Looking for a .22 Kit Gun

[Bwana John]

S&W 43, 63
Ruger SingleSix or BearCat
Ruger MK 2

 

[OlKrom]

Holding and shooting a Bearcat is almost the same as shooting a snub nose DA/SA revolver with the old school wood grip panels as shown in the photos above. In fact, the Bearcat above has a slightly larger grip circumference than that j-frame sized gun, which is why I added a grip adapter to the CA.

So, if one can shoot an old school j-frame, the remaining question is "can you fit your finger into a Bearcat trigger guard"? I can.

I actually got a great deal on mine after a customer ordered one, got home with it and then realized his finger was too fat to fit into the trigger guard so he wanted to sell it.

 

[Kookla]

Have xxl hands and had a few bearcats. Never have had a problem with their small size, but always run into the same issue of the action binding after a few cylinder fulls of shooting. The few I've had I've traded off, but something about them is still very appealing to me.

For something that would get banged around in a tacklebox, I think I'd look at a Wrangler or something like that.

 

[crstrode]

An economical choice is the Taurus model 94. A great stainless 9-shot kit gun. Mine has served me well for over 30 years.

 

[ontarget]

An economical choice is the Taurus model 94. A great stainless 9-shot kit gun. Mine has served me well for over 30 years.

I have a blued Taurus 94 that I'm quite happy with. Occasionally get a failure to fire in D/A but it never misses a beat S/A. I always figured I'd polish things up a bit to see if that would cure the problem, just haven't gotten a round tuit yet.

 

[.308 Norma]

For something that would get banged around in a tacklebox, I think I'd look at a Wrangler or something like that.

Yeah, I would too. However, just because I call my old Model 63, and now my Glock G-44 my "kit" guns, doesn't mean I carry either of them in my tackle box. I've always carried my so called "kit" gun at 5:00 o'clock on my right hip while I'm out fishing or just bumming around in the hills.
As a matter of fact, I bought a padded, nylon flap holster for my G-44 for that very reason - it's slow to draw from, and "tearing" the Velcro on the flap loose is noisy enough to scare off a ground squirrel once in a while, but it sure enough protects my "kit" gun.

 

[Kookla]

Yeah, I would too. However, just because I call my old Model 63, and now my Glock G-44 my "kit" guns, doesn't mean I carry either of them in my tackle box. I've always carried my so called "kit" gun at 5:00 o'clock on my right hip while I'm out fishing or just bumming around in the hills.
As a matter of fact, I bought a padded, nylon flap holster for my G-44 for that very reason - it's slow to draw from, and "tearing" the Velcro on the flap loose is noisy enough to scare off a ground squirrel once in a while, but it sure enough protects my "kit" gun.

Have shot a G44 and liked it. Doubt they'd do it, but if they built a .22 on the slim G48, that'd be something else.

And for the record, I doubt I could throw a pistol in a tackle box and head out fishing.

 

[Rubone]

For a semi-auto "kit gun" a guy couldn't go wrong with one of these...

 

[JFrame]

I'm a revolver guy at heart, but I think someone else mentioned the Walther TPH. I always thought it "punched above its class" in terms of accuracy, and always wondered how it might work as a minimalist kit gun. It got some knocks for reliability, but I never found it to be an issue with quality ammo (CCI Mini-Mags and Stingers exclusively).

Having said that, if I were going to go for a .22 LR as a "kit gun," it would be my S&W 63 (bottom handgun, second photo).

 

[tallpaul]

Not too impressed with the offerings, in the wheel gun category. In my wilder days, I hung out with a group of current and retired military survival instructors. Not a one pushed a revolver. It was semiautos all around. From 2K tuned up MKIIs to cheaply SW 22As and NEOSs. Your cheap 22lr semi will shoot better, be more accurate, and reload quicker then any of the revolvers offered.

I love my wheel guns, but if was picking out a 22lr kit gun for use in the wilds I would get a MK4 Lite, slap a RDS of my choice on it and call it good.

As I was reading the op's post I thought the same albeit I was thinking my ruger mk III lite ... I searched for a long time for a deal on a "kit gun" and I love my revolvers . I ended up with a ruger sp101 in .22lr I like well enough but the Ruger mk's n the like are a solid choice in the kit gun category n are worth a look for the application. I would still love a Smith kit gun or a Ruger 4 5/8 single six. I do think a Ruger Wrangler
4 5/8 with adjustable sights would be really great but I haven't seen one ... yet

 

[pharmer]

I've had the 63 over 40 years. Haven't shot it in over 30. The 34-1 goes with me almost every time at the range. It's hard to hit with but big fun. Joe

 

[tallpaul]

.

Now on to double action trigger pull of rimfire revolvers. No matter what brand you go with, a rimfire revolver will always have a heavier double action trigger pull versus the same model in centerfire. The reason for this is that it takes more force to set off rimfire primers then it does to set of centerfire primers. If you lighten up the DA trigger pull too much you will get light primer strikes/failures to fire. It is just the nature of the beast here.

Not always bud... Smith k frames can have great rimfire triggers the same as centerfire..centerline... and I believe the old Colt mid frame rimfires are the same

 

[12Bravo20]

Not always bud... Smith k frames can have great rimfire triggers the same as centerfire..centerline... and I believe the old Colt mid frame rimfires are the same

You are right, it is not always the case. BUT it is the case the majority of times. And YES I have seen plenty of S&W rimfire revolvers that have a heavy DA trigger pull when compared to S&W centerfire DA trigger pulls.

 

[JERRY]

For feeding myself I'd prefer a single action trigger pull over a double action trigger pull. If truly a kit gun is wanted a ruger birdshead single action would be the trick. Now if barbeque guns are what you really want to show off than there are others to choose from.

 

[Old Hobo]

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?

The Ruger LCRx is lightweight, touch over one pound, has adjustable sights, and holds 8 rounds. The 3" barrel is fine for plinking.

 

[dickydalton]

The closest I can do is this Model 51 22 mag. I bought it brand new about 50 years ago.

 

[tallpaul]

You are right, it is not always the case. BUT it is the case the majority of times. And YES I have seen plenty of S&W rimfire revolvers that have a heavy DA trigger pull when compared to S&W centerfire DA trigger pulls.

I have seen Smith centerfires with hard n even rough centerfire actions compared to others of the same model. Easy enough to tune. USUALLY the small frame revolvers have the harder double action pulls n even single action pulls to a degree is not due to being a rimfire but because the mass/weight of the hammers is not as much that requires the higher spring weights to set off primer materials...

 

[Hal]

My late father in law passed a H&R 922 down to my wife.
Guns like the small H&R line were the definition of a "kit gun" back in the day.

They are currently priced as though they are black market items being sold in a place like New York city.

Maybe a nice wrist rocket sling shot & a tube of BBs?

 

[Bwana John]

The closest I can do is this Model 51 22 mag. I bought it brand new about 50 years ago.
View attachment 1120080

I think my ears are still ringing from shooting one without muffs ~45 years ago.

Even my M60 doesn't hurt my ears as much as the M51in 22 mag.

 

[ClemY]

Bearcats are too small for adult men.

I’d probably go with a Single Ten.

I have a Bearcat, and I have large hands. I have accommodated the tiny grip and it shoots well. What I couldn't abide was the tiny sights. Before the adjustable sight versions of the Bearcat became available, I had a S&W J frame sight setup put on mine. The little gun, with workable sights, actually shoots quite well.