Problems with the H&R 20 ga ultra slugger

[QuintonZ29]

Bought this gun a couple of years ago..Liked how it shot but on one occasion it did not go off while I was sighting it in...I just thought, "that was strange"....I was shotting lighfields at that time....I switched over to Hornany's sst and sighted it in....hunting situation pulled the trigger,"CLICK!!" didnt go off and cost me a deer. I thought must be a problem with the primer so when I got home I shot it and all was well...Took it out another time before the next season and shot it....while practicing it went "CLICK" and would not shoot this one shell. would make an indent on it but wouldnt go off....tried it again and found another shell that it wouldnt shoot on fist time...I made the switch back to lightfields and the gun didnt misfire during practice...again , later during a hunting situation and the gun went "CLICK" and cost me another deer! ok I call H&R and they were very nice telling me to send it back and they will fix it...$18.00 shipping and the gun went to them. I got the gun back in a week and was happy with their customer service. moment of truth....sighting the gun in and it goes "CLICK" again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WTF!!!!!!! call H&R and they said send it back in.....I do and I get the gun 3 weeks later...Ok first shot goes bang and second shot goes, you got it..."CLICK!!!!!!!".....WTF!!!!!! they tell me they replaced every moving part on the gun but it still wont shoot!!!!!!!!!!! I will be on the phone with them on monday morning to find out what their remedey is!!!!!!!! I have zero confidence in this gun and dont think I will ever...I also had a friend have the same problem and he got rid of it...Has anyone had a similar problem? I will post what they suggest...Its just so frustrating.....

[Esetterman]

Not familiar with that model but it could be a worn firing pin I've had it happen on a rifle before never knew when the gun was gonna shoot.check around and take it to a local gunsmith sometimes they are better

[QuintonZ29]

Would make sense but in the repair order I got back both times it says they replaced it, twice! Thanks for the reply..On phone now waiting for an answer....

[QuintonZ29]

Again I will say customer service has been great.....Sending the gun back with a letter stating I want a different gun...I was told that they replaced every moving part on this gun twice and if it still dont work they should replace it with a new one...Just not too sure how thats gonna work with NJ's strict gun laws....We'll see how it works out.

[BLACKCLOUD]

I am assuming you have the single shot model. What it sounds like to me is the spring for the hammer maybe streched a little and it doesn't have enough tension to it. just my thought

[R & R]

Shell could be sitting to far forward because of the barrel cut.

[rishowl54]

another post with misfire trouble in an H&R :confused:

[QuintonZ29]

I would have to think that it does have to do with the cut in the barrell and the shell may be sitting too far forward. I say this because they replaced every moving part in the gun 2 times.....I'm done with this gun...

[hunt4life]

..That IS frustrating!...i have the H&R 20 ga. ultra slug hunter now for 4 yrs with no problems!...i also shoot lightfields out of it! I dont blame you for being done with it.

[H&R slugger]

i only had 2 misfires with my 12. both were the hornady sst. the 20 or so lightfields i shot had zero misfires.

[QuintonZ29]

Hey H&R Thats what I am hearing from people...they only have a couple of misfires...But when it costs you a deer its frustrating..Their should be NO misfires!!!!!!! My gun would shoot just fine at the range(30-40 rounds)and then it would misfire once in a while. I've put 100's of rounds through it just to try and get it to work and it only got worse...My advice is this, if it misfired once chances are it will do it again....I dont want to be in the tree with that gun and hoping that it will go off when I pull the trigger...I put too much time and money into this sport for that game of chance....Whats funny is that when you speak to anyone at H&R they tell you that they havent heard of this problem before when I know for a fact that freinds sent the gun in for the misfire problems....I just want a gun that works!!!!!!!!!

[H&R slugger]

yea its only with the hornadys. kinda sux cuzz thats what i shoot. take a look at the primer on a hornady sst. look how deep that primer is set. i have a feeling the problem is in that "transfer bar" system they use. the hammer hits a bar which then transfers that energy to the firing pin. the hammer doesnt directly strike the firing pin, iam willing to bet, thats where it (misfires) comes from. iam wondering if theres a way to get a firing pin made that has a few thousands more travel into the primer

[Pagrizz]

QuintonZ29
If you have not heard anything from H&R by Jan 18th let me know because I will be meeting with them on the 19th.

[chad w]

i bought my son a 20 ga. the pin is hitting primer but wont go off 2 3 4 5 times put in my 20 dbl they go off i'm also stuck and not sure what gonna do possible a gunsmith but don't wanna pay for repair if gonna cost more than gun when H&R should be responsible for their product

[QuintonZ29]

Just got off the phone with H&R...They are looking at the gun now and are unsure yet what they are going to do for me.....I am leaning for my my money back and this is why... A friend had the same problem, traded the gun in for a new one after he had the repair done to it...So now with his new identical gun he had no problems sighting it in....But....CLICK!!!!!!! would not fire again one night on a doe......He was using Hornaday slugs at that time..He took it to the range and switched slugs again and hasnt had a problem..yet....But!!!!!! Ive been there also before.....the problem keeps coming back in time......I dont wanna chance it....

