Yard gun

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2ndovc
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Yard gun

Post by 2ndovc »

When I'm out working around the house I like to carry a small, light .22lr for the occasional targets that pop up. We get the occasional rabid raccoon, neighbor got one just the other day. Chase off stray cats and a coyote once and awhile.
I had a couple of NAA revolvers, a S&W Model 61 Escort and a Bond Arms derringer w/ a set of .22lr barrels. Not exactly light but it was fun. They all got caught up in the Purge and sold off while I was in the hospital. I've been carrying a beat up S&W 642 with some really light wadcutters and it's quiet enough for where I live, but not terribly accurate. I've been looking at the NAAs and Derringers but I keep coming back to the Ruger LCRx in .22 with the 3" barrel. I know they are ugly as heck but would really fit in a couple of rolls. Around the yard and a nice lightweight 22 to keep in my backpack.

Any of you guys shooting an LCRx .22?

jb 8)
jasonB " Another Dirty Yankee"


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piller
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Re: Yard gun

Post by piller »

No, but a Ruger Bearcat is nice and light for carrying all day without really noticeing it. It fits me OK, but some folks find it to feel odd. CCI Mini Mag ammo is real accurate in the one I got for PillHer. I get to use it some. I don't know why, but it doesn't like Stinger ammo. Maybe it is the light bullet and high velocity. That is OK. I have plenty of the Mini Mags.
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AJMD429
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Re: Yard gun

Post by AJMD429 »

If I could only have one 22LR handgun, even though the nostalgic part of me would prefer a number of other options, the practical part of me would prefer a Ruger Mark 3 with threaded muzzle...

It does give me the option of adding a suppressor, which I have to admit I don't really need to do that often given the alternatives of subsonic ammunition and the low decibels of 22LR even with high velocity ammunition.

More importantly, any of the Ruger semi-auto pistols of the latter half of the 20th century are superbly accurate, easy to shoot, and not all that bulky. There are definitely more compact options, and I do own a Beretta 21, and a North American Arms mini revolver, but if I had to restrict to just one 22LR handgun, it would be one of the Ruger 'Mark' series...

Then again a Ruger Charger with a night/thermal/infrared sight is pretty fun when it comes to dealing with nocturnal barnyard predators or overpopulated rabbits.... :mrgreen:
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Ray
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Re: Yard gun

Post by Ray »

A neighbor had some creature digging golf course type divots in his lawn.....

Moles and possoms and armadillos were suspected.....trail cams revealed coons and plenty of them.....

xxl havahart and multiple baits were tried.....ripe bananas and stale honey buns turned out to be the winning formula.....

a beretta 21A with a cci cb long in the break-open spout was quite adequate. flicking the barrel open expelled the spent case.....

the magazine was loaded with stingers for backup just in case.....

as much as i like revolvers, your beretta 81 7.65x17mm would be my choice for coon.....

the more or less non-expanding prvi partizan ppu 71gr. jhp is what i carry.....
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Re: Yard gun

Post by Jay Bird »

When outside doing work or just bumming I've carried a yard gun for over 40 years....an old model Ruger Single Six with a 5.5 barrel. I've used it many times and before cordless drills came out it was my choice of tools for drilling a 1/4" hole while fixing fences, hinges for gates etc......just put the muzzle right up to the wood..bang! Fox runs across the pasture...bang!

Small guns with tiny barrels such as NAA's, 1908 Colt's, even snub nosed revolvers in centerfire cartridges work about as well as a drunken Polack you hire to do technical work.

Things you need to shoot are not always close.

I've beat that Ruger up good...still shoots great and is mechanically perfect. Pretty sure I could sell it for what I paid for it in 1975----$85---------6
765x53
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Re: Yard gun

Post by 765x53 »

I have been seriously considering one of these for the roll you describe. https://www.gunbroker.com/item/835760062
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2ndovc
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Re: Yard gun

Post by 2ndovc »

765x53 wrote: Sun Oct 06, 2019 6:03 pm I have been seriously considering one of these for the roll you describe. https://www.gunbroker.com/item/835760062
That thought crossed my mind too. I've had three .380 PPK/s', post war German, S&W and Interarms import and had a problem with each one. I'd like to stick to a revolver so I can load .22 shorts in it as well.

Ray,
The little Beretta 21's are great little pistols. Like you said, popping in a .22 short is pretty easy. I had one briefly, should have kept it.

The other suggestions, though nice guns, their either too big or too loud. Even though I'm on the edge of town, I'm still in the city limits, less than 100 feet from the township line. I can get away with subsonic stuff, but still have to be careful. Been looking at Ruger Bearcats all evening, might be the way to go. More my style than the LCRx.

jb 8)
jasonB " Another Dirty Yankee"


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piller
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Re: Yard gun

Post by piller »

The Aguilla Super Colibri ammunition is decently accurate and quiet from PillHer's Bearcat. It can kill a marauding rabbit in the garden at 30 feet with no more noise than a handclap.
D. Brian Casady
Quid Llatine Dictum Sit, Altum Viditur.
Advanced is being able to do the basics while your leg is on fire---Bill Jeans
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Ray
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Re: Yard gun

Post by Ray »

m.A.g.a. !
wm
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Re: Yard gun

Post by wm »

As a city living guy my needs and experiences are different but in the role you describe I think I would also favor a Bearcat or Wrangler (but I confess to being impressed with the LCR family of revolvers).

One other thought might be a 32S&W long or 32 Mag. With hand loads you could tailor the ammo to your needs. For example I would be afraid that a 22lr would simply wound and not kill a coyote (and wounded, injured animals are far more dangerous then those that can just run away). A 32 mag would be more lethal.

Unfortunately 32s are not as inexpensive or as easy to come by as 22lr, nor do they have varying sorts of platforms that might suit you.

Wm.

P.S. If Ruger offered a 5 or 6 shot, adjustable sight, Wrangler in 32 H&R magnum with 3" barrel I know what I would want if I was in your shoes. I include this just in case someone from Ruger was looking in for product ideas. :wink:

Or Heritage.
Last edited by wm on Mon Oct 07, 2019 4:46 pm, edited 1 time in total.
piller
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Re: Yard gun

Post by piller »

A Wrangler might be a good idea. I still stand by my suggestion of a Bearcat because they are much lighter. For carrying something light and handy in a .22 lr, the Bearcat is my choice.
D. Brian Casady
Quid Llatine Dictum Sit, Altum Viditur.
Advanced is being able to do the basics while your leg is on fire---Bill Jeans
Don't ever take a fence down until you know why it was put up---Robert Frost
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2ndovc
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Re: Yard gun

Post by 2ndovc »

I handled a Wrangler a couple weeks ago, just felt cheesy and cheap to me. Life's too short for cheap guns! :D

WM, I like the .32s and handload for them, I have a Single Seven and love it but it has a 7" barrel and rules out carrying it in a pocket around the yard. I have been looking at the new one that's out with a 3 1/2" barrel and birds head grip. They're about the same price as the stainless Bearcats. I'd like to handle one in person, but haven't come across one yet. By the way, I would never shoot at something that I wasn't sure I could put down.

The search continues.

jb 8)
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Ray
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Re: Yard gun

Post by Ray »

m.A.g.a. !
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