doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Classic & Custom Single Barreled Sporting Rifles @ doublegunshop.com .32 Rimfire Ammo for H&A Junior 932?

The 'Junior' trade name on the rifles was the Model designation of the 900 series before 1898 when they were still with Merwin & Hulbert. After M&H was out of the business and H&A was on it's own the 900 series continued with a few changes (longer front of the frame w/takedown screw underneath instead of on the side being the main difference). The rifles continued to be listed in catalogs as 'New Model Junior Rifle' & 'Junior Model Schuetzen' etc. I've read that the name 'Junior was not placed on the rifle after the company reorganization but your's and others I've seen plainly have the marking on the barrel.
>
The Catalog prints show a rear site on the 900 series that looks very much like the one on your rifle. An elevatation adj site fitted into a dovetail. Yours could be a bit newer than the rifle, hard to tell in the photo. The lesser models 800 and 700 series had a simple block w/notch rear site.
>
The Lyman Tang Sight is the rear action tang mounted target site used on the Junior Scheutzen model 3922/3932. Here's a pic of a Marbles brand Tang site, this one fits a Savage 99 rifle, but you get the idea. Just a different base to fit your rifle.
>
The H&A uses the same site # as used on the Marlin L/A 22 IIRC.
>

>
....and as a very rare option on these rifles,,a double set trigger could be ordered. It was a close coupled set trigger much like the Winchester design. I've seen one H&A rifle with them installed on it.

Now that I think about it I think the roller was on the trigger and not the hammer.

There is a roller on the front of the lever inside that bears against a short heavy V spring going over center as it is operated. It keeps the lever up tight to the action when closed and gives a bit of ejection power to the works when the action is opened.
Some rifles were made with a link (link connects the lever to the breech block) that allows conversion from RF to CF. Open the rifle and look at the link bar where it connects to the lever. Usually a screw, sometimes a pin, holds it in place crosswise. If the link as 2 holes in it, it's for conversion (you'll probably have to remove the link to see the second hole if it's in RF mode already). Take the pin or screw out and move the link to the other hole. The top hole for rimfire, bottom for CF. All it does is raise the block (w/ fireingpin) up a little to strike the CF cartridge primer. Usually seen on only the early H&R rifles but it's worth looking for anyway!. If it does shoot CF, it would be for 32Colt Short and Long (NOT 32 S&W Short & Long).
Also simple to see that the conversion could be done on an existing rifle if you really wanted to get into that.

I took it apart again (very easy) to check for the extra center-fire hole in the lever to breech block link. No dice on either end so I guess mine is a bonafide rimfire. I can see where it would be fairly simple to fabricate a slightly longer link to convert to centerfire. There even appears to be adequate clearance within the block for a longer link with the extra hole to function even in the RF position. I won't be messing with it, and will continue looking for some rimfire ammo, at least for now.



Thanks! I appreciate the education from all your replies... I have learned more about the gun in the last few hours than I have in previous 28 years.

Bryan

Sven,

As has already been stated, the Navy Arms ammo leaves a lot to be desired. If you find it, it will be expensive. I purchased some a while back. Very unreliable. Constant misfires and the accuracy was non-existent.

If you collect early rimfires, the Grant books are worth getting.

You stated you have a Meriden sxs. Can you be kind enough to provide the serial number? Is it hammerless? Is there any engraving? I have been tracking these for a while now.

http://damascus-barrels.com/Aubrey.html

Just found a partial Aubrey family album. Some nice early pictures of the family. Also found documentation about the deal between Sears and Meriden to bring the factory there and AJ Aubrey's role in that decision.

Thanks,

Pete

Here you go. From the Sears 1908 catalog.
Also Grant speaks about this gun in "Boys' Single Shot Rifles".



Pete

Thank you Pete! That's it exactly. I guess my Great Uncle Len shopped for his guns from the Sears catalog while on the farm in Osseo, MN. Apparently his Meriden came from there as well.

You already have the serial number recorded (15208). It's a plain jane hammer 12, 30" twist. I see you have captured an old posted picture on your Meriden site (image 21 of 27) of the gun... here is a better photo (I have been trying to improve my camera work with suggestions from here). If you want a higher resolution file or different angles let me know.



Bryan

Sven,
If memory serves me (rarely does!) H&A used the same tang sight spacing as Marlin, Colt pumps, and some Savges, of 1.125" center to center. If so, then you could probably keep an eye on Fleabay for a Marbles or Lyman tang sight for a Marlin and to use on your H&A.

Hey Vall that is a great idea! I will keep an eye out while watching for ammunition. I don't know how necessary the tang sight would be but it would be fun... I suspect this gun has had thousands of rounds through it. Visually the bore looks OK but we will see.

The only story I remember him relating was that it was the go-to-gun when they had to dispatch a hog prior to butchering.

Bryan

Sven,

Thanks. I often find myself asking the same people over again. Sorry. There just are not that many of those guns floating around.

Your H&A is fine example by the way. I have a small group of rimfires that I have picked up. Nothing fancy. It is amazing how hard it is fine them in decent condition. I do wish the 32rf ammunition were available at a decent price. There was a gentleman with a case or two on GB about a year ago. Not sure what became of him.

Sounds like Uncle Len spent many a cold night paging through that catalog.

Pete