I've not owned or fired one, but I'd think that 22/45 lite would be perfect. I'd want something with a reasonable sight radius as a survival .22 so I could actually hit something with it and not waste precious ammo. I have a buckmark hunter and its plenty accurate but too big. I'm not sure if browning has a buckmark option small enough for your requirements, maybe the camper? How important is it to fit in the vest pocket?
22 flying / Survival-vest pistol search
- Thread starter Float Pilot
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I"ve taken a lot of critters with guns that would not do better than 3" at 20 yds. If you are really out in the sticks, they don't have much fear of man. I'd go with the Twisted Industries .22lr conversion unit AND the Keltec PF9. ccw the PF9 in a front pants pocket rig, and use the .22 for small game. It weighs only 13 ozs, when you include the frame. 
Then you'd have the option of something with a bit of "oomph", and the .22 has an extractor, which which the PT22 and Beretta M21 do not have. It's quite a bit smaller and lighter than the Smith 2214, but is DAO, of course. So that may limit your accuracy. But the 2214 has an awkward/slow safety. It's very accurate tho, with a fine trigger pull.
somebody offers an aluminum upper receiver for the polymer Ruger .22 auto. I've seen it on Youtube. While bulky, it would be very lightweight if you had a "skinny" 4" barrel. If I was going to lug around a "big" .22, it would have an integral suppressor on it. They are a huge help when you are foraging. The animal or bird doesn't flee if you miss, and often, his buddies don't flee if you kill the first one cleaning. Hunting with a "can" is illegal in all but 1-2 states, but as you said, if the game warden shows up, you'll be happy to go to jail over it.
Then you'd have the option of something with a bit of "oomph", and the .22 has an extractor, which which the PT22 and Beretta M21 do not have. It's quite a bit smaller and lighter than the Smith 2214, but is DAO, of course. So that may limit your accuracy. But the 2214 has an awkward/slow safety. It's very accurate tho, with a fine trigger pull.somebody offers an aluminum upper receiver for the polymer Ruger .22 auto. I've seen it on Youtube. While bulky, it would be very lightweight if you had a "skinny" 4" barrel. If I was going to lug around a "big" .22, it would have an integral suppressor on it. They are a huge help when you are foraging. The animal or bird doesn't flee if you miss, and often, his buddies don't flee if you kill the first one cleaning. Hunting with a "can" is illegal in all but 1-2 states, but as you said, if the game warden shows up, you'll be happy to go to jail over it.
OP
OP
Float Pilot
Member
I can attach a holster to my vest no problem. So fitting in the big cargo pockets is not a requirement.
toivo
Member
Buck Mark Micro is out of production, but I've seen them in Gander Mountain stores. The 4" barrel doesn't give much away to the 5.5" in terms of sight radius, and you could always toss a red-dot on there, with iron sights for back-up. That sounds about perfect to me.
JWH321
Member
I sold my SR22 to buy a P938. I really hated to do it, but I've never been sorry. The P938 is accurate, small, lightweight, reliable, all metal and sturdy. I can carry an extra mag or two in a pocket and a couple of hundred rounds in a 3X5 plastic file card box.
The early 938s had a few production problems, but the latest editions are as close to perfectly reliable as can be found. And if I was in Alaska, I'd rather have a bit more mass to the round I fire. One more thing, its pretty hard to find anything louder than a small 9mm.
The early 938s had a few production problems, but the latest editions are as close to perfectly reliable as can be found. And if I was in Alaska, I'd rather have a bit more mass to the round I fire. One more thing, its pretty hard to find anything louder than a small 9mm.
Sig just announced this week that it will be making .22 LR conversion units for the P938, in both a standard and "long slide" versions. The press release is at http://www.sigsauer.com/upFiles/aboutus/news/P938-22 Intro.pdf.
weblance
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Thats brilliant. That will be just the push I have needed to add a P938, and 22 conversion to my collection. I wonder if they have plans for a P238 22 conversion. That would be perfect, as I already have a 238. Thanks for that bit of info. Interesting.
toivo
Member
Seeing as I just bought a 238, I'd be very happy to see a .22 conversion for it. Still, I don't think the teeny-tinies are the way to go for a survival pistol that won't have to be carried concealed. Hunting small game with a pocket pistol is going to be a tough row to hoe.
If you want a 9mm/.22 combo for survival, I'd look at something like a Glock 19 or a CZ 75 with conversion kit.
If you want a 9mm/.22 combo for survival, I'd look at something like a Glock 19 or a CZ 75 with conversion kit.
Vern Humphrey
Member
If you're going that way, think about a .45/.22 conversion kit. The .45 ACP has a lot going for it -- Ed Harris developed a die to make .45 ACP shot cartridges from .308 brass. They will cycle the action and a .45 holds a lot of shot. With an M1911 and a conversion kit, you'd have a potent combination.
