Revolvers for Small Game

[Armored farmer]

That's my vote, but mine is plain-jane no scope
BUT I think you'd need to be right on top of a 'yote to hit it where it counts with such.
If a person wants to download a .32 Mag or .327 sure it would work as would a .32 ACP...., or even factory loads, but that's a bit pricey compared to a hot .22LR or a .22 WMR, isn't it?

LD

Yes you're right.
A .22mag revolver would certainly not be high on the list of coyote guns. However, I am a fan of .22magnum. But to me one of the biggest benefits of a .22 revolver over a .22auto is the ability to shoot .22shorts as well. It may be silly, but I always liked to shoot them. They will turn your .22 down to almost airgun levels of power and noise.
A nice .22 single six hunter edition with a scope would be an asset for anyone.

 

[MCgunner]

Yep, I'd consider nothing less than my Mark 2. Or, I could use my Contender with scoped .22 barrel or .410 barrel.

 

[Blkhrt13]

I have a 31 smith and Wesson 3 in that works well for rabbits but I’m not scared to clip a tree rat with it too. Makes it more fun than using a shotgun.

 

[labnoti]

As much as I dislike .22LR, I can't bring myself to sell a Single Six. I think it would be an ideal arm for a trapline. It's a pity there isn't an unobscure .25 or .30 caliber revolver cartridge (and I don't mean M1 Carbine), and it's a pity the .32's have long been out of favor. But among current production, the few Ruger .32's are what I find appealing. I would probably favor the Single Seven, but I doubt I would buy one just for small game. Instead, I would just load a .38 I already have lightly with suitable bullets. Another alternative that appeals to me would be a Colt Pocket (1849) or event a flintlock. I suppose the long lock time would give little critters a marked advantage if I were to only shoot ball, but I could shoot shot if it were a smoothbore.

 

[huntsman]

If I were to hunt small game it would be with a suppressed .22lr pistol.

 

[GooseGestapo]

One thing to consider is that with most of the recommendations to this point, is shifting of Point of impact between different power levels of ammunition.

I have both a Ruger Single-7 (5.5”), and a Heritage Arms .22lr/.22Wrm (6”bbl w/adj sights).
With the Heritage, going from .22lr to .22wrm yields a 1.5” higher POI at 30feet than the .22lr; enough to cause a miss without a change in elevation.

With the S-7, the shift is even greater. Going from an 85gr jacketed bullet to a 120gr cast gaschecked bullet results in more than 2” vertical and 1” horizontal shift in POI.
Recon that’s why adjustable sights were invented.
My solution is to sight in with and only use one load. CCI minimags in the Heritage, a Lee 117gr FNGC over 10.0gr #2400, in the S-7. The S-7 Load will handle anything in Georgia, but won’t blow apart edible small game.

My Heritage must be a fluke. It’s as accurate as my Ruger, and almost, (but not quite!) as accurate as a S&W Mod 617. For $150, quite a pleasant surprise.

 

[mavracer]

After some serious consideration, I've decided not to add another cartridge to my reloading bench at this time. For various reasons, I think .22lr will not only suffice but probably be preferable in certain situation. And where it might not be, I have a few .357 magnums that I can handload for, appropriate to task.

Having a 22 and 357 you load for I'm hard pressed to see a need for adding a 32.

I've shot quite a few rabbits and squirrels with 38/357 using 158gr lead round nose loaded to 700ish fps, they really don't do a lot more damage than 22lr HV hollow points.

 

[CraigC]

There has been very little I've done in my adult life that has been more fun than rabbit hunting with my K-22.



Since then, I've done a lot more with the Single Six but up here, rabbits are few and far between.



A scoped Buckmark doesn't suck either.

 

[MCgunner]

I prefer optics for actual hunting with a handgun. My Mk 2 originally had a 2x optic on it, bought it that way used at a gun show. Then, I put a red dot sight on it, no magnification. As I use it mostly for plinking, this works for me! That gun is like cheating compared to my iron sight very accurate revolver. BTW, the revolver is a little jewel, 4" "kit gun" sized Rossi M511 Sportsman I've had for 30 years. It will put 10 rounds into 1" off the bench when I'm not seeing double, but in the field, dark woods, rested over a tree branch?

This being said, I'll take that gun or my Ruger SR22 sometimes to the blind. I had neither on me one day when a big swamp rabbit came a hoppin' down the bunny trail (hey, it's near Easter ) That wabbit was only about 10 yards from me, whipped out my always gun, a .22 caliber NAA mini revolver with 1 5/8" barrel and the crudest sights I believe that ever were put on a firearm, and whacked that wabbit. He was good in a stew, a little large for frying. But, now days I'd really like to have along a more capable gun, so my revolver or my SR22 have a place. The revolver is about an inch better at 25 yards off a rest than is the SR22. Both are mainly fun plinkers for me, but they're handy in the field when the alternative is a mini revolver.

 

[Hookeye]

I've had Single Six and K frames.
Think an adjustable sighted Ruger Bearcat or a Smith J frame to be a little more convenient .

If wanting something easier to shoot, optics option...........well then a Ruger 22/45 auto. Cheaper too.

 

[d2wing]

I have one of the single six revolvers with .22 and .22mag cylinders that would work.

My mark II is more accurate though.

Same here. My next favorite is a 357 Ruger that also shoots .38 Special.
For that one I have also cast lead bullets and experimented with loads.