pistol for squirrel hunting?

Either of those would be great for squirrels. I shoot a Browning Buckmark and it is more than accurate enough squirrel hunting. I did own a Benelli MP-95 in 22 but sold it after finding the Browning would out shoot it...lol.

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I've got an older blued Single Six that will shoot 3/4 inch groups at 25 yards with iron sights. I have taken many a small animal with that handgun...:D

Either one of those you listed would be a great choice.
 
good choice. i have a mk I thats pretty sweet. i never hunted anything but groundhogs with it.
 
My Ruger MkII is my favorite chipmunk shooter. I really like the looks of the MKIII. I've had a couple of Browing buckmarks and they were excellent shooters as well.
 
I have a Ruger 22/45 myself.... but how about the Charger? Basically a short barrelled 10/22.
 
Yeah, I saw the clips on youtube. But, it doesn't appeal to me. It looks like an uncomfortable compromise where compromise is not needed.
 
I don't mean to hijack the thread but I have a question. (Bear in mind here that hunting with a pistol isn't generally allowed where I am).

Why would you hunt with a pistol? Why not a rifle, or even a shotgun?

I'm assuming it's just another way of doing things and there is no particular reason for it.
 
Kinda tough to stuff a rifle or shotgun in a holster while hiking...lol. I would spend weekends in the woods as a youth and would always carry a 4" S&W kit gun that I would use for squirrels. A rifle would have gotten in the way of vine swinging and other youthful pursuits. But the holstered pistol never hindered my progress and was always ready to pot a squirrel or rabbit for camp dinner.
 
I have a Mark II and the Single Six. Either is sufficiently accurate for hunting...assuming you are too. The Single Six gets my vote though. I shoot that gun better than anything else I own.
 
i to have a browning buckmark and its great but for your choice my uncle use to use a ruger 5.5 in bull barrel ruger on racoons in northern ca. it was a sweet gun it was blue not stainless but very nice when i was a kid i had the ruger 22 revolver with both cilenders but never hunted with it i dont no if you would consider looking into the browning alot easer to take apart and just as good a shooter
 
I have a short target barreled 22/45, and really like it. Don't overlook the Heritage RR SA's as a nice little cheapie. I got mine for $170 with .22 LR and .22 Mag cylinders. Love that little thing.

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Either gun link posted would be fine, but you might discover the "V" notch coupled with a large front sight "dot" work against precision sight alignment. But maybe not. They have other MK III versions that have the standard notch/post sight arrangement.

A semi-auto would be easier to shoot well and allow a faster follow-up shot if needed.

As for "effective range," that's a very individual thing. How far away can you hit a soda can? Whatever distance that is would be your effective range.

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I never tried it with a .22 LR handgun. What's the theoretical capability (from the bench) for this category of weapon?

That Heritage gun is very intriguing. Just found their site.
BTW, why would alloy frames be illegal anywhere?
".....Manufactured for specific States where alloy frames were not legal for sale...."
http://www.heritagemfg.com/site/department.cfm?id=1525

Thanks.

P.S. I like the looks of the Brownings, and I am sure they're accurate, but the word "alloy" (describing the frame) just turns me off a little bit, being paranoid about durability. An all-steel gun, or one with polymer components would be better.
 
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One of my favorite .22's is my MKII. Very easy to shoot, very accurate. I don't hunt with it, but it it has killed it's share of cans. I understand that the MKIII is as nice, if not better.
 
SkinnyJoe said:
It's more challenging, for me at least.
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For me, it would be an unfair advantage for the squirrel. Let's just say, I'm not a very good shot with a pistol. ;):D

About the only pistol I can shoot accurately, is the Ruger MKII with the 5.5" bull barrel. Somehow, with that pistol, I can make a soda can dance at 25 yards. Still would be quite a challenge for me to hit a squirrel, though.
 
SkinnyJoe said:
BTW, why would alloy frames be illegal anywhere?
".....Manufactured for specific States where alloy frames were not legal for sale...."

P.S. I like the looks of the Brownings, and I am sure they're accurate, but the word "alloy" (describing the frame) just turns me off a little bit, being paranoid about durability. An all-steel gun, or one with polymer components would be better.
Click to expand...

Some states have a "melting point" limit on allowable handguns. If it melts too soon, it's illegal to sell it in that state. South Carolina is one of these. You won't find an "RG" handgun at any dealer for sale, nor will you find replacement parts for it.

Now, as to GOOD alloy, your concerns are unwarranted. Colt created one of, if not the first, alloy framed semi-auto circa 1949 with the Colt Commander.

While steel may hold up better for large caliber handguns over the long term, a quality alloy framed .22 will last 100's of 1000's of rounds.

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