Ok, just for a challenge... what would be your pick for a .22 pocket gun for woods/survival? Not really for defense, but a pocket hiking gun that would still get you some rabbits/squirrels in a pinch. Something that is:

Pocketable (rules out High Standards, Woodsmen, etc)

Decent sights/radius (rules out most pocket autos)

Decent trigger (rules out most DA revolvers)

Imagine a long-barrel Beretta Minx in 22LR with better sights... that's the kind of thing I want.

Ever been made?

What you are asking for is sort of like a Jumbo Scrimp or Military Intelligence.....

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Who watches the watchers?

Ruger Bearcat

Most of my camping, fishing, and hunting trips include a S&W Model 34 Kit Gun .22LR, 2" barrel, adjustable sights. Carries easily in a vest pocket, box of .22LR ammo in another pocket.

Over the years it has provided me dozens of meals, rabbits, snowshoe hares, grouse, even a couple of trout.

I own a circa 1959 Bernadelli Model 60 in 22 LR for that purpose.

I don't think you can have it all, so pick a few of your requirements.

My choice would be a Ruger SR22.

or the ruger SR22T(target) great sights. Lee

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VFW, NRA, VVA, S&WCA 1758

Walther TPH. I used to have one of the stainless US made ones and it was small and accurate. A 1st series Woodsman Sport would fit the bill perfectly but you rule it out. Good luck finding what you want, follow up and post what you choose for us curious minds!

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PTLAPTA!

Another vote for the M34 two inch or even four. If you want an automatic then the Walther PPK/PPKS (German or Manhurin; not the current alloy version).

Jeff
SWCA #1457

A m63 or in an auto a 422 or 622 .

Kel Tec p17?

Take a look at the Beretta 70s.
The Beretta 21a is small, but maybe too small for your criteria.
PPK/s ok Single Action, heavy Double Action.
Traded for the 70s, was surprised how much I like it.
Bought the Walther specifically as a Pocket carry piece.
To get the Double Action.
It is an OK pocket gun except the Double Action is heavy!

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My I frame 22 had a 2" barrel, which I replaced with a 4" and gives a better sight radius with very little weight gain. It is light and has a great single action trigger. Not that the DA trigger is that bad. You could easily put smaller grips back on it.


I don't know what you would rule out DA revolvers based on trigger pull, many of them have great single action trigger pulls

What would really be great is for S&W to start making a modern 22lr on the M frame. Which is about 1/3 smaller than an I frame

I like the J-frame S&W .22s. While they are capable of surprising accuracy, the average shooter lacks the skill to shoot these guns with any degree of accuracy unless they are shooting up very close. Most who shoot these guns well are exceptionally skilled and they've practiced a lot. I practice with a Model 63 4" regularly at 25 yards and still have a long way to go. I've benchrested the gun to verify the accuracy, but my skills lag way behind. From my experience, I think the 2" version is a bit more difficult than the 4".

I've had a Walther PPK/S .22 for many years. It's compact and I guess it could be called a "pocket" gun, but lacks the accuracy of the small S&Ws.

If you go to a slightly larger gun, you get out of the pocket category, but the bigger guns are far more forgiving of a shooter's deficiencies.

Yeah, I realized after hitting enter that the revolver SA was probably better for a squirrel shot anyway.

Great ideas!

I’ll add one I just thought of... Beretta 948 (but with the extra long barrel). There’s one on gb now, I had one in my youth and it was a perfect jeans-back-pocket gun.

EXACTLY what I was going to suggest!

Have 2 flavors, one, a RB that came with the checkered 'banana' grips and the other, a SB with the Magna PC grips that are a perfect size for me. Have a pair of smooth target grips for a SB J frame, but they are just too big with the 2" bbl, or any sort of pocket. A 4" or 6" bbl would be a much better fit. The banana grips do Ok for pocket carry, but can be a bit snug.

Rob

I carry my 1st series sport everywhere in an inner carhartt vest pocket, or barrel up, in my wrangler's back pocket. It's accounted for lots of stuff....

Well, the pocket gun aspect really narrows down your choices. Given that criteria I would probably suggest either a Ruger Bearcat, a Ruger LCP II .22, a Ruger LCR .22, or a S&W 43C.

Beretta 21A
Beretta 70/Jaguar (lots of reimports right now)
Walther PP/PPK
Walther P22
Astra Constable
Ruger LCP II

I've got a .22/32 Kit gun on an Improved I frame that fits your bill. It has a 4" barrel and the original magna round grips with a Mershon Grip Adapter. After converting to J frames, this eventually became the model 34.

The 2" barrel version is more compact and the 4" version has a longer site radius - take your pick on preference.

For modern guns, the Model 317 will work. An alloy J frame with a 3" barrel and adjustable sites.

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My sgntr is mor thn 30 chrctrs

"...or barrel up, in my wrangler's back pocket. It's accounted for lots of stuff...."

Duly noted!!*

*Apologies to Muss Muggins for stealing one of my favorite responses, but it seems appropriate here!

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Wherever my mind isn't
Jim

Taurus TX22.

Being good for squirrels means being able to group under an inch at 50 feet. I'd love to find something pocketable I could do that with.

I second the S&W 317. It weighs in at about 13 ounces, has 3” barrel, fiber optic front sight, fully adjustable rear sight and 8 shots. My wife has one and it a great revolver.

Well, I will show you what works for me in that role -

A Bearcat

And a Walther P-22.

Both fit in my pocket, are light in weight, are reliable, and accurate enough for the task.

