I'm looking at retiring my old High Standard. It time to get a new kit gun for small game, grouse and rabbits mostly. I'd likely stick with 22lr, but what to buy in the sub $500 range?

Well I have used a Ruger single six Bisley model and an old S&W K-22 for many years. Both are very accurate.

I second the Ruger Single-Six. Have used one for 40+ years and never had an issue with it.

I will give you two answers, based on situation.

If I want to carry the gun all the time, I would take my S&W Model 63 Kit Gun. It is fairly light and I don't notice it too much on my belt. Another favorite is the S&W Model 60 with a 3" barrel and adjustable sights and a mild cast bullet load. They both work fine but I feel limited with the 3-4" barrels for shots over about 25 yards.

If I am going rabbit hunting and just want a handgun and don't carry a rifle, I take a S&W Model 617 with a 6" barrel.

quote:

Originally posted by Uncle Grinch:
I second the Ruger Single-Six. Have used one for 40+ years and never had an issue with it.

That's my thinking, after looking around. I will welcome additional input.

Any of the better quality 22rf semi autos my single six sits in the safe hardly used.

PITA to load and unload.

I will take a magazine fed semi auto any day.

I can hit equally well with my Ruger Single Six and my Browning Buckmark. I have a few S&W short barrel revolvers too but the sights are so close I feel limited with longer shots and accuracy. I like 6" to 7.5" barrels for hunting. I have some scoped and seem to hit just about as good under hunting conditions without a rest with or without the scope. I recommend going to the gunshop and see what tickles your fancy. They are all capable but none will probably replace the old High Standard you've come to love.

God Bless, Louis

quote:

Originally posted by p dog shooter:
Any of the better quality 22rf semi autos my single six sits in the safe hardly used.

PITA to load and unload.

I will take a magazine fed semi auto any day.

^^^Agree^^^

I have an old Browning Nomad (I believe the predecessor of Browning's Buck Mark) and a Buck Mark. Both are top notch. They're very accurate, point naturally and are affordable.

I have a Ruger MKII slab side that I carry almost everytime I'm out. It's a little heavy though. If I were looking I'd pick up a Ruger MKII or III with the standard barrel contour and adjustable sights. Whatever length you are comfortable with. DW

Just curious. Why retire the HS, they are great hunting pistols.

quote:

Originally posted by kda55:
Just curious. Why retire the HS, they are great hunting pistols.

It's an old sport king that just does shoot as well as it should. I've tried 10-12 differ types of 22lr and none of them group acceptably. That and the lack of adjustable sights.
I'll likely keep the gun, it has been in the family forever.

Walther PP 22 LR Need to add adjustable sight
S&W 317 Airlite 3" 22LR
S&W 60 AirLite scandium 3" 357Mag with 38 special wadcutters

On GB, you can find Colt prewar Woodsman's under $500 with some finish wear but excellent, mechanically. The 6"barreled models with
elevation adjustable front sights and windage
adjustable rear sights are very accurate, easy
to shoot well and reliable.

The ones with an oval patch of checkering on the mainspring housing are intended for standard velocity ammo only. The ones that have horizontal serrations in that area have a stronger recoil spring and hardened parts that won't be damaged by high velocity ammo. I would check to make sure it has an original magazine for best reliability.

It's amazing how reasonably low prices these fine pistols can be purchased for, if you are patient.

Hope this helps,
John

I agree with the colt woodsman . Light weight and reliable

I agree that the Colt Woodsman is a great little pistol + under $500.00 is a very good price. I just keep hoping that Cabela's or Bass Pro will have one in their used section that I can use my Cabelas points on.

I have a S/W K-22 combat master piece,with adjustable sights, a Ruger bull barreled 22 that is scoped, a Berretta Jaguar 22 lr with a four in barrel, a Thompson Center scoped with a 8 in barrel chambered for .223 and another Ruger Black hawk .41 mag, and all have been hunted for everything from jack rabbits to black bear.
Take your pick, all are well suited to hunting, and all are very accurate,

In the .22LR handguns my favorite is the RUGER bull barreled scoped handgun for anything up to fox and coyote for calling into a blind!
Being a permit holder for concealed carry, I have several defense type simi-auto hand guns and most of those have taken game as well.
There is no limit to the usefulness for hand guns in the hunting field, just match caliber to the game sought, and PRACTICE to become as accurate as the handgun you are shooting is capable of. They are all good!
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The old Ruger Mark I was the first best small gamer I had. Now I have an old Browning Medalist with barrel threading. It is now the best shooter of 22 rimfire I have. The worst I had was a basic High Standard that would cut my RH web from thumb to first finger. It was so bad at cutting me I sold it back to the original owner. Then came the Ruger for many years. Be Well, Packy

I think everyone has covered the entire spectrum. I like every one of the weapons mentioned. I will admit that I also have a snub nosed Taurus revolver with adjustable sights chambered in .17 HMR. At my age I can't hit anything with any of my kit guns because of my eyesight. You can't go wrong with any of the handguns mentioned. My HS 103 doesn't bite my hand and is very accurate. Thanks...

Since your H.S. Has a lot of sentimental value, I would try to revive it before it is relegated to safe queen status.
Replace your sights starting with an adjustable higher end sight from H.S including the newer production ones from Texas. It should be an easy fit. If none suit your needs, find an an after market quality adjustable sights and have a good gunsmith install them.
If like some of us starting to get up in years and finding that focusing on open sights is becoming difficult, break tradition and try a red dot sight.
Second option, take the pistol apart and super clean the barrel. Many have a life time of lead and copper build up that even an olympic grade pistol would give up the ghost.
Third option is to locate a Neil Waltz 22 die resizer direct from him. Hopefully you can still get it, he’s up there in age and sells direct. I was turned on it by a fellow target shooter at the range.
I love to shoot but hate cleaning guns. Most rimfire pistols are a pain to take apart to give proper cleaning and maintain the level of accuracy they are capable of. Ruger came out with their MK IV a few years ago and is a breeze to disassemble and clean. Get one with a light barrel of your choice in their offerings, nothing wrong with a used one.
Best of luck to you.

Contender 10 " .410 best small game gun out there and you can get one under $500

I have recently put both barrels though an ultrasonic bath and cleaning process. I won't be able to try it until the weather breaks.

In an earlier post I listed .22 handguns I like for small game hunting. There are two others I also use. One is the Ruger Single-Six in .32 H&R with a 100 gr. full wadcutter that I cast from a Lyman mould and shoot at about 1000 fps. The other is a K-38 with a full wadcutter from the H&G #50 mould loaded at about 900 fps. Both are a lot of fun on rabbits and don't damage much more meat than a .22. (I would definitely not try to push hollow-base swaged wadcutters at these velocities, as the bullet makers warn you can damage the forcing cone. What I am using are flat-base cast wadcutters. These are velocities where I got good accuracy.)