Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting Lightweight 22LR Quest

I've been looking for a light weight 22LR. Something to carry for grouse while scouting and doing trail cameras. Planning on carrying it in a scabbard or some sort of waist holster. I've tried the pistol route both revolver and semi-auto. But neither is accurate enough to consistantly kill grouse out to 30-40 yards.

Not interested in the AR-7. Looked at the Pack-Rifle, but too exspensive and delicate looking. Looks like a TC Hot Shot is the lightest, and thats where I'm leaning right now. Was thinking of ways to lighten it up. The first was to cut the barrel down from 19" to 16.25" Should drop a few ounces, if it doesn't make the rifle too short overall. Not sure if fluting the barrel would save enough to make it worth it. Or possibly taking some metal off the reciever with an end-mill bit and a drill press. Thought about hand shaping a stock out of foam and then putting some sort of coating on it.

Any thoughts or input?

http://www.marlinfirearms.com/Firearms/SelfLoading/70PSS.asp


here is a good solution.

I'd go with a Ruger 10/22 SS carbine in a folding stock like Butler Creek's:


MtnHtr

I don't know about grouse at 40 yards but the paclite barrel and receiver seem pretty nice to us. Son is carrying one out the door now on an elk scouting trip today. I may need to get one as well soon.

Guess I should have specified my weight goal. The Hot shot weighs about 2# 12OZ. I was hoping to get as close to 2#'s as possible. The Pack-Rifle is 15.5oz, but costs 425$

Every good revolver or semi 22 pistol I've shot, once you sort through ammo, and put a dot or optics on it to help(most folks can't shoot well enough with irons) would be more than good enough for grouse to 40 yards... One of my rugers with cheap ammo shoots around an inch at 50 yards. Feed them GOOD ammo and they'll work.

Just FYI.

henry mini bolt small but deadly

Not a cheap way to go but I put one of the 16" Tactical Solutions barrels on a Ruger 10-22. Mine is in a Hogue stock with a 3-9X42 Sightron scope and it still only weighs a hair over 5 lbs. With a ligher stock and scope I bet you could easily get it down to 4.5 lbs.

You might want to check this out:
http://www.titaniumgoat.com/PRK.html

Not real cheap though.

The stock part of that tigoat conversion alone would make a pretty huge difference without going to the trouble and expense of a carbon barrel. I've been thinking about fabbing up an aluminum stick stock (picture a pack stay) for one of my sons' Chipmunks for years. I think it might cost me less than $275 though.

In general, if you want to go light, it is very hard to beat a Chipmunk/Crickett/Henry single shot, particularly if you lose the stock and craft something a bit more unconventional. I have only messed with Chipmunks (sadly absorbed by Crickett) and the four I've seen have been very good shooters.

Browning semiauto. It might be a bit heavier than 2 lbs but it has range and accuracy for exceeding your specs.

That's it. And to keep the weight in the 2 lb area I dont see a rifle that would do much better. Plus the gun would be ready, wont need to put it together when needed.

My MKIII's shoot like rost495's with the right ammo.

Thats a good idea about the, aluminum stay. Next time you have the stock off one of those cricketts, could you weigh it and PM me?

Ed T- Thanks for the heads up on the tigoat conversion. One of the Tigoat guys (I believe the son) was putting out the Pack-Rifle. I didn't know they were making a conversion kit. Little spendy, but looks like what I'm looking for. And going ultralight is never cheap.

23 ounces sans stock.

Oldie but goody discussion on the topic elsewhere. See how long I've been procrastinating on trying something?

http://www.kifaruforums.net/showthread.php?19082-Pakrifle&highlight=chipmunk

Thanks

Titanium Goat has my attention! Crude designs, but not bad methinks!



Also, wish Tactical Solutions would offer 10inch or even 12inch barrels for the Ruger pistols. Would give near rifle accuracy, but also performance!!!!

I have seen (on the NET) skeleton-like "handles" (that resemble the TiGoat "stock") when held against the grip of the Ruger pistols serve as a rest and realy help stabilize the pistol. Don't know anyone could call it a "stock" since the device I'm talking about isn't actually attached to the pistol.

I have rigged a buttplate that slips on the end of a trekking pole to act as a "stock" for a handgun.

Walther P22 with the 3.4" barrel is what I carry. Always have a clip of birdshot and one clip of YellowJackets with me.

Dober

You're risking severe chastisement with that post. There are those on this forum who would crucify a guy for calling a magazine a clip.

Nylon 66 .... 4 lbs.

or

http://www.basspro.com/Ruger-Single...2-Mag-Cylinder/product/10218396/-1427801