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.
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.