H&R Pardner Pump Protector Shotgun Review: Reader's Comments



To see my full review of the H&R Pardner Pump Protector Shotgun, please visit the Gunsumer Reports website by going to this link.

26 comments:

  1. Thank you... this is the most comprehensive review anywhere, and much appreciated. This shotgun is a hidden gem.

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  2. Thank you very much for doing this. I'll echo AJ's comments- the PP is a hidden gem. I have the longer barreled version with the removable chokes. Very happy with my purchase.

    One thing I wish I could find out is what parts can be swapped with the 870? I know that the barrels cannot be switched, at least without an adapter. But what about the bolt, trigger group, shell lifter, ect?

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  3. Excllent detailed review !!! I have the same Pardner Pump Protector with the 18-inch barrel. I was able to purchase mine on Black Friday 2012 at Dick's Sporting Goods for $159 !!! Excellent for the price. For a *inexpensive* home defender shotgun you can not beat the Pardner Pump Protector !!! In my opinion it is better than the Maverick 88, because it is built like a tank, and which you can get for about the same price.

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  4. I just picked this shotgun up on a whim last Saturday. I was about to buy a 28" shurshot 870 off of armslist, but that would require a 4 hour round trip to pick it up for $275, not including tax.

    Anyway I called Dick's and another local gun store to see what Remington 870s they had in stock. Dick's said they had a few and then mentioned the Pardner. At first he compared it to the Maverick 88 which I did not want. I didnt understand that he was explaining to me that the Pardner was a clone of the 870. Anyway they only had one for $199. Hopped into the car and drove down. Handled it and bought it. I wanted it to put my Magpul Furniture on. I am interested to know more about the 922R as I intend to upgrade this with remington tactical barrel and chokes. along with a mag tube extension for competition. I briefly read the 922(r) and it seems to restrict using imported parts. So if I use American made parts then it should be ok right?

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  5. The key with 922(r) compliance is getting the number of critical imported parts down to 10 or less if you are going to have certain features. I have sent a letter to the ATF on this shotgun to ask them to formally identify the imported parts. From the list they provide, it will tell you what you need to swap with American made to make it legeal with certain features (i.e. extended magazine tube).

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  6. I have 2 of these. 1 for home defense with the 18.5" barrel and then another with. 28" barrel. The hd has a bunch of goodies on it with 1 thing left to do on it. The other just bought on sunday so nothing new for it yet.

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  7. i have problems loading my 3" shells they go in but i have noticed scratches on the shells and then when i pump it to load the gun they wont slide into position and i dont really want to send the gun back to china to fix.

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    1. You wouldn't need to send it back to China to fix it. H&R will service it in the US.

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  8. I really enjoyed your write-up and thought that I might add some information to it. The scope mount that fits the 3 hole pattern is the Weaver #48113. You will need a little bit longer screws which are 8-40.

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  9. I found myself with some Dicks gift certificates and when I went to the store they had a very good sale going on this gun. Overall, I agree it is built like a tank. The only real issues I have with it are that the friction fingers in the loading port are very stiff - making it difficult to load - and the sling mount on the front was poorly riveted and pulled out (easy to fix). If you remove the plug and the friction stop from the magazine you can get 6 rounds of 2 3/4" ammo in it, which is nice. It has had a few hundred rounds run through it with no complaints. For the money it would be hard to beat.

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  10. Could not the bowed barrel have been rectified by H&R under the gun's 2-year warranty?

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  11. I had two problems with my new gun:
    a. When I tried to field-strip the gun for an initial cleaning and lubrication I found that the trigger housing group would not pull free of the receiver (yup, pins were out). It was in solidly and no amount of pulling would budge it.
    b. The barrel had a slight bow to the left, as elsewhere noted.
    I called H&R customer service and for the trigger housing group problem they immediately began to set up service at the closest authorized Remington repair station. But when I mentioned the bowed barrel they said to return it to the factory at Ilion, NY. They emailed the service request to me for my corrections or additions if necessary, and a pre-paid UPS label. No hassles; just a quick action for a resolution. Film-at-Eleven.

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    1. Updated thought while waiting for my gun (above) to be serviced:
      I have read some comments that the H&Rs are finally assembled in the U.S. Not quite, but not totally Chinese-assembled either. A careful reading of the Owner's Manual reveals: "•WARNING: Except for installation of the barrel, your gun was shipped fully assembled. It should not be used or disassembled without reading and understanding the instructions in this manual."
      That argues that the barrels are U.S.-made, proofed, and installed, and why, as far as I can determine, the similar IAC Hawk 982 does not have the proof marks that the H&R has (my barrel bears the Remington "REP" proof mark in two places, as well as the standard Remington date stamp). It also explains why when I reported the barrel problem, H&R asked that the gun be returned to the factory vs sending it to the closest authorized repair station.
      Still waiting for the gun's return.

