[Hboy828]

Would like to spend under 350$
Considering a used s&w revolver
A Taurus 94
Or a ruger mark 3 standard

[kbbailey]

I think you are on the right track with the Ruger autoloader. It is my kit/truck gun.
Quick to load/unload; cheap ammo; deadly accurate; extra ammo in a couple of extra mags; not very loud; if I ever had a misfire....I don't remember it.

[Shadow 7D]

Tokarevs, cheap, cheap ammo, and can handle almost anything you come across (well maybe not a griz)

[BCRider]

The small J framed 34 was the quintisential kit gun. But these days there's a few other options for small and light .22's. For example if you should come across a short barrel version of the old S&W 422 semi auto you won't finde a much better semi kit gun. The aluminium frame makes it really light and a switch of the grips to something thinner would have the thickness down to that of a pancake. It would be a gun you could holster and hardly know it's there.

My 422 has been dead nutz reliable over probably 2500 to 3000 rounds fired from it over the past two years since I got the gun. I recently added a stainless version, a 2206, and that one is off and running with a good promise of the same sort of reliability showing from about 400 rounds fired.

I offer this option since while the Ruger Mk III is a superb gun it is not light. Hell, I suspect a 1911 is lighter. Weight may not matter to everyone but it's a factor worth thinking about.

[Naybor]

Just bought my Ruger Mark III Standard in stainless yesterday. Paid about $50 extra to get it in stainless (a Sports South Exclusive) but it still was only $330.

Talk about accurate!! Hmmmmmm...... wonder if I can neuter a fly with it?

Seriously though, I took my CCW class using a borrowed Mark II and had six shots nine ring and the rest 10 ring. Made a believer out of me. Not light at 35 ounces but that probably helps with accuracy.

The wife has a Ruger SP101 .357 that would also make a good kit gun. It will cost $375 - $400. Loaded with .38 special it's a pleasure to shoot. (It's also stainless) She says that unlike some smaller revolvers it doesn't sting her hand to shoot +P and .357. It weighs 24 ounces unloaded.

[Vern Humphrey]

I'd look for a used Ruger MK I (Red Eagle) or MK II, rather than a MK III.

From www.gunsamerica.com

Ruger Red Eagle 904731814

Ruger Red Eagle, 22LR, #30XXX, 4 3/4" barrel, finish worn to gray-brown on frame& receiver, spotty finish on barrel, original grips and sights, excellent bore. (read more)
Seller: Schultheis Sporting $250.00


RUGER MK ll 22LR 921171470
PREVIOUSLY OWNED. NO BOX OR PAPERS. This semi auto pistol has a 6 inch barrel. Blade front sight. Dove tail square notch rear sight. Right hand thumb safety. Single stack 10 ro... (read more)
Seller: Cliffs Guns Safes Reloading $260.00

Ruger MK I Target pistol 22LR caliber 950328123


RUGER MK I TARGET PISTOL IN 22LR CALIBER. 6 7/8" tapered barrel with adjustable sites. A nice well cared for gun that shoots perfectly. Grades at 96-97%. Has an Uncle Mike's Holst... (read more)
Seller: Keith Woods $275.00

[ArchAngelCD]

Hboy828,
When someone talks about a "kit gun" they are usually talking about a .22. If that's true and you are looking to spend only ~#350 you might want to take a look at the short barrel .22 from Charter Arms (http://www.charterfirearms.com/products/Charter_Pathfinder_72224.html). You can buy one new within your budget. I doubt you will be able to find even a used S&W with your budget, they retain their value especially in .22 LR.

Welcome to the forum...

[mbopp]

I'm with Vern - a MKI or MKII Ruger, the 4-1/2" fixed sight version. The 5-1/2" bull barrel one gets heavy as a trail gun and the 6-7/8" one is a bit unwieldy.

[smallbore]

My kit/trail gun is a Ruger MkIII 22/45 w/4.5", slab-sided barrel and 'fixed sights' (rear sight is drift adjustable). Nice gun w/a decent price tag. I paid just under $240 for it. Comes w/2 10rd mags.

