Pathfinder opinions

[ACORN]

At the Drs. behest I intend to do some woods walking when the weather warms up and am thinking a little .22 snub would be nice to pack along. A kit gun would be nice but expensive. Taurus makes a Model 94 but they are a **** shoot. Charter Arms Pathfinder could be the ticket but I like it to have adjustable sights (don’t think they make one)but the lack of them would not be a deal breaker. Anyone have a Pathfinder that could offer their opinion on them. LGS has a 2” for $350.

 

[ColbyBruce]

I have owned a few Pathfinders in the past. The model used to be offered with adjustable sights and a 3 1/2” barrel, now it has become a fixed sight snubbie; much like the discontinued Off Duty model.

I do own a Charter Arms Off Duty .22 LR revolver. It is a perfectly adequate handgun, well made and easily less than half price of a S&W 34/63. I think you will be pleased with it.

 

[joe44va]

What are you planning on doing with a .22 snub in the woods?

 

[ACORN]

Just have it. Might run into a snake or just shoot a tin can.
Your question sounds kind of like "why does anyone need a ______?" Fill in the blank.
I am "planning" on nothing. I am licensed, and I want to. So that is enough.

 

[ACP230]

I have one of the old adjustable sighted, stainless, Pathfinders.
I like it. Light, easy to carry, and accurate. Mine will shoot
any .22 ammo without problems.

I would look around for one of the old ones.

 

[Fishinfool]

I used to own a Pathfinder with adjustable sights. It was a decent gun, reliable, but not very accurate. Not that the snub nose J frame .22's are that easy to shoot well either.

I usually carry a Ruger Bearcat when I want a small .22 revolver for the woods. More accurate in my hands than I ever was with a Charter / Smith small frame snub. Ruger now makes an adjustable sight version of the Bearcat.

Pictured is a Bearcat with a Walther P-22 for size comparison. That P-22 is also a nice compact light weight woods gun when you want a semi-auto.

Larry

 

[max503]

I have never been happy with any 22 handgun that had fixed sights. Dovetailed, drift-able rear sights are fine.
What good is a 22 if you can't hit SMALL targets with it?
Might as well carry firecrackers.

My S&W Kit gun is probably my most used handgun. And yes, it is accurate.

 

[Grayfox]

A couple of years ago I picked up a used, 2" newer model Pathfinder .22 pretty cheap. It felt good in the hand and the trigger was quite good. Unfortunately, it didn't shoot worth a darn. 3-5" groups at 7 yards was about normal.
It would be a decent house gun for an older person with weak hands. But it wasn't even accurate enough to be considered a good plinker. Its gone.
OTOH, I seriously believe it may have been just this gun. I've owned a couple of other Charters in the past that were really good guns.

This is what I use for a hiking/trail gun. Model 60-4 .38 Special. Works on two or four legged varmints if needed.

 

[ExRanger714]

I like my 60-10 357 for a woods gun. If it's bear, mountain lion or wild hog country I carry a 4" 629 or a shotgun and a 22 pistol.

 

[Drm50]

I have searched for years looking for the perfect small 22 to carry for grins
living in rural area when anything might pop up you wanted to put a hole in. Had most of the top name 32 frame 22s and Suub revolvers. Some of the auto shot well but am more into revolvers. Like someone said a 22 with fixed sights is useless. The gun may be accurate but not printing at
point of aim. If I had to buy a gun for this purpose without cost of a m34
it would be a S&W 422 adj sight model. Just a little longer than a snub, but lighter, flatter for carrying purposes and dependable and accurate.

 

[Old Corp]

Many years ago had a Hi Standard Sentinel .22 revolver that was ~2". Nine shot, alloy frame, fixed sights, but it was accurate and shot to POA with LR HV ammo.
Probably still some around used. It would've made a very good 'Trail .22'.

 

[jimmyj]

I have one (4" ?) w/adjustable sights. nice .22 revolver. No negative issues

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

+1 on the 422! Mine is a 4" and I shoot it better than the 5" model 41 I had!

However, I prefer my 4" 34-1 and 6" 17-3, but good older ones run easily a half a grand+.

For a walking woods gun, I have an old rough Cobra (real rough). Holds 6 & a 8 round speed strip give very reasonable SD gun and a box of wadcutters in the day bag or pack for plinking. (did I mention it's rough, but $135 OTD! and shoots better than me!)

When you get your woods gun, you can go either of two holster routes. 1) Good leather on a good stiff belt (better choice) or 2) inexpensive padded nylon holster ala Uncle Mikes, these do a pretty good job of protecting the gun, but are often a little floppy (belt loop too big!)

Ivan

 

[Wee Hooker]

I kept an older pathfinder that served me well as a handy back yard / woods walking gun for many years. It was well made and shot decently for it's size. Kind of a poor mans model 63. To be honest, while the fit and finish is a bit nicer, I don't shoot the model 63 that replaced it (last year) any better. As I recall, I bought my Pathfinder for $185 and sold it for $300 after 10-15 years of use.. Not sure I'd buy a new one but the older models are keepers .

Here is my (former)3" pathfinder:

Here is the 3" 63 that eventually replace it"

 

[Farmer17]

I love revolvers and had a Smith M63 stainless 4", M34 4", and a Colt Diamondback but my favorite .22 kit gun to always have with me in the woods is my Bersa Thunder. Very accurate, great ergonomics, light, flat and its perfectly reliable with CCI blazers.

 

[MyDads38]

I just purchased a new CA Pathfinder 2" 22 LR revolver for my wife to learn on. Trigger isn't the greatest, but I shoot it well out to 5 yds. She didn't shoot it well, so I switched her over to my M&P 22 compact-she loves it and shoots it very well. I paid $350 OTD for mine, not sure I want to keep it, but it is a nice 22 revolver for the money. If I wanted a small, pocket 22; it would fit the bill nicely. Mine shoots POA out to 5 yards and groups well enough. With a little trigger work, it would be very nice (polishing the internals).

 

[Drm50]

If we are talking 5yd accuracy on beer cans almost any 22 will work. You
should be able to point shoot at that distance. A Berreta 21 will do that
nicely without problem.

 

[ACORN]

If we are talking 5yd accuracy on beer cans almost any 22 will work. You
should be able to point shoot at that distance. A Berreta 21 will do that
nicely without problem.

I'm more of a revolver guy. Besides I can shoot shots, longs, LRs, BB, CB, interchangeably. I do have a fair supply of these.

 

[ColbyBruce]

I'm more of a revolver guy. Besides I can shoot shots, longs, LRs, BB, CB, interchangeably. I do have a fair supply of these.

I would offer to sell you mine for $300.00, but LGS charge a $35.00-$50.00 transaction fee plus shipping and insurance. I hear one of the shops charges for packing material. You would also have FFL fees on your end.

 

[Drm50]

I'm revolver guy to but expect a lot more than 5yd accuracy, more like
50'. Not bullseye grade but practical level accuracy to take Varmit or small game. At 5yds and price of ammo, I think a pocket full of rocks would be in order.