refinishing a H&R Topper 158

Kevinkris · Apr 3, 2014

so i just picked up a second hand topper and i want to get inside to clean out all the old use. the shotgun itself is in great shape and works well but i want to make it better. my plan is to pull it apart piece by piece to refinish it properly but i cant seem to find anything but a diagram and we all know, thats just not enough. now i could just take it to a gunsmith for this and have it done minus the headache but for the same price i can buy all the tools i need to do it myself and then have the tools to do it again with other guns. does anyone know where i can find a bit more detail to disassemble and reassemble?

i promise gun porn in exchange for info

Spitpatch · Apr 4, 2014

Just checked my library and came up empty-handed for complete disassembly instructions. I will assume you hold the exploded drawing from Numrich. When you search, do not hesitate to include NEF in that search: the guns are mechanically identical.

HOWEVER: I do NOT believe complete disassembly is either needed, advised or warranted. These are pretty darned bullet-proof guns, and there is really no reason or need to gain access to every surface of every single part in its interior to complete a thorough restoration (unless of course, the gun is a saltwater-bath or trunk-of-a-car-for-years rustbucket). All grime can be removed from every interior metal crevice with Brake Cleaner flooding it under pressure from the aerosol can. I'd be a bit careful about allowing this chemical to linger on H&R's beautiful color-case receiver exterior.

You are beginning to restore respect to one of the most durable, useful, and rugged firearms ever invented. These "working-man's guns" do not get a smidgin of the respect they deserve.....Except from some people:

My neighbor is a young man (20's) who asked me at one point. "How does a guy get into collecting guns?"

I replied, "Well you buy the best you can afford when you can afford it." Over the course of eight months now, he is the proud owner of no less than THREE H&R Toppers, all bought used, all bought cheap, and all nearly mint condition. He has a 12, a 20, and a .410. A focused young man: not far from becoming the President of that Collector's Society, if ever one were formed.

Kevinkris · Apr 4, 2014

yea, we had a NEF version in the house when i was much younger. great long guns, mine is in 20ga. i dont think it would need to be disassembled completely if i were just dumping the oil and grime from the inside but most surfaces show a bit of rust, including the nice looking finish on the receiver. unfortunately i think im going to have to remove it in order to bring the luster back. i had been thinking of getting a duracoat or ceracoat finish on it but i cant shake the feeling i should put it back together looking as it was intended. with that said, im going to look hard for someone who can match that finish and maybe even extend that look to the barrel as well.

oh, and i did find a video of someone demonstrating assembly with a handi-rifle, close but still not exact.

ive also been looking for someone to cast some brass parts to replace the plastic trigger guard and the plastic piece on the fore end. im not sure if it will hold reliability with brass holding pins and springs in the trigger guard though; anyone know? ive also been looking for an 1/8" think piece of brass stock i can carve a new butt plate out of. the one thats on it has a plastic plate with a rubber pad (looks like the original). it works great but its just plain ugly and matching the conceptualized trigger guard and fore end piece would make it beautiful. kinda hard to find a place near me for that but im pretty sure there is a place in portland, where i can have it done.

Kevinkris · Apr 4, 2014

you make me want to take some pics to show my progress now lol. i just got off work a couple hours ago and managed to get it completely broken down and cleaned with some carb cleaner. i can really see all of the rust spots now but i can tell its nothing damaging to the gun. just kinda looks bad. because of the spring pressure in the barrel parts, im going to leave that to a professional but everything else is in parts and i feel confident i can get it all back together.