[David E]

A .22 auto doesn't have quite the flexibility as a .22 revolver, as it cannot shoot shorts or shotshells without working the action. A revolver, just cock the hammer or pull the trigger for the next shot.

A .22 auto does have the edge in "defensive" capabilities, due to it's accurate rapid fire ability.

But it does not have the power of a convertible with .22 magnum cylinder, which might negate some of the rapid-fire advantage.

A semi-auto must be either put on "safe" after firing a few rounds, or the chamber emptied before reholstering. The semi-auto must have the safety disengaged and/or have a round chambered before firing the next time around. A revolver just needs to be holstered without doing anything extra after the shot(s), nor does anything special need to happen to fire the next shot from the holster.

Decide what factors matters most to you.

Consider a Ruger Single Six and the Ruger semi-autos.

[blitzen]

Need a little bit more info on were you will be taking your kit/trail gun. What do you expect to be able to do with it, ect...? It's sort of obvious but
I'm thnking a trail gun for you might be different than a trail gun for where I'm at.

[SwampWolf]

Consider a Ruger Single Six and the Ruger semi-autos.

I agree with David E on these two handguns. I'd recommend the "Super Single Six" with adjustable sights and the .22 Magnum auxilary cylinder for total flexibility. If opting for the Ruger semi-auto, I'd look for a good, used MKI or MKII speciman-and I do much prefer adjustable sights on a "kit/camp/trail" pistol.
Actually, one of my favorite "kit/trail" guns is a Smith Model 60-4, having a 3" barrel and adjustable sights and chambered in .38 Special. This little s/s revolver has accompanied me on more than a few Boundry Water canoe/fishing trips in Minnesota's BWAC "wilderness" area.

[Hboy828]

hguys is the s&w 317 worth the 200 or so more than the mark3
because i have the money i just dont knok if i can jstify spending that much for a 22

[Brian Williams]

My Kit-gun is a S&W model 60-4, 38 spec, 3" barrel, adjustable sights, Magna grips with a Tyler T-Grip.
If Pennsylvania allowed auto loaders in the woods for hunting, I would use a Colt 1st series Woodsman with a 6" barrel.

[Deaf Smith]

Would like to spend under 350$
Considering a used s&w revolver
A Taurus 94
Or a ruger mark 3 standard
$350?

Easy! Any good Smith&Wesson .38 would fill the bill. Just use wadcutters for bunnys and the like, CCI .38 shot for snakes, and +P for 2 legger vermin.

I've seen pleny of 2 inch snub Smith M10s for $350 or below. Just saw a Ruger Service Six .357 Stainless in Lewisville Texas, above Dallas, for $350. 4 inch barrel at a pawn shop on Mills street. They even hand a 4 inch Smith M64,, thin barrle .38 for something like that to!

.22? Any Buckmark, or Ruger MKI, II, or III will do to!

Look around, plenty of revolvers in that price range are in pawn shops.

Deaf

[Hboy828]

how much louder is a 38 than a 22
i want to be able to shhot it on my property

[Deaf Smith]

http://www.freehearingtest.com/hia_gunfirenoise.shtml

.25 ACP 155.0 dB
.32 LONG 152.4 dB
.32 ACP 153.5 dB
.380 157.7 dB
9mm 159.8 dB
.38 S&W 153.5 dB
.38 Spl 156.3 dB
.357 Magnum 164.3 dB
.41 Magnum 163.2 dB
.44 Spl 155.9 dB
.45 ACP 157.0 dB
.45 COLT 154.7 dB

And a .22 short is 143.5 db.

http://www.nrahq.org/youth/enews/enews_06_summer.pdf

And .22 lr at 150 to 155 db.

http://www.frfrogspad.com/miscelli.htm

So you see a .38 is very very little above a .22, at lest if both are fired from a pistol barrel.

Deaf