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    2. No dramatic film. The gun was received at Ilion and logged-in Sat. 08 JUN, and assigned to a repairman Mon. 10 JUN. Work, including installing a new "REP"-proofed barrel ,was completed by the end of Thu. 13 JUN. The significant thing is not so much the gun's two teething problems, but the fast, no-hassle factory service. I doubt if one would get that with out of IAC for a Hawk 98x.

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  12. I purchased one of these at Walmart for $179 and I'm very, very happy with it. The barrel on mine was perfectly straight and true, so my range results were phenomenal. As far as feeding, ejecting and firing, the gun performed flawlessly. This seems to be a well built shotgun for home defense and I would recommend it highly to anyone looking for a good shotgun at a budget price.

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  13. this review was very thorough! i have rarely (never) seen a firearm review which took into consideration such seemingly inconsequential things like CG, or advertised wieght vs. actual. i shall be purchasing one of these guns as soon as i can scrape some extra cash from the bottom of my barrel!

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  14. Umm... i was going to read your review.... i opened tabs in preparation, my anticipation - dashed... a bent barrel, so sad; sadder still - a desperate lack! Knowledge, may hap wisdom? Cant read the review... I would hope anyone "reviewing" a firearm (or anything) be familiar with the subject field... e.x.. you loosen the mag cap (for any reason), you loosen the secure device of the Barrel...You should familiarize your self with any firearm you intend to function. I do own one of these, and i would have to guess the vast majority of pumps and autoloaders, certainly in my low budget. ;) Manually alignment is a mix of what should look right and feel right.. but you have to do it every time you loose the endcap. Mine was the last at a show, i checked it over (i thought) put it down, walked the show a couple times, anticipation growing... undashed! or maybe non-dashed.. rugged as all get out, but watch your finish ;) As i could see, it was good, my sight, you see; they had not. Yet naught be the the better, yet not the same, fore, my sight post was too long! ...and they had test fired it... i can feel safe in making assume' ,the plastic wadcup had hit and then turned up and tumbled the last inch or so... barrel, thankfully, undamaged... cant believe that slipped by all, but a cheap light tube dot replaced that and gives better reference to the receiver -point of impact- is huge in this, weather the barrel, is bent or if you simply use a round bead and/or don't cheek the same each time, and really None can each and every time. ;) the NEF/H&R pardner pump seems a good deal good so far... it seems to cycle best with quicker action-cycle: cus the ejection mechanic is a > spring (more or less ;) again, but i digress less i review both the gun and the front page again.. sorry, i really was looking forward to reading that, of yours. the gun is great. please google something about how the fire arm works before you attempt to work it, and find it working you. Im gunna read the comments now, so any thing beyond this is more of a

    "P.S. In Care Of ______"

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    1. Wow! How can you possibly have the gall to criticize him for his incredibly detailed, thoughtful and comprehensive review? Your diction, grammar and writing style are so incredibly horrific that I had to give up even TRYING to read it halfway through. It's like the ramblings of some wacky child. There is not ONE single, well-formed sentence there at all. It's just a nasty stream of run-on words; one can't even rightfully call them sentences. Learn how to WRITE for pete's sake - if you wish your thoughts to be remotely considered as valid, or to hold merit.

      It is one thing to be thought an idiot. Please don't confirm their suspicions by speaking or writing as such!

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  15. yeah so looks like the important thing that is hard to find got mentioned here

    Weaver #48113 for mounting optics. didn't check that fact, but again, googel

    ect will point you to places that know, or think they do, and should if they

    intend to sell it to you ;)

    same for accessories... all the forms say forum. ;) ok sorry. i'll stop.

    butt they do say just about everything Eight-Seventy fits if you make it a

    little or a lot.. ;) 870 barrels on pardner if you have a smith cut a reset

    the ring, dont have a 870 barrel to check that agaist... or the barrel lap...

    think they'd send me one to review from Rem? or better a 870 to compare?

    hmm... i would love to put an ATI folder on this, but at a 1/3 of the cost of

    the gun, i'll save for the next one, and if i forego on that one too thats 2/3s

    of that next gun, right? maybe it cost that much to mold and keep the lights

    on, but from what iv seen that looks to be a good product, and on the lower end

    of the $shootie$upgraddie$replacie$ dance i.e. ;)


    "enShort, better to have it and not need it than need it and have it not...

    field the scout - scout the field ...yet a gain i speak once more; please gain

    that rudiment: knowledge! well i was gunna say, 'fire arms (mech func' post-

    abbreviated... and sorry im not gunna do paragraphs like i should, be glad i

    spell checked... well fire fox did that .. going back), but just "mechanical

    function" should be good. yeah sorry... i guess you scare.. (p.e. baffle) me

    thought the computer....Sorry. that ones cus you, and im sorry i rated this

    long.... probly bout the amount of time i would have spent readin.... eh... my

    *humble? opinion.. should learn takedown before live fire, let not barrel

    bend, bent (on) learning cruve... ;)



    ppl please, learn things before things learn you. and here's how.. slow down,

    look, wait, (thats the schools jobs to teach basic scientifics.) theory ect.

