"New" H&R

[Matt3357]

Good news, my Dad picked up a used H&R 12 gauge topper model 58 for $75 bucks.  Not really interested in it as a smooth bore but he really wants to get away from muzzeloading and use a 20 gauge ultra slug like mine.  So now the search is on for a used barrel.  Worst case scenario, will H&R fit a barrel to a frame from 1977? 

Thanks,
Matt

[quickdtoo]

Nope, 1987 or later.

Tim

[Matt3357]

but a used USH will fit on the frame right?

Matt

[quickdtoo]

The only way to know is try, just like any other second hand barrel, it may or may not.

Tim

[Matt3357]

I realize that a barrel will have to be fit to the frame, that's not my question.  What I want to know is if there will be any major problem with fitting a USH 20 gauge to an old topper frame such as a major frame difference or the like that will keep it from being possible at all. 

Thanks,
Matt

[quickdtoo]

Can't tell ya that, the old H&R had many different models over the years, unless someone here has tried it and can answer specifically to that model, best advice is try it and let us know.  The only old gun I've worked with was a 1972 Topper M158 30-30 barrel which wouldn't come close to fitting any of the 30 some modern frames I had at the time, the underlug was way too long to consider cutting the pivot to fit. 

Tim

[Matt3357]

Well, I should be able to tell pretty quick this weekend.  I have my USH at home that I can try to put on there.    I need to read the FAQ's on barrel fitting, but as Finals are this week I won't have time till this weekend.  I tried my USH on an old 410 frame we had and it looked like it was going to lock up real well, but it just wouldn't latch, as I understand it all that it needed was some filing on the underlug and then maybe some shelf work (no need to set me straight, I will read the FAQ's when I get some spare time) but as far as I could tell it would have just required a little bit of work to get it too fit.  So I guess my question is how much is too much?

Thanks,
Matt