Best .22 for woods/hiking

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Guvnor

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I want to get a .22 for hiking, camping, etc. I have a budget limit of about $300.

I wanted a revolver at first but there arent many options at that price. Basically either the Heritage rough rider or a Taurus model 94.

The rough rider is tempting because of the price...but is it a quality gun?

I know Taurus has "mixed" reviews.

My other option is the Browning Buckmark. I originally didn't want a semi auto for reliability and maintenance reasons, but now im considering the buckmark camper.

Do you think the Buckmark would make a good woods gun? As far as reliability/durability standpoint?
 
The heritage rough rider isnt a bad gun
i have one, for a woods gun it should be fine. Heck if you have 300.00$ to spend shop around for something used or just buy two rough riders.
 
My wife has a Buckmark that's been an excellent and reliable firearm, including in action pistol competion at our local indoor range - sort of .22 caliber IPSC. I have a couple of Ruger semi-autos, an original standard, a couple of .22/45s, and a Mark II. If you shop around, Rugers are well within your price range. Almost all .22 firearms are ammo specific for reliabililty and accuracy. So if you decide on a semi, try a bunch of different ammo until you find what it likes. Our Buckmark wants Remington golden bullets and will hardly run cheap stuff. The Rugers are less picky, I can do WalMart bulk packs for most of them.
 
+1 for the Buckmark Camper, But I'd be just as happy with a Ruger Single Six. I have both.

My buddy has a S&W 22A and it is a tackdriver as well.
 
22/45 is a good gun.

Single Six can easily be found used for under 300 bucks. And I'd want a used gun, because it will get some finish wear anyway. Might as well not pay for a new finish that won't stay that way for long.

But what do you want it for? What will you shoot with it?
 
I like the Buckmark Camper. I've put over 1000 rounds of various kinds of ammo through it with only 2 failures I think. That's pretty good reliability for any gun, in my opinion.
 
But what do you want it for? What will you shoot with it?
Click to expand...

Just for cheap plinking basically and a general purpose camping/hiking/tacklebox gun.

I was turned off by the Ruger Mark III because ive read they have quite a reputation for being difficult to take down and reassemble. Is this true or is it a bit exaggerated?

Single six is really nice but a bit out of my price range.
 
If you can find a used 22/45 Mark II, it's easy to take down and reassemble. You just have to get the mainspring strut and the hammer strut lined up when you do.

The beauty of the thing is that you seldom have to clean it. Wipe out the receiver through the ejection port with a rag, drop in a little oil and shoot another brick.:)

Still, a Single Six has a lot going for it.
 
You might be able to score a used Ruger Super Single Six if you shop a bit for $300.00. It would be hard to beat one for all around use.
 
If you shop a bit, you might get one in stainless, though it might be just a tad more. But you won't ever regret buying it, nor will your great granchildren, if you take half-decent care of it. It's a .22 built like a Blackhawk.:D
 
There are many other options....

Try an H&R. They're all double action, tough, reliable and they usually hold nine rounds, except for the convertibles, which held only six. They are primo woods guns and they last forever. Single actions are good for feeding one's self but double actions are good to have in the woods, too. It seems that more people get messed with in the woods by people rather than by wild animals.

H&R 676 convertible: Approx. $200 (I forget exactly) on Gunbroker:

HR67601-1.jpg

Just got this 922 for $105 delivered from Gunbroker (C&R!!!):

9224021.gif

This cost me $127, delivery and transfer fee included:

HR_929_6_01.gif
 
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you could probably find a Colt Challenger with a somewhat worn finish for around $300. or maybe less. They're semi-auto, ten shots, slender and light making them very easy to carry and still they are accurate enough to win bullseye matches.

They're from the 1950's which is why I said that about worn finish - th collectors want the nicer ones and pay bigger prices for them. They came with either a 4" or a 6" barrel.

I carry one when I'm brushhogging our fields and use it to plink the scurriers - field mice that haul out when the tractor is almost on top of them. People who come by think I'm nuts because they hear a PoP! pop! pop! and then hear me out there laughing like a maniac if I get one.
 
I got my dad a Ruger Single-Six a few years ago, I thought I paid like $250 for it, I could be wrong.

Look at it this way. He already had a Mk II and a Woodsman. He loves to shoot them both, but neither of them cycle snakeshot very well. He had always wanted a Ruger .22 revolver to carry fishing for snakes. Now, he can shoot any flavor of .22 LR he wants, shotshells, AND has the .22 mag cylinder.
 
I gave 200 for my Rossi M511 and love it, very accurate, superb single action trigger. The DA is stiff, but for outdoor use, who cares? It is very accurate, sub 2" groups off the bench with bulk pack ammo at 25 yards.

I've always thought a Ruger Bearcat would be a way cool hiking gun, small, light, pretty accurate. I could work with the fixed sights on a .22, I reckon. And, well, they're just so danged cute. :D

The NAA mini master might work, but I've not played with one. I think the Ruger single six or bearcat would work better, just guessing. My Rossi is pretty awesome, though. Have no need for another kit gun at this point. :D

I love my Ruger Mk 2, but it's a little big and heavy for a .22 hiking gun. It's very accurate and reliable and would work, though.
 
I like a nice S&W Model 63-4 as a woods carry gun. Weighs 30 oz. and shoots very well. Revolver will function just fine with anything you want to stick in the cylinder from CB Caps to Velocitor.
 
Or a S&W Model 34. Great gun, very versatile, big enough to shoot well, not so big and heavy as to defeat the purpose.
 
If the single-six is a little high, which it is, my second choice would definately be the Buck Mark. A friend has a rough rider and honestly, I'm not that impressed. It goes"BANG" when you pull the trigger, but the pot metal frame just doesn't excite me. My BM shoots great and I'll stick with it.
 
Thanks for all the help.

I will keep an eye out for used revolvers or maybe just splurge on the single six. I want something that will last for many years to come so I probably shouldn't cheap out.
 
My S&W 35-1 and my Colt Woodsman were both around $300, the 35 is like new and the Colt has some finish issues but both shoot great and are fun in the woods. I wish I could hunt with the Colt but PA does not allow Semi's for hunting.
 
I would save for a little longer, the Single Six is worth it. Here is my second Single Six, picked it up at Bass Pro on sale for $350.00
I have a Browning and two Ruger MKII's. For woods bumming I always grab a Single Six.

IMG_0193.jpg
 
I have a Browning Buck Mark Hunter that would be a good choice for this, depending on what sort of arrangement you'd want to use to pack it along. A Ruger Bearcat is another good choice, though not as versatile as the Hunter.
 
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