Sportster .22 First Run

[Spawner]

I thought some of the folks looking at this site that don’t have any experience at all with the Sportster would appreciate hearing the impressions of a new owner. I’ve got 55 years or so experience with guns so it‘s just this rifle that‘s new to me, not shooting.

I ordered the .22 lr Sportster from WalMart on 4/30/10 and it was ready for me to pick up 5/6/10...good service. The order price was $144+/- and it was around $150 after tax…about the price of a tank and a half of gas in the PU 



I haven’t even seen many Sportsters/Handi’s so did a little close looking as soon as I got it home. The thing that caught my interest the most was the front sight…looks like something that would go on a weathervane…sucker is huge.

I broke it open and tried to bore sight but with the rear sight ramp maxed out it was still going to shoot low.  I ran some Hoppe’s #9 through it until it was kind of clean (they must test fire at the factory…the bore was really dirty) then ran some dry patches through and Gunslicked the outside. Rained for a couple days, of course, but finally made it out today.



The groups were shot with iron sights and CCI Blazer ammo at 20 yards. The first five rounds (ever fired) through the gun are at the very bottom and were shot with a fine bead taken on the CENTER bull’s-eye. The next group up was a coarser bead with the front sight plane across the top of the rear sight and the third group with the bottom of the notch about half way down the front sight.

The four random shots were from adjusting the windage  by drifting the rear sight to the side. The rear sight moves MUCH easier than any I’ve ever worked with before. A dainty tap that would have been just letting my old Winchester ‘94 know that I was going to start working on it sent the rear sight nearly out of  the slot. I’d guess this rear sight will get moved side to side by any small tap when hunting or in a pack.

The group to the right of the center bulls-eye was shot at the top, right, bull with a very coarse (half way down the front sight) after adjusting the windage.

I’m not sure what configuration this rifle will end up in yet so will wait until I figure that out to do any filing/remounting of sights.

I did run a few Remington CBee  shorts and a few Super Colibri’s through it and the loudest noise out of them was the click of the hammer…was really cool. Tried them in my little Ruger MKI 4” barrel pistol and they sounded nearly as loud as a standard .22 round does out of the rifle.

I’ll update once I figure out what to do with the sights and can get them adjusted to shoot some groups out further.

[Spanky]

Once you get the sights figured out you're gonna love it. My versa 22 is more fun than should be legal.
I just went and ordered a 22 mag sportster to go with it. Great little rifles and mine is a very good shooter with every kind of ammo I've put through it.



Spanky

[Spawner]

Thanks Spanky...I'm having fun with it already and got the biggest kick out of the little CBee shorts and Super Colibri's...hear just the hammer drop and the pop can does a somersault. I'm really curious to see how they work on grouse for head shots out to 30 yards or so.

From looking at the trajectory charts and doing a few runs with different zero distances it looks like the .22 mag should be within a fat half inch in trajectory out to 90 yards or so. I'll be really curious to see what kind of groups you get with it past 50 yards.

[Spanky]

+1 on the CB shorts. I shoot cans right off the back porch and the neighbors don't even know it. I think my pellet gun makes more noise. It'll be a couple weeks before I get the magnum but I'll post a report when I get to shoot it. I had a 22 mag a few years back and it was a nightmare for small game... it would turn a squirrel inside out if you didn't head shoot 'em. I'm hoping it'll shoot as well as my 22 versa. The really great thing about the versa is that is shoots everything well... I haven't found anything that it shoots poorly.



Spanky

[MSP Ret]

Measure the height of your front sight, the factory may have installed the wrong one, it has happened before (lots of times). If it is held on by a single screw you may be able to simply swap the tall front sight blade you have (perhaps one meant for a .22 Hornet, those are the tallest front sights that H&R made) for a shorter one with another member for a shorter front sight blade. If not, you could just file down the front sight you have or you could order a shorter "Firesight" style from Williams Gunsight and have a nice red front sight...Have fun and good luck, I am sure you will have as much fun and respect for that fine little gun as do the rest of us that have them....<><....

[Spawner]

Why didn't I think of that???  (Don't answer that!)

Either the shorter H&R or the Firesight would be good. I'd like to keep this tall one in case I decide to cut this barrel and want to mount a sight up higher using the scope base screws.

If I remember right there's info in the FAQ's on sights, including the Firesights, and I'll take a look at that and see if I can come up with a replacement front that will work.

Thanks for doin' my thinking for me MSP Ret...
 ~Spawner

[MSP Ret]

NPP (no problem pal), and another thing about the Super Colibris, a year or two ago I reduced the problem gray squirrel population in my back yard by over 250(+) of the pesky little varmints, with a couple of crows thrown in with those fine little rounds. Head shots within your own self imposed maximum distance and they work great. My nieghbors never knew a thing....<><....

[gcrank1]

Sounds like the basic Williams peep sight might work about right with that front blade.

[Spawner]

Sounds like the basic Williams peep sight might work about right with that front blade.

