Looks like Cerebus killed off H&R1871 Firearms

[115grfmj]

Looks like Remington has Killed off an great old American Gun Brand. I know from conversations with CS that Remington is no longer offering warranty work, or repairs for H&R rifles and shotguns. Also they have recently cancelled their barrel accessory program. Now I heard this.....

http://www.go2gbo.com/forums/hr-centerfire-rifles/hr-rifles-and-shotguns-stops-production/

 

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

The "great old American Gun Maker", as you call it, went out of business in 1986.

 

[1911 guy]

Yep. H&R1871 is not the original H&R that we think of. They did copy some of the original designs, but the company was reorganized decades ago.

 

[Scooter22]

Yeah but his post shows the current H&R line is being shutdown.

 

[115grfmj]

Yup H&R went under in 1986, however they we reformed in 1991 under the name H&R1871 producing the original rifles and shotguns . Freedom, the investment company aquired them along with Marlin in 2007, and it looks like now they killed off the brand all together. H&R1871 and H&R1871LLC were infact gun manaufacturing companies interested in continuing the tradition. The freedom group is a massive investment company, and owns many different great old American brands. Many people have associated them with the decline of Marlin, and Remington.

Many of us either have had our first experience hunting with and H&R shotgun or rifle, or still love them for their simplicity, and reliability.

 

[tacxted]

Sad news. Who will be the new leader in value oriented break actions?

 

[MAKster]

While these H&R single shots have their own loyal fans, the reality is that these guns are very low sellers. These single shots used to be the least expensive rifles and shotguns on the market so they were attractive to people with little money but that has changed. H&R rifles cost more than the low end bolt guns like the Savage Axis which are more accurate. Go to any gun store and you will see 50 bolt and semi autos for every one H&R rifle.

 

[earlthegoat2]

They should have dropped the rifles altogether and their hokey slide actions and auto loaders too and just focused on break action shotguns.

Of course, it may not have mattered with management. Buy, gut, strip, sell.

I've always wanted to experiment with a Tracker 20 ga slug gun. Maybe now I can find one for real cheap.

 

[115grfmj]

Well......the way things are moving. There will be only two flavors available in rifles, Cheap Syn. stocked bolt guns in a handful of calibers, and AR's. All the major brands will be owned by a few multi-national investment firms. They will only be interested in what sells in VOLUME, for the least in production cost, with no thought to aesthetics, fit or finish. To quote Dave Petzal no matter what the quality "out the door it goes."

Sad state of affairs.

Frankly, up here in the northeast, were many places are shotgun only for deer, the USH in 12 or 20ga ,are really popular!

 

[oneounceload]

I disagree, high end bolt guns are very much alive and well as are mid range guns from every maker. And with recalls costing more than quality, makers know that. Are they perfect? Not hardly, but if you are expecting some hand finished pre-64 model 70 for the price of a POS H&R, you are deluding yourself.

 

[Mosin Bubba]

Well......the way things are moving. There will be only two flavors available in rifles, Cheap Syn. stocked bolt guns in a handful of calibers, and AR's. All the major brands will be owned by a few multi-national investment firms. They will only be interested in what sells in VOLUME, for the least in production cost, with no thought to aesthetics, fit or finish. To quote Dave Petzal no matter what the quality "out the door it goes."

Sad state of affairs.

Add plastic pistols and bargain-basement 12 gauge pump shotguns to that list, and you've pretty much covered the entire firearms market right now.

As a guy who's fond of wood-and-blue rifles and revolvers, it's kind of sad to see. But all the guns mentioned above are cheap to make, and manufacturers wouldn't be selling them if we weren't buying them.

 

[19-3Ben]

Sad news. Who will be the new leader in value oriented break actions?

Rossi?

That's sad. Now just to be sure, is it that entire outfit being closed down or will there be similar firearms available under the NEF labeling?

 

[Agsalaska]

Ive never owned one, mostly because I am allergic to synthetic stocks. But now I may have to get one. Are they relatively accurate?

 

[Panzerschwein]

I've an old single shot 12 pardner, great gun, sad to see it go.

 

[115grfmj]

19-3Ben Even though they are the same company they stoped making the NEF brand a few years back. So imports like Rossi would be the only choice left.