[QuintonZ29]

OK sounds like the company is scrapping my gun and sending a new one out...Not sure how that works here in NJ but we'll see..I can say one thing though, I will not be sighting in with Hornaday slugs to start off with even though I have 10 boxes left.......I dont even wanna go there again....Anyone have a recomondation on a comparable slug?

[nanuke22]

Remington premier copper solid, the key is to clean barrel after every 5 shots with a choke cleaner (it gets the plastic build up in the barrel out), I have a 20 ga H&R with a custom trigger job on it and it is a tack driver out to 150 yards, good luck with yours.:thup:

[H&R slugger]

has anyone had the misfires with other slugs ??? ive only had them with the hornadys'

[Pagrizz]

Have you tried the Federal Barnes X bullet?They are very accurate out of my both of my guns.

[QuintonZ29]

I had the same misfire with lightfields as well...not as many but it happened...I'll give a couple brands a try to see what fly's out of it...

[QuintonZ29]

Just an update....Its been a couple weeks and I still have no gun and I have no idea whats going on...No contact with anyone so I dont know what the deal is.....:huh:

Pagrizz how did your meeting go on the 19th? Did they discuss the problem with the light firing pin?

[H&R slugger]

Just an update....Its been a couple weeks and I still have no gun and I have no idea whats going on...No contact with anyone so I dont know what the deal is.....:huh:

Pagrizz how did your meeting go on the 19th? Did they discuss the problem with the light firing pin?


wow, ive always heard there CS was really good :huh:

[QuintonZ29]

The customer service was great...But now when I call they tell me its up to the company now, its in thier hands....So I have no answer and no idea when I am getting the new gun...Not that its a rush now because the season is over but dont see a reason for the hold up.....From what I understand, the gun goes to Remmington to be repaired...Once they say its a broken gun now its up to H&R to take the next step, money or new gun....:huh:

[H&R slugger]

......remmington ?? :huh:

[Pagrizz]

Remington now ownes H&R and Marlin.I was talking to some guys at H&R last week and not one of them would admit to any problems with their guns.So I went to the Remington booth and did not admit to know anything either.I did that for four days hoping to run into someone that knew something.No luck.I guess it's going to take someone getting hurt before they admit they have a problem.

[QuintonZ29]

Not admitting to a problem kinda says something about the company....Why not just fix it? Weird....

[ONESHOT]

I had a similar problem with a 3200 Rem on the trap range with Rem Gun Club Tgt loads, A friend shooting a 15,000.00 Kreigoff had the same ! Hard STEEL primers were the culprit, I shoot them in a browning Synergy without problems, was told by the Kreigoff owner that Kreigoff told him not to shoot them in the gun, they had similar complaints. Rem has since loaded with a differant primer.
I have 14 cases and will use them up in the Synergy.
I have expended about 25000 rds in the last 10 yrs, mostly reloads with win 209 primers and not a single misfire ! Go figure

[QuintonZ29]

Ok its March 12 and still no gun!!!!!!!!!:huh: I called customer service a couple times and they advised me that my gun was being made..My last conversation with them was not a good one....They had no answers where my gun was but it is noted that I am getting a new one.....Yeah ok so where is it!!!!!!!! No answers.....The customer service as far as getting it shipped and supposedly fixed was great but that was dealing with remington because they do the repair work....Dealing with H&R is the worst!!!!!!!! I will bad mouth this gun to everyone I speak with from here on out!!!!!!!!! Months without a gun or answers is not good business....So if your gun misfires now and you think you are getting it fixed, good luck......:thdown::thdown:

[hunt4life]

..Wow....so sorry Quinton!...make sure you document each phone call. Wish you the best of luck in getting a new one soon. I wonder how many others had the same problem with the misfires?...i know of a couple in these posts...how many have you heard of?

[H&R slugger]

Ok its March 12 and still no gun!!!!!!!!!:huh: I called customer service a couple times and they advised me that my gun was being made..My last conversation with them was not a good one....They had no answers where my gun was but it is noted that I am getting a new one.....Yeah ok so where is it!!!!!!!! No answers.....The customer service as far as getting it shipped and supposedly fixed was great but that was dealing with remington because they do the repair work....Dealing with H&R is the worst!!!!!!!! I will bad mouth this gun to everyone I speak with from here on out!!!!!!!!! Months without a gun or answers is not good business....So if your gun misfires now and you think you are getting it fixed, good luck......:thdown::thdown:


wow iam suprised, in this economy with so much competition out there i would figure to keep the customers extremely happy. go figure :huh:. good luck bro, and dont let them off the hook :thup:

[QuintonZ29]

Now its March 22 and still nothing....Not even a phone call....I am beginning to feel that I am not ever going to be compensated for this....
Hunt4life, I have a good friend who owned 2 H&R ultra sluggers 20 ga. and both misfired on deer and the range......My cousin worked in a gun shop and told me of several people coming in wanting to return that gun for the same problem....So its out there....

