What .22 pistol for hunting

03 September 2003, 11:49

chromosone cowboy

I would like to get a .22 pistol for hunting. Often I hunt birds and squirrel at the same time, and would love to have a pistol to "plink" squirrels while waiting for the turkeys to come around. A shotgun has worked fine, but heck, I want to try hunting with a pistol.
The pistol would have to be a revolver, semis are illegal to hunt with in my state.
I would also like something with adjustable sights. Any info and suggestions would be appreciated.

03 September 2003, 12:14

stepchild 2

Cowboy,
I have a Smith& Wesson model 63-3, which is a 4"Stainless revolver, rubber grips, adj. sights, and I really like mine. Trigger was a bit heavy, changed the trigger spring, much better now.
Stepchild

03 September 2003, 12:55

Blackhawk44

Its hard to go wrong with a Ruger Single Six and a spring kit. All those I've fired are only limited by the operator. Haven't fired a recent (over 6 shot) S&W K, but the older ones were remarkable. If you can find a "reasonable" Colt Diamondback, New Frontier or Officers Model Target in good shape you should be very happy. After that you pretty much have to look to semi-autos, except that's a no-no for you.

04 September 2003, 03:26

Dirtfarmer

CC.......you can't go wrong with either stepchild's or blackhawk's suggestion. I prefer to use the single six for hunting and the S&W for plinking. Stepchild, my 63, purchased used, has a mighty slick trigger, both single and double action. Maybe someone had already slicked it up. ...........The older I get, the more I appreciate the 22 rimfire!

04 September 2003, 06:28

Don44

I`d go with a Ruger single six, one sweet revolver

04 September 2003, 06:53

Pecos41

Since it's gotta be a revolver, I'd go with Smith. They will shoot circles around Ruger. You ESPECIALLY don't want to get a Ruger with .22 & 22 Mag cylinders. Their accuracy with the regular 22 cyl is terrible due to oversize bore.

04 September 2003, 09:58

Don44

With my Ruger single six in 22lr cal. I can shoot a group at 15 yds that can be covered with a nickle. Some lousy accuracy huh?

[ 09-04-2003, 01:00: Message edited by: Don44 ]

04 September 2003, 10:49

Dr. Duc

I'm sure your single six is really accurate. But the ones with interchangable cylinders have a bore for the 22 mag and it is oversize for the 22 LR-.224 not.223. You may have gotten lucky but most of the interchangable cylinder models don't shoot the 22LR very well.
S&W 48's do the same when fitted with 22lr cylinders and the Model 53 was terrible with the 22lr cylinder for the same reason.

[ 09-04-2003, 01:51: Message edited by: Dr. Duc ]

04 September 2003, 12:02

TomP

quote:
Originally posted by Pecos45:
Since it's gotta be a revolver, I'd go with Smith. They will shoot circles around Ruger. You ESPECIALLY don't want to get a Ruger with .22 & 22 Mag cylinders. Their accuracy with the regular 22 cyl is terrible due to oversize bore.

I keep waiting for someone other than Lapua to make a slightly oversize .22 RF, for situations of that sort and worn barrels.

04 September 2003, 13:15

Blackhawk44

My Single Six with both cylinders will do 1-1 1/4" at 25yd with the LR and discount ammo and under an inch with Winchester mags. Guess I just didn't know any better. My LR cylinder shoots right with my Woodsman and PPKs. Only my Supermatic Citation and custom S&W 17 beat it.

04 September 2003, 13:28

Eremicus

I've got an old Single Six SS from way back when they were first introduced. Shoots 1.5 inches @25 yds. and the same POI with both ammo types as long as it's CCI ammo.
If you are serious about hunting anything but birds with a .22 RF, the .22 Magnum makes a big difference. E

[ 09-04-2003, 04:30: Message edited by: Eremicus ]

04 September 2003, 17:03

Dr. Duc

Blackhawk, Just as a matter of curiosity, slug your bore with a 22 slug and mike it. Ed Harris wrote a really comprehensive piece on 22lr accuracy in 1990 and it all boils down to "the closer the bore is to .233, the better it shoots".

