Looking for a .22 Kit Gun

The Smith 317 is the answer, if a lightweight .22 with good sights is what is wanted.
The factory adjustables come with a V-notch rear and fiber optic front. I cannot get a repeatable sight picture with the V, so I replaced the blade with a standard J-gun notch.
The action can actually be slicked up really well, without decreasing the power of the mainspring.
Moon

Lefty Red mentioned semi autos. Kit guns were something you threw in a tackle box or ‘kit’ as you were heading out somewhere. Think most of us agree a kit gun is smallish but I’m not married to the idea that it needs to be a revolver.

I considered the Walther P22 I had a kit gun. Light. Small. Great plinker with a couple of cool options. Interchangble back strap and sights come standard. Threaded for suppressor. 2 mags. Ambi Mag eject and Safety

Some solid suggestions mentioned above by others. Although outside of the OPs stated requirements my current kit guns are a Single 6 in .32H&R and a Single 7 in .327FM. Both with birdshead grips and 4.5 and (3.5 ?) inch barrels. Definitely a reloaders proposition.

Don't know the difference, but I have a Walther PPQ .22; it's made well and shoots well. However, my recently acquired 1950 S&W K22 sees more range time in single action.

peakbagger46’s desired specifications (under $800, plinker, a secondary sidearm, carried on a hike, under 16oz) all point to a ruger bearcat. my only caveat tracks smaug’s, i.e. the small stock grips are unfriendly to large hands.

on gb.com i found an older bearcat with larger ruger-made target grips that really transform this little mechanical jewel into a comfortable and accurate carry sidearm. truth be told it’s my second bearcat (“one is none, two is one”) and i bid high on it more for the target grips. despite the ruger medallion these target grips can’t be found on ruger’s website now (or ebay). i would love another set; i suspect that they could be made by someone technically gifted without too much trouble.

the photo compares my bearcat with target grips to my ruger wrangler birdshead grip model, which might be a second choice. their relative footprints are similar but the wrangler birdshead is noticeably bulkier and heavier, and you must like a birdshead grip (me, not so much).

i would stay away from a s&w 317 as its alloy cylinder heat-binds.

in any event a reliable and robust rimfire revolver for the great outdoors speaks single action and ruger to me.

jstert said:

peakbagger’s desired specifications (under $800, plinker, a secondary sidearm, carried on a hike, under 16oz) all point to a ruger bearcat. my only caveat tracks smaug’s, i.e. the small stock grips are unfriendly to large hands. i lucked into an older bearcat with larger ruger-made target grips that really transform this little mechanical jewel. these target grips can’t be found on ruger’s website or ebay but i suspect could be made by someone technically gifted without too much trouble.

the photo compares my bearcat with target grips to my ruger wrangler birdshead model, which might be a second choice. their relative footprints are similar but the wrangler birdshead is noticeably bulkier and heavier, and you must like a birdshead grip (me, not so much).

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I always forget about that birdshead Wrangler. I think I like it even more due to the black tape wrapped around the grip panels.

Gawd dang it, I want one.

My choice would be a S&W 351PD.

I've had more failures from revolvers than semi autos. So I'd go semi auto. Glock 44 most likely. Its light and reliable. Far less to rust on that gun too. Years ago I carried a Beretta 21 A as well. Much less accurate but a decent gun.

My 10 shot Ruger and Smiths both had to go back to the factory. The Ruger had a light strike every few cylinder. The Smith had several most cylinders. Both came back working fine. Both are very heavy.

My long-time favorite woodswalk and trail gun.

...greener grass...

sparkyv said:

I think it'd be better as a 3 incher

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Pat Riot said:

My 63 is a 3”. I wish it was a 4” sometimes.

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I was eyeballing Dad's the last time I visited. He called a few weeks ago and said, "come and get it, it's yours."!

chicharrones said:

I always forget about that birdshead Wrangler. I think I like it even more due to the black tape wrapped around the grip panels.

Gawd dang it, I want one.

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chicharrones said:

I always forget about that birdshead Wrangler. I think I like it even more due to the black tape wrapped around the grip panels.

Gawd dang it, I want one.

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although i’m not a huge fan of birdshead grips (hence the grip tape on mine) i do like the overall smaller “footprint” of the 3.5” ruger wrangler birdshead over the 4.5” plowhandle model. the shorter wrangler b.h. feels more balanced in my hand.

another option might be a naa 2.5” sheriff or 3” earl mini revolver but with cv revision grips.

i firmly believe that a wranglerized (i.e. alloy and cheaper) bearcat would sell like hotcakes.

and while i’m asking, how about a wrangler sheriff, i.e. 3.5” barrel but with plowhandle, not birdshead, grips?