[Tenpointrack]

I have friend that shoot the 20 guage slugger and has had the same issues... I also have a friend who works at a gun shop and he has complaints come in often...it is clearly a flaw in the gun...I have the 12 guage as does my dad, and his friend, and never once had an issue and we have shot a ton at the range and have killed several deer with them.

[QuintonZ29]

I'd like to give the 12 guage a try but i'm not happy with the way the company is handling this...And god forbid I had a problem with a new gun....Looks like i'm going with a slug barrel for my Browning gold...

[QuintonZ29]

Today its 5-11-2010 and UPS just delivered my new gun...Its about time...I called the company a couple weeks ago and got the same run around not knowing where my new gun is and the excuse of,"oh its being built now"....But non the less its here...now if it works is another story!!! For Sale...Brand new H&R 20 guage Ultra slugger...never been fired....haha

[H&R slugger]

dude this whole ordeal is unbelievable. and to think i was gonna ship mine to have a ruger 204 barrel made.............NOT NOW . i hope it shoots this time around for ya

[hunt4life]

"Whats funny is that when you speak to anyone at H&R they tell you that they havent heard of this problem before when I know for a fact that freinds sent the gun in for the misfire problems."

Poor..poor customer service!...i would of printed out all of our posts on this and mailed to them!

[QuintonZ29]

I'm seriously thinking about just going and trading it in...Playing with it I see that I have to slam it home to get it to lock up!!!!!!!!!!!! and a piece of plastic between the barrell and reciever is oversized, hanging over on both sides...I am not happy!!!!!!!!!WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!! junk:thdown:

[bassinblank]

i hope i do not have these problems i just bought the 20 gauage h&r with the 3 1\2 hastings barrell waiting to get a scope for it

[QuintonZ29]

I hope you dont as well...I am just so aggrivated with this whole process,time it took and the end result....I'm sure 99% of these guns are fine but I just happen to get ahold of a bad one...Just venting...I did get a new gun though..I guess I will be happy if I take it out and knock bullseyes out at 100 yards...We shall see...

[bassinblank]

hey gordo you goin to sea isle this year or are ya gonna fish else where

[QuintonZ29]

Not sure yet....I just hate that crowd in the backwaters on the weekend...And I know I can do better in the D bay...weather permitting...email me your number if you wanna take a trip ...I ussually have room...:thup:

[bassinblank]

i am gonna go on tuesday to ludlams but if the weather is nice i may do the dbay

[mattstang]

any updates on the new gun?

[freedom]

same here any thing? looking into a 20, cause the 12 kicks to say it nicely, looking at the thumd hole stock, but don't like hear about the misfires,and cs bs,400 bucks may not be a lot to some but it take me a long time to save that kind of loot, so when i spend it i want a bang for my buck!;) pi

[mattstang]

i just switched from the 12 to the thumbhole 20 and wit the lightfields its a tack driver out to 140 yards and im shure alittle farther but the range was only 140 so thats all i tryed the gun is def flawless [so far] i did try the hornady sst and the flew all over the place at 100 yard so i will stick with the lightfields

[freedom]

so far the dealer i deal with can't find one,by next week anyway. i have to ask how is the kick? compare to the 12 i'm not happy shootin the 12, are you shooting 3" or 2 3/4?

[mattstang]

there is a noticable differance on the kick [but it still kicks] and i am shooting 2 3/4 lightfields did u try butches gun world in vineland im not shure what area your in but when i got mine he had a few

[OldBastard]

I own a 12 Ga. H&R Ultra Slug gun and I have never had a single problem with it. The 3" Federal Hydra Shok slugs my gun seems to prefer kick like hell but I put a LimbSaver recoil pad on my gun and the felt recoil is now pretty managable. I hunt NJ, Del, and Maryland every year with three buddies who all shoot 12 Ga. H&R Ultra Slug guns. Last season the 4 of us accounted for 13 deer. No misfires, no problems, no misses, and freezers full of venison. We hunt a farm in Maryland where I have a treestand placed in the corner of a good sized field where farther shots are possible. I use a rangefinder when hunting that field and this year I took a small 8 point at a ranged 154 yds. That buck dropped right where it stood. No trailing required. My Ultra Slug is the most accurate slug gun I've ever seen. I can shoot cloverleafs at 100 yds. from a sandbagged benchrest all day long.

I also know a number of individuals who have had problems with the 20 Ga. Ultra Slug guns. It appears that H&R has hired an idiot or an I-dont-give-a-shit worker (probably an Obama voter) and placed them in the 20 Ga. line.

My advice is go with the 12 Ga., put a LimbSaver recoil pad on the gun, shoot every type and length sabot you can lay your hands on to see which your particular Ultra Slug prefers (all 4 of our Ultra Slug guns prefer different sabot slugs) and shoot the favorite sabot at different ranges to see exactly how it hits. By the way, none of us would trade our 12 Ga. Ultra Slug guns for anything but none of us would buy a 20 Ga. H&R Ultra Slug either. H&R shot themselves in the foot with that one!

[freedom]

thank you, for all the info