Since this is a varmint hunting board, I thought that I'd post a hunting report.
I took off from work today to burn a vacation day and decided after lunch to run out to my buddy's ranch and see if there were any ground squirrels still out.
Since it was a short trip, I only brought the XP-100 (223) and a Savage 110 (243) I set up a shooting mat on the top of a small hill overlooking a little bowl. There is no grass on the ground here in my part of California at this time of year and the ground squirrels were out grubbing for roots all across the valley. The closest shots were right at 200 yards and I had open range out to about 550 yards. I had good luck with the XP and took 8 squirrels out of 11 shots out to about 250 yards. As the closer squirrels went to cover I started shooting the 243. I'm loading the 58 Hornady Vmax at 3600 fps and it was deadly on the first 8 squirrels I shot at. My first miss came with a shot into the sun where I misjudged the distance and shot over the top of a squirrel. All in all, I had a great time and shot 18 rounds of 223 and 44 rounds of 243 in about two hours, which accounted for 46 squirrels.

Sounds like you had a blast!

Fjold: I am so jealous! Your Ground Squirrels are still out in mid-December!? The Ground Squirrels "go under" (estivate) here in Montana just after the first of August! And won't be seen until next spring.
I am glad you had such a good day and relayed the great report!
I am kind of new to Varmint pistols myself. I picked up a T/C heavy barrel (14") in 223 Remington a few years ago and then came across an excellent deal on a mint condition Remington XP-100 also in 223 Remington. I am amazed at the accuracy of both rigs! The T/C has a 3x9 Burris EER on it and the XP-100 has a straight 10x Burris pistol scope on it. I have shot just amazing groups with both. With todays bullets and powders speeds are quite respectable and the bullets very explosive.
I still have to concentrate to get into shooting position quickly with both of them though and the extended eye relief is awkward for me still. But I am in the process right now of ordering a stainless Smith & Wesson Model 647 with 8 3/8" barrel in caliber 17 HMR! I will put a scope on it and use it on the closer in Ground Squirrels next spring. Any suggestions on the brand or style of bases and rings to use on the medium frame S&W?
Thanks again for the report I am envious!
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

The only good thing about living in the southern central valley of California is that I can shoot ground squirrels 365 days a year. But, I used to live in Idaho Falls so I remember the winter blues. It was over 60 degrees here yesterday with no wind, so I'm really lucky. As far as being lucky goes, the ranch I shoot on is 20 minutes from my house and the rancher calls me up asking me to bring friends out and shoot squirrels, you can't beat that!

I'm not a big double action revolver fan (I'm a lefty) so I can't help you out on recommendations for the S&W. I use a 7 power Burris on my XP but the hardest thing is holding it far enough away to use the scope. If I'm shooting prone from a hilltop I wind up shooting one direction with the rifles and turning over on my back and shooting Creedmore style with XP in the other direction.