Peakbagger46 said:

I live out west and hike in bear and cat country quite a lot. I carry an appropriate revolver for defense and would like a good lightweight .22 as a companion for fun plinking while out and about. Been looking at discontinued S&W I frame revolvers as well as the older and lighter Ruger Bearcat. What would you recommend?

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This is what I have and would suggest:
https://www.smith-wesson.com/product/mp-22?sku=108390
weighs less than 16 ounces, 10 round magazine, threaded barrel (if quiet but bulky is a fair trade off), mine has been 100% reliable with decent high speed ammo, and was affordable when I bought mine.

I was born and raised in Colorado, had friends who enjoyed backpacking on the 14,000+ feet high peaks. Several of them were obsessive about backpack weight, willing to spend 100s of dollars to cut 1 ounce of weight from their load. Maybe the OP is not quite as concerned with weight as my friends were, in which case many of the guns already suggested would be acceptable. But I bet if he ever fondled a Model 43, he would look no further.

If you want a true S&W “kit gun”, better bring out the checkbook. I was regularly bidding on Model 63’s in early 2020 (pre craziness) and they were touching $900 bucks on GB. (I ended up buying a 10” Ruger Mk IV AND a stainless/walnut 10/22 International from Buds for less than my max bids on M-63’s were!)

Later on I did get a clean used 4” Model 34, the blued Model 63, for roughly $650. This is a pretty cool little revolver.

I also have a 3” S&W Model 317, the air-lite 9-shot. Super packable, its only negatives are a pretty stout trigger pull that leads me to a wobbly sight picture because the gun is so light, and the Hi Viz front, V notch rear are not my favorite for accuracy. These are also pricy new, expect to pay $750-800 for a new one.



317 on bottom:

Stay safe.

I have a Ruger Bearcat and Ruger SR-22. You mentioned a "Kit" gun which people generally think of as a revolver and the Bearcat fits into this category, however, the Ruger SR-22 shouldn't be overlooked. You can load 10 in the magazine and one in the chamber for 11 shots. It's extremely lightweight yet more accurate than you can hold and has a ton of safety features such as a thumb safety and decocker. Either of these handguns would suffice for what you need!

Autoloaders keep sneaking into a revolver forum thread.

Shell shuckers have their advantages, but I find the compact sized .22 versions typically need ammo selected to feed and cycle the slide over all other considerations. Of course, a person can manually cycle the slide for any ammo that will feed into the chamber, as I've done so myself. Which turns an autoloader into a straight pull "bolt action" gun.

What I like about revolvers in the case of this thread is that no magazines or even speed loaders are needed. Just load ammo straight from a box or pouch or pocket. Plus, you can collect the empty cases more easily to carry them out with your trash, if you're into that sort of thing.

And of course, I need to add another size comparison photo. A 3" j-frame size revolver versus a 3.5" compact autoloader. Both at 19 ounces each.

View attachment 1118257

TTv2 said:

NAA Minimaster

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The NAA mini Master is a great option! I like my NAA Sidewinder because it breaks the cylinder out the side like a more conventional revolver.

The NAA Ranger II is an even nicer and faster top break revolver.

I am always surprised at how accurate I can be with my little NAA revolvers. By putting on a readily available bigger grip they handle a lot like a bigger revolver with excellent accuracy.

For a trail plinker I think I would go with a Keltec P17... even though it is not a revolver.

chicharrones said:

Autoloaders keep sneaking into a revolver forum thread.

Shell shuckers have their advantages, but I find the compact sized .22 versions typically need ammo selected to feed and cycle the slide over all other considerations. Of course, a person can manually cycle the slide for any ammo that will slide into the chamber, as I've done so myself. Which turns an autoloader into a straight pull "bolt action" gun.

What I like about revolvers in the case of this thread is that no magazines or even speed loaders are needed. Just load ammo straight from a box or pouch or pocket. Plus, you can collect the empty cases easier to carry them out with your trash, if you're into that sort of thing.

And of course, I need to add another size comparison photo. A 3" j-frame size versus A 3.5" compact autoloader. Both at 19 ounces each.

View attachment 1118257

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Op said they weren't set to a revolver. So it's not a " what high capacity striker fired gun should I buy"....that gets 10 "buy a 1911" situation. Lol.