If they also made flare rounds for it, it would be an even better survival gun.
If they also made flare rounds for it, it would be an even better survival gun.
Armored farmer
Member
Float Pilot
......what did you choose?
......what did you choose?
cluttonfred
Member
I was about to start my own thread about a survival .22LR pistol, good thing I did a search first. Like the OP, my go to "survival" gun is a Marlin Papoose, and I had similar pistol criteria--light and compact but accurate enough to ruin a bunny or squirrel's day.
One thing I've noticed when kicking around options for this is that size and weight don't necessarily correspond to each other. A Ruger SR22 is actually lighters than many smaller guns, for example--bulky but not heavy. So that is a trade-off to consider.
I was also thinking that easy single-shot loading of subsonic rounds or rimfire shotshells might be useful, even when those rounds won't cycle the action. That suggests a Beretta/Taurus tip-up design, but neither company makes the longer-barreled versions of those guns anymore, though I might find one used.
Here's an idea--does anyone make a little tip-up single-shot pistol anymore, something like the old Stevens pocket and target pistols? A modern version ought to be very inexpensive and, I think, would find a ready market for plinking, target shooting and hunting/survival. Interchangeble grips, barrels in varying lengths and calibers, barrel-mounted sights or scope rails would all be easy to arrange and allow folk to dial in what they want. Perhaps we can get Chiappa arms to come up with a "Little Badger" pistol?
Cheers,
Matthew
One thing I've noticed when kicking around options for this is that size and weight don't necessarily correspond to each other. A Ruger SR22 is actually lighters than many smaller guns, for example--bulky but not heavy. So that is a trade-off to consider.
I was also thinking that easy single-shot loading of subsonic rounds or rimfire shotshells might be useful, even when those rounds won't cycle the action. That suggests a Beretta/Taurus tip-up design, but neither company makes the longer-barreled versions of those guns anymore, though I might find one used.
Here's an idea--does anyone make a little tip-up single-shot pistol anymore, something like the old Stevens pocket and target pistols? A modern version ought to be very inexpensive and, I think, would find a ready market for plinking, target shooting and hunting/survival. Interchangeble grips, barrels in varying lengths and calibers, barrel-mounted sights or scope rails would all be easy to arrange and allow folk to dial in what they want. Perhaps we can get Chiappa arms to come up with a "Little Badger" pistol?
Cheers,
Matthew
cluttonfred
Member
Another option that might be worth considering, and perhaps more palatable to some than a single shot, is the North American Arms Mini Master, the long-barrelled, larger-gripped, adjustable-sight version of their single-action mini revolvers. They seem pretty bulletproof, come in .22 S/L/LR or .22 Mag with interchangeable cylinders and are certainly light and compact. You could easily mix and match ammo in a single cylinder or have one cylinder set up for one use and the other set up for the other use, say the .22LR with subsonic loads for hunting and maybe the first round loaded with shot in snake country, and the .22 mag with the nastiest rounds you can find for self-defense against predators on four legs or two. The 4" barrel and adjustable, red-and-white insert sights provide plenty of "Ritz cracker" accuracy. Sounds like a great little "survival pistol" to me.
Torian
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Have a Mosquito. Purchased new in late 2013. It's eaten everything I've thrown at it, and is a good shooter.
Maybe they worked the kinks out
'
Why carry a 22 in your vest for a survival arm? I would carry something that I could also load shot shell in which would mean buying or loading......
http://www.speer-bullets.com/products/components/empty_shot_capsules.aspx
http://www.speer-bullets.com/products/components/empty_shot_capsules.aspx
cluttonfred
Member
chicharrones
needs more ammo
Yeah, but that is just a super short range mouse/rat killer. In my experience the .38 special version is not much better either.
I guess if someone needs to eat mice, then sure.
Taurus 617 CCW
Member
I have one main concern about .22 long rifle. At the factory when loading .22 shells, the primer compound is mixed wet which keeps it from detonating until it dries. I have accidentally gotten .22 shells wet and then tried to shoot them. The results were mixed. Some would fire and some would not because the rounds are not completely sealed every time.
If the OP is considering something like the Kel Tec PMR30, I would recommend taking a look at the FN Five-Seven pistol. It holds 20 rounds (or 30 with an extended mag) and is quite accurate to the distances specified. Being a centerfire, detonation will be more reliable. A 100 yard shot could be achieved if necessary.
If the OP is considering something like the Kel Tec PMR30, I would recommend taking a look at the FN Five-Seven pistol. It holds 20 rounds (or 30 with an extended mag) and is quite accurate to the distances specified. Being a centerfire, detonation will be more reliable. A 100 yard shot could be achieved if necessary.
Vern Humphrey
Member
That's why I like the .45. In .45 ACP, Ed Harris developed a die that allows you to make shotshells that cycle the action. In .45 Colt, you can rival a .410 shotgun with handloaded shot shells.
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