How to Troubleshoot an H&R 949

The H&R 949 "Forty Niner" was a nine-shot, .22-caliber revolver produced by Harrington & Richardson from 1960 to 1985. Two versions of the handgun were manufactured. The basic Model 949 had a standard blued-steel finish. The 949 "Western" featured a case-hardened black steel frame. Mechanically simple, the H&R 949 has few moving parts that can cause problems. Typical .22-caliber rimfire cartridges are notoriously "dirty," however, and after years of use, the build up of residue can impact their operation. One of the most common problems is a sticky cartridge ejector, which can make it difficult to remove fired cases from the revolver's cylinder.

Things You'll Need

  • Flat head screwdriver
  • Bore cleaner solvent
  • Cleaning patches
  • Cleaning rod
  • Toothbrush
  • Penetrating gun oil
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place the revolver on its left side on a clean, stable work surface. Use the screwdriver to remove the small screws at the front and rear of the ejector housing, which is located on the lower right side of the barrel.

    • 2

      Slide the ejector housing slightly upward. Place one of your fingers over the back end of the ejector housing to keep the small bushing at the end from flying out. Pull the housing free from the barrel.

    • 3

      Slowly move your finger away from the end of the ejector housing. Pull the ejector bushing, ejector spring and ejector rod out of the housing. Examine the spring and rod. If either is damaged or bent, they need to be replaced. Otherwise, a thorough cleaning of the ejector parts and housing should solve the problem.

    • 4

      Unscrew the ejector rod stop from the end of the housing. Clean the interior of the ejector housing with a bore cleaner solvent and cleaning patches to remove powder residue. Push the patches through the ejector housing with a cleaning rod, the same way you would clean the barrel. Use an old toothbrush to scrub the ejector spring and ejector rod with bore cleaner. Use fresh cleaning patches to wipe away the dissolved grit and grime.

    • 5

      Lubricate the housing, ejector spring and ejector rod with a penetrating gun oil. Run a dry cleaning patch through the housing to remove excess lubricant, then replace the ejector rod stop by screwing it back in.

    • 6

      Slide the ejector spring over the ejector rod, then push the assembly back into the ejector housing. Push the ejector bushing over the end of the ejector rod and back into the housing. Make sure the holes in the bushing line up with the screw holes in the ejector housing.

    • 7

      Attach the ejector housing to the barrel by screwing in the front and back ejector housing screws.