Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Kit guns

Didn't want to compete with the current thread up top but it got me wondering so I figured to take an informal survey.

What do you guys use as your kit gun? "Kit gun" can mean whatever you want it to here except an EDC self defense piece - unless it serves double duty for that, which is fine, too.


To get the ball rolling, I don't currently have one. Have had three Model 63's and a couple Model 34's, and used to carry a Model 15 .38. If I got another one I'd have to flip a coin between a Ruger SP101 4" .22, the same in a .357 with a 4" barrel, or maybe an LCRx. Most likely would go with the SP101 4" .22 mostly 'cause it's close to the original Model 63.

LCR in .22LR

In responding, I would suggest that people also include what they think is the largest cartridge that can be used as a "kit gun."

I think most older guys would say that a kit gun can only be either a .22lr or .22 Mag. A few might go as far as a .32, but what about anything larger? Also, historically, kit guns have been overwhelmingly revolvers (and the Colt Woodsman). Must a kit gun be a wheel gun?

Personally, I don't think a kit gun must be a small caliber, nor a wheel gun. In the last few years, I've carried a G19 loaded with FMJ's, along with a magazine of JHP's.

A S&W M60 3" 38 spl. is my ultimate kit gun. Like a female, I reserve the right to change my mind!

Glock 22lr

My 2 favorites are a LCR22 and a SW M15.

A cool mid offering would be a 3" LCRx in 327 Fed Mag. Don't think Ruger has gotten there yet though.

Glock 44

S&W M-63 4".

Ruger Single Six. 4 5/8" barrel, both .22 lr and .22 mag cylinders

Always have it with the mag cylinder in it when running dogs or riding horses. It been responsible for the demise of about 20 porcupines over the past couple years.

I thought a Kit Gun was always a small S&W revolver in 22RF caliber

To me chambering shouldn't be a factor. It's just something you keep in a certain place so that you're not without it when you go to do a certain thing. "Part of your kit."

In that case it would be my P365

I agree with you about the SP-101 4 in .22LR. It would work very well.

The one I carry the most is my 651 revolver in .22 WMR. Surprisingly accurate, it easily outshoots my model 63 in my hands. I most often use it to shoot grouse or a rabbit.

I have a 63 as well but use it only when I am hunting sage rats or for practice. If I go up to a CF handgun it is usually My taurus TI .357 Magnum. It weighs within an ounce of the 651.

I have two autoloaders I use for kit guns too. First is my 22/45 Lite MKiii. I have a scope or red dot on it most of the time. The othe is a 9mm Glock loaded with Buffalo Bore 147 gr hardcasts.

Rossi 511, 515, 518, and 720 depending on what I'm doing and/or where I'm going.

Mostly carry the 518, .22 MAG, and 720, .44 Special. Having 3 hard cast 240 grain SWCs and 2 CCI snakeshot cartridges in a compact stainless revolver gives me a little peace of mind.

EDIT: The S&W 422/622.2206 with 4.5" barrels could be used as kit guns if you weren't going to use snakeshot. I have found that for me, .22 LR snake shoe isn't as effective as. 22 MAG and that neither are as effective as the .38/357 and .44 varieties.

Same here, shown with a spare magazine of off-pavement ammo.

My go-everywhere do-everything gun is my 4-5/8" barreled Ruger Super Blackhawk. Camping, hiking, fishing, shooting tin cans. A few times it's been my primary hunting gun. It goes for me every morning on my 2 mile walk, sleeps by the bed .. etc.

I would like to find something lighter than 45 ounces without giving up too much whop or increasing the recoil too much. I don't think such a thing exists, not by my yardsticks.

Tom

Jim in Idaho: I love my Smith & Wesson Model 34's, Model 63's and my Model 651 ("J" frame in 22 Magnum).
They often "go along" in my "kit" or on my hip when Hunting in Snake country, Grouse country, Small Game country or when I may need a signal pistol.
Big plus in that I can carry a "50 pack" of ammo along with what is already in the pistol.
Of course these are carried on the hip in a perfectly fitted Uncle Mikes type holster (to prevent damage to the pistol and its finish).
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

My kit guns, are simple. I like the Ruger SP101 in 22 LR, I do wish they manufactured it in 22 mag. I like my Ruger stainless Single Six. I've carried one for many a mile. If I want a little more there's the Ruger Security Six 4". In the lower 48, I'm pretty much ready for anything including being out all night. Sometimes it's just a Ruger Bear Cat. I sure would like an extra cylinder for that one.

A kit gun to me is a smaller caliber gun that you would use for targets of opportunity that you wouldn’t want to use your main gun for.

I’ve always got a pistol, even when carrying a rifle but my kit gun, the G44, goes with me in my HPG kit bag for things like shooting a snake when I’m fishing or hiking and want to kill something without firing a bigger gun.

So for me it has to be light, small enough to be carried easily and accurate enough to do the job.

My old S&W M63, a Ruger 22/45 LITE or SR22. Over the years I have made use of various small to midsize .38 Specials as a kit gun. Generally the .38's use either 148 gr. wadcutters or 158 gr. SWC at low velocity.