bhemry, up until a couple of years ago we always used an arrow with a small-game head. It's not as efficient as an accurate 22 but can get the job done. If the grouse is up on a limb taking a shot at one with an arrow puts a $30+ arrow at risk of being lost. I already own a Henry AR-7 Survival rifle and liked the idea enough to buy it. But as you said, at 3+ pounds it's not ideal. Plus, to make it quiet I have to shoot low-velocity/quiet ammo like the CCI CB. That won't cycle the AR-7 action so it becomes a 3+ pound single shot.
AKPENDUDE, if I could own a suppressed 22 pistol I would, but living now in California I can't. However, to cycle the action on a 22 semi-auto I assume I'd have to use higher-velocity 22LR ammo. At supersonic speeds, even suppressed, I'm not sure that setup would be any more quiet/less noisy than my little revolver with CCI CB Longs and CB Shorts. A suppressed 22 semi-auto would weigh more than 13 ounces too (the weight of my 317).
