Discovery .22, with new Hawke Panorama 4-12x40mm AO EV scope, with sunshade.
I've been running my .22 Disco with a 5-15x40mm Bushnell Legend scope on it, which is a nice scope, but I wanted something with a finer crosshair, and that would also take a sunshade.
After a bit of research, I decided on one of the Hawke Panorama 4-12x40mm AO EV scopes, with the half mildot reticle, using one of their sunshades. I mounted it in a set of medium mounts that I had on hand.
Of course the first thing to do, after getting the scope mounted, was to get the Discovery sighted in at 40 yards, my preferred distance for this rifle.
I bought my Disco back in May of 2008, just after they first came out, and it has impressed the heck out of me right from the first time I shot it. For me, accuracy is my first priority in a gun, and this little rifle just blew me away from the first time I put it on paper. Are they all like this, I don't know, but this one is a tack driver. Below, is a target shot from my first time out with her.
Five JSB 15.9 grain Jumbo's at 30 yards.
Again, shooting the 15.9 grain JSB's, I got her sighted in at 40 yards on a bullseye target, and then just for the heck of it fired a couple of shots at a sabertooth prairie dog target that I happened to have along.
Holding on the eye, I fired two shots that touched. There was just a whisper of a left to right breeze, so I didn't change my scope settings, I just put everything away, and headed out into the forest to see if I could find a ground squirrel or two.
Two 15.9 grain JSB's from 40 yards, very light left to right breeze.
As I was hunting along, I spotted an old stump out in the open, and when I glassed it with my binoculars, I could see the head of a ground squirrel looking at me from the back side. I couldn't resist grabbing a quick picture of the squirrel on the stump.
First squirrel of the day, 41 yard head shot opportunity.
My rangefinder lasered the squirrel at 41 yards. Since I have the gun zeroed at 40 yards, I held on for elevation, and the left edge of its head, to allow for a light left to right breeze.
When the shot broke, there was a loud THWOCK, and the squirrel disappeared. A few seconds later, it tumbled out from behind the stump, rolled a couple of times in the grass, and came to rest. When I got over to it, I could see that the pellet had gone in one ear, and out the other. Score another one for my tack driving Discovery.
Ground squirrel taken at 41 yards with a head shot from my .22 cal Disco.
After the requisite photo op, I continued to hunt for another hour. I only saw two more ground squirrels, and didn't get a shot at either one. They both bailed before I could get within range.
Then, as I was hunting my way back to my vehicle, I spot another one on the limb of an old blowdown, out in the open at 88 yards. There was a very large Ponderosa Pine tree between me and the squirrel. I shot a range to the tree, and it came back at 45 yards. That told me, that if I could get to that tree, without spooking the squirrel, I would have a 43 yard shot to the furball.
The sneak was on. I was very careful to carry my rifle, and Stoney point bipod directly in front of me, so the squirrel wouldn't see them moving and sticking out from the side of the tree I was using for cover, as I closed the range. I was also very careful not to step on any crunchy sticks or twigs along the way. These guys have amazing hearing.
I finally made it to directly behind this big pine, and stuck just enough of my head out, so that I could see if the squirrel was still there. Yep, he's still there alright, and better yet, has climbed up a little higher on his perch.
He's presenting me with a nice face on shot. For elevation at 43 yards, I held on the center of his head, and for windage, just off the right edge of it, to allow for a frisky right to left breeze. The shot knocked him off the limb he was sitting on, and he dropped out of sight behind the blowdown. When I got up to the old tree, he was DRT. The pellet had entered under his chin, and exited the back of his neck.
Squirrel taken at 43 yards with .22 Discovery. Air tube mounted wind flag showing right to left wind direction.
It was a very satisfying hunt, and I'm more than pleased with the new Hawke scope. As usual, the Disco did what she always does, and that is to put a pellet right where I want it, when I want it.
Sometimes, I get asked why I would put a custom stock on an inexpensive rifle. Well, when I get a gun that shoots as good as this one does, I want it the way I want it. The factory stock is a bit small for me, and since I will be keeping this little rifle for ever, I decided to put a custom stock on her, that not only enhances her appearance, but also her handling and shootability. She now fits me like a glove.
Below is a picture of a game tank that was in the area I hunted. On my way out, I came around a bend in the road, a couple of hundred yards from this tank, and encountered four cow elk that were headed toward the game tank for a drink. I need to start leaving my camera out, so that I can get pictures of some of the critters I come across while driving these old logging roads.
So far, I've seen elk, deer, pronghorn antelope, coyotes, a bobcat, and several gray foxes. Pretty cool.
Game tank.
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