choosing between firearms

[12345678910]

.44 black powder, short rifled barrel pistol or .22 semi-automatic rifle?

Both on the cheap just thumbing through Cabellas, both will be the only firearm in my possession.

Keep in mind that I have no problem with primitive firearms.

Hunting in mind, I'm having trouble seeing where a .44 sidearm would come in more handy than a good little .22; not enough for a deer and seems a little much for squirrel and rabbit. The .22 won't be taking any larger game either but at least it's seems more purpose driven.

Why a .44?

This ain't my 1st rodeo


I'd be interested in hearing more of what Codger (or any of you) have to say about this BP .44

I assumed that someone who has to ask if he needs a .22 rifle is a relatively new shooter.


If you want to keep your shooting quiet, then I agree few shots of CB's and such is a good option and a good lever action does that well.

If you stick with CB long rifles they will feed out of bolt action magazines and I agree the CZ bolts are great.

 

[Woodrow F Call]

I'd pass on a brass framed BP revolver for anything other than a true historic replica talking piece. Of those choices, I'd take the .22 LR.

 

[Codger_64]

I'd pass on a brass framed BP revolver for anything other than a true historic replica talking piece. Of those choices, I'd take the .22 LR.

Even as a true historic replica it takes a lot of work and embelishing to produce one from the modern replicas available today. It's kinda like going to an 1830 themed fur trade rendevous with a Russell Green River knife strapped on. Carrying a caplock rifle. Eating a funnel cake. Followed by your dachshund. Wearing a Zack & Zoey sweater.

 

[leghog]

Look at vintage. Many outstanding .22LR turnbolts from the 30's-50s can be had in the sub $200 range like the Remington 33 and 34 and the 5XX series XXmasters, Mossbergs, Marlins, Springfield, Savage, etc.

This from shortly after I bought this particular rifle (Remington 511 manufactured in 1948) and trying I discover what ammo it liked. I bought the rifle for the princely sum of $175. Had bought a 510 for $125 the previous Spring.

Last fall a few stuck their noses up when they saw me shooting a rifle I had just bought for $100 for which I was testing different ammunition. They got quiet when we went down range to check targets. My eyes aren't what they used to be. With a 6 o'clock hold, I'm sun-setting the target on the front sight as my eyes just won't allow as crisp a sight picture as when I was younger.

Before reverting to CB or short check out CCI-Quiet. .22LR cartridge with 40 grain bullet at 710 ft/sec muzzle velocity. They won't cycle an autoloader.

 

[chavez556]

Some think he is a goon, but Nutnfancy said one thing that has always resonated with me, "everyman should own a Ruger 10/22 and carry a knife daily".

 

[Codger_64]

Look at vintage. Many outstanding .22LR turnbolts from the 30's-50s can be had in the sub $200 range like the Remington 33 and 34 and the 5XX series XXmasters, Mossbergs, Marlins, Springfield, Savage, etc.

This from shortly after I bought this particular rifle (Remington 511 manufactured in 1948) and trying I discover what ammo it liked. I bought the rifle for the princely sum of $175. Had bought a 510 for $125 the previous Spring.

Last fall a few stuck their noses up when they saw me shooting a rifle I had just bought for $100 for which I was testing different ammunition. They got quiet when we went down range to check targets. My eyes aren't what they used to be. With a 6 o'clock hold, I'm sun-setting the target on the front sight as my eyes just won't allow as crisp a sight picture as when I was younger.

Before reverting to CB or short check out CCI-Quiet. .22LR cartridge with 40 grain bullet at 710 ft/sec muzzle velocity. They won't cycle an autoloader.

Agreed. A 10-22 is a decent design and some of them are accurate, but anyone who thinks they are the best thing to come down the pike since the rimfire was invented has not had the opportunity to own and shoot a good Nylon 66.

 

[wackafew]

I have a 45 cal Hatfield long rifle muzzleloader. I can tell you even loaded down it is a little too big for small game unless you do head shots. I think a good 22 would be the way to go as for hunting small game.

 

[300Six]

.44 black powder, short rifled barrel pistol or .22 semi-automatic rifle?

Both on the cheap just thumbing through Cabellas, both will be the only firearm in my possession.

Keep in mind that I have no problem with primitive firearms.

Hunting in mind, I'm having trouble seeing where a .44 sidearm would come in more handy than a good little .22; not enough for a deer and seems a little much for squirrel and rabbit. The .22 won't be taking any larger game either but at least it's seems more purpose driven.

Why a .44?

Forget about the BP. Wonderful novelty if you're into nostalgia and making lots of smoke but they're entirely useless beyond 10 yards for anything smaller than a pop can and you'll want to think twice about having to leave it lying around loaded (C&Bs are one way-you gotta pull the trigger to unload the gun). Surely you can get a target grade single shot 22 and a decent peep sight for it. Then all of a sudden you can shoot all day for peanuts and tailor shots for 22 CB longs at one extreme and hyper-velocity LRs on the other. You can accomplish amazing feats of accuracy with a steady and well-sighted rifle. 22s have been made illegal for hunting in Newfoundland simply because frugal hunters there routinely used them to kill moose.

