Opinion:. What is the best 22 LR for Hunting

[Redhawk1]

Ruger Single Six, like I have. 22 LR, 22 Longs, 22 Shorts,  CB longs and  CB shorts. Also can put my 22 Mag cylinder in for bigger stuff like fox exc.
Accurate, versatile and a tack driver.

[Old Griz]

Scoped 6" S&W 617 and any ammo, but I have always had great results with anything Winchester. Even made some Wildcat hollowpoints, and they are terrific.

[banen]

Browning Buckmark / Camper.  It was the cheapest gun I have and I love it!!  Shoot it great haven't had a jam yet.  I don't know if I just got a good one or what.   It is my pick. 

[feldspar13]

S&W Model 17,  CCI mini mags

[Camba]

I have two Ruger slab sided stainless pistols.  One is 6-7/8" bbl and the other is a 5-1/2" bbl.  My 5-1/2" bbl seems more accurate than the other and I had not yet smooth the trigger on the 5-1/2".  Both of them are excellent.  I had another one of these pistols the year they came out.  I shot that pistol probable 20,000 rounds and then I sold it to my brother.  I regret selling it because that pistol was so acurate that it woud bit any of my 22LR rifles up to 100 yards.  The one with the 5.5" bbl is my favorite now.  What I like the most is that I don't get any jams (unless it is the ammunition fault) and it does not marrate the chamber if accidentally pull the trigger in an empty chamber.

Camba

[sscoyote]

I'd use the Velocitor over the Stinger any day, but that's just me.

I'm gonna try some of those out of my Charger here shortly. Have heard good things about them. I can get 1.5-2" @ 100 form the Stingers @ 1450 mv with about 60 fps. ES, and 4-6" @ 200 yds. 

[jk3006]

A few years ago I did a little test to see what the actual velocities were between the Stinger and the Velocitor at the muzzle, as well as at 100 yards.  This was done out of my 10/22 target model, and I fired 10 shots of each at each respective distance.  My results were:

Stinger

Muzzle Velocity-1575
Velocity at 100 yards-1050

Velocitor

Muzzle Velocity-1355
Velocity at 100 yards-1038

So, the Velocitor is hands down the winner for hammering game once the distance gets out there a bit.  Of course, accuracy is the final decision-maker as to which one to use.  In my gun, the Velocitor is the more accurate. 

I'd use the Velocitor over the Stinger any day, but that's just me.

I'm gonna try some of those out of my Charger here shortly. Have heard good things about them. I can get 1.5-2" @ 100 form the Stingers @ 1450 mv with about 60 fps. ES, and 4-6" @ 200 yds. 

[S.B.]

sscoyote, you get 1450 fps with Stinger out of a pistol?

[Bigeasy]

My all time favorite small game rig is a S&W model 41 with a 2x Leopold scope mounted.  It is as accurate as most rifles with about any load.  Killed a ton of rabbits and squirrels with that gun.

Since moving to PA, I have had to use a revolver, since semi-autos are illegal here for hunting.  My 6 inch S&W K-22 does very well.  I have a 2x scope mounted in a B-Square mount.  Looks like crap, but it makes hitting a lot easier.  I like the CCI Velocitor in both guns - accurate and good expansion.  If I am feeling luck, and taking only head shots, then the Ely standard velocity match ammo is good stuff.

Larry

[S.B.]

An awful lot of you guys are talking rifle velocities on a Hunting Handgun forum. Fair comparison?

[mcwoodduck]

No not fair.  Handguns do not come close to the rifle speeds.
Unless you are using either a contender with a 12 to 14" barrel or one of the Browning Buck Mark Sill models that can build up the speed.
Anything over 16.5 inches starts to slow a 22 bullet.  All of the powder has burned by 16.5 inches and all metal touching it past that is adding friction and slowing the projectile.  And as far as I can tell with the hyper velocity rounds ( Stingers, yellow jackets, and others) do not give a whole lot over the standard ammo if anything at all out of a 4-6 inch pistol.  Powder is either burning out side of the barrel or that the gas ball is still expanding and building pressure and speed when the barrel ends.

[dpe.ahoy]

I've had very good results with Win Power Points in most of my 22's  If not the most accurate, they are close to it, and they hit pretty hard.  DP  OOPS!  posted twice on this one, sorry.  But I really do like the power points.  DP

[jdinil]

My favorite is an old Browning Nomad. The old thing just shoots! And most ammunition is accurate in it. I got it from a old trapper I used to work with. He carried it on the trapline for years. It's been reblued once and has some blue worn off again. The Nomad was the cheapest version of the Browning .22 automatics in it's day. Fixed sites. I think they were discontinued in the late '60's or early '70's. I have several other .22 handguns, but that Nomad is the hunter. I have a Ruger MKII target model that shoots nearly as good. It's the one with the slender 6 & 7/8 inch barrel and adjustable sites. I could certainly recommend one of those as a hunter too.

[cattleskinner]

I will vote for these two.  Mine is the MKII slab side that I changed out to more usable sights.  Can hit a quarter sized group at 25 yds. if I concentrate.  The other is my wife's SS Single Six Convertable.  Yet another good revolver that doesn't break the bank.

~Amos