It sounds like there is a version of the 999 that is a target model but the one I just acquired makes no mention of that anywhere on the gun. I think it's a Sportsman, but either way, for a .22 I'm sure it will be plenty accurate for most shooters purposes. The problem I would have with finding another brand or model revolver would be actually finding one - this gun was right in front of me. Furthermore this is a top break which holds far more appeal to me since I already own other revolver styles. If you don't like H&R revolvers no one is forcing you to buy them. I didn't plan on owning this one until I stumbled across it.
H&R Model 999
- Thread starter Havok7416
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chicharrones
needs more ammo
Yep, just look at a Charter Arms Pathfinder vs. a Target Pathfinder.
Still, it's nice to have adjustable sights, extra sight radius, and in the case of the 999, a really neat unloading mechanism. Even if the gun might not reliably hit a tiny target, at least it can be adjusted to hit a target. One might have to increase the target size to match the gun, though.
TTv2
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They're called the Sportsman, sportsman=sporting as in range shooting, matches, competitions, etc. The top break design makes emptying and reloading faster than any other design, which is great for certain matches.
Your model may not be a target model, I don't think H&R ever made a target 999 revolver, but the name of the gun, which itself is a marketing strategy, is saying to any potential buyer "This is THE .22 revolver to have if you're a sport shooter, that's why it's called the SPORTSMAN! BUY THIS GUN AND BE THE SPORTSMAN SPORTMASTER!"
Then you shoot it and it's a 4 inch gun at 15 yards or something decisively not what you thought it was or were led to believe.
I don't hate H&R's, I'm just disappointed in the quality of most I see. Most of H&R's revolvers designs are very old, the Sportsman in particular goes back to the 1930's and the design back then was meant to be as cheap and easy to produce as possible because of the Depression. H&R never updated the design, so they were making the equivalent of a Charter Arms in the 1930's up until the 80s with 50 year old designs and likely machines and manufacturing processes.
I like top breaks, I have a .32 S&W Long H&R one myself, but I don't pretend it's anything more than a vest pocket gun, same with the Sportsman. It was a cheap gun that has a look that evinces an appearance of something more and it's really nothing more than a 1930's equivalent of a Hi Point.
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entropy
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No, Sportsman as in something to have on your belt whilst out and about in the woods. They are not a match-grade gun, and any inference to that effect was drawn on your part, not H&R's. They are a good solid plinking gun that will stand up to many years of knocking about, something you wouldn't do with your S&W Model 17 or a .22 Colt Officer's Model Match. They were a less expensive way for the less affluent back then to still get out shooting, though not in competition. They are actually fine for tin-can plinking in SA, a bit more of a challenge in DA. I always shot ours in SA.
No, that would be A better moniker for the solid frame H&R's and IJ's of the the time.
chicharrones
needs more ammo
Agree.
IMO, that's what the Sportsman moniker alluded to in the early to mid 20th century. Not so much in the 21st century, but the 999 wasn't created in the 21st century.
https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/sportsman
How do you tell which variation the 999 is?
One place is this reference post at rimfirecentral
https://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1080258
The same info can be found on Greybeard Outdoors.
Also check MarlinOwners.com as well.
https://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1080258
The same info can be found on Greybeard Outdoors.
Also check MarlinOwners.com as well.
The workmanship on my 30's era sportsman was better than any H&R I have seen... they were well made and the bluing on the early ones was pretty darn good... I would agree the later production guns were maybe less refined but the example I have is pretty well executed. not as unrefined to the masses gun from what I see in the design and execution.
TTv2
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That doesn't surprise me, anything that was a firearm and made in American in the 60's and prior was generally made to look good.
Monac
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There is basically only one class of H&R 999 Sportsman, although H&R did tinker with the design over the years. Older models had a curved grip frame that could accept a wide variety of grip shapes, for instance. (That is the version in tallpaul's excellent photographs.) Newer ones have a transfer-bar firing mechanism.
What is happening here is that some people got good 999's and are remembering mainly the good things about them, and some people got 999's with problems and are remembering mainly the bad things. Any time that happens, you would think people are talking about two different guns.
PS - H&R also changed the cylinder retaining catch. For a while, I had an H&R 38S&W "Defender" with the style of catch on tallpaul's Sportsman. I could NOT get the cylinder off the gun, nor could I find any source that showed how the catch mechanism was supposed to work. I hope tallpaul does not have that problem, because that is a very handsome gun.
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chicharrones
needs more ammo
Y'all have some really fine looking Sportsmans. 
Mine looks good on one side, with a few pits on the the other. Which puts it solidly in shooter grade condition.
Mine looks good on one side, with a few pits on the the other. Which puts it solidly in shooter grade condition.
ONe point that hasn't been made yet. The 999 is a great revolver for southpaws. That's the reason I bought mine. It has always been a heck of a lot more accurate than me. The sights while not "click" adjustable once adjusted stay there. Oh, and the adjustable height of the front sight is a godsend. In the forty plus years I've had mine I've had exactly one malfunction that was not ammunition related.
The cylinder retention pin/spring/call it what you will broke. Took about five minutes to order one from Brownell's and another two to install the new one.
The cylinder retention pin/spring/call it what you will broke. Took about five minutes to order one from Brownell's and another two to install the new one.
Finally got to the range, but not the Olympic one (that was a disappointment). I ended up on a 10-yard range with target that must be 10 to 15 years old. Apparently I had a bunch stashed somewhere. Anyway, the results are posted below. I am satisfied with the accuracy and probably could have done better if I really had focused.
I noted on mine and several others I've seen pictures of that there were no turn lines. Yet on other there is some drag marks. I think, if timed right, the 999 didn't produce as much drag marks as we're use to seeing in other brands. Then again, mine only had 500 or so rounds.
You are correct about the timing. Mine has thousands of rounds through it and no drag line. I also shoot mostly single action so that may have something to do with it.
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