Fall is comming ;scouting is about to get going; which 22 to use?

[Crow Juice]

 Well it is a little cooler in West Tennessee and my urge to head to the woods and look around has already "REDLINED”. However , Every year I have the same dilemma: which 22 field gun to take .For me 22 hand guns are just "Iron Crack" and I am addicted .For many years I only had the old Challenger II that dad gave me for Christmas just after I got married .I didn't have money so this was my field gun . Time goes on as time does and I became a little more affluent and bought a Taurus 941 22mag, 4", in the early 90's .Used it mostly as back up for predator hunting in late winter. One day in the late 90's I woke up and had to have a Single Six , who knows why .About that time I bought my dad  a Smith 22a that I found used that looked new .Well dad passed and the 22A is in my safe now . A couple of years ago I was on Gun Blasts and they reviewed the 4" Charter Pathfinder and I had to order it that day. I also changed companies and my guys gave a Ciener 22/45 conversion kit. My 22 dreams save one have all been answered. I would love to find an H&R 999 with a 6" barrel in premo shape. With all these pistols and revolvers to scout with I only need about 10000 miles of trail to give every one it's day in the field ..................... You know Bearcats are nice too! ...................... I said I have a problem.

[BUGEYE]

lotsa luck on finding a mint 999, though that would be nice.
I have squirrel hunted with a 22a for several years. someday I might actually hit one
btw, where in west tenn. my lovely wife is from dyersburg.

[Crow Juice]

I live in Collierville  TN which is just East of Memphis.Regarding the Smith22A , it's a great gun for the money and has some nice features .I just recently started spending time with mine .Although it has an advanced case of ugly, it's kind of cute in a Glockish sort of way. I'm sure  killing a squirrel would be easy if you got serious . Remember "Trigger Time" is the solution to most gun problems!!!!!!

[jim ritchie]

Crow Juice,
Don't worry, there are still some cherry 999's out there.
The prices have been going up for the extra nice ones though!
Here's a few pics of my best Sportsman pieces.
All 1980 manufacture.
All with boxes and paperwork.
These have been purchased within the last 2 years or less.
Keep looking, you'll find one.
Yes, it's a disease, there is no cure.
You can self medicate by buying more 22's though!
I have about 30 H&R's, and still NEED more!

Two 4" 999 Sportsman
1 unfired, 1 fired very little.
1 6" Sportsman unfired
All wearing Jay Scott grips

  

6" Sportsman fired very little
Factory grips

[Graybeard]

Fall is comming

I've heard that rumor but so far have seen absolutely no evidence to back it up around here.

If squirrel hunting is seriously on the agenda for the scouting trips take the one you shoot most accurately. If not and all you want is a gun to feel the weight of it on your hip take the one your dad gave you. If protection from snakes might be a part of the reason for carrying it use the .22 magnum with the first couple of shots snake loads than follow it up with JHPs.

[AtlLaw]

If squirrel hunting is seriously on the agenda for the scouting trips take the one you shoot most accurately.

Way to hot to hunt tree rats...    they full of wolves now...    I never shoot 'em until after the first frost...

[tacklebury]

Just got my little H&R 930 Target Model back today after over a decade.  The guy I sold it to cannot get into the woods any more and sold it back to me for the same price he paid me in 1997.    I intend to re-blood it.  It got me a lotta squirrels in the day... 

[Crow Juice]

Although squirrel season starts this week , I just cary a 22 for dinging around .You never know when a pinecone is gonna mock you a it needs to be destroyed . I can't walk in the woods with out putting a few down range . In the last year personal protection has become an issue. My club has already run a few illegal's off  and I've heard they gave one of our guys a hard time.=.

[Casull]

Way to hot to hunt tree rats...    they full of wolves now...    I never shoot 'em until after the first frost...

I've hunted quite a few hot August days and shot more than a few squirrels, but have never had one with wolves.  I have found them in rabbits though.

[gustmouse]

I took my new to me  single six this morning scouting for turkey and deer sign
squirrels open on the first, but it was nice having the single action with me
but on state land only 22LR hanguns are legal here, coyote is open so wish I could of carried the 22mag. anyhow the ruger looked good in the woods!

[.357]

When i used to scout close to home it was always my single six now that i trek off into the wilderness quiet a ways with all the illegals and drugs we have running around in this state, I take my 4 inch .357 but i clear a speed loader of 75 grain wadcutters over unique in case i see something for the pot.

[Keith L]

What "illegals" are giving you guys trouble.  The illegal aliens that I have run across are doing every thing they can to blend in and not bring attention to themselves. 

[Casull]

What "illegals" are giving you guys trouble.  The illegal aliens that I have run across are doing every thing they can to blend in and not bring attention to themselves. 

Apparently you aren't dealing with the ones along the border that have been murdering people.

[Keith L]

The press up here reports violence along the border in Mexico by drug gangs.  Nothing about illegals in this country killing people.

[Casull]

The press up here reports violence along the border in Mexico by drug gangs.  Nothing about illegals in this country killing people.

The killings I'm talking about are on THIS side of the border.  Are you really trying to say the Mexican drug gangs killing on this side are not illegal aliens?   

[Keith L]

If you are thinking of taking on the Mexican mafia alone with one pistol you might find yourself a little under gunned. 

We are not hearing of killings on this side of the border up here.

[Casull]

Keith, I don't know where "up here" is, but it doesn't sound like it's along the border.  Try asking some of those in AZ about killings north of the border.

[cybin]

When I lived in North Carolina the squirrels had wolves in them until after the first frost, but here in Missouri the only thing that has them in them is the rabbits. Now you go to South Dakota even the rabbits don't have them, but there are fewer squirrels in South Dakota to hunt.

cybin

[Casull]

Cybin, that may explain what I observed.  My hunting was in Illinois, and like I said I never saw wolves in squirrels, but have seen them in rabbits.  Although, come to think of it, the only times I saw them in rabbits was in Kentucky.  Maybe it's a north vs south thing.

[tt4617]

Guys,

Been hunting all my life and never heard of "wolves" in a squirrel or rabbit. What are wolves? Maybe we call it by a different name up here.

Tom

[Casull]

I've heard them called "wolves" and "worvles".  They are the larval stage of the blowfly or botfly, I believe.  They are a large grub that you usually find in the neck of the affected critter.

[AtlLaw]

found between the skin and the meat.  They say the meat is safe but darn them things look nasty!