wrote:
Overall, in retrospect, I was largely happy with my performance as I
didn't panic or anything of that sort (inexcusable) and got the
aircraft on the ground pretty quickly. However, I should have done at
least one thing differently: I should have either left the avionics
master off or, if leaving it on as I did once determining there was no
danger, I should have squawked 7600. I never changed my squawk. I
elected to leave the panel on mainly to give ATC the benefit of my
return, being right on the border of their airspace, and didn't change
the squawk because I didn't really think of it. Priority was landing
and getting out of the airplane.

Sounds like you did everything right. Don't beat yourself up nit-picking
some minor detail that you might have done differently.

If you had no radios, what makes you think the xponder was working? And,
more to the point, even if it was, what do you think would have happened
any differently if you squawked 7600?

2) Take a bit of time to think about a squawk in any lost-comm
situation.

That is certainly true, but more generally, once you've determined that
there's no immediate danger in any abnormal situation, take the time to
think. As long as the engine's still turning, the wings are still
attached, and you're not on fire, you've got time to take stock of what's
happening and figure out a plan.