Author Topic: What make and model is a good durable good priced 22 LR Pist (Read 1052 times)

lakelarish · « **on:** May 10, 2003, 10:58:41 AM »

I am looking to purchase a low end 22 LR auto pistol to care with me in the wood since the state says you can not carry anything larger than the caliber long gun allowed in that area. In my part of VA and NC the only long gun is a 22 LR or a shotgun. I need one that is durable and depenable. I will be primarily using it for snake shot shells.

Thanks,
Lakelarish

jhm · « **Reply #1 on:** May 10, 2003, 01:59:43 PM »

Lakelarish: As far as snake control with the 22 shotshels I believe you will be better served with a revolver as the shotshells dont funtion as well in a auto, with that said look for a ruger both in auto and revolver they may be what you are looking for.

JIM

Chris · « **Reply #2 on:** May 10, 2003, 02:08:27 PM »

Got to agree with Jim.

If you're really thinking about running .22 shot shells through your gun...find yourself a nice revolver.

Be Safe! ...Chris

Lone Hunter · « **Reply #3 on:** May 10, 2003, 03:08:33 PM »

Lakelarish, Where in NC are you? I live in the Raliegh area and am not aware of the regulation. I don't pay alot of attention to the rules in the rest of the state [where I don't hunt]. I do all my hunting with handguns. ALways looking for more info.
You might try a Contender in 45Long colt/410 shot shell[$300 to $400] It would work good on snakes. There is also another single shot pistol. The Comanchi[spelling] That is of the same caliber. I have seen them at the gun shows for about $175.00. Lone Hunter

Majic · « **Reply #4 on:** May 10, 2003, 03:12:57 PM »

Lakelarish,
I live in central Va. and you can only hunt with a .22lr handgun in shotgun counties. You can carry any caliber you want as long as you are not hunting. Also most counties that don't allow centerfire rifles for big game hunting allows you to use them for varmit hunting. I have regurlarly walked the woods and wildlife management areas with a .45Colt and the game wardens have never said anything. I also groundhog hunt with a .22-250 which is legal in most counties.

Try this site for the state and locale rules:
http://www.dgif.state.va.us/index.cfm

Darrell Davis · « **Reply #5 on:** May 10, 2003, 05:26:48 PM »

:cry: Sorry to tell you this, but shot shells in a .22 are about as close to worthless as you can get.

The shot size IS VERY - V E R Y small and the amount of shot is extremely small for the task you are setting forth.

Couple the above handycaps with the effect of the rifling and you are better off with a rock.

I am with the responders who said to double check the regs. on calibers allowed. Your snake task needs at least a .357 or .44 shot load.

Use the Speer shot capsules and load at least #7 1/2 shot. I think I use 7gr. of Bullseye (CHECK YOUR LOAD BOOK, MY NEW ONE SAYS 6GR.) in my .44mag. loads and they are STILL a short range situation!!!!!!

Factory loads use a shot size smaller then 7 1/2 which decreases the effectiveness (decreased energy per pellet) of the loads. :grin:

Savage · « **Reply #6 on:** May 11, 2003, 03:43:12 AM »

Forget shot shells! Buy a Ruger Mk11 or a 22/45 load it up with solids. It'll kill snakes as far as you can see um, as well as serve as a defensive weapon against the two legged variety in a pinch. You'll be very disappointed with the performance of shot shells in any caliber of rifiled barrel, much less the rimfires.
Stay Safe,
Savage

lakelarish · « **Reply #7 on:** May 20, 2003, 10:03:44 AM »

I know about the shot capcules i use them with my Rossi 357. The game warden to us at my hunting club that the largest caliber we can carry in the woods is a 22 LR. It does not matter if you have a carry permit of what is in season. The area we hunt is in nothern Gates county NC. They have the same law as Suffolk city in Virginia. The segestion of using a revolver is a good one and i will strongly consider that when i make my choices.

thank you all for for info and insight

lake larish

jterrio · « **Reply #8 on:** May 21, 2003, 01:44:35 AM »

My father always had an old Hi-Standard 9 shot revolver with a 2 inch barrel at the camp the he used on water snakes and red squirrels. He kept it loaded with 22 shot shells. It was pretty effective out to about 15 feet.

Jeff

Cabin4 · « **Reply #9 on:** May 21, 2003, 06:20:15 AM »

I love my Ruger Government Competition Target with the slab side bbl in SS.

Thousands of rounds and I can honestly never remember a malfunction of any kind. Mounted a Millett silver red dot on it and at 50 feet it is a complete and total tack driver.

Ron T. · « **Reply #10 on:** May 21, 2003, 07:38:42 AM »

I recommend you look at a Ruger Mark II with either a 4-inch or 6-inch barrel. Ruger makes "tough" firearms and the Mark II semi-automatic pistol is one of the very best.

You might reconsider using .22 cal. shotshells in it and load it with hi-velocity long-rifle hollowpoints instead. They do just fine on a wide variety of "varmints", both the kind that crawl and the kind that walk on either four legs or two legs.

I had a Hi-Standard Supermatic Trophy pistol with inter-changable barrels that I loved, but it got stolen. The 4-inch barrel was on the gun at the time... but I still have the 10-inch barrel. However, Hi-Standard has cycled "in & out" of business which always makes one wonder if they'll be able get parts or repairs once they own the gun.

Good Shooting!

Ron T.

opossum · « **Reply #11 on:** May 21, 2003, 02:49:11 PM »

Don't overlook the browning buckmarks they are very accurate. But if your going to shoot shotshells go with a revolver. Check out the taurus line of revolvers.

Alferd Packer · « **Reply #12 on:** June 07, 2003, 09:52:24 PM »

I would think about getting a .32 H&R pistol.
It can be reloaded as cheaply as what .22 magnums cost and you can reload your own homebrewed snake shells in the Magnum cases.
The .32 S&W to the .32 Mag is like the .22 short is to the .22 mag. and the .32's only need one cylinder for all three-The .32 S&W, .32 long, and the .32 Mag.

The .22 shotshell is next to useless. Oh it blows shot, but not enough to be of any use, unless you get so close that you can stomp on the snake.
It would take handloading, but the .32 anchors any small game from squirrels to rabbits up thru feral dogs, and with one shot.
The .22 from a pistol is good for target practice, but too small and weak from a pistol for hunting, unless you relish wounding a lot of critters.

The .32 is accurate and dirt cheap to handload for. It can be loaded quieter than a .22 short and knock down any small animal as sure as a .30 cal rifle with one shot everytime and not tear up the meat.
You can't say that about a .22 pistol.

The .32 also is very capable as a self defense weapon and with the .32 Mag loads, is close on the heels of the .38 special.

Just my 2¢

Savage · « **Reply #13 on:** June 08, 2003, 06:54:19 AM »

Hey AP, welcome to the board. You make a good case for the .32mag as a trail gun. However, using your logic it would be easy to make a case for the .38 as a better one. The real issue here is a good dependable .22 handgun, and no collection is complete without at least one. Shot shell performance in any rifled barrel is dissapointing at best, even in the .45LC.
While I have been reloading over 30 yrs. I enjoy shooting my rimfires as a welcome break from the centerfires, cheap, no brass to chase, low noise--it goes on and on. Reloading increases the versitility of the centerfires but doesn't make a shot gun out of them! They can't take the place of the most popular cartridge on earth, the 22LR!! (no shotshells please)
Stay Safe,
Savage