Contender 22 Barrell for a Balanced Rabbit Pistol

[stoutstuff]

Ok Guys...   How would you set up a Contender 22 pistol for Rabbits - preferably with a variable scope?
Stoutstuff

[David D.]

Not a lot of rabbits in my area but I do like hunting squirrel with mine. I have this 17Mach2 14" barrel set up with a Nikon 3-9X40. Works well but a little on the heavy side.



I had this 10" MGM tapered 22L.R. made just for squirrel hunting. Topped it off with a Burris 2X7 Timberline scope. I chose this scope because of the 5" eye relief.

[stoutstuff]

David D,   How do you like the .17 caliber on small game in pistol length?  I'm guessing if those squirrels dropped dead just looking at that woodwork of yours... Gorgeous!     How's the balance on that 10" 22 rig?
Stoutstuff

[David D.]

The 17Mach2 perform fantastic on small game. If you take a body shot and hit a bone there are lots of damage. Head shots I've taken do not exit, they made the head puff up.

The 10" barrel I like but would be better balanced if it had been a bull barrel. Even so I do not regret getting the barrel tapered.

[Ladobe]

+1 on the 17HM2 or 17HMR... stopped using all my 22LR/22MAG firearms when I started hunting with either in my handguns and rifles.
 
Balance may vary depending on what each shooter prefers.   Grip fit, stance and technique will also play a roll.
 
One of the best balanced TC's I've ever owned was a 12" bull 22LR Match barrel with near barrel length forend and a relatively small Leupold 4X scope.   
 
I shot IHMSA and hunted small game with it.
 
 

[scratcherky]

Ladobe, Sure is pretty wood on that Contender!

[Ladobe]

scratcherky,
 
Thanks for the kudo's.   
 
Credit goes to Fred Smith (Bullberry) and Justin Sip who did his stock work way back then.   Wood is from Fred's personal private stash and is exhibition screwbean mesquite with birdseye maple caps made to my design.   Grip was fitted to my hand by Justin (easy to do as I lived near Bullberry then, ran with Fred and was often in the shop).   Over the years Fred did some awesome stock work for me, always from his private stash, and made me some "special" barrels as well (including the 12" in the picture chambered to my specs for a specific ammo).
 
 

[singleVI]

I'd have a 6" .22 Lr barrel and some kind of Red Dot sight. Ive never got a shot at a sitting rabbit in my life so a scope would be out of the question. Better yet, a .410 Barrel!