Help Me Please

B

Bowtier

New member
Hi everyone, I'm new here. I've been "trolling" for a while trying to get some help with my dilemma but I figured it would be easier to just ask. So here it is, I want a .17 pistol for squirrel & chucks. BUT I can't decide between the savage striker, taurus tracker, or taurus silhouette. They all seem to be nice guns for what it will be used for. My dad has the mod 93 rifle & he really likes it a lot, (so do I) & he has a good habit of giving me his guns when he tiers of them. So, I don't want to get another .17 rifle. The pistols really seem to suit me but I don't know anyone with any of the 3 I mentioned so I can't test 'em out I just can't decide, :confused: HELP please, please, please
 
Wow, thanks Blue Heeler, those rugers are nice too, but... :rolleyes: that didn't make my decision easier, now it's harder. Come on guys, I know some of you must be able to offer a comparison. I realize there will be different opinions but I'd like to hear what you have to say. They're probably all pretty accurate guns in the right hands, I was just lookin' for some input on the handling & feel of these guns. I'd like to have the striker in the 8 3/8" barell but the local gun store only has it in 6 1/2", is the 8" as balanced? I'd like to have the longer barell to be able to hit a tree rat up to 100 yds. I think it could be done, & that would be really cool to do. So, still :confused:
 
I'd go with the Tracker personelly the other two are too big for the calliber I think. And you can get a holster for it and be mobile too. You can also mount a scope on it also.
 
Timothy, I have held a Tracker in my hands, and I was looking for the wheels. It is huge. Where did you get the idea that it was small?

I would personally prefer an S&W (first choice) or a Ruger (2nd choice).

Clemson
 
Yeah, I'm kinda leaning away from the striker for the size issue & bolt action, I think it would be better suited in a larger cal. for deer :D . I'll probly go with the tracker but I still don't know, maybe the extra 3 5/8" of barrel on the silhouette would help me out @ longer ranges? :confused:
 
I'd like to have the longer barell to be able to hit a tree rat up to 100 yds.
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Squirrel are not real big - are you sure you could even see one in a tree at 100 yards, let alone hit it? I think with open sights that's going to be a talllllllllllllllllll order. If you scope the gun though, should be possible, and then it won't matter your barrel length.


P.S. Personally, I don't shoot at anything without knowing that I can deal it a fatal blow.
 
I do plan on scoping it & about 100 yds would be the longest shot I would take, it is rare to have athat long a shot at a squirrel but I have seen them that far away. You say it won't matter barell length?????? How can a 2 inch snubbie be as accurate at that range as a 8 or 12 inch scoped or not? I think I would have to disagree with that statement. sorry.

.......so, no one has a comparison viewpoint??? between the 2 revolvers?
 
It is a common misconception that barrel length affects accuracy. Barrel length affects sight radius, which then affects your ability to hold the sights in alignment with the target. A scoped 4" revolver will be just as accurate as a scoped 8" revolver, since sight radius is a non-issue with a scope. I have a Smith & Wesson Model 41, which is a competition-grade .22 auto. I have three barrels for it -- 5", 5 1/2", and 7". There is zero difference between the barrels when the gun is locked in a Ransom rest.

Clemson
 
Clemson is right - just to add a little detail - the barrel acts to:
1. Provide an environment for acceleration of the bullet
2. Give a direction of travel to the bullet
3. Together with its' rifling, provide a flight stablizing spin to the bullet

Only item (1) is affected by variation in normal barrel lengths though. Once the bullet is heading in the right direction and is "spun up", it doesn't help it to travel down more barrel, except to pick up a little more speed.
 
Hm, I did't realize, I guess what you say makes sense, but I thought I read somewhere the longer barrels allow for a more efficient powder burn and thus effecting the trajectoy? Oh well at any rate it will be scoped so now I guess I just have to make up my mind. Thanks to all who have replied I just wish I could talk to someone who's shot these guns, maybe I'll just buy both & sell the one I like least :D
 
I thought I read somewhere the longer barrels allow for a more efficient powder burn and thus effecting the trajectoy?
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Yes, that is essentially correct, but is not in conflict with what Clemson and I said though. The bullet begins "falling" the instant it exits the barrel and is no longer supported. The rate of falling is actually the same, no matter what the bullet is doing - it's the acceleration towards earth's center due to gravity.

If it is traveling faster though, it will cover a given horizontal distance in less time, and so fall less during that flight - because it reaches the target in less time. If the barrel is longer, generally the bullet will have accelerated to a higher speed, and so will shoot with a flatter trajectory.

Hopefully this makes sense! :D
 
I havn't seen short barrel balistics but I'm betting that the 17 HMR needs all the barrel it can get to achive a velocity that will do those fragmenting bullets justice. ( Their step sisters, the 22 mag , loose ALLOT of velocity/power out of shorter barrels.)

My vote would be to set yourself up with a nice T/C contender. Hard to beet a T/C for growth potential as you can put any barrel length /caliber on it that you like ( with the law of course.) . Really a lifetime handgun. Best of all a T/C with a 10" barrel will pack deciently due to it''s size and weight and likely split hairs for accuracy. The others mentioned above, while nice guns , are more specialty pieces and you will likely find resale on them to be low and tough.
 
Thanks to everyone for the help, I think I'll go with the tracker & maybe look at the contender, I really like them I just think they may be a little out of my price range right now. I'll have to look into it though 'cause I've kinda always wanted one but I just never thought of it as a small cal. gun ... Thanks again
 
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