Author Topic: New 22 pistol for squirrels (Read 5135 times)

Daman · « **on:** June 01, 2010, 04:13:45 PM »

Guys

I am going to buy a Ruger MKIII stainless Hunter this weekend or next. Those of you who shoot squirrels and other game with your pistols do you prefer a longer barrel and why or why not. They are available in 4.5" and 6 7/8". I am leaning to the 6 7/8" due to better balance.

Welcome any opinion!

Daman

Rodent · « **Reply #1 on:** June 01, 2010, 04:38:49 PM »

Go with the longer barrel. More time to stabilize the bullet. I have not used the MkIII, but I do have a 10 inch Buckmark and a 10 inch G2 Contender in 22lr. I would rather hunt the tree rats with a pistol than anything else. Actually, a pistol is all that I use for all game...large or small.

Post some pics when you get it.

Mike

shot1 · « **Reply #2 on:** June 02, 2010, 04:20:21 AM »

I would choose the longer barrel myself. You get a better site radius and more velocity. Some states have a barrel length restriction also like NC 5 1/2" min. The Rugers are very accurate pistols. I have a MKII heavy barrel that I used to shoot bulleseye competition with it and I could shoot just as good as those HIGH $$$ target pistols.

To show how accurate they are I will relate a little hunting story. I had just moved back to TN and a fellow at church asked me if I wanted to go coon hunting with him. When he came to get me he saw that I had my MKII on my hip. He ask why I was taking the pistol. He said we don't shoot the coons to kill them we only shoot them in the toes to make them jump out of the tree and let the dogs fight them and kill them. I said OK. The dogs treed a big coon, 23.4 pounds, in a tall tree and I asked if I could shoot to make the coon jump out. The fellow laughed and said I was wasting my time with that pistol but give it a try. I held a flash light in one hand on the sights and took my Bullseyes stance and lined up the sights at the toes on a hind foot, I had rezeroed the pistol for a dead on hold instead of the 6 o'clock hold, and squeezed one off. The foot jerked but the coon did not come out of the tree. I lined up the sights and fired again the foot jerked again but the coon did not come out again. I fired a third time and same results. The fellow laughed and said that I was just missing but hitting close. I told him I was not missing the toes he told to shoot off. I said I will make him come out I will shoot it in the foot. I raised my sight picture up into the foot a little and squeezed one off and the coon came jumping out of the tree and the dogs had all the coon they wanted to tangle with for a bit. He almost killed one of the dogs by ripping open the side of it's neck. On inspection after the dogs killed the coon there were three toes shot off and a bullet hole in the center of the foot. I was never questioned again about taking that pistol coon hunting again.

Daman · « **Reply #3 on:** June 02, 2010, 04:52:10 AM »

I love it shot1! That is an awesome story and it is nice to hear from someone who actually uses their guns to hunt!

Thanks to both of you.

Guys all opinions welcome.

Daman

Ron 1 · « **Reply #4 on:** June 02, 2010, 05:26:32 AM »

i was useing a 6" mark II and just upgraded to a 10" mark II so far i like it a lot i gave the 6" to my ol lady i hope to get her in the woods more this fall. the only bad thing is the holster. but it is very accurite.
rw

luckydawg13 · « **Reply #5 on:** June 02, 2010, 07:11:54 AM »

I HAVE A SIDE SLAB MARK 2 6 7/8 LOVE IT

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #6 on:** June 02, 2010, 07:18:39 AM »

I use a Browning Buck mark 5.5" for tree rats. Easier to find holsters for.

simplicity · « **Reply #7 on:** June 02, 2010, 08:02:51 AM »

First off I don't think you'll go wrong with a ruger, I've been hunting squirrels with my Mk2 since I was 13, I have the 6 7/8 heavy tapered target. I accually just put a set of target grips on mine and enjoy the gun even more. As far as which barel length to get I don't know about the slab side target but a cousin of mine has the 4.5 heavy barreled version and it pretty much ballances out the same as my heavy taper. Also on the longer sight radious there are two ways you can look at it yes the longer barrel gives you a longer sight radious but the shorter barrel you can see the sights better. Any ways great choice on the Mk3 you'll love it.

Noreaster · « **Reply #8 on:** June 02, 2010, 09:41:52 AM »

I use a 6 1/2 single six. I like the balance of the longer tube. Great hunting, let us know what you end up with.

Daman · « **Reply #9 on:** June 02, 2010, 12:38:31 PM »

I have the 6.5" Original Single Six Noreaster. It is the main reason I want another Ruger. I am strongly leaning on the 6 7/8" barrel for the option of scoping or shooting longer sight radius irons.

Daman

nova71 · « **Reply #10 on:** June 02, 2010, 01:10:52 PM »

I always liked the Ruger 22 automatic pistol, but I couldn't decide which barrel length I wanted , so I bought one of each

as for hunting squirrels I like the long barrel one the best, it's deadly at 50-60 yards. it shoots a lot better than I do

flintlock · « **Reply #11 on:** June 02, 2010, 01:16:40 PM »

I've got the 6 7/8 med heavy stainless model...It's killed a ton of snakes and squirrels...It will keep them inside an inch and a half at 25 yards...Mine prefers CCIs MiniMag hollow points...

Mikey · « **Reply #12 on:** June 03, 2010, 02:49:20 AM »

Daman: go for the longer barrel if it fits your hand better. I hae used both the Ruger MkI T512 with the heavy bull 5.5" bbl and the MkII Government Target Model with the heavy bull 6&7/8" bbl and both are just as accurate as the other. The longer barrel almost makes things boring - aim, shoot, finishing shot if it still breathes, the gun does not miss.