ONEOUNCELOAD......Nope not expecting pre-64 quality from anyone anymore. Also Hardly the HIGHROAD to be calling someones stuff POS, and while high end bolt guns are still available, they represent a tiny fraction of the market. I was talking about the way thing are pointed in the mainstream market.

Frankly I kinda like my wood and steel, honest 3/4MOA H&R 243. Works for me, and with my 20ga barrel it's a great safe gun for my kids to learn to put some pheasant down with me in the fall. My 500s&W barrel is also more than a match for the largest game in North America.

I'm glad I'm old enough to have amassed a collection of classic American guns when they were made the right way. I guess there's no going back. At least my grand kid's will be taking them into the field long after I'm gone.

 

[oneounceload]

H&Rs ARE POS, and I own one in .223
Minute of pie plate is not a great indicator, nor is it trying to open upon firing
Too bad if you think that commenting on the lack of quality is not High Road

As long as folks only consider guns at the cheapest price, then we will get exactly what we ask for. Too many won't buy a Remington, but will save a few bucks buying the Chinese knockoff

 

[tacxted]

My 12g pardener was a great shotgun, not something I would call a POS.

Yes H&R are bottom rack guns, but they are functional and let the user worry about the hunt and not about scratching or dropping their $600 piece.

I will miss H&R.

 

[Berger.Fan222]

Owned and hunted with a few over the years. They worked well for what they were: inexpensive and functional. Never intended to provide bolt gun accuracy or TC quality.

 

[DPris]

MAK has it exactly.
The industry & market at large killed off the H&R break-tops.

The brand will continue with imported models, looks like.
Denis

 

[rbernie]

When a low end bolt gun from Ruger or Savage is more accurate and no more expensive - it's time to either find a way to make the break-action cheaper or simply let it fade away. That's just market economics, as much as I personally like the H&R guns.

 

[Big JJ]

I totally disagree with the part about warranty work.
I just got my H&R single shot Pardner 20 ga back from Remington and it works great.
They sent a UPS pick and delivered it back to my LGS.
No charge and it works great.
It took about 5 weeks from pick up to delivery, I had internet access to the web site with posted updates as they happened to my gun.
I also received a phone call notifying me when they shipped it back.
I could not be happier with the service. I bought the gun in 1985.
It is my go to hiking Pheasant gun at 5 lbs.

 

[Panzerschwein]

I've been in the market for a 20 gauge pardner single shot, looks like I'll need to find one pretty soon as they aren't made anymore.

 

[115grfmj]

I totally disagree with the part about warranty work.

Not anymore...Call them they'll tell you.

 

[mgmorden]

Kinda sad indeed. I took my first deer with an NEF (H&R) Pardner 20ga nearly 25 years ago. Still have that little gun in the safe (also added an H&R .30-30 many years later).

Overall though, I think another poster summed it up: single shot rifles just aren't the value they once were. Budget priced bolt actions are available for about the same money as an H&R - or at least a tiny bit more, and are far more mainstream as far as the market goes. Anyone interested in just getting the cheapest thing available will just get a Rossi. Leaves H&R in a bit of a non-profitable position.

I'm sure the name itself is worth SOMETHING and will be sold with other assets, so we may indeed see "H&R's" again - just not from this group.

I DO wish I'd have gotten a Handi-Rifle in .357 Mag though .

 

[Jason_W]

Well......the way things are moving. There will be only two flavors available in rifles, Cheap Syn. stocked bolt guns in a handful of calibers, and AR's. All the major brands will be owned by a few multi-national investment firms. They will only be interested in what sells in VOLUME, for the least in production cost, with no thought to aesthetics, fit or finish. To quote Dave Petzal no matter what the quality "out the door it goes."

My hope is that companies will wise up to the fact that the working man wants quality, but usually can't afford it all on one shot. Budget firearms with reliable guts and a lot quality aftermarket parts might be an answer.

For example, you could spend $500 on a base platform to get yourself shooting. Maybe the stock isn't great and the trigger leaves a bit to be desired, but maybe in a few months you can afford to replace the trigger and a few months after that you can afford to replace the stock.