What .22 for a backpacking hunting gun?

For me nothing I've owned beats my plain old ruger mk1. Very rugged, will cycle anything, and never misses.

Savage Rascal

If you get a Mini Master, get Chong Vang Grips.

If money is no object, get a Pack Rifle: http://www.packrifle.com/

MCgunner said:

More accurate and therefore more suitable than my SR22, for sure. I do have a fave kit gun, though, an old (no longer made) Rossi M511 sportsman. That thing is 1" at 25 yards accurate with Federal Automatch. I'm hording my automatch as I can't (as most are well aware) get it right now, but this little Rossi is the only .22 I have that really likes it. The gun weighs about 24 ounces, stainless construction with a Pachmayr Compac grip.

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I trade off a Rossi just like it for a 10/22 that wouldn't hit the broad side of a Barn.

I would take my Ruger mark III hunter or Ruger single six hunter. Both are above the proscribed weight limit, but both are bad medicine for small game. Long gun I would opt for either a synthetic/stainless Savage 92 or a Browning BL22.

I have a 317 that now has a stainless cylinder. It is much better, but I don't think I would rely on it as a primary food gathering gun; I would prefer my 22/45 which weighs about 23 oz. If I wanted to use a .22 revo for that, I would probably use my 5" Model 63, at 27 oz, or my SP101, at 30 oz.

If I were going to depend on the .22 for food, I would choose accuracy over weight all day long. A good quality semi-auto .22 pistol, a breakdown Ruger 10/22, a single shot 410 shotgun can be taken apart pretty readly for putting in a back pack and some readers mentioned the Cricket which would be good assuming they are accurate since the readers recommended them. Even adding optics to enhace accuracy would be on option. Freeze dried food might just be lighter than any of the above if not worried about personal protection when hiking.

If I recall correctly, High Standard (or Hi Standard, not really sure which is correct) made an aluminum frame "Sentinel" which was supposed to be pretty accurate, and lightweight. It should come in under $400, came in several barrel lengths, and has a nine shot swing out cylinder. You will have to get one used, since they are not made anymore...

It would have to be a 44 mag.

Find a nice Ruger Single Six and have one charge hole in the 22lr cylinder reamed to 22mag. Most of the time you will use the 22lr but every once in a while that 22mag makes sense.

The most classic choice:

S&W Model 63, the stainless version of the original "Kit Gun". It's a J frame, adjustable sight, six shot .22 of superb quality. Find a good used one and enjoy.


Willie

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I've gotta say if weight was all you were concerned about, the S&W 317 would be an attractive option, but not the best shooter, seeing as a 1 7/8, or 3" barrel isn't ideal for a field gun. I'm a bit of a traditionalist at heart, and would love a Bearcat, for the purposes you describe, but on a more serious not, my Browning Buckmark Camper has been an excellent rimfire, digesting most all bulk pack ammo, the finish seals the deal for me, I don't believe I've had a pistol resist corrosion like the Buckmark with it's matte, parkerized finish. I think one of these would meet your criteria quite well. They're not a pain to take apart, (I'm not sure they even prescribe a field strip in the manual, but it's not hard at all to take apart anyhow), reasonably accurate too, though I embarrassingly don't remember the last time I punched paper with mine. Mostly pop steel with it. The moniker is appropriate IMO, and the Browning Buckmark Camper, would make a great pistol for a Camper IMHO.