.22 cal Hunting Handgun!

[GlockRN]

If anyone out there has a .22cal handgun that they could strongly recommend for small game hunting I'd sure appreciate your pitch and a "PICTURE" of such. I would prefer Scoped, or Red Dot mount. I'd like something I could at least bandoleer holster for carrying convenience.Thanks in advance!

[Caladan]

The Beretta Neos and S&W 22A have built-in scope rails, so it's easy to mount a scope. The Ruger MKIII includes a rail, but it has to be mounted to the top of the receiver. The lower-priced Browning BuckMark's don't come with a rail, but they can easily be added. All of these are fully accurate and reliable enough for hunting. Many can also have barrels of different lengths too, which might be important to the way you carry. I have a Ruger MKIII "Hunter" that I use for hunting.

If you can find a good one, then the big stainless S&W revolver (can't remember the model #) would also be a great choice, and will most likely have the best trigger of the ones so far mentioned. If you would consider a single-shot, the the TC Contender will most likely be the most accurate of all of these. Most likely however that small difference in accuracy will not make a difference in a hunting situation.

Caladan

[dsmw5142]

I have a Ruger MKII target that has killed a bunch of rabbits and squirrels. I have a scope/red dot mount for it from..... http://www.aimtech-mounts.com/

The mount is pretty neat... it replaces one of the grip panels and wraps over top of the upper. It has a basic pic type rail on top for you to mount scope/red dot or whatever. I really don't use it anymore though. I prefer the open sights and am pretty accurate out to about 35-40 yards on a rabbit sized target, if it is holding still.

PM me if you decide to go with a Ruger MKI or MKII and your interested in the mount and a swift handgun scope.

[ede]

little bit on the expensive side but a s&w 41 would be hard to beat on the other end of the price range i'd look at a heavy barrel ruger mkIII.

[Broylz]

ill do a +1 on the ruger mkIII with a heavy barrel

[CajunBass]

Just pick one. They'll all do the job. Ok. Except maybe the little Bersa there at the top, but even it would work in a pinch.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b292/CajunBass/handguns/003.jpg

Smith & Wesson Model 17, Ruger Bearcat, Bersa Firestorm, Dan Wesson 22, Ruger Single-Six, Ruger MK II, Ruger MK III, 22/45 BSA red dot sight.

I wouldn't use the Bearcat as a "hunting" gun either, although I do carry it hunting. It's really more of a "knock around" gun. Any of the others are good to go alone.

The two Wessons and the Ruger MK III would be the best.

[RonS]

My pick, back when I hunted rabbit and squirrel with a .22 was a Colt Officers Model bullseye revolver. Now, if I were buying a gun for small game hunting I would buy a Ruger Single Six Hunter. http://www.ruger-firearms.com/Firearms/FAProdView?model=662&return=Y

Comes with a 22 mag cylinder and scope rings.

[failsafe]

Ruger MKII works for me....6 and 7/8 inch bbl....

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa96/litenlarry/RugerMkII.jpg

[vafish]

TC Contender with Red Dot sight on it works real well on squirrels.

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n75/vafish/22s-1.jpg

[mafiaman]

I use a walther p22 with a red dot and a silencer on it for varmit hunting out in Aledo Tx. But I keep my g19 or g26 and/or shotgun with me just in case I piss something off. (I know it's a p99 in the pic but the p22 looks the same)

http://www.impactguns.com/store/media/wal_p22_bridge_mnt.jpg

[Glock2008]

I have the ruger mkIII 22/45 with the 5.5 Bull barrel great target gun and plent accurate for varmit, and plinking.
No scope on mine but it comes with a rail and pre drilled/tapped holes for instalation of rail great gun haven't even had mine jam yet.
http://www.ruger.com/Firearms/images/Products/263T.jpg (http://www.ruger.com/Firearms/FAProdView?model=10107&return=Y)

[Doc226]

Tricked out MK III. I have a Volquartsen Trigger, sear, hammer along with the LLV barrel. ACCURATE. I can get sub dime groups at 50 feet rested.