I expect you're just right about the peep working well with the front blade I've got now but I've got a short (around 16") barrel on the way that I'll want to mount open sights on and will probably put the rear one up high on the "hump" where the scope rail is. So I'll probably use the tall sight on the barrel that came with the rifle on the front of the short barrel if it looks like it will be tall enough.

I'll probably put a scope on the barrel that came with the rifle and put a shorter H&R front sight on it to use with the stock open sights (if I ever take the scope off).

I'll post a pic when (if) I get it all sorted out so maybe you can see what I was trying to say above.

 ~Spawner

[Similkameen Hunter]

.0002 cents

in a similar situation myself.

so my plan of action is to get good with the stock sights, then after that process, add an inexpensive red dot. if the red dot fails i can always go back to the stock sights and carry on hunting.

 

[30calflash]

 Just came across this thread. I had problems with elevation and removed the factory rear sight and installed one from a win 94 or marlin cf lever, can't remember which. Nice sight picture, hits where you aim and looks good on the rifle to boot!

[MSP Ret]

Great information on the rear sight 30calflash. Now if you can narrow down which rear sight you used it would be great and I would like to try one myself. Did the mounting holes line up correctly to mount the sight? Could you post a picture of the rear sight mounted?....<><....

[cwlongshot]

Just came across this thread. I had problems with elevation and removed the factory rear sight and installed one from a win 94 or marlin cf lever, can't remember which. Nice sight picture, hits where you aim and looks good on the rifle to boot!

Glad you figured it out!!

 I had one of these that just wouldn't group for nothing!!! Believe it or not, Its a great shooter now.. I put a LIMB-SAVER DE-RESONATOR on it!!  NO BS!!! Went form a 2" 25yard gun to a dime sized group at same distance!!!

Have fun with yours!!

CW

[1 farmer]

I had one of these and traded it for a 17HMR, wish I still had it. It was a great shooter. CW I would have never thought that would have worked on a 22lr. How much playing around with placement did it take to find the aweet spot?

[cwlongshot]

I had one of these and traded it for a 17HMR, wish I still had it. It was a great shooter. CW I would have never thought that would have worked on a 22lr. How much playing around with placement did it take to find the sweet spot?

It wasn't bad at all, shooting a 22 is fun anyhow so I had it done in one setting. I even moved it and moved it back. the groups opened up and then returned. It was pretty amazing to see.

IIRC Tim put it in the FAQ's too!! 

CW

[mechanic]

I've got a safe full of 22's, and my Versa barrel is the most accurate of them all.  Even more accurate than a heavy barrel bolt.

And you're correct, the cb shorts are sweet in this thing.  I was sitting in a lawn chair popping squirrils while my neighbor, 20' away was on her porch on the phone.  She never turned around to look......

Ben

[30calflash]

Great information on the rear sight 30calflash. Now if you can narrow down which rear sight you used it would be great and I would like to try one myself. Did the mounting holes line up correctly to mount the sight? Could you post a picture of the rear sight mounted?....<><....

 I'll dig it out asap as I'm in the middle of moving. I'll have to compare sights on a 94 and a 336 to really see which it is. It wasn't a bolt on, drove the rear out of the dovetail and drove the replacement in, IIRC.

[MSP Ret]

OK buddy, no rush, when you get moved and get to it will be fine. It seems your H&R barrel has a rear sight in a dovetail. I have a couple like that so this info will still be very helpful....Thanks....<><....

[30calflash]

 Checked it yesterday, still don't know what rifle it came from. It's about 2" long with a step elevator in the middle of the leaf. 2 small screws hold the sight blade thru the front of the leaf. It happens to be at the top of the adjustment because of the front sight height. I shoot it mostly at 25 yards or less so it's not a big deal but I'll probably whittle it down a little over the winter. If I can get pictures soon I'll post them.

[30calflash]

 Okay, here's a couple of the rear sight on the sporter. It may be a Marlin sight or it could be a Marbles. I received it from a friend that worked at Winchester. It isn't a buckhorn. It didn't require any permanent alterations to the rifle. I hope this helps.

[cwlongshot]

Okay, here's a couple of the rear sight on the sporter. It may be a Marlin sight or it could be a Marbles. I received it from a friend that worked at Winchester. It isn't a buckhorn. It didn't require any permanent alterations to the rifle. I hope this helps.

Its a factroy Winchester site. A Marlin rear would fold down. Dosen't really matter, I'm sure it works perfectly and about anything would fit thats made to fit a standard 3/8" dovetail.

CW

[30calflash]

Okay, here's a couple of the rear sight on the sporter. It may be a Marlin sight or it could be a Marbles. I received it from a friend that worked at Winchester. It isn't a buckhorn. It didn't require any permanent alterations to the rifle. I hope this helps.

Its a factroy Winchester site. A Marlin rear would fold down. Dosen't really matter, I'm sure it works perfectly and about anything would fit thats made to fit a standard 3/8" dovetail.

CW

Yes, it is a Winchester sight. I checked an m94 from the mid 70's and it looks the same. There are probably other options also.