Lightest 22lr for a pack gun?

kodiakjack said:
Hey Suther, you reload don’t you? Have you considered loading some mouse farts? They’re about 3.5 pounds lighter than a 3.5 pound rifle :p

What’s your hunting rifle caliber?

Most of the loads I’ve played with aren’t great for “grouse head shots at 50 yards”, but if you play with them a bit, you can find some great loads. I’ve got one shooting 1/8” groups at 25 yards...

Just a thought. I’d rather pack a few grouse rounds in my pocket than another rifle on my back.
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That's an idea I never really considered, although I'm thinking nothing I can make for my 270 would be as quiet as 22lr quiets are... Plus how do I aim something like that? Wouldn't it shoot to a different point of aim compared to my normal ammo?
 
Suther said:
That's an idea I never really considered, although I'm thinking nothing I can make for my 270 would be as quiet as 22lr quiets are... Plus how do I aim something like that? Wouldn't it shoot to a different point of aim compared to my normal ammo?
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Some recipes here: https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/for...5340-Mouse-fart-recipes?highlight=Mouse+farts


But aside from that, it’s all trial and error. They can be made very quiet.

It will likely have a different point of aim, but if it’s consistent, no worries. Just a matter of working out your poi. Typically an inch low at 25 yards, for a scoped rifle sighted at 100. In my experience anyway...
 
Seriously, get a Marlin model 60 in synthetic stock. I didn't even know it was on my back. Really. Plus it is seriously accurate and reliable for a semiauto. Out of the box, they put 10/22's to shame at least in the accuracy department. (before the fanboyz spend $1000 to trick them out )
 
Suther said:
Thanks for the list of weights, its really helps narrow my choices.

So the Rascal is the lightest of the lot, followed by the little badger (and those two are the only ones under 3lbs). Interesting. I planned to get a Rascal for my kids soon, so maybe I'll do that before I decide if I want to try the badger. I have seen at least one person on here who uses a rascal for the purpose Im looking for due to its weight...

Im surprised the Marlin is lighter than the AR-7. Looks like I'll be getting a papoose if I want a semi then, I didn't really like the looks (or reviews I've seen) for the AR-7. I don't like the 10-22 my buddy has, so I wouldn't get a takedown for more money and more weight compared to the alternatives, and the idea of spending whatever a Magnum research costs for a gun that'll likely not get much use but get beat up sitting on my pack doesn't seem like a good idea either...



at 4.5lbs each, those options are too heavy for my purpose. Although they both sound like a fun time in their own right!


So looking at the list from Daver_II, what are the opinions on these various guns accuracy-wise? While I want the lightest thing possible, half a pound isn't enough to make me pick a less accurate gun... So what sort of accuracy do people get with their Rascals, Badgers, Papoose, and AR-7s?
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ive tested the Ruger TD, Marlin Papoose, Henry AR7 and the Chiappa Little Badger for a year now against each other in winter and spring and summer shooting.
for me the Little Badger is the most accurate followed very closely by the Ruger TD.
the Papoose and the AR7 where distant 3rd and 4th.

just what i found, chalk it up as a possible lemon for the Papoose or just quality since Remington took them over, who knows.

for me if im going in the bush for a day out i take the Little Badger.
if im going in the bush with the sole intent to shoot or plink all day i take the Ruger TD.

hope that helps.
 
Rascal

I've sighted in 5 now.

They shoot same hole at 25 yards. The plastic ones are light. They are big enough for an adult to run.

I really hop savage will add a magazine feature into them. The red ramp could easily be the mag top plate.

A stainless rifle that size with a magazine would be the ultimate trapping rifle.
 
for interest sake.
i made this gun over the last couple years in an attempt to make a super light pack gun.
Ruger 10/22 with a VQ barrel and NoDak open sites and a SeeMore fiber optic and a braided paracord stock, mag in came in at 4lb12oz
compared to:
Ruger 10/22 TD with scope, rail, rings and mag came in at 5lb10oz
Papoose with scope, rail, rings and mag came in at 4lb10oz
Little Badger with scope, knife, paracord wrap came in at 3lb15oz
AR7 with mag but no scope came in at 3lb8oz so add the weight of a scope on that and your at 4lb and change.

all those weight are current from right now, i just went out to the shop and weighed all my pack guns.