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w76/Ayavei/MarkIIIA.jpg

[WellArmedSheep]

Another vote for the Ruger. My MKIII Hunter is crazy accurate and Glock reliable. I plan on getting a proper scope for it and taking some squirrels as soon as I can.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/scrcteach/Shooting/IMG_5914.jpg

[Puppy]

http://www.glocktalk.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=157006&stc=1&d=1221069700

[Guyver]

I'd say get a Neos... yea they are different....but accurate, and more importantly... ready for optics right out of the box... no extra mounting equipment needed... I have a Swift 3X9 on mine....

Though, I must say, that Walther looks great....

[JerryO]

I've seen several people say the neo's is good.

OK, so I bought one on monday.

Took it out and shot it. no cleaning or oiling. Also, no failures and the sights were well aligned. I just took it apart and oiled it.

Different?

Not in a meaningful way.

First. It is striker fired. But it has a 4 lb trigger pull after I put a little grease on the sear (some what heavy on the first shots though). It feels like an OK hammer fired pistol after greaseing, but the S&W 22a maybe a little better.

Being striker fired, the slide doesn't get extra friction from being forced up by cocking the hammer. That should reduce the partialy ejected rounds that jam a dirty slide.

The barrel is attached by a nut on the post on the barrel just in front of the trigger. The 22A has a similar post, but has a slideing catch to hold it down.

The mag release is on the right side and is pushed with the trigger finger. It seemed to work well.

It has lots of steel. even the trigger is steel. The scope rail has a steel rib under it with 3 mini roll pins holding them together. The frame under the slide has some steel set into an aluminum frame.

The fireing pin, fireing pin spring, and recoil spring are concentric and can fly if the trigger is pulled when the barrel is off & the fireing pin is cocked. Disasembly and reaasembly are good. But I kinda like the springs being retain like the ruger markII.

Oh, adjusting the windage was tough, the screw seem to have red locktight on it. Well it wasn't locktight, but rather a lump on about 1/2 the screw. A screwdriver is provided, but I used mine before I read the directions. The sights were well aligned from the factory so I wasn't to concerned.


I was impressed.


JerryO

[Guyver]

Different?

What I was referring to was the Modular make up and asthetics... lets face it, it doesn't look like many other 22's, kind of futuristic.



I was impressed.


JerryO
Me too....:cool:

And at $280 OTD, including scope... it's a steal.

[JerryO]

What I was referring to was the Modular make up and asthetics... lets face it, it doesn't look like many other 22's, kind of futuristic.


And at $280 OTD, including scope... it's a steal.


Sorry, I thought it looked kinda like an old colt woodsman, ruger or high standard. Fururistic? I had expected it to have much more plastic. But found it to have more metal than many.


Also, it has been selling for the same as the S&W 22A with the same features. (it is now $10 more than the 22A). Sights are about the same (both have a scope rib). 22A trigger is probably better. 22A accuracy is excellent (mine does 1 inch off sandbags with a scope at 25 yards). I'm not sure about the neos, but I was breaking clay birds at 25 yards with the open sights as shipped from the factory.

Weight of the neos is more than the 22A (the one with an aluminum frame). This makes it heavy with a scope.

Both are a steal!! and close to even. Thou my experience with S&W customer service has been good. I have tried Berreta, but couldn't get any response.


JerryO

[oldfort]

I have 3 Ruger auto .22's. A MkI 4" standard, a MkII 512 bull barrel, and a MkIII 22/45 4" with adjustable sights. The MkII 512 is my favorite with custom wood grips and white outline rear sight. More accurate than I can shoot. I have always wanted a S&W Mod 17, but I haven't taken that plunge yet. Good luck.

[GlockRN]

Thanks to all for the advice and the pics. Now its time to go shoppin!!!:supergrin:

[RWBlue]

I have a Ruger MKII Slabside. It cost me an arm and a leg and is worth it.