Your favorite .22 Handgun to carry in the field all day?

[RetiredUSNChief]

The only .22 pistol I own: my AMT Automag II.

It's slim, accurate, powerful, and light weight.

Bugger-all noisy, though, with an impressive muzzle flash!

 

[jimbo555]

Ruger lcr22

 

[Iggy]

Bought a Ruger Single Six convertible in 1961. Still the .22 I choose for totin' around the ranch.

 

[divotmaker]

Smith model 63 8 shot stainless 3 inch barrel.

I can shot shorts, longs, quiet 22, anything works. Sturdy stainless and reliable, but J frame size.

 

[Gun Master]

Favorite .22 in the Field All Day

My Taurus PT-22 or Ruger Mark II, depending on "field" definition .

 

[PapaG]

Varies from a SP101 to a 63 Smith to a Sport Model Woodsman to a Kimber conversion on a Pro Carry. All are similar in weight and all are scary accurate. The 63 is a 12 shot gun (before needing attention, old model tends to gall), the SP is fine but with a heavy trigger. The Woody is the best so far but the Kimber is a variation on one of my carry guns and I feel comfortable with it.

 

[biohazurd]

If I had a choice it would be my old Smith 34-1. Unfortunately it was stolen a few years ago. These days I pack my Ruger Mark III Standard when as a field 22. Note I usually only carry my Ruger when i'm out small game hunting with a shotgun or .22. Otherwise I prefer a .357 or .44.

 

[Fiv3r]

I generally carry a 4" mkiii in a tanker style holster. Out of the way and distributes the weight nicely.

That said, once .22 becomes more readily available, I'm going to pick up a handy little bearcat. Seems like it would be a handy little tank of a trail gun.

 

[j1]

22 s rule. Small, powerful enough to do many jobs. Fun and cheap to shoot.

 

[Sistema1927]

No love for the Ruger Bearcat?

One of my favorite bang around pistols. Light weight and minute of tin can accurate.

 

[Carne Frio]

I have a couple of Ruger semi autos, but my S&W Model 317 Airlite is only 12.5 ounces with a 3 inch barrel.

 

[Charger442]

High standard sentinel revolver, short barrel. Small, ugly, and great with CCI shot shells. I forget its on me most of the time.

 

[Gun Master]

High Standard Sentinel .22

High standard sentinel revolver, short barrel. Small, ugly, and great with CCI shot shells. I forget its on me most of the time.

I have two of them in 4". Actually one is the Deluxe model, and the other is a nice 99% J.C. Higgins (Sears) based on the 1st model HSS.

 

[BLU]

Like Iggy, my Ruger Single Six. I can shoot the hemorrhoids off a flea's butt while he's parked himself on a mouse at 50 yards! (I may be exaggerating some here!) My Ruger 22/45 Lite is also becoming a favorite too.

 

[bhk]

Smith and Wesson 63.

 

[Willie Sutton]

^^ This ^^, without any reservation.

There's only one Kit Gun, and that's a S&W .22-.32, meaning in the old jargon a .22 built on a .32 frame, which we now call a J Frame. Today this is best carried in stainless steel as the S&W Model 63.

I'm partial to my early 80's 6 shot version that I bought new, but if I was buying a user right now the newer 8 shot version would be my choice.

There's no better .22 to carry afield for general use than one of these gems.

You do get what you pay for.


Willie

.

 

[Woodsman!]

This, my old regent.

 

[TUBBY1]

Sw model 17-8 k22. Too much fun.Center chest shoulder holster.

 

[weblance]

My S&W 2213 is my favorite. Its the perfect all day packer.

 

[tubeshooter]

From strictly a carry perspective, in my case it is a S&W model 317 that had the aluminum cylinder replaced with a stainless one. Obviously it was even lighter before the change, but even so the weight is still very low. A joy to carry.

Actually I would have to list my Bersa Firestorm as a very close second to the gun above. Similar overall size, just two or three ounces heavier and somewhat easier to shoot accurately. Doesn't go in a pocket quite as well - but very comfortable nonetheless.



I have some other .22 handguns that are all fine and good in their own ways, but these two are the easiest and most pleasant to CARRY out of my stable.

 

[dickydalton]

One or the other, S&W 422 or Model 51 22 mag.

 

[Dr.Rob]

Ruger Mk2.Good belt & holster make it easy, and the 5.5 bull barrel is no lightweight.

 

[Orion8472]

Going into the woods, . . . . . if carrying a 22 caliber pistol, . . . . I'd carry an FNH Five Seven with a few extra magazines.

 

[Pete D.]

In the field, a S&W 317 Airlite snubbie. About 11oz loaded.
Another pistol....bought just for woods walking....is my "varmint rifle in your pocket" gun, an FN FiveSeven.
Pete

 

[BCRider]

It's interesting to see the S&W 422 mentioned a few times already.

Up this way we are not allowed to carry handguns around in the woods. But if I were allowed and felt the need to carry a .22 then my 422 would be the choice hands down over the rest of my semi auto .22's. The slim shape and very light weight of the all alloy gun means that it would carry on my hip in a holster with pretty much zero effort.

A currently available option would be the Ruger Lite models. Although they are not quite as slim. But they are at least around the same 23'ish oz weight.

For a compact and light revolver I'd be all over a Model 34 kit gun or a Ruger Bearcat. They aren't as light as the alloy semis but they aren't far off.

Another option would be one of the NAA mini revolvers set up with one of their fatter grip options or possibly something custom made to let folks with real hands hold these dainty guns with a more stable sort of grip. The longer barrel versions are more easily aimed and the guns themselves are accurate. The trick is getting enough meat to hold with consistency and to allow accurate shot placement.