Got my .17 HMR out today...

[Guest Aces&8s]

I was reading through some older threads the other day, and one on .17hmrs got me thinking I should take my H&R Sportster out and get it ready for some groundhog hunting. It is a single shot break-open with a bull barrel and no irons. I have a 4-16x40mm Centerpoint scope mounted on it... cheap scope, but it works well for my purposes. I had one prairie chuck target left (I think it is a Birchwood Casey, but could be mistaken) so I walked out to the 200 yard line, stuck it in the ground, and walked back to the bench where my rifle was sitting, got out the ammo, attached the bipod, popped open the scope caps, looked through the scope... and couldn't find my target anywhere. Now, it was a bit windy today, so I thought perhaps the target got blown over, so I got up, started walking back out, got about 70 yards out and I could see it in the distance, right where I put it. Turns out, there is a rise in the middle of the range where the ground slopes up nearly imperceptibly, but enough to obscure that little woodchuck target that far out (it's only about 10 inches tall). So I pulled it up and started walking it back toward the line... I finally got it set up at about 142 yards. At this point it was getting cloudy, the wind was getting gusty, and I only got off 20 rounds before it started sprinkling. Anyway, here is my chuck after I was done, shooting Remington 17 gr. JHP (black polymer tip).

Hopefully there will be some groundhog stew in my future. I really like this gun... the trigger leaves a bit to be desired, and it is a bit heavy to carry around for squirrel hunting, but it is very accurate. I may have to break down and buy a Savage boltgun with the accutrigger.

[Fourtyfive]

Nice shooting !

[TnShooter83]

Very nice shooting. I haven't had mine out in over 2 years.

I really need to take it out and at least make sure the scope is still dialed in.