|
Forum Rules | Firearms Safety | Firearms Photos | Links | Library | Lost Password | Email Changes |
Register | FAQ | Calendar | Search | Today's Posts | Mark Forums Read |
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
June 30, 2007, 08:14 AM | #1 |
Senior Member
Join Date: March 2, 2002
Posts: 162
|
.22 handgun for hunting???
Hello,
I'm interested in picking up an inexpensive .22 to take with me along with my shotgun for small game hunting. I like the Rugers but I really don't need anything fancy or expensive, and was hoping to find something even cheaper than a Ruger. I need a decent, but inexpensive .22, revolver or a semi-auto, that is pretty accurate and has at least a 4" barrel. Instead of just randomly starting to research the various manufacturer sites, or browsing a gun show, I'd though I'd ask for some input here first. Any suggestions for inexpensive .22's that might fit my needs? Thanks.
__________________
"Aude Aliquid Dignum" (Dare Something Worthy) |
June 30, 2007, 08:23 AM | #2 |
Senior Member
Join Date: December 14, 2004
Location: Northern Indiana
Posts: 6,117
|
There's cheep then there's good
Get the Ruger, if you can’t afford new then find a beat up used one. The one thing about Mark I, II and III is that if you buy one new you can give it to your grandchildren 50 years latter after 10.000 rounds. Good ammo and clean the Mark’s will always go BANG.
If not that then I think that Hipoint makes a 22 but I would rather set fire to money than buy a hipoint. And I have sold many. I guess the one thing you need to ask is how good and how much? There are lots of used 22's in stores around here thats under $200. |
June 30, 2007, 04:39 PM | #3 |
Senior Member
Join Date: August 22, 2005
Location: The Woodlands TX
Posts: 4,677
|
I tend to agree with Ozzie. Ruger usually occupies the spot in the market where reliability and inexpensive meet. There are many options if you want to spend more, but I think the sacrifice in consistency is too great to go any cheaper.
A 22lr handgun is probably the most useful tool a hunter can carry. For that reason I feel one is justified in spending a little extra. I like the S&W and Colt revolvers as a small game/pest/coup de grace sidearm.
__________________
la plus belle des ruses du diable est de vous persuader qu'il n'existe pas! |
July 1, 2007, 08:54 PM | #4 |
Senior Member
Join Date: November 26, 2006
Posts: 765
|
Get a ruger single six
|
July 1, 2007, 10:11 PM | #5 |
Senior Member
Join Date: March 26, 2006
Location: pa
Posts: 128
|
I vote for the single six you also get a 22mag cly for more power
|
July 1, 2007, 10:23 PM | #6 |
Member
Join Date: May 29, 2007
Location: Indiana, USA
Posts: 24
|
Just throwing it out, how about a Contender. You can change from a .22 barrel to something larger for other game. It is accurate.
I'd second or third or what ever the count is now the Mark II from Ruger. We have some 22/45s that are used for summer camp and they are one of the few firearms that take the punishment we dish out. They need to be cleaned after a time, but just keep shooting. |
July 1, 2007, 10:25 PM | #7 |
Senior Member
Join Date: September 17, 2005
Location: Youngtown Arizona
Posts: 1,135
|
S&w 22a
|
July 1, 2007, 10:52 PM | #8 |
Senior Member
Join Date: June 7, 2007
Location: Texas
Posts: 719
|
If your gonna go rimfire hunting with a pistol, why not have a pistol with a punch?
You can find decent used revolvers at most Pawn shops, in 22LR. Probably between $100 and $200 used. I use my Taurus Tracker in 17HMR. I get groups of 9 inches at 100 yard bench, open sights. Mine is stainless but the Blued is cheaper. MSRP $390.00 ... but thats more than what I payed for the stainless I have. With 17gr ballistic tips, it blows apples into sauce from 60 yards. Walmart has ballistic tips, hollow points, and FMJ's. Most expensive 50 round box is Hornady Ballistics at $14.00. Cheapest is CCI's Hollow points at $8.50. It cost more to fire than a 22LR, but I have more fun with it than my 22LR, Browning Gold Medalist. Louder boom, bigger reaction at the "dead end", longer range. Just fun. http://www.taurususa.com/products/gu...cfm?series=CF2 My 2 cents.