04 September 2003, 19:28

Pecos41

Blackhawk, forgive me if my response sounded like the "last word" on the subject. I only reported my results from MY .22 Ruger. It was VERY accurate with .22 Mag and VERY inaccurate with 22 LR. I later read the explanation of WHY this was so...and it had to do with the bore diameter of the barrel.

I think if your's shoots equally well with either, you're a lucky man.

[ 09-04-2003, 10:29: Message edited by: Pecos45 ]

05 September 2003, 10:57

stepchild 2

quote:
Originally posted by Dirtfarmer:
CC.......you can't go wrong with either stepchild's or blackhawk's suggestion. I prefer to use the single six for hunting and the S&W for plinking. Stepchild, my 63, purchased used, has a mighty slick trigger, both single and double action. Maybe someone had already slicked it up. ...........The older I get, the more I appreciate the 22 rimfire!

Dirtfarmer,
I bought mine new, and while it wasn't too bad, there was room for improvement. The thing I don't like about the cowboy types is the reloading process.
Good luck with your pup.
Stepchild

[ 09-05-2003, 01:59: Message edited by: stepchild 2 ]

06 September 2003, 09:18

Blackhawk44

Ruger again. Besides my gun(from 1974,stainless 4 5/8"), I've shot a number of the old models(pre transfer bar) with both cylinders, and never found much difference between cylinders. Have truly not shot any later production pieces so may not have noticed a problem developing. Luck.

06 September 2003, 10:19

Calif Hunter

I was going to suggest a Ruger MKII, but you can't use a semi-auto. So I would offer the alternative of an H&R 999 Sportsman - it's a 9-shot, top break revolver. Mine is more accurate than my Ruger Singe-Six and it holds half again as much ammo.

07 September 2003, 07:16

RJM

Dear Doc...I take it you never had a M53 with the extra LR cylinder. They are super accurate. If you check the reloading books, you will find that the .22 Jet is bored .2225 exactly the same as a .22 Long Rifle. Regular .224 bullets should not be used in a Jet but one can get away with the old .223 Hornet bullets. The only two bullets ever made just for the Jet were the no longer in production Remington 40 grain SP and the still in production Hornady 40 gr. FP. I have shot my Jet since 1974 and have shot so many Jet rounds through it the forcing cone looks like a funnel. That gun has taken more small game for me than all the rest of my handguns combinded. I also have a M48 6" and M651 both with LR cylinders that are just as accurate as when Magnums are used. The only convertible .22 that I ever saw that that was horribly innaccurate with LR cylinder was a 70's vintage Ruger Single Six. As to the original "which one" the older blue S&W 17s are about impossible to beat....Bob

07 September 2003, 09:02

120mm

My convertible ruger single six stunk on ice. Just my luck, I think. My wife's Super Blackhawk shot really, really well on four cylinders and two of them were crap.

Of course, sometimes I just don't do well, buying guns, even new....

15 October 2003, 08:57

kjjm4

For a revolver, I'd go with either a S&W 617, a Ruger Single Six, or maybe a Taurus 94. The Smith is the best (best .22 LR revolver I've ever used). The Taurus is a nice gun for the price, but the trigger isn't as good as the Smith and Wesson. I really like Ruger Single Sixes too.

16 October 2003, 11:39

44magnum

OWN BOTH RUGERS AND SMITH & WESSONS. BOTH ARE VERY NICE AND ACCURATE ALTHOUGH MY SMITH WAS BETTER THAN THE RUGER. BOILS DOWN TO WHICH TYPE ACTION YOU LIKE BETTER---DOUBLE OR SINGLE. IN MY CASE I LIKE BOTH SO I BOUGHT BOTH!!! AND YES, I HUNT W/ BOTH. [Cool]