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and in case ya missed it above, the lil badger has a knife on it for that weight.
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there ya go, lots of current info to help ya on your trip!
 
Wayupnorth, thanks for that. I was reading some of your trials yesterday (only made it to the winter test before my phone died though.)

Currently I'm thinking I want to use the iron sights, but i might end up with a light scope in the 1-4 or 1.5-6 sorta range. Time will tell.
 
Kody said:
Making head shots at 50 meters will require a pretty accurate 22 that can shoot about 1 in or better off bags. That will leave you some room for an imperfect rest while hunting and some error for distance estimation. I use a customized CZ 452 Scout with a lightweight carbon fibre stock and a Leupold 2-7 x 28 rimfire scope for grouse. The Scout can shoot MOA at 50 yards but I usually aim at the base of the neck when I am shooting from that distance. It fits well in the back storage compartment of my quad.
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Hey Suther~Kody's rifle might be THE ultimate solution for what you're after (and would likely be the most accurate) but without knowing what that stock is worth...I'd hazard a guess you'd be a couple hundred north of $1,000 putting that together.

I think the Badgers (I've owned 2 of them, both gone) would be the lightest, in spite of those numbers posted. :) I think the barrels seemed decent but otherwise, the build quality/materials are very low-end. (castings, plastic, etc.) The small rail for mounting optics is plastic, if that's a concern.

My suggestion~a plastic stock Savage Rascal. They are physically tiny rifles but ours has proven to be quite accurate. I'd pass on the Savage scope bases and get an EGW rail for it, that's what I did. Got it through Prophet River. You'll find mounting a scope much easier. As for the accuracy expectations, 3/4" @ 50 yards should be pretty easy, but that's if you have enough scope on there. If you're planning on running CCI Quiets, be sure to test what kind of accuracy you're getting with them, and at what distance. I don't think any of the guns discussed in this thread could pull-off 1/2" @ 50 yards using CCI Quiets. CCI Standard velocity~the Savage and CZ should come pretty close.
 
I'm very happy with my Norinco J15a* Backpacker ( 13'' barrel) ,compact, accurate and a 5 rd magazine) and you can pick them up for around $ 200 -excellent value.

* BRNO knockoff ,not as finely finished but not lacking in function
 
.22LRGUY said:
Hey Suther~Kody's rifle might be THE ultimate solution for what you're after (and would likely be the most accurate) but without knowing what that stock is worth...I'd hazard a guess you'd be a couple hundred north of $1,000 putting that together.

I think the Badgers (I've owned 2 of them, both gone) would be the lightest, in spite of those numbers posted. :) I think the barrels seemed decent but otherwise, the build quality/materials are very low-end. (castings, plastic, etc.) The small rail for mounting optics is plastic, if that's a concern.

My suggestion~a plastic stock Savage Rascal. They are physically tiny rifles but ours has proven to be quite accurate. I'd pass on the Savage scope bases and get an EGW rail for it, that's what I did. Got it through Prophet River. You'll find mounting a scope much easier. As for the accuracy expectations, 3/4" @ 50 yards should be pretty easy, but that's if you have enough scope on there. If you're planning on running CCI Quiets, be sure to test what kind of accuracy you're getting with them, and at what distance. I don't think any of the guns discussed in this thread could pull-off 1/2" @ 50 yards using CCI Quiets. CCI Standard velocity~the Savage and CZ should come pretty close.
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As long as it's accurate enough, weight becomes the primary goal. This gun will spend 95%+ of its time in or on my pack. While that cz is nice, and probably an excellent grouse gun it's not what I'm after. I have a savage mark ii, it shoots 5/8"groups but it's too heavy at around 6lbs scoped. I've carried it in my pack earlier this year, but have decided I want a dedicated 22quiet gun and the mark ii can be my small game rifle for when im not hunting big game.

I'm thinking I want to run iron sights, both for the weight savings and then I don't have to worry about hurting the scope by dropping my bag on the ground or sitting on my bag.

Ratherbefishin do you know how much the Norinco weighs? Size wise it's definitely a contender but again, weight is critical here.
 
Get a youth model H&R .22 Sportster, I make a QD Takedown knob for them, they go together in 10 seconds and are light, extremely compact and feel like a "real" rifle... plus they are exceptionally accurate... unfortunately, you will have to shop the used market.
 
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