.22 pistol
Hello all,
I recently obtained a .22 pistol. The manufacturer is FIE, Model: Texas Ranger. The pistol is a Single Action. I have never heard of this make or model before. The original box and paperwork states that is was built 100% in the USA. I am wondering if anyone out there might have some history on the maker and or model. Any help would be great.
Got to love the feel of the thump!!!!!!
I recently obtained a .22 pistol. The manufacturer is FIE, Model: Texas Ranger. The pistol is a Single Action. I have never heard of this make or model before. The original box and paperwork states that is was built 100% in the USA. I am wondering if anyone out there might have some history on the maker and or model. Any help would be great.
Got to love the feel of the thump!!!!!!
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Im looking for a .22 pistol to small game hunt with. Im thinking about the Heritage revolver. Any good? I might want to shoot 22 shotshells out of the gun and the only smooth bore I can find is the Rexio...looks cheap..any suggestions? 0 -
No pistol is legal with a smooth bore. To be smooth would classify it as a shotgun, and you would have to go through the NFA paperwork on it. Even a 22. 0 -
You can shoot .22 shotshells out of any .22 LR revolver. It doesn't need to be smoothbore. I use them all the time for snakes. 0 -
Ruger Single Six with 22 LR and 22 Mag cylinders. Reasonably inexpensive and well made. Or one of the Ruger 22 auto pistols if you want a semi-auto. Have not owned a Heritage but have considered them a couple times but wasn't impressed with the fit and finish. I prefer a second model Colt Woodsman for small game hunting but nice ones are a little pricey these days. 0 -
About the only game 22 shotshells are good for is mice.( Ok maybe snakes also)
Heritage is a OK revolver for the price but I would question its long term durability, Ruger or S&W would be a better choice but more expensive.0 -
Colt trooper 6" is a good .22 shooter. Had mine over 30 years never a problem. 0 -
Heritage has a zinc-alloy frame. It should function OK, but I echo the concerns about durability, and personally I'd spend more on a better gun.
I think Ruger is probably the way to go with a single action .22 revolver.
If you're looking for something decent, but trying to spend as little as possible, check out the semi-automatic Smith and Wesson 22A at the same or only a little more than the Heritage. Not a super-great gun, but its good for the money with a decent trigger, good visibility sights, and is about as easy at it gets to mount a scope or dot sight (both nice for hunting). For hunting, I'd go with the longest barrel possible, by the way.
As mentioned, you "can" shoot .22 shotshells from any gun you like.
Unfortunately, the performance is nearly equally lousy no matter what gun you shoot them from!
.22 shotshell MIGHT be enough to kill a mouse or SMALL snake *IF* it were standing within 10 feet. I wouldn't trust it on anything bigger or further than that.0 -
The Heritage revolvers are essentially the same gun as the old import FIE (Herbert Schmidt/Germany) "Buffalo Scout". For many years I've made a hobby of buying these old pistols in (cheap) non-working condition, and repairing them. And in most cases the problem was (IMO) NEGLECT. Usually the internal parts were so filthy that they couldn't function, and eventually broke. Many times a good cleaning was all that was required to get one working again. So IMO if you take reasonable care of a Heritage, Including an occasional disassembled internal cleaning, there should be few issues w/durability.
The main durogatory issue I find w/the old pistols is inaccuracy. Some are accurate. Many of them are woefully inaccurate w/the POI (point of impact) being so far from POA (point of aim) that they are nearly useless for any kind of aimed shooting. And unfixable at a reasonable cost.
And altho I've never personally owned a Heritage, I have seen MANY reports of the same type of inaccuracy on several gun forums.
If you ONLY want to shoot birdshot, that shouldn't be a factor. But if you want to shoot accurately w/regular .22LR ammo, I would suggest AT THE VERY LEAST, to spend the extra bucks and get the model w/adjustable rear sights. Then you have a chance of being able to zero it in.
I do agree w/the previous posters that a Ruger Single Six is a MUCH better choice.0 -
For a .22, the Ruger .22 pistol and .22LR/.22mag single-six revolver lines have been indestructable for ages, and both are great for beginners to experts. The convertable single-six is a bit more versatile for hunting, but of course it's slower to shoot and load than the 10-shot semi-auto. Both are easily scoped if you choose. Others swear by the Buckmarks from Browning, another great .22 semi-auto that's reasonably priced and reliable. Beretta and Walther also have .22 semis. I have no personal experience with them, but I've read that they're also good ones.
Go rent a few at a range and try them out, see what you like, then grab the one you like best.0 -
Thanks for all the input. I already have a Walther P-22 and I have killed a few gray squirrels with it. I've never shot the 22 shotshells....thought they might pack enough punch to kill a squirrel at 20yrds, but it sounds like they wont. We also have these annoying red squirrels all over the place around here. They are tiny and fast. I miss them every time. Maybe a 44mag with shotshells[:D][;)][:D][;)][:D] 0 -
22 shot cartridges at 20 yards are useless (well, it might annoy a dragonfly). It is #12 shot- one step above dust. I use them for snakes at 10 FEET. Go for the Ruger with regular .22 LR ammo, do your part and it will take squirrels. 0 -
But if you want a really nice .22 revolver, spring for an older S&W Mdl 18, 17 or K-22. Little more pricey, but a wonderful handling revolver (it's a K-frame in .22 LR). Made until 1986, when they switched to only SS. My 18 is as accurate as my target Ruger Mk II (ironic, ain't it?).
S&W makes similar revolvers now (see their website), but the older models should hold their value much better.0
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