Is it worth toting a 7 pound .22lr on a backpack hunt?

[vladkgb]

How do you cook grouse when back country camping with just a cup and a stove?

 

[Chris in TN]

.22 pistol suppressed or look at black mt arms 5.7 “pistol” with a brace, weighs like 2lbs
I’ve killed grouse with a rock and a stick, so generally the shots are not very far. Snowshoe hair have cool pelts, but are survival food IMHO and I would say the same thing about pine squirrels. Grouse are fantastic though

I've ate a couple of pine squirrels and couldn't tell the difference between them and our local greys here. I like squirrel.

I've never ate a snowshoe hare but always assumed they were similar to rabbit, and I absolutely love fried rabbit.

How do you cook grouse when back country camping with just a cup and a stove?

Campfire/stick/roast it, or have a small pan and some oil (we'll have coconut oil as part of our food anyway) and some seasonings Or maybe we shoot a couple before season and eat them on one of the nights we'll be in a local cabin.

I switched a can over to my M&P22C a while ago and without fiddling with the sights I hit 4/5 on a tennis ball sized target at 15 yards offhand and once I figured out it was hitting a bit low (with CCI SV) I had no problem hitting an 8" plate 5/5 at 40 yards from a rest. I figure that makes me proficient out to perhaps 20 yards and that's about twice as far as the grouse I killed a couple years ago. I'm not a huge fan of open sights for hunting situations but in this instance I think a 2# pistol beats a 7# rifle and saves me buying yet another gun this summer.

ETA: Also, I was sort of worried about how loud a .22 pistol would be even with subs, but the noise level wouldn't bother me at all mid-day. I wouldn't shoot it early/late day during season if I was sitting somewhere hoping to see anything, but at midday with a bit of wind and leaves rustling and whatnot the noise is negligible.

 

[30338]

I don't leave guns in vehicles at trailheads. These days if I arrive early to scout a bit, I'll have my rifle in my pack with no ammo along vs leaving in camp/vehicle.

I'd pass on shooting grouse with an unfilled tag in my pocket.

 

[Te Hopo]

Personally I'd be looking at lighter options
If set on a rifle, the Marlin Papoose is great if you want a fast follow up, or CZ Scout.
When my sisters were kids they used single shots like the Chiappa Little Badger and Cricket, both around the 2.5-3lb weight.

 

[Chris in TN]

So, next question.....is there such a thing as a holster for a M&P22C with a can on it?

Ideally something that'll attach to a chest pack.

 

[mjh]

Check Etsy for leather crafters and holster makers.

I’ve boiled grouse in pot to cook them on backcountry trips. Broth is good too.

I’d take the pistol for sure. Suppressed if can.

 

[Caseknife]

Do you have to have a hunting license for small game in Colorado? Believe Pine Squirrels are a Federally protected species, may be mistaken, might just be Washington rules.

Suppressed 22lr pistol all the way. Open ended holster should work with a suppressor unless it is larger than the barrel shroud.

 

[kkp005]

Keltec P17 suppressed is the answer. Great trigger and I’m able to shoot mine very well.

 

[Chris in TN]

Do you have to have a hunting license for small game in Colorado? Believe Pine Squirrels are a Federally protected species, may be mistaken, might just be Washington rules.

Suppressed 22lr pistol all the way. Open ended holster should work with a suppressor unless it is larger than the barrel shroud.

You have to have a small game license but IIRC you have to have a small game license to even apply for a big game tag. So my daughter has hers; I will have mine too.

I just checked - the limit on pine squirrels in CO is five per day. So, not federally protected. I don't think many people hunt squirrels up at higher elevations; the ones I've seen in the past paid no attention to me even when I was close. A couple years ago I even saw an Abert's Squirrel but season wasn't open yet.

 

[FlyGuy]

No


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[davidsapp]

The folding Chiappa Little Badger 22 is fairly low weight and I can personally shoot it better than I can a pistol. Easy to mount a red dot and a suppressor.

 

[Chris in TN]

The folding Chiappa Little Badger 22 is fairly low weight and I can personally shoot it better than I can a pistol. Easy to mount a red dot and a suppressor.

The biggest advantage to a pistol is.....I don't have to buy it. Buying camping gear is turning out to be expensive and I have figured out that with a DAM on it, my M&P22C will barely fit, but *WILL FIT* in my existing chest pack that I have used for several years now. So it's a no-extra-expense solution, and right now cheap is attractive in its own way.

 

[SixteenG]

The folding Chiappa Little Badger 22 is fairly low weight and I can personally shoot it better than I can a pistol. Easy to mount a red dot and a suppressor.

I have a little badger with a red dot on it. Three of us did a 10 day backpacking hunt for mule deer and shot 15 grouse with it. I prefer to boil nuggets and then add the water and meat into some freeze dried veggies and ramen.

My only gripe with the little badger is the threads on mine are cut crooked. I have a suppressor for it, but I can’t use it because of the threads. I’ve thought about taking it to a gunsmith, but have a hard time paying to cut the threads when I could just buy a new one for the same cost as the rifle.

 

[Maverick1]

If I don’t have my elk tag filled yet: I wouldn’t bother toting around a 22 firearm for the purpose of small game hunting. I’m there to kill an elk. Anything that adds extra weight that needs to be packed around for an entire week or two isn’t coming with. And taking energy away from elk hunting isn’t allowed. Would be better off calorie wise to bring an extra protein bar. Wouldn’t have to spend the time or energy to kill, clean, cook, and dispose of the small game. Can do that locally if desired.

If I have filled my tag and am just waiting around for some other reason - sure, why not.

 

[416bull]

I just picked up a Savage model 24J, 22mag over 20gauge. Gonna be a great combo for my pack, not sure on weight. It may be a bit heavy but that's why we train all year!

 

[elsb0048]

No to the rifle, too heavy/bulky. For this hunt I think the pistol could be cool. If you're likely to be carrying your daughter's rifle sounds like she's young enough you won't be hiking far, more of a Backcountry base camp with more amenities. In that case if you're not seeing big game popping a grouse or rabbit to liven things up could be pretty great and a core memory for her. Especially if you have shit weather and can hole up to cook tasty food in camp.

 

[vladkgb]

I have a little badger with a red dot on it. Three of us did a 10 day backpacking hunt for mule deer and shot 15 grouse with it. I prefer to boil nuggets and then add the water and meat into some freeze dried veggies and ramen.

My only gripe with the little badger is the threads on mine are cut crooked. I have a suppressor for it, but I can’t use it because of the threads. I’ve thought about taking it to a gunsmith, but have a hard time paying to cut the threads when I could just buy a new one for the same cost as the rifle.

That rifle looks awesome. How do you carry it in the field? I want it easily accessible so I don't have to drop my pack to get it out in case I see a grouse.

 

[SixteenG]

That rifle looks awesome. How do you carry it in the field? I want it easily accessible so I don't have to drop my pack to get it out in case I see a grouse.

We share the deer hunting rifle due to weight and space. The guy who doesn’t bring a rifle has a spot it slides into on the outside of his Exo. When we run into a grouse we want to harvest, one of us pull it from his pack without him having to take it off.