H&R Pardner Pump Protector Shotgun Review: Part 5

H&R Pardner Pump Protector Shotgun Review
Part 5 - Internal Features
December 23, 2012

So far I have covered the external & operational features and disassembly of the H&R Pardner Pump Protector Shotgun. This part of the review focuses on the features that I would consider to be internal in nature. Although I do not comment on all photos, I have also tried to provide many photos so that you can study them yourself and form your own opinions on what you see.

Receiver/Magazine Tube Assembly

The receiver and magazine tube are are shown as a single assembly and I believe are never intended to be disassembled.

Figure 1

The end of the magazine tube has dimples on each side to hold the magazine spring retainer in place. If you wanted to add a magazine tube extension, then you would need to drill out these dimples so that no material protrudes inside the tube. First make sure you are 922(r) compliant.

Figure 2

The top of the magazine tube has a block brazed in place to guide and support the action bars. Because of the block, I believe the magazine tube may be pressed and/or soldered in place inside the receiver.

Figure 3

On each side of the receiver are the right and left shell latches.

Figure 4

Looking through the ejection port, you can see the ejector spring.

Figure 5

The receiver is drilled and tapped for a scope mount. The holes in the top of the receiver are plugged with headless screws. These screws on this shotgun were not tight and I suggest either removing the screws or adding some thread locking compound to keep them from loosening up in the future.

Figure 6

Figure 7

These next several photos give you a good look at the inside of the receiver. Also owning an 870 shotgun, I noticed there is a clear difference in the machined surface roughness on the inside of the receiver for the Pardner versus the 870 shotgun. Considering the price differences between these two shotguns, you would expect the 870 to be superior in some areas.

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Magazine Follower

The magazine follower is made from some type of polymer material and comes in a highly visible orange color.

Figure 13

Figure 14 Figure 15 Figure 16

Magazine Spring

The magazine spring measured about 21.5" in length while uncompressed.

Figure 17

Magazine Plug

The magazine plug is made from some type of polymer material and measured about 8.5" in length. When the plug is installed in the magazine tube, the magazine tube is limited to only two 2.75" or 3" shells. With the plug removed, I was able to get 5 rounds of either size shells in the magazine tube. I did note that there wasn't much room remaining after inserting five 3" shells, but they all fit and the shotgun functioned properly.

Figure 18

Figure 19

Magazine Spring Retainer

The magazine spring retainer appears to be made from some type of glass filled nylon which is a much stronger and durable synthetic material. Since the retainer has anti-rotation ridges to prevent the magazine cap from rotating, extra durability is important. The ridges could/will wear over time.

Figure 20

Figure 21 Figure 22 Figure 23

Action Bar Assembly

Figure 24

Figure 25

Figure 26

Figure 27

The soldering job done on the action bars to the tube is not as pretty as that done on the 870, but the soldering does have the appearance that it is a strong joint.

Figure 28

Slide Assembly

Figure 29

Figure 30

Figure 32

Bolt Assembly

Figure 33

Figure 34

Figure 35

Figure 36

Figure 37

The back of the bolt has two dimples which is evidence that hardness tests were performed on the bolt.

Figure 38 Figure 39

Barrel Assembly

Figure 40

Figure 41

Figure 42

Figure 43

Figure 44 Figure 45

The photo below shows the barrel extension and gives you a good idea at how some of the internal surfaces of the shotgun have a rougher surface finish. I added a photo of my Remington 870 Express Tactical so you could compare the two.

Figure 46 - Pardner Pump Protector Barrel Extension

Remington 870 Express Tactical Barrel Extension

Trigger Plate Assembly

Like so much of this shotgun, the trigger plate assembly looks very close to that of an 870 shotgun.

Figure 47

Figure 48

Figure 49

Figure 50

Figure 51

Figure 52

Trigger Plate Pins

Figure 53

Receiver Stud

Figure 54 Figure 55 Figure 56

Stock Assembly

The stock assembly is a considerable deviation from that of the Remington 870 shotgun. The wall thickness of the stock and the use of metallic inserts are the key differences.

Figure 57

Figure 58

These next two photos show the interface area on the stock to the receiver.

Figure 59 Figure 60

This next photo shows the Pardner stock compared against the 870 stock.

Figure 61
Pardner 870

Although there were some very slight differences, I was able to install my 870 stock on the Pardner receiver which confirms that aftermarket 870 stocks should be able to work on the Pardner Pump series shotguns.

Figure 62

I was amazed at the weight difference between the Pardner stock and the 870 stock. The Pardner stock weighed in at 1.51 pounds and the 870 stock at 0.64 pounds. The Pardner stock adds nearly a pound of weight to the shotgun. If you are wanting to put your shotgun on a diet and still keep the standard style buttstock, consider getting a normal 870 stock. Chances are you could find one at a gun show or bargain with some of your buddies who replaced their 870 stocks with some other style stock.

Figure 63 Figure 64

Figure 65

Stock Bearing Plate

Figure 66 Figure 67

Stock Bolt & Washer

Figure 68

Recoil Pad

Figure 69

Figure 70

Figure 71

Figure 72

Figure 73

Recoil Pad Plugs

Figure 74

Sling Swivel Stud

Figure 75

Forearm

The forearm is made from some type of polymer material.

Figure 76

Figure 77

Figure 78

Figure 79

Figure 80

Figure 81 - Front Figure 82 - Rear

When removing the action bar assembly from the forearm, I noticed that the action bar tube had a snug fit inside the forearm. The photo below shows me installing my 870 forearm on the Pardner action bar tube. While trying to push the Pardner action bar tube inside the 870 forearm, it was evident that the Pardner tube was slightly larger than the 870 tube because the fit was much more snug than that of the 870 tube. I was able to get the Pardner tube started into the 870 forearm, but chickened out pushing it all the way inside the forearm. I feel that aftermarket 870 forearms will work on the Pardner Pump, but there is a chance you may need to lightly sand and lubricate the inside of the 870 aftermarket forearms so you don't have to force the action bar tube into forearm.

Figure 83

Next I put the 870 action bar tube in the Pardner forearm and it was a perfect fit.

Figure 84

Forearm Tube Nut

Figure 85

Figure 86 Figure 87 Figure 88

Magazine Cap

Figure 89

Figure 90 Figure 91 Figure 92

Thoughts

The Pardner Pump Protector shotgun is very similar in design to that of the Remington 870. Since both H&R and Remington are part of the Freedom Group, this similarity doesn't surprise me. It was clear that the internal surfaces on the Pardner were machined with greater cost reduction in mind when compared to the 870..

For more detailed photos and commentary, make sure you check out the other parts of this review and feel free to leave comments on my Reader's Comments page. The following links are provided to help you see other parts of this review.

H&R Pardner Pump Protector Shotgun Review: Part 1 - Introduction, Specifications and Summary
H&R Pardner Pump Protector Shotgun Review: Part 2 - What's in the Box
H&R Pardner Pump Protector Shotgun Review: Part 3 - External and Operational Features
H&R Pardner Pump Protector Shotgun Review: Part 4 - Disassembly
H&R Pardner Pump Protector Shotgun Review: Part 5 - Internal Features (this page)
H&R Pardner Pump Protector Shotgun Review: Part 6 - Range Test

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