 

[KDucky's brother]

I love my .22s. 3x 10/22s. 93 Butler Creek folder(Bushnell Trophy dot site). 012 Takedown(Williams fiber optic Peeps and FM red dot). And the 76 Liberty edition(Walnut stock, all metal components, engraved barrel, 2x7x28 Leupold Rimfire scope). The Liberty is my most used or a squirrel gun. Been 100% head shots only this season. Bolt gun is the now disc 18" Kimber SVT(short varmint target) with match grade everything with Leupold VX2 4x12. Easily more capable then I am.

The Kimber at my backyard range 5rd groups at 55yrds with CCI Stingers.

My day to day fun gun.

 

[Codger_64]

Forget about the BP. Wonderful novelty if you're into nostalgia and making lots of smoke but they're entirely useless beyond 10 yards for anything smaller than a pop can and you'll want to think twice about having to leave it lying around loaded (C&Bs are one way-you gotta pull the trigger to unload the gun)...

Not really. And why would you need to shoot under minute-of-popcan at thirty feet? Nostalgia exhibition shooters regularly make shots much more difficult than that anyway. Unloading is not rocket science. I did it for years as did soldiers in several major wars and other shootists during that era. And leaving a gun, any gun, laying around loaded is not a good idea. But yeah, their care and feeding is different. And that difference can be fun and attractive to some people. Like some people still enjoy owning and using older designs of knives in carbon steel and others will have only the latest designs in modern stainless. They are just different options.

[video=youtube;Y5KGDQ2dj2I]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5KGDQ2dj2I[/video]

 

[leghog]

Agreed. A 10-22 is a decent design and some of them are accurate, but anyone who thinks they are the best thing to come down the pike since the rimfire was invented has not had the opportunity to own and shoot a good Nylon 66.

My only autoloading rifle is a Mossberg M151M. Accurate. Picked this one up in Hawaii from a now dead friend and his brother. 55-65 year old rifle that I've now owned for nearly 20 years. IMHO, a much better rifle than a 10-22.

 

[stvpourciau]

Like some people still enjoy owning and using older designs of knives in carbon steel and others will have only the latest designs in modern stainless.

Ha, I'm one of those. Nothing can knock y the Opinel out of my pocket. I have a Rat-1 that was hard to put down for a month or so but its been successfully shelved now and the Opi is back home..

I'm hearing .22 smart, .44 fun.

I probably won't be getting a Ruger 10/22 lol. It's not entirely un-do-able but it's just not on my list right now.

So there's the Marlin 60 and has anyone ever fired one of those cheap Hi-Piont 9mm's?

 

[OBL]

if you dont have a .22, you should get a .22. they are great guns that have so many uses. just like it has been said before. Everyone should own a .22

 

[leghog]

So there's the Marlin 60....

With the 60, know the rifle you are buying (specific rife, not model). Many have great experiences with them. Others don't. They can be infamous jam-o-matics. The one rifle I could never keep reliable was a 60. It was a gift to me, and I finally just gave it to a gunsmith buddy of mine with whom I would often trade and who fiddled with that rifle many many times thinking he had it right. From what I've read and heard, the new ones made by Remington Arms in Kentucky have there share of issues too (though I've never fired one).

 

[Bo T]

The Marlin 60 and the Marlin 795 are functionally, very similar. The 795 has a detachable magazine while the 60 has a tubular magazine. I've shot 2 types of ammo out of my 795 - American Eagle high velocity and Remington Sub sonic. Both long rifle. The rifle functioned flawlessly with both. I think Marlin still sells parts for the model 60 so getting it fixed when something wears out is possible. After getting my stock trigger smoothed and lightened my 795 is a great little rifle.

 

[dipbait]

The way I hunt , I wouldnt even consider a black powder 44 handgun. 22 rifle all the way.

 

[lmalterna]

My Marlin/Glenfield model 60 was never overly accurate and very picking on the ammo it feeds well.

For 200.00 for basic hunting/shooting needs. I picked up a Romanian Military trainer .22 in excellent condition for 100.00 and a New England 12 guage single for 85.00.

I do love my 10/22 Stainless but it cannot outshoot the Romanian.

Bill

 

[ralphtt]

As bigghoss would say . . .

you can't not have a .22 . . . . .

 

[GingivitisKahn]

Ha, I'm one of those. Nothing can knock y the Opinel out of my pocket. I have a Rat-1 that was hard to put down for a month or so but its been successfully shelved now and the Opi is back home..

I'm hearing .22 smart, .44 fun.

I probably won't be getting a Ruger 10/22 lol. It's not entirely un-do-able but it's just not on my list right now.

So there's the Marlin 60 and has anyone ever fired one of those cheap Hi-Piont 9mm's?

Avoid the HiPoints. Jam machines. Yes - you can get a reliable one and yes - you can send them back to the factory for rework (good customer service) and yes - eventually it might work pretty much every time. Even then, you still have a clunky, unbalanced and heavy 9mm and you still need to watch to ensure you keep a stiff wrist each and every time you shoot it. Further - they are tough to sell when you eventually decide you want something better.

Take the HiPoint money to a gun show and wheel/deal your way into an inexpensive .22 or (maybe better yet) a single-shot 12ga. You can get a decent one of those for under $100 and end up with an inexpensive, light, reliable and versatile firearm. Spend the extra money on ammo.

---

Beckerhead #42

 

[stvpourciau]

As bigghoss would say . . .

you can't not have a .22 . . . . .

Lol. He would