Semi auto or revolver in 22lr?

H

hunter22mag

New member
I recently had to sell my ruger single six and now I'm looking for a replacement. I like the single six but I'm really liking the sp101, but at the same time a semi looks nice too. Main uses would be for small game hunting and a trapline dispatch gun. For example in between trap sets I run into a rabbit or squirrel and want to take it as a target of opportunity. Opinions?
 
Either type of handgun should work for what you want if you're in the market for another Ruger. A Ruger semi-auto with adjustable sights and a 5.5" barrel is never a bad choice for what you're doing. The same can be said for the stainless Ruger SP101 in a 22LR revolver. It would serve you well too. I have one and I really like it. Either type in a Ruger will be durable and accurate.

I recently picked up one of these in 22LR and I really like it so far. Its a more modern approach with an alloy frame, some polymer in the frame, and steel barrel insert and steel action parts....trigger, hammer, etc. Mine is very accurate and a delight to shoot. It should be durable to carry with the finish it has on it, but so far my use of it has been limited.

https://www.ruger.com/products/lcrx/specSheets/5435.html

A Single Six is always a good choice in SA revolvers, either stainless or blued. With them, you typically get a 22 Mag cylinder as well.

You can buy any Ruger off the shelf for a lot less than suggested retail price, so shopping will likely get you a good deal on just about any choice that you might make. Let us know what you decide. Whatever the choice, I doubt that you'll be disappointed.
 
Winny fan I sure will!
Only problem with that lcrx 22 revolver you suggested is it has a 3 inch barrel.
I believe state law is it has to have a 4 inch barrel for hunting .
 
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My favorite .22 handgun is a 50+ year old S&W K-22 Model 17. It shoots as wonderful today as it did when I got it back in 1975. Wonderful trigger and just as pretty as can be.

BUT, if I am going to spend a day out shooting ground squirrels or prairie dogs then I am much more likely to have one of my .22 Ruger semi autos with me. Two of them have red dot sights on them and they are so much easier for these 60 something year old eyes to get on target than iron sights are. And 10 shots are better than 6 and you don't have to cock the hammer back for each shot either.

I'd say go for the semi-auto. They sure are hard to beat.
 
There are a lot of good choices out there for a 22 pistol. Everyone has a favorite. All are fun to shoot. Best advice I could give is set a budget and go shop and see what different models fall in the budget you set. Can't go wrong with Ruger pistols, they are built to last.The Bearcat is on my bucket list.
 
Originally Posted By: hunter22magWinny fan I sure will!
Only problem with that lcrx 22 revolver you suggested is it has a 3 inch barrel.
I believe state law is it has to have a 4 inch barrel for hunting .

It's too bad you can't use a barrel shorter than 4". I really like the LCRx, but any of the other ones you're considering will fit your needs.
 
It really depends on what "you" like.
I like revolvers but I shoot my MKIV 22/45 the most because it's so much easier to deal with two or three magazines when target shooting out back.

I have an old (1946) K22 that's really accurate as well as a couple of Ruger revolvers.
I've been using my Single Six for dispatch but I recently bought a Bearcat Shop Keeper that I'll use next year. It's not as accurate as the Single Six but accuracy isn't really an issue for dispatch.

One thing that you might think about. I don't know about you but I use shorts for dispatch which are a poor choice for most hunting so a semi auto with an extra magazine loaded with hunting rounds would sure make changing loads faster.

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I have a Ruger 22/45 and that is what I would go with again. I had a .22 revolver that shot 22lr/22mag. It was plenty accurate, but was crazy loud. I would pick a Ruger target, Browning buckmark or even a Berreta NEOS (as ugly as they are, they shoot well), before I went back to another revolver. JMHO..
 
First and foremost GET ONE THAT FEELS GOOD IN YOUR HANDS. All guns mentioned are fine and accurate, but if your not comfortable with it then you will never be satisfied. Shop around and handle and if possible shoot as many as you can then make your decision. Good luck. And by the way I own a ruger single 6 and a mark III.
 
Originally Posted By: RustydustMy favorite .22 handgun is a 50+ year old S&W K-22 Model 17. It shoots as wonderful today as it did when I got it back in 1975. Wonderful trigger and just as pretty as can be.

BUT, if I am going to spend a day out shooting ground squirrels or prairie dogs then I am much more likely to have one of my .22 Ruger semi autos with me. Two of them have red dot sights on them and they are so much easier for these 60 something year old eyes to get on target than iron sights are. And 10 shots are better than 6 and you don't have to cock the hammer back for each shot either.

