Your Preferred Trapline Handgun

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I used a Ruger 22/45 bull barrel for many years. I kept it loaded with 1 round of CCI Stinger for the occasional impromptu precision shot on a coyote or fox that was not in a trap. The mag was loaded with Aguila subsonic lead HP. I found these effective at dispatching up to coyote sized animals, and also effective on squirrel or rabbit at closer ranges. They generally did not cycle the action in colder weather, and had to be manually cycled. I found the large bolt handles on the Ruger to be easy to manipulate with heavy gloves and cold hands, and the firearm accurate enough for precision shooting. Also quieter than a wheelgun with the subsonics.
 
If I got into it now, I'd probably carry my Taurus 94. It's stainless, holds nine rounds, and is surprisingly accurate. It's just difficult to unload spent brass from; have to whack the ejector tip with the flat handle of my pocketknife or something. Never bothered to send it back to Taurus over that.

I also have two Heritage Rough Rider guns and a NM Single Six that would serve well, too. My Smith and Wesson 63-3 is too nice (and expensive!) a gun for swamp duty.

Of course, my NAA .22LR 1.125" would be along, too, just because it pretty much always is. ;)
 
Armored farmer said:
The Ruger Single Six is perhaps the perfect outdoorsman. 22.
I love my 4⅝, but I would like to try a 9½ inch to see how it performs. View attachment 1036761
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I have the 9.5 and want the 4.625. The 9.5 is a cool hand rifle. If you have the eyes to make use of the long sighting plane, it's a great shooter. The muzzle heaviness made me choose a larger non-cowboy grip, though.
 
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Rifles dont make very good trapline guns: they are heavy and unwieldy, and tough to shoot with one hand. Anyone who has trapped will tell you that you had better be strong. Carrying a bucket of traps, supplies, tools, bait, and any critters gets tiresome fast. A lightweight small caliber pistol is perfect.

Furs are generally sold to a local dealer. Some want the whole carcass and some want em skinned. American demand for furs is almost non-existent. Beaver though, is another story. Beaver pelts are used in making cowboy hats and their castor glands are nearly worth their weight in gold. But beaver trapping is dangerous: body grip traps can take fingers off, and are usually hidden half under water. Conibear traps are not to be taken lightly.
 
I have many 22. Id Carry my Glock 44. When squirrel hunting I carry my new Glock or my 617 ten shot. I don't beat my older guns up anymore and (sacrilege I know...) The Glock shoots surprisingly well and weights next to nothing.

Any gun should be fine, accuracy wise, for trapped critters. Anything but skunk at least

Doesn't look as cool but it's replacing my others for field use
 
BigBlue 94 said:
Rifles dont make very good trapline guns: they are heavy and unwieldy, and tough to shoot with one hand. Anyone who has trapped will tell you that you had better be strong. Carrying a bucket of traps, supplies, tools, bait, and any critters gets tiresome fast. A lightweight small caliber pistol is perfect.

Furs are generally sold to a local dealer. Some want the whole carcass and some want em skinned. American demand for furs is almost non-existent. Beaver though, is another story. Beaver pelts are used in making cowboy hats and their castor glands are nearly worth their weight in gold. But beaver trapping is dangerous: body grip traps can take fingers off, and are usually hidden half under water. Conibear traps are not to be taken lightly.
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Very dangerous
 
Back in the late 50's and early 60's, I trapped muskrats, racoons and the occasional mink. This was south of Buffalo, NY in weather that cannot adequately be described in print for family audiences. While a handgun might have worked had it been legal, I relied on a sawed off baseball bat and tried real hard not to damage the pelt. Guns were not practical at 20 degrees or colder while carrying traps, ice ax, handwarmers and praying that I'd not go through the ice 3 miles from home. YMMv, it was a tougher brand of kid in those long ago times...game boys, say what? Best regard,s Rod
 
An old grizzled trapper that roamed the swamps and hollows of Alabama once told me he carried (and preferred) a revolver to a semi-automatic pistol because the revolver required just that much more manipulation to fire a second shot whereas an auto was “always at the ready,” as he put it.

At times he could drop different loads into the cylinder too. I can’t recall the make and model, but he loved a good 22lr and 357.
 
I don’t trap for fur but have trapped hundreds of hogs, I much prefer a .22 rifle. If I used one of my .22 pistols it would be suppressed though.
 
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