Small Game-Varmint revolvers and other guns...
Hello Everyone:
After reading some chapters in Al Goerg's work I started to think about handgun hunting for the most commonly available game: small game and varmints.
I was thinking about this when I was out in the field now that all of our deer seasons will be closed until the fall of 2021( I do hope it will be better). As a rule I carry two guns when I am handgunning small game and varmints during the winter months.
Usually on my side is a Ruger Single Six in 22 WRM that Gary did the PPP job on. It turned a mediocre revolver into a serious small game getter. I will confess that it is the ringneck pheasant that has fallen to this gun more than any other game. I have found that Hornady Critical Defense ammo shoots very well out of it.
The main gun that I carry is the TC Contender with one of two barrels.
A 10 inch 22 K Hornet that Gary rechambered for me. It is light and handy as well as a potent round for the size of the gun.
The other barrel is a Super 14 in 22 WRM with a red dot sight on it. I know some hate red dots but for my short range shooting it is fine and dandy. Also it works well for night hunting. Here in good ole Massachusetts the laws allow predator hunting at night but no artificial light. So moonlight and snow cover allow you to an attempt at things like the pesky coyote.
But there are times it would be nice to carry just one gun afield.
Al hunted with some specialty revolvers such as a SW K 22 rechambered to the 22 Harvey K Chuk round . Besides some large game taken he did hunt some small game with that scoped revolver.
Al was ahead of his time in many ways and I can see that with his use of a scoped revolver on small game.
This has me thinking a bit.
What would be a great small game/varmint revolver? Any thoughts?
Gary could make you a .224 Kay-Chuck easily
The Single six would be an easy platform. Literally just a cylinder and window as big as possible and a .22 K-hornet reamer. You cut the brass back below the bullet ojive (about 1/2 the normal K-Hornet neck) to get the K-Chuck.
Using special 30 gr. bullets I worked my way up to 2150 fps. The 45 gr. ran out around 1750 fps where it got sticky in my K-22. I got 1.5" 50 yd. groups with it using a 2.5X Bushnell Phantom.
In that case a normal .22 WMR will push a 45 gr. at 1350-1400 fps from a Single-six 6.5". I've not checked the new 30 gr. faster versions. They are factory rated at 2250 fps from a 24" rifle. I figure maybe 1600-1650. 33 gr. LR CCI Stingers get 1400 fps.
I am still thinking of the 327 Federal
I kind of envision a Ruger Single Six with the PPP treatment and minimum cylinder gap. Drilled at tapped for a Burris 2x scope.
Thinking that the 7 1/2 barrel would be ideal.
.327, 7 shot, 6.5”
![[image]](images/uploaded/202101101625365ffb2a805341e.jpg)
Scott, My S&W Kay Chuck with 8 3/8" gave
me an average of 1658fps shooting 35gr V-max over 8.0grs of 2400 while 9.0grs of 2400 averaged 1754fps compared to a CCI 40gr 22mag at 1402fps from 6" S&W M-48.... However, I just shot this group off hand at 21ft from my 6" S&W using Winchester 40gr JHP ammo...![[image]](images/uploaded/202101102046435ffb67b3c2c73.jpg)