The Firearms Forum banner

Single Male Seeking An Inexpensive DA .22LR Revolver For Snake Shot

5K views 25 replies 12 participants last post by  TyeDye1971 
#1 ·
I live in a place where every living thing - plant or animal - bites, and is probably venomous. When I go walking, I like to have a bit of defensive gear with me, and .22 LR snakeshot is a pretty good companion. But no semi-auto pistol I know about can cycle properly using snakeshot for ammunition, and that leads me to consider buying a revolver. I've looked at the name brand offerings, and I have to reject them because of the ridiculous prices they ask for their wares. Really, Ruger, do you actually believe that a .22 LR 6-shot cap gun is worth $600? If so, I want some of what you're smoking...

I'm looking for something in the <$200 range for this application. Any suggestions?
 
#4 ·
I agree with Camping Josh. Fine weapons for want you want. Kind of like a Timex watch. Ain't fancy - works. On a personal note, I would prefer the Ruger Bearcat. More money, but once in your hand, it's just comfortable, shoot-able, and a nice carry. Then again, if you are looking for having something with you all the time, just to shoot (make noise - spray an area with lead) convenience take a look at the Freedom Arms mini .22 revolver. Five shots, fits in the pocket of you swim suit, goes bang every time. It's perfect for when a cane just isn't enough.
 
  • Like
Reactions: rawright54
#5 ·
Take a look at the pawn shops, and gun shows. Taurus made a little DA/SA pistol in .22. I bought one used years ago, and I love this little pistol. There is one thing you should consider though. Cylinder gap. It does a number on those CCI snake shot shells. My Colt Woodsman shots them a lot better than the revolver. True I have to cycle the slide, but with the SA revolver, you still have to cock the hammer back for another shot, semi auto isn't that much slower, and it doesn't bust up the plastic cup the shot is in.
 
#16 ·
It's not a double action but these are light weight and will work perfect for snake shot.Now there's finally a use for the NAA mini-revolvers.They were impulse buys and I don't own the smaller one anymore.The NAA's with the magnum cylinder have a larger frame and much larger grips to hold on to them.
That's a good thought - NAA. I'll check them out. A friend has a little one like that she got from her uncle when he passed away, but the cylinder is stamped .22 mag. Apparently he bought a new cylinder for it and the original has been lost. I haven't been able to find a replacement yet, but I may pursue that more; she never shoots it.
 
#10 ·
Let's remember that these little shot shells do a lot better with longer barrels in pistols. They don't work real well in long barreled rifles. To much spin, and the shot won't hold together.
 
#11 ·
If you have a semi-auto .22 pistol, give the shot shells a try in it.
 
#13 ·
That was the first thing I tried, carver. My sig .22 conversion for the P938 doesn't even try to operate when I fire these things.
 
#12 ·
I know you asked about a .22lr revolver but think also about a .38 spl. Here is an old five screw S&W model 10 that somebody whacked off the barrel. Carry weight will be about the same as a .22. I paid $75.00 for it and friend made me a neat leather belt holster for it. It is mechanically in great condition but cosmetically it looks bad so not much demand. The .38 spl. shot shell cartridges are a much more serious load and you can also stick some regular cartridges in there for something bigger than a snake. Plus I don't care about another gouge or scratch.
Gun Firearm Revolver Trigger Starting pistol
 
#14 ·
I know you asked about a .22lr revolver but think also about a .38 spl. Here is an old five screw S&W model 10 that somebody whacked off the barrel. Carry weight will be about the same as a .22. I paid $75.00 for it and friend made me a neat leather belt holster for it. It is mechanically in great condition but cosmetically it looks bad so not much demand. The .38 spl. shot shell cartridges are a much more serious load and you can also stick some regular cartridges in there for something bigger than a snake. Plus I don't care about another gouge or scratch.
I've got a dandy S&W 4" Model 10 - the first handgun I ever bought, in fact - but I've had serious jams using the blue CCIs in it. The plastic cup doesn't fully blow through and gets stuck between cylinder and barrel, locking the cylinder and preventing a second shot, so I distrust it. It definitely packs a lot more power, though!
 
#19 ·
Yep, I've got a nice model 10 S&W, but that's where I have the problem with the plastic cup jamming the gun. The .22s don't have a cup to jam the barrel - the case is crimped and stays with the rest of the brass while the shot leaves the barrel. Of course, it's not much of a shot - I fired a few at a about 5 yards, and the cardboard had a bunch of barely visible pinholes through it. I'd bet that anything more durable than snake or rat skin would repel the shot easily. The .38 packs quite a lot more power...
 
  • Like
Reactions: carver
#20 ·
You will have to go the used route to stay at $200.00,,,
The cheapest new DA/SA revolver will be,,,
The Charter Arms Target Pathfinder,,,
Or Rossi Model 98 Plinker.

Both of them run about $350 or so.

If you can go for a cowboy single action,,,
You have several options in your price range.

Heritage makes several models under your price range,,,
Any of them will serve your purpose very well.

Aarond

.
 
  • Like
Reactions: rawright54
#21 ·
LOL! Evidently a few missed the part about wanting a CHEAP gun.
Really IMO the Heritage SA is your best bet. If you look around, you can get them sub $200. new. And Academy commonly has them on Black Friday Thanksgiving sales for $99.
There also the Chiappa 1873/.22 Puma. BUt I'm not real sold on Chiappa quality.
http://www.chiappafirearms.com/product/1517
 
#23 ·
I've never been to a gun show; it sounds like I should start attending them. We do have several swap meets every weekend in my area, and those often feature guns for sale. Perhaps that's where I need to be looking.
 
#24 ·
That and pawn shops. Think about it for a moment. The pawn shop sets up a table at the gun show. Even if he doesn't change his price on the pistol you want, you still have to pay $10 to get in. Of course you get to look at a lot of other candy besides what the pawn broker has! Still you usually pay more at the gun show than you would over at the pawn shop.
 
#26 ·
That and pawn shops. Think about it for a moment. The pawn shop sets up a table at the gun show. Even if he doesn't change his price on the pistol you want, you still have to pay $10 to get in. Of course you get to look at a lot of other candy besides what the pawn broker has! Still you usually pay more at the gun show than you would over at the pawn shop.
I found a trick for most gun shows. Ours run two days here in Virginia. You go on Saturday and buy if there is something you really want. You go on Sunday afternoons about 1 1/2 to 2 hours before closing for the deals. I have made an offer on a gun on Saturday and the dealer wouldn't budge on the price. I came back thru on the Sunday before closing time and he sold it to me for my price. I have also left them a phone number in case they change their mind and that works sometimes as well. The value of something is only as much as someone is willing to pay.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top