I'd say go for the semi-auto. They sure are hard to beat.

You Break my heart, You have a wonderful pistol K22 S&W. You are very lucky.
I hear you on red dots.
 
Originally Posted By: willy1947
You Break my heart, You have a wonderful pistol K22 S&W. You are very lucky.
I hear you on red dots.


Hey! I had to cough up $100 for that thing back then! Fair bit of change for me to come up with at the time.

Blame on on gun writer Skeeter Skelton. He did an article on K-22's in Shooting Times and I lusted for one after that. Ended up buying two more of them, one an 8 3/8" model, but only have my original today. That's fine. This for sure is a keeper. I hope my widow gets a good price for it someday.
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When I was working at the LGS, we had a Smith come in but it was 22Mag. I wanted it sooo bad but the store owner had it priced pretty high and he wouldn't cut employee's a break on the price of used guns. Never figured that one out but that was his rules. So, I let it pass.
 
Originally Posted By: pyscodogWhen I was working at the LGS, we had a Smith come in but it was 22Mag. I wanted it sooo bad but the store owner had it priced pretty high and he wouldn't cut employee's a break on the price of used guns. Never figured that one out but that was his rules. So, I let it pass.

I'm a big fan of the 22WMR but it's a poor choice for trap line dispatch.

A Single Six Convertible solves that problem though.
 
Originally Posted By: RePeteOriginally Posted By: pyscodogWhen I was working at the LGS, we had a Smith come in but it was 22Mag. I wanted it sooo bad but the store owner had it priced pretty high and he wouldn't cut employee's a break on the price of used guns. Never figured that one out but that was his rules. So, I let it pass.

I'm a big fan of the 22WMR but it's a poor choice for trap line dispatch.

A Single Six Convertible solves that problem though.





Just asking for myself, but why is the 22 Mag a poor choice as opposed to the 22LR?
 
I have a Heritage Manufacturing Rough Rider with both the .22lr and .22mag cylinders. It's in pretty rough shape now because I carried it a lot when I checked traps. It's accurate enough that I've shot prairie dogs with it on several occasions. Several porcupines,armadillos,skunks and a beaver once also.

As was mentioned the Ruger Single-Six and Ruger Bearcat are sweet revolvers as well. The reason I went with the Rough Rider is because I didn't have a lot of money so I chose the cheapest yet nicest most reliable revolver I could find at the time.

If I were to get a semi automatic it'd be the Ruger MKIII Hunter or Browning Buckmark. I like the sights on the Ruger's better personally but both are good shooters.
 
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Originally Posted By: pyscodogOriginally Posted By: RePeteOriginally Posted By: pyscodogWhen I was working at the LGS, we had a Smith come in but it was 22Mag. I wanted it sooo bad but the store owner had it priced pretty high and he wouldn't cut employee's a break on the price of used guns. Never figured that one out but that was his rules. So, I let it pass.

I'm a big fan of the 22WMR but it's a poor choice for trap line dispatch.

A Single Six Convertible solves that problem though.





Just asking for myself, but why is the 22 Mag a poor choice as opposed to the 22LR?

I'm assuming he's talking about minimizing pass throughs. From point blank range even a .22lr will go clear through. When I'm trapping I still use standard .22lr but I use CCI Quickshocks. They're called something else now. Segmented bullets maybe.I shot a big raccoon in the head with .22 shorts once and I was less than impressed to say the least. I started shootin .22lr after that and hit stuff through the heart/lungs. It's way less messy that way anyways. Skinning things that has been head shot is a mess if ever there was one.

On a side note I should have bought me a Ruger Single Six Hunter .17hmr/.17mach2 when they first came out with them. For a dispatch and all around varmint eradicating revolver I think it would be hard to beat.
 
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I like vintage 6-shot S&W DA 22 Rim Fire revolvers too.

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The revolver on top in the photo is a 6" Model 48 in 22 WMR (22 MRF barrel stamp).

The next two down are both 6" Model 17 22 LR revolvers. The one on the left has a TT and TH.

Below them are two 4" Model 18 22 LR revolvers. The one on the right also has a TT and TH.

Below the Model 18's are two stainless J-Frame revolvers. The one on the left is a Model 651 Target version with a 4" barrel and a square butt in 22 WMR, or in 22 MRF as S&W chose to barrel stamp them. The one on the right is a very early 4" Model 63 in 22 LR.

Still, it's hard to beat a Ruger wheel gun in 22LR and/or 22WMR or a Ruger semi-auto 22LR for field use.
 


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