    . basically some imagination "gets the wheels" turning... and like i said,

    forums.. and owners e-manuals can generally be G oogled apun and should

    generate ideas, key building block of knowledge. Now that i've ran my mouth,

    i assume, Fall comes again. ;)

    Enders_pride.

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  16. When I found this website I immediately wanted one of these but in 20 gauge. Well they don't make the protector model in 20 gauge, somewhat disappointing I bought the longer barrel with ribbed barrel and took it skeet shooting. I own a Mossberg 590 with Tactical Tri-Rail and speed feed stock... This cheap $179.99 Walmart special's action is just as smooth as the Mossberg's and other then the weight the gun is wonderful!

    So naturally so satisfied I waited patiently for months until Walmart got the 12 gauge protector in and bought that on the spot after checking if the barrel was straight. I love that one, action just like the longer 20 gauge 'youth' model I bought is butter smooth and even with that short barrel I was able to shook the trap skeet out of the sky with relative ease.

    Now I'm trying to get a Remington 870 Pistol grip to fit, but the receiver bolt is a very strange thread pattern and I have to take it to a gun smith to get the grip I bought to fit correctly :( The only down side to the H&R the Remington part didn't fit perfectly due to different thread pattern then the 870.

    Over all I still love the 590 as my favorite weapon ever, but these cheap H&R's are with out a doubt the best value on shotguns available.

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  17. I read you excellent review. I can attest that this shotgun is a tank and recoil with factory stock and 2 3/4 is minimal. I am 5'7" and 180 lbs and it felt smooth.
    My biggest concern is everyone continues to say Remington aftermarket parts fit except for barrels.
    I have also found that the magazine tube will NOT accept forends without modification as the diameter is slightly larger than the 870. The generalized comments by others and everyone that sells the shotguns has cost me a lot of time an experimentation. Not being a gunsmith or having the right tools at my disposal, I expect a part to fit without modification. Sure a little sanding to remove burrs, but not having to Dremel an edge to avoid rubbing or enlarging the interior dimension of a forends is not a match in my mind.
    I keep seeing YouTube's saying these things work and then I see for myself that they don't. Sliding a round tube into a round hole is a no brained.
    I do my homework based on info available, and find your reports to be the best in the market.
    Please double check your info on the magazine tube, mine measure 1.06 not 1".
    The tolerances on the forends are very limited and are naturally designed for the 870.
    I just don't know if people are trying parts or just passing on statements by retailers. H&R customer service is great but they laugh when you tell them everyone is telling me that this part or that part for and 870 is interchangeable.
    That is the only criticism that I have on you report.
    I actually sat in a booth at a gun show and tried several different forends and the owner learned a lesson that day.
    So far I have found that the scope saddle for an 870 does not fit. Until recently there was no top rail for optics but Weaver now has their 48113 that has the proper screws and hole spacing.

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  18. Walmart now carries the Protector in 20ga, &179.00

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  19. I purchased the H&R Pardner pump protector about 2 weeks ago. I had narrowed it down to the pardner or the maverick 88. I chose the pardner because it felt a lot more durable and is built like a tank. I couldn't be happier with my choice. No malfunctions at all so far. Everybody should buy one of these hidden gems before it is too late.

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  20. I bought mine three days ago at a club sporting goods store. I checked inventory with several stores, none carried the H&R Pardner in stock. So, I ordered one for review.
    Upon arriving home, I checked the barrel aliment. Just fine. However, when I loaded the gun with one brand of 00 buck, the rounds would not come out of the tube and into battery. I was eventually able to remove them, and this time loaded with Remington 00 buckshot shells. These had slightly higher brass cases, and chambered 9 times out of 10 shells. I repeated this with three boxes of Remington shells and eventually they all cycled perfectly. Time did not permit continued research with the original US brand, or the four other US and Euro brands that I have in my ammo locker. I will continue to examine this issue to make sure I know what is causing this problem.

    I am concerned with this initial failure to chamber since I bought this weapon for a camping trip that will take us from WA State to Alaska. This gun is legal for carry in Canada with proper permits while hiking in remote locations. However, I need it to be 100% functional if I am going to fully trust this gun in bear country. Again, I am not hunting bear, I just want a camp gun in the event I have to defend ourselves.

    Any suggestions about what I might want to do about loading issues before calling the H & R service center?

    Thank you in advance.

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  21. Mine had problems with removing the trigger assembly for field stripping couldn't get it out at first and when I finally did it wouldnt go back. Further inspection I seen one of the stake bars in the side of the receiver had an edge to it which was stopping the trigger from sliding in I started to file the bar then decided I didn't want to potentially damage the staking. So I filed some edge off of the side of the trigger housing for the clearance needed. The gun is back together and passes function checks per the manual. Now I'm just trying to decide should I see if h&r would take a look or not take the trigger out and just clean it with rem cleaner and oil through ejection port as I can still remove and reassemble the bolt and forearm with the trigger assembly in place. Otherwise I am happy with the shotgun other than this somewhat minor inconvenience.

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