrich and see what happens. Although 1in longer, makes me think it won't even fit

That ammo doesn't work well in most of my 22s. It's just as bad as their Thunderduds.

 

[gotboostvr]

It's possibly just a weak spring in the firing mechanism.

 

[doctorj77]

Numrich list 3 pins for that gun, shortest being 3 9/32s
https://www.gunpartscorp.com/products/428160C

Ahhhh-Ha! I was looking directly at the specific rifle: https://www.gunpartscorp.com/category/rifles-hr/750 but not by part type. Awesome find LoonWulf, thank you. So that pin is a match for mine, but measures 3 9/32 (3.28125). The pin in my rifle measures at (3.267), maybe just knurled down from wear/tear over the years? But I think I'll dry a new one, even if only a few thousands of a inch longer, may be all the difference needed

 

[doctorj77]

Numrich list 3 pins for that gun, shortest being 3 9/32s
https://www.gunpartscorp.com/products/428160C

Update - I'm just an idiot, I didn't scroll down far enough on the Rifle page............. lol

 

[LoonWulf]

Glad i could help! Ive done that before too.

 

[doctorj77]

So using my new found super powers (eyesight) I just observed the likely cause of light strikes, dam firing pin is bent.

Visually something didn't look right so I put it against a straight edge. Ever so slightly you can see light underneath the front & rear suggesting its bowed towards the center.

 

[d2wing]

Glad you found the problem. I hope you can get your FP to work, but I would order the FP Loonwolf found just in case. They may disappear.

 

[doctorj77]

Definitely. Not taking any chances, ordered a new fp & new spring just to be safe

 

[Scooter22]

Glad you found the problem. But what bent it? Have you looked at the chamber mouth to see if theres a ding from dry firing? If there is Do Not file the metal away. It can be ironed back in with t tapered punch.

 

[doctorj77]

well as noted earlier, the bolt was purchased separately and from a different 750 rifle. So who knows how it got like that. I'm not taking any chances with a repair job right now, I'll just replace with with new parts and call it a day. Should be here this weekend.