.22 Hi Standard Snubby, accuracy, comments?

[willysjeep134]

I have a .22 LR Hi Standard snub nosed revolver. It has a very short barrel, less than 2",  and a round butt on the grip. The gun has factory partrige type fixed sights, but I can drift the rear for windage, and elevation seems right. From 15 yards I can hit a 2" circle when I rest my arms on the shooting bench and squeeze off the shot single action. I have a few questions for you all now.

1) can a 2" barrel generate enough velocity to hunt small game with in a .22? Say, for instance, do any of you hunt with a short barrled kit gun or NAA mini?

2) what would you consider reasonable accuracy and ranges for this gun?
I hunt mostly in thick swamps and woods so shots over 25 yards on small game aren't too common.

[willysjeep134]

Update:

I took the revolver out to the range again after a good cleaning. Shooting Winchester Wildcat .22 LRNs I was getting between 880 and 920 FPS at 3 feet from the muzzle. Unfortunately, for some strange reason the front site had actually worked loose from the groove it is pressed into. I was shooitng slightly tihter groups, but about 10 inches low! I took the pistol back home and carefully pressed the front site back in place with a shop vise and wood block. Now this weekend I need to take it out again and give it a fair chance to proove its self.

[44 Man]

I don't own a Hi-Standard, but have always wanted a Sentinel.  I do have a Charter 3" that shoots about 1 1/2" groups at 15 yds.  I haven't pushed it much beyond that.  I do suggest you also try different ammo.  I have never had very good accuracy with the Wildcat ammo.  Try some Federal bulk h.p. or Rem Golden h.p.  That's what my guns seem to like the best.  If you still are not happy with the gun, you can get a longer barrel from Gun Parts Corp.  44 Man

[willysjeep134]

I thought about getting a longer barrel, but the gun has one of those rounded grip frames they only put on the snubbies. A long barrel just wouldn't seem right to me. I think that if I practice enough, and I do enjoy shooting anyways, i should get accurate enough to shoot the occasional porcupine, grouse, or rabbit if the opportunity presents its self.

Surprisingly enough, I have had some of my best accuracy with Winchester ammo. Remington has been my worst brand.

[elyod56]

i have a sentinal , in .22 mag . it originally had two cylinders and when i bought it i thiught it was a .22 lr. it has a 4" brl and adj. sights and the front sight has a long serrated ramp. i was disappointted when i realized it was a .22 mag as i don't think the increased muzzle blast warrents the small improvment in ballistics the 22 mag has over the 22lr in a 4" brl. revolver. it never came with the 22lr cylinder but  it is a switch cylinder because you can push a button in front and the unfluted cylinder drops out easily. i would imagine another one in 22lr would have to be fitted by a gunsmith. i shoot it once in a while,and carry it in a generic hunter holster. it's accurate enough for hunting but so noisy that i seldom use it.  :roll:

[Horsefeathers]

I have a Hi-Standard 22.cal. Revolver Kit Gun. It is  real accurate. I fired ten rounds of Thunderbolt,Remington ammo at 25 yards an got them all in the X-ring slow fire. The ammo is not to reliable or is it  always accurate. But the gun is a shooter. I have not Fired it on paper in 26 years ,but I saved that target. I bought it on a deal I couldnot Refuse,Gun like new in the box, Holster and 100 rounds of ammo for $27.00. Horsefeathers.

[44 Man]

Horsefeathers, want to double your money?  That was a good deal!  I'm sure I will run across one someday and the price will be right.  It could even be a beater as Gun Parts Corp seems to still have a good stock of parts.  44 Man

[willysjeep134]

I just did a DIY tune up on this pistol. I took it all apart and cleaned the action very well. I also honed the trigger and hammer a tiny bit. I used a fine hone and then a block of softwood with some rubbing compound on it. Then I cleaned off the parts I worked on and oiled them, put the gun back together. This did lighten the pull a little, but I think the gun is worn in well enough that it didn't do too much. I was very conservative in polishing, so i didn't hurt anything.

I also lapped the barrel a little bit, a very little bit. I scrubbed the barrel clean and then polished it with a little rubbing compound on cleaning patches. After a few minutes I switched to clean patches. Again, I did very little. I did get some lead junk out of the forcing cone so I guess it probably did some good. Rubbing compound is very fine, so I figure it probably can't be that bad of a choice for lapping a cheap revolver barrel. We'll see if things improved this weekend.