__________________
Pondering the differences, terminally, between the V-Max and the A-Max. |
July 2, 2007, 09:08 AM | #9 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: September 20, 2004
Location: Rural Kentucky
Posts: 478
|
Quote:
I'll second the suggestions for any Ruger .22 as being an excellent choice for a knockaround, accurate hunter. |
|
July 2, 2007, 01:20 PM | #10 |
Senior Member
Join Date: February 7, 2006
Location: Pacific Northwest
Posts: 2,238
|
I vote the ruger........unless......http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2N7yR66wes
|
July 2, 2007, 01:25 PM | #11 |
Senior Member
Join Date: February 13, 2006
Location: Washington state
Posts: 15,247
|
I used to have a Colt Diamondback 6" in 22LR. Best darn rabbit gun ever.
But that one aside, a Ruger of just about any type is a good choice.
__________________
Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services |
July 2, 2007, 03:57 PM | #12 |
Senior Member
Join Date: March 2, 2002
Posts: 162
|
Thanks for the responses guys. I appreciate the feedback. I'm leaning towards a Ruger MKIII or a Taurus Model 94 revolver with a 5" barrel. Now I'll have to check them out in person and see what kind of deals I can get.
__________________
"Aude Aliquid Dignum" (Dare Something Worthy) |
July 2, 2007, 03:59 PM | #13 |
Senior Member
Join Date: June 7, 2007
Location: Texas
Posts: 719
|
Hey QD.
I didn't intend on offending anyone. A 17 FMJ does the same damage as a 22LR lead. But, since the 17HMR has so many more options, as far as projectiles, it can serve more functions than just hunting. For the same money, new, its more versatile. Just ammo costs more. I was just doing what forums are for. Offering my oppinion.
__________________
Pondering the differences, terminally, between the V-Max and the A-Max. |
July 3, 2007, 06:16 AM | #14 |
Senior Member
Join Date: September 20, 2004
Location: Rural Kentucky
Posts: 478
|
No one's offended here, Yithian! At least I'm not.
Just trying to help the threads and opinions stay on course. No harm done. I don't have much experience with .17's so I'll take your word for it, but with all the varieties of .22 available I've never felt the need for a .17. It just seems a tad overkill for squirrels IMO (which is what comes to mind for me when hunting with a .22 is mentioned,) but the thread's author didn't specify exactly what he'd be hunting. |
July 4, 2007, 01:20 AM | #15 |
Senior Member
Join Date: March 14, 2007
Location: Palmer Ak
Posts: 319
|
22 for hunting
I use a S&W 22A fairly inexpensive acurate enough to knock the head off a ptarmagin an mine has at least 100 rds a week for the last 10 yrs.
|
July 4, 2007, 05:29 AM | #16 |
Senior Member
Join Date: February 22, 2007
Location: Jackson,Mississippi
Posts: 838
|
my choice
Colt Trooper Mark III in .22 magnum with a 6" BBl
Heavy and expensive but nice. A good used gun is better by far than any cheap gun |
July 4, 2007, 09:04 AM | #17 |
Senior Member
Join Date: February 19, 2005
Location: Tennessee
Posts: 5,323
|
The best of the inexpensive 22 handguns are made by H&R, High Standard, Charter Arms, and Rossi. You should be able to keep the cost down below $250. On most of these, you are dealing with used guns, so check them out first. The most expensive of the cheap 22 handguns are made by Ruger and Taurus. Some like the Heritage Rough Rider single action models.
The High Standard semi-auto's are considered very good by most. The Sport King was their cheapest model. Stay away from RG's no matter what the price is. Junk. If it were up to me, if you want an inexpensive 22 handgun, I'd look at Ruger first as they are pretty well made and a pretty good value for the dollar these days. The Single Six would be the first single action I'd look at of the currently manufactured models. Ruger made the SP101 in 22 and they are still around. Many like them a lot. |
July 4, 2007, 10:01 AM | #18 |
Senior Member
Join Date: January 29, 2006
Location: mid tennessee
Posts: 430
|
The s&w 22a should fit your criteria very nicely,
__________________
We all love gun p*rn, weather shes skinny,fat,short or tall, God made a man to love them all! "Once you familiarize yourself with the chains of bondage , You prepare your own limbs to wear them." - Abraham Lincoln |
July 6, 2007, 10:13 AM | #19 |
Senior Member
Join Date: February 4, 2007
Posts: 127
|
Seriously, this is the best deal you're going to find in quality versus economy. The prices listed here are the MSRP and they're still quite low, $305-$307 for the blued. It's a Ruger, anyone who has ever touched one will attest to their quality. I've seen these NIB at gun shows for under $250 (unfortunately I had already spent my limit), that's very inexpensive and, as others have stated, you'll pass this gun down to your grandchildren one day. Good luck.