Larry

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Try a M 63 SS with a 2" bbl. If I were doing it I would get a second cylinder and chamber it for 22 mag. The cylinder is barely long enough. The only trouble is that the M 63 is becoming something of a collectible.

H&R revolver? Affordable?

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Plant garlic in the fall

I bought a 8 shot 2” Charter Arms Pathfinder for a similar situation. Has a nice SA trigger but shoots a bit low. I have to tweak the front sight.

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I told you not to use Lifebuoy

I have tried every 22 revolver that I am aware of trying to find what OP is looking for. Of them all the 317 is the worst, it gave me 5" inch groups after I adjusted the sights way up and to the left to even get it on paper. The M and I frame 22s are very well made and accurate but hard to shoot well due to very small grips and too light to hold steady. Let me what you conclude. I fear you are looking for hen's teeth. My conclusion was to buy a good holster for my model 63, take only single action shots on game, and forget pocket carry.

As to autos, the Walther P22 is pretty darn good on single action, especially with the longer barrel and the price is hard to beat.

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SWCA 3417 HF 642 NRA-TC

Assuming you want only one or two shots do get yourself some kind of dinner out in the woods....consider making your own:

Advantages: really, really cheap

barrel length...you choose 1/2" to 18". If you use a Ford/Chevy late 50's early 60's car antenna...its the cats meow.

caliber: your choice, car antenna fits 22 LR perfect, 1/2" ISP fits 50 Action Express (see "deser eagle" example), you can even use 22 snake shot since the radio antenna is smoothbore anyway.

lock work: rubber band (or 2 or 3), striker, & release style trigger, simpler equals better

Perfect for what you want and trust me on this: NO Los Angeles Times 16 year old early morning route paperboy was without one in 1961!

Disadvantages? ONLY ONE: TOTALLY ILLEGAL, however in this day of legal "ghost guns".....who knows?

The pics have been goggled and note the police notes and dates so didn't work out well for somebody, somewhere.

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Charlie B
SWCA#3083, SWHF#570

Beretta Cheetah .22.

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Gotta be a kit gun. Two of my favorites are a 2” (very pocketable) or a 4” stainless M63 (not so pocketable but very easy for me in a simple, cheap, Hunter holster).

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Mark

I had a Bearcat with adjustable sights but found the grip a little too small even for my medium sized hands. I replaced it with Ruger Single Six. I have a Charter Arms Pathfinder with adjustable sights that would be a great knocking around gun, but it's not exactly a S&W quality wise.

I have a 2" model 34 that would work, if I were buying new, I would look at the ruger LCR double action...They make a 3" now with adj sights and they are lite and hold 8 shots...fwiw I have a dao LCR with a 2" but it is not good for precise shots with it's heavy double action only trigger...this one -picture linked may work!
https://ruger.com/productImages/5435/detail/1.jpg

Ruger makes a model of the SR22 that comes with a threaded barrel...

And it just so happens that Ruger makes a suppressor for it.

The combination makes for a nice compact pistol.

Like this one. I am a yuuuge fan of the SR22. I have two. Bought the second one for my daughter, but she decided she wanted a revolver. Got her a Ruger LCR in .22. The revolver would also make a good pocket pistol, but the SR22 has much better sights.

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Georgia On My Mind

Why would that be illegal. I am allowed to built a gun from scratch for my own use, There is no specification how well built it has to be. It does not have over a 1/2" bore and was never a full length gun so if you stayed with 22 being a smooth bore should not be a problem, You could always scratch some light rifling down the tube, say turn in 100' as there is no rate of twist rule. It may well be very stupid, But, I can't see how it would be illegal.

Another vote for the Ruger SR22 with 3.5 inch barrel. Very pocketable and very accurate.

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What could possibly go wrong?

Cman, I'm LOL at the "Desere Eagle"...

Don't know if you're a guitar guy, but here is a "Less Pal" I gigged once or twice.

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HP22A Range Kit – Phoenix Arms

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low speed, high drag

Heritage guns.

9-SHOT

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Plant garlic in the fall

317, 2 or 3 inch. the 3 has adj sights.

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Charlie

As I am from Argentina I use a BERSA, for me it has several advantages, it has a very reasonable price, I have several models to choose from and I have a lifetime guarantee.

Depends on the size of the pocket. This works for me in the pocket on a backpack. One of the most accurate guns I own.

1932 H&R Model 199 Single Action

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This statement applies to me and my Dad before me.

Beretta 70s, hard to find one now but worth the search.

I've had/have a number of .22 autos but for a kit gun I opt for a revolver...... not magazine or ammo dependent. Adj sights for SV40gr round nose for small game or CCI Stingers and Velocitor ammo. Shooting game is a single action shot............


I'd bite the bullet on pocket carry and get either a stainless..... 4" 63 "Kit gun" or 3" 317.

I have a 2" 637PD in .38 and it's a dream to carry........that said my "Kit Gun" is either m 4" 63 or 3" 60-10 think micro 5 shot 686

Nobody makes the pistol you want. Get a holster . . .

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

The 317 Air-Lite with 3 inch barrel , adjustable rear and Hi-Viz front sight , slips right in a pocket , coat or pants . Weight 11 ozs. is about as light as it gets ... nearly unnoticeable !
holds 8 shots . The 3 inch barrel is no harder to coceal or carry in a pocket than the 2 inch ... and the adjustable sights let you dial in and zero your guns sights to the load you want ...they have fixed sights beat Seven ways To Sunday for a trail gun that will be used to pot game .
Hitting small moving targets with a true pocket pistol isn't easy... you need all the sighting help you can get and having the ability to cock the hammer and shoot single action will help you hit small things ... Trust Me On This !
Gary

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