Author Topic: Barrel Diameter on a 22 MAG (Read 1494 times)

Nightrain52 · « **on:** February 20, 2004, 06:53:58 AM »

I have been thinking about getting a sportster in 22 mag. Is it classified as a heavy barrel or a sporter barrel? None of the gunshops around here have them in stock and I would like to know before ordering one. What kind of accuracy are you getting out of your 22mag. THANKS

MSP Ret · « **Reply #1 on:** February 20, 2004, 07:10:27 AM »

Nightrain52, I just got my new Sportster in .22 Mag a few days ago, If you buy it new it comes with the standard weight barrel, great for carrying and hunting. The only way to get the heavy/bull barrel in .22 Mag is to order an accessory barrel for your reciever from H&R. I have the .17 HMR with the heavy barrel, it's a great gun but a bit heavy to lug through the thick greengrowth woods all day long. I bought the .22 Mag Sportster (it comes with the standard weight barrel and synthetic stock) just to set up a light weight carry gun for close range coyotes, 75-100 yards with the occasional 125 yard shot. Have not shot it yet but have high hopes for it, also it is a new gun and has the Marlin manufactured Microgroove barrel which has shown to be inherently the most accurate .22 Mag barrel produced by/for H&R NEF. Boy am I happy!!!....<><.... :grin:

Ditchdigger · « **Reply #2 on:** February 20, 2004, 01:46:58 PM »

I've got a H and R Ultra Varmit in 22 mag. and it has what I would call a varmit weight barrel on it . I does not have the micro groove though and it took a while to get it to shoot halfway decent. It shoots the Fed 50 grains best with the Rem. Premeirs second best. It's down to almost .5 in.at 50 yds. It still will not shoot as good as my old Marlin, but its handy.
Digger

Leftoverdj · « **Reply #3 on:** February 22, 2004, 06:58:19 AM »

I doubt the heavy barrel offers any advantage over the regular Sportster barrel other than looks and feel. The regular barrel is plenty heavy for the .22 WMR cartridge so extra stiffness is unlikely to improve accuracy and you aren't likely to be shooting a single shot fast enough to worry about overheating the barrel.

If you like a more muzzle heavy rifle, you might like the heavy barrel. That would mean either buying the Ultra or getting an add on barrel for a Sportster. The costs would run about the same. One way to do this would be to get a Sportster in .22 LR and have the bull barrel .22 WMR added. .22 LR is as good for plinking and it don't take long to shoot up $60 worth of .22 WMR ammo.

Moonlitin · « **Reply #4 on:** February 25, 2004, 05:57:21 PM »

Nightrain52, I finally got my Sportster 22 mag to the range today. It does not have the heavy barrel or the microgroove rifling. I put a Swift Premier 4-12x40ao scope on it this morning, then headed out with some Winchester Supremes. It's still winter in Michigan, so I was shooting at an indoor range that limited me to 25 yards. I'll have to sight it in again at 50 or 100 yards, so as soon as I was close to being on target, I stopped making any more adjustments and put a fresh target down range. I shot about 8 or 10 times to see how tight a group I could get and I was pleasently surprised. I'm anxious to see what it will do at 50 and 100 yards.

Moonlitin

Nightrain52 · « **Reply #5 on:** February 25, 2004, 06:06:03 PM »

Thats pretty good shootin there Moonlitin. Looks like it's got some potential at 100yds.