Daman · « **Reply #13 on:** June 03, 2010, 03:52:44 AM »

I am still up in debate. I like my 4" 357, but it is not a one hole shooter and I also like my 6.5" single six. I want the MKIII to be well balanced, but not to long. I also don't want to get one that is too short too accurately and regularly take squirrels at 25-50 yards. I am thinking I would love the holster packing of the 4.5", but miss the accuracy of the 6 7/8". Also this is not a gun that will be taken to the shooting range to target practice, it is being purchased to hunt so that is where my dilemma lies. I don't plan on scoping this gun unless my eyes get too bad to shoot irons so I don't guess the barrel length will affect sight potential.

Keep the opinions flowing...

Daman

flintlock · « **Reply #14 on:** June 03, 2010, 06:54:42 AM »

The only time I notice the longer barrel is when it's in a side holster and I'm in my pickup...On a 4-wheeler or walking I don't notice mine...

Bigeasy · « **Reply #15 on:** June 03, 2010, 07:13:44 AM »

This old Ruger pistol with a 2X Simmons scope on a B Square see thru mount has accounted for a lot of squirrels over the years.

Larry

Daman · « **Reply #16 on:** June 03, 2010, 07:31:01 AM »

What length barrel is that Larry?

Bigeasy · « **Reply #17 on:** June 03, 2010, 07:57:56 AM »

I think its 5 or 5 1/2 inch bull. They still offer it in the MKlll. Balances well with and w/o the scope

Larry

Daman · « **Reply #18 on:** June 03, 2010, 08:12:14 AM »

I am really starting to lean to the 4 5/8" Hunter. I can always get a Tac-Sol upper later if I want a longer barrel, or just buy another pistol.

Daman

Bigeasy · « **Reply #19 on:** June 03, 2010, 08:18:47 AM »

The Hunter model is already for scope mounting if that is the one I am thinking of. That option was not available when I purchased mine, hence the bulky looking B-Square mount.

Larry

Daman · « **Reply #20 on:** June 03, 2010, 08:22:59 AM »

Yeah it comes with a silver Weaver base and is d/t for the scope mount.

Daman

wyozx · « **Reply #21 on:** June 03, 2010, 10:52:58 AM »

I have a M3 hunter in the 4 1/2" barrel. I shoots very nice open sights. but is really to short for scoping. I've mounted both red dot and 4x scopes on it and have gone back to open sights which are great on small game. So what I am saying is short barrel for open sights and packing, and longer barrel if it is dedicated to optics.

Noreaster · « **Reply #22 on:** June 03, 2010, 11:52:30 AM »

Went on the Ruger site and saw the Hunter model. That is a sweet looking pistol.

Daman · « **Reply #23 on:** June 04, 2010, 04:41:40 AM »

Well it is settled. I ordered it last night.

I went to my smiths to do some shooting with him and he pulled out a 6" MKII standard and let me shoot it. I was shooting <1" groups at 25 yards with it.

Went back inside and ordered a Standard 6" Stainless Steel model distributors exclusive!

The reason I got the standard is it fit me better. It was the first time I had paid any real attention to it since I preferred the bull barreled ones, but once I got to shooting it it quickly became a no brainer as to which I wanted!

I can't wait to get it here and get to squirrel season!!!

I will post pics when it gets in along with a range report on different ammo.

Daman

nova71 · « **Reply #24 on:** June 04, 2010, 06:53:11 AM »

I think you made a wise choice

I don't have a stainless one but have been looking at them (trying to convince myself I need 5 Ruger automatics) and the 6" standard would be my choice..... you will enjoy it

Larry

Ken ONeill · « **Reply #25 on:** June 04, 2010, 07:00:03 AM »

One of my favorite squirrel handguns is a stainless Ruger Mk. II Standard with a 6" barrel, a Clark trigger fitted by Jim himself before his death, 2 Weaver # 15 bases, Burris Rings, and a Leupold 2X EER scope. I think I've had it for about 25 years, shot and won many Bullseye matches with it, and have used it to take beaucoup N.C. squirrels. If your new one performs like mine, you should be satisfied.

Daman · « **Reply #26 on:** June 04, 2010, 08:07:02 AM »

This is what I ordered. The funny thing is that I did not realize that it perfectly matches my 10/22 with ss barrel and black synthetic stock. Well a matching set ought to look good in the woods anyway.

Daman

wyozx · « **Reply #27 on:** June 05, 2010, 05:52:34 AM »

I don't think the standard MIII are drilled for scope mounts if that is a consideration. At least my brother's blued 6" MIII is not.

Daman · « **Reply #28 on:** June 06, 2010, 12:55:12 PM »

Quote from: wyozx on June 05, 2010, 05:52:34 AM

I don't think the standard MIII are drilled for scope mounts if that is a consideration. At least my brother's blued 6" MIII is not.

They don't, but my smith has one and he told me he is confident that he can d/t it if I want. After shooting his MKII Standard 6", I don't think I will need to scope it.

Besides, if I see I gotta have one with a scope to hunt with I can always buy another like the competition slab side!

Daman

Big Ryan · « **Reply #29 on:** June 07, 2010, 12:12:27 PM »

This is my wifes new Squirel rig for this yr. Just figured alittle something heavier with a bipod would be better then a Mark series for a newbie. Shoots sub moa all day with bulk ammo, the good ammo is just unreal what it can do. Ershaw Custom Full Bull with a Ross Schuler Muzzle brake. Not that it needed a Brake, but it sure makes it look kewl!