The Glock 44 has ran 100 percent for many people on many brands ammo. And it's pretty light. A 10 rd reload is quick too. The 10 shot revolvers I have are incredibly heavy. Even my 4 inch 617. And a reload is slow. I have a 329 pd thats plenty light. Smith should do a 10 or 12 rd 22 version of that if they don't already. My Glock is just over 14 oz. My 617 is pushing 40 oz.

I have Ruger mk series, Buckmarks etc etc, etc that have ran fine too but they aren't light. Very accurate though. If weight is any concern then I wouldn't go that route.

I have several of the tip up Beretta. Some are plenty reliable. Some are ammo sensitive. Then you have the pheonix/Jennings etc etc guns. Some work some don't. No matter the ammo

crestoncowboy said:

Op said they weren't set to a revolver. So it's not a " what high capacity striker fired gun should I buy"....that gets 10 "buy a 1911" situation. Lol.

The Glock 44 has ran 100 percent for many people on many brands ammo. And it's pretty light. A 10 rd reload is quick too. The 10 shot revolvers I have are incredibly heavy. Even my 4 inch 617. And a reload is slow. I have a 329 pd thats plenty light. Smith should do a 10 or 12 rd 22 version of that if they don't already. My Glock is just over 14 oz. My 617 is pushing 40 oz.

I have Ruger mk series, Buckmarks etc etc, etc that have ran fine too but they aren't light. Very accurate though. If weight is any concern then I wouldn't go that route.

I have several of the tip up Beretta. Some are plenty reliable. Some are ammo sensitive. Then you have the pheonix/Jennings etc etc guns. Some work some don't. No matter the ammo

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Hard to squeeze 10 rounds of .22 LR into an I-frame*, or Bearcat sized cylinder that the OP mentioned in post #1. Gotta bump up to at least a Ruger Single-10 sized cylinder, which is outside the OPs weight preference mentioned in post #15. I'm not sure quick reloads are the point in this thread otherwise a single action revolver like a Bearcat wouldn't have been mentioned by the OP.

*or J-frame

chicharrones said:

Hard to squeeze 10 rounds of .22 LR into an I-frame*, or Bearcat sized cylinder that the OP mentioned in post #1. Gotta bump up to at least a Ruger Single-10 sized cylinder, which is outside the OPs weight preference mentioned in post #15. I'm not sure quick reloads are the point in this thread otherwise a single action revolver like a Bearcat wouldn't have been mentioned by the OP.

*or J-frame

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Being on a cell phone, I can't see post numbers. But I didn't suggest a semi auto until the OP said he wasn't married to the idea of a revolver.

. Ive always said an N frame or k frame in 12 or 10 rd capacity with a 3 or 4 inch barrel. Scandium. most likely have to have a steel cylinder since the part of the cylinder that the pawl has to turn is tiny on our 10 shot guns. Would still be plenty light. My 329 is easy to forget you are wearing it. Id be a buyer. Might be the only one though. Lol

crestoncowboy said:

Being on a cell phone, I can't see post numbers. But I didn't suggest a semi auto until the OP said he wasn't married to the idea of a revolver.

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Gotcha. Sorry about that. Below are the OP's posts in full instead of links.

I made the revolver assumption based on the revolver forum the thread was started in.

Peakbagger46 said:

I live out west and hike in bear and cat country quite a lot. I carry an appropriate revolver for defense and would like a good lightweight .22 as a companion for fun plinking while out and about. Been looking at discontinued S&W I frame revolvers as well as the older and lighter Ruger Bearcat. What would you recommend?

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Peakbagger46 said:

Thanks all, lots of good suggestions. This will be a plinking piece as opposed to survival. Want to keep under 25oz and closer to 16 is even better. As for price, I’m good with spending $800. I currently have a single six that I absolutely love but it’s too heavy for this role.

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I have a 317 I can drop in a pocket and don't even know it is there. Also a true "Kit Gun" a 4" 22/32 model 34-1, and a 34-1 in 2" nickel. My 317 is a prelock with ramp front sight and u notch rear. It is pictured with a few of my other 22s.

I'm really fond of my s&w 34, easy carrying and shoots great. One of the original kit guns

Peakbagger46 said:

Want to keep under 25oz and closer to 16 is even better.

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S&W Model 43 on scale; 14.3 ounces.

chicharrones said:

I always forget about that birdshead Wrangler. I think I like it even more due to the black tape wrapped around the grip panels.

Gawd dang it, I want one.

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I picked up a gray(silver?) one at the beginning of summer to pair with my regular Wrangler. Once I dropped in a lighter trigger return spring, its been really sweet!



Stay safe.,

Another S&W Kit gun fan.