http://www.ruger-firearms.com/Firear...es&type=Pistol
__________________
"You cannot invade mainland United States. There would be a rifle behind each blade of grass." Admiral Yamamoto in advising against invading mainland United States due to wide spread availability of weapons for the general public |
July 6, 2007, 10:55 AM | #20 |
Member
Join Date: October 21, 2004
Posts: 88
|
Personally I like something in centerfire for pot hunting. I got a Taurus Raging Hornet in .22 Hornet used at a gunshow for $185 a year or so back. At the time they also had a .218 Bee in a 7 shot Tracker for $225 that I was considering as well. Centerfire, reloadable, and the .22 hornet and the .218 Bee both have fairly good performance and the ability to load up to a round capable of taking larger game. I've got a second cylinder off at a gunsmith getting reamed to .22 K-Hornet specs. Loaded with solids or a good FMJ bullet it is no more damaging to squirrel sized game than a .22 LR is. It also lets me carry a half cylinder of hotly loaded V-Max rounds for a shot at the occasional Coyote or Bobcat.
|
July 13, 2007, 10:09 PM | #21 |
Senior Member
Join Date: July 5, 2007
Location: Pacific NW
Posts: 1,310
|
You might consider a Ciener conversion for a 1911 .45 ACP. This is a .22LR slide, barrel and magazine. The magazine holds 15 (tight fit) and accuracy isn't bad. The company makes a fixed sight and an adjustable sight model, I believe. Price is around $250, if I remember correctly. Same frame and holsters as your 1911. Same trigger pull, too, of course. Though I have a Ruger Mark II also, I like the Ciener conversion better.
|
July 16, 2007, 06:29 PM | #22 |
Senior Member
Join Date: July 26, 2001
Location: WA
Posts: 183
|
Another one for Ruger. I have had a Mark 1 for over 26 years now and have cylcled AT LEAST 5000 rounds through it. The front sight flew off once and I lost it, but fashioned a new one out of a piece of a muffler clamp and a cutoff nail for the pin.
|
July 16, 2007, 10:06 PM | #23 |
Senior Member
Join Date: August 21, 2005
Location: texas
Posts: 762
|
We own two MKll's and two Taurus 94's.
Either one you choose will serve you very well.
__________________
Pain Is The Quickest Teacher 2RUGERS AKA "HALFCOCKED" |
July 17, 2007, 11:10 PM | #24 |
Senior Member
Join Date: November 11, 2006
Posts: 2,519
|
having carried a RG34 for squirrel, I was...
dropping Red squirrls with head shot @ 40 ft.
There were some good revolvers but continued use of CCI mini-mag HP finally blew the cylinder to where a .22Mag will start to chamber. have used 1st model Woodsman, S&W M17, Ruger single-six, Contender and my partner used a H&R 999 top-break. Does it feel right in the hand and does it allow you to shoot a sand-filled empty .22 box, face on-end to you, @ 50ft? |
July 22, 2007, 03:15 PM | #25 |
Senior Member
Join Date: March 2, 2002
Posts: 162
|
Again, thanks for all the advice.
Unexpectedly, I ended up with a single-action, Heritage Rough Rider .22. It had the most features for the money, and fit my needs perfectly. It has a 4.75" barrel, fully adjustable rear sights with a tru-glo front sight, and comes with two cylinders, so it shoots .22 short, long, long rifle, and .22 Mag. All this for under $200. I've been to the range and only shot the .22 Mag so far, but it is a tack driver, and will be perfect for small game hunting.
__________________
"Aude Aliquid Dignum" (Dare Something Worthy) |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
|
|