re: Handgun for Coon Hunting

Let's look at 22LR velocities for different lengths of barrels using the 36 gr Remington "Golden Bullet" HP in each.
5" (your current barrel)=1009 fps
7"=1073 fps
10"=1150
16"=1185 fps
22 LR muzzle velocity by the inch

22 Mag w/ CCII 40 gr JHP
4" barrel (PMR 30 has 4.3")=1353 fps
22 Mag muzzle velocity by the inch

17 HMR Taurus (weighs 1.5# and has 6.5" barrel)
10"=2276 fps
17 HMR muzzle velocity by the inch

17 HMR and 22 Mag will have LOTS of noise and muzzle flash. W/ the 22 LR, you're not going to get much increase in velocity going from a 5" to 6.5" barrel. In the case of the 17 HMR and 22 Mag, your real world velocity when shot from a revolver is going to be even less than the #'s in the links. The velocities quoted above are from an Encore or Contender barrel that was incrementally cut down. Velocity will drop further in a revolver w/ a cylinder/barrel gap.

My thoughts: 1. You might consider a 10" semiautomatic handgun chambered in 22LR, the Ruger Charger. It's basically a 10/22 w/ a 10" barrel and a handgun stock. You'll get almost an extra 150 fps in velocity. Is that enough to make instant kills from headshot coons? I don't know. LOTS of fun!! All the 10/22 accessories are comppatible w/ it.
2. If you can find them and they shoot accurately in your gun, try some of the "hypervelocity" 22LR rounds, e.g. the Remington "Yellow Jacket". It gets 1214 fps, more than a 22 LR from a 16" rifle barrel. I never liked the hypervelocity rounds as none of them were shot accurately in my 22's.