Author Topic: Sportster 22 lr.- Mad Dog inspired (Read 850 times)

je265 · « **on:** March 26, 2013, 03:50:51 PM »

I've enjoyed reading about Mad Dog's success with his sportster on squirrels. I've hunted with a sportster 22 mag and .17 hmr but always overlooked the sportster in .22 lr as I have several other .22 rifles, ruger 10/22, winchester 94/22, cz 452 etc... I ordered one up and swapped the stock out with a monte carlo stock as I knew I was going to scope it. I mounted up a Nikon prostaff 4x rimfire scope I had laying around in Leupold rifleman rings and needed a break in the weather to wring her out. I finally made it to the range today with temps near 50 and no wind to speak of. I stuck to the 25 yard range and quickly discovered my rifle really liked CCI mini-mag ammo.

Once I got settled in I had several 5 shot groups I could cover with a dime. As an added benefit it took quite some time to go through the 50 rounds I shot- .22 ammo in non-existent around here. I don't go to the range simply to make noise and these rifles tend to make me concentrate more when shooting due to being a single shot. Although I'm not much of a squirrel hunter when I take a .22 out hunting I'll probably be bringing this one. I'm used to the platform as I used my .22 mag all winter for predators and ended up with two coyotes, 2 red fox and 1 grey fox. I'm going to try and attach a picture of the best group of the day but frankly they were all good once I dialed the scope in. No need to post a pic of the rifle as they all look the same. I've heard some people don't like the NY made guns and think they are somehow inferior but I can say I'm thrilled with mine.

Mad Dog · « **Reply #1 on:** March 27, 2013, 12:23:36 AM »

That's good shootin! Glad you like the rifle. I don't know why more people don't try a Sportster, it's one of the most fun .22s out there.

Mad Dog

gcrank1 · « **Reply #2 on:** March 27, 2013, 04:40:47 PM »

I have a Sportster barrel I got from a member here and put on my UV 22M as a swap barrel, the Mag scoped and the opens on the Sportster (so I'll never likely group as well as you did), but it makes hits on small targets pretty well. For some reason the plain & simple Sportster barrels just seem to be shooters.

YRUpunting? · « **Reply #3 on:** March 27, 2013, 05:09:11 PM »

That is some good shooting. I too enjoyed Mad Dog's hunting posts. For Christmas I asked for a new 22lr Sportster. Hope to shoot it next week. I picked up a youth straight set off ebay for it.

Note to Mad Dog: How about a post from when you sight in your Sportster preseason and then the running posts during the season?

Mad Dog · « **Reply #4 on:** March 28, 2013, 02:10:02 AM »

"Good Lord willin' and the creeks don't rise".......there will be a "squirrel hunting with the H&R Sportster", next year. Complete with pics. Hope more guys buy Sportsters and join in the fun!

Mad Dog

upnut · « **Reply #5 on:** March 29, 2013, 04:17:16 PM »

Enjoy Mad Dogs posts as well! We gave our son a Sportster .22LR when he was seven, he still takes it every time he goes shooting with his college buddies...says it has never once gave him trouble and has introduced many newbies to plinking fun.About a month ago I ran across a used(like new) 2005 Sportster which came home with me. Put a Simmons .22Mag scope/Weaver steel rings on it and soon had it shooting like je265 did wih his. Simple, stone reliable, economical and just plain fun!!! Enjoy!

Scott B.