Dear Smith and Wesson Forum, I have a question for my fellow forum members. Does a man really need a .22 caliber revolver? The reason that i am asking is because i was at my favorite gunshop yesterday and when i saw how high the prices were for .22 caliber revolvers, All i could think was Does a man really need a .22 caliber revolver? any and all help in answering this would be really appreciated by me sincerely and respectfully mg357 a proud member of the Smith and Wesson Forum.

My preference would be that you should at least have a rimfire rifle and handgun of some sort. They are just too useful, affordable, practical, and most of all, fun. But as to do you @#$% a .22 revolver… I try not to use that dirty dirty four letter word with my habit… I couldn’t even type it…

I can't seem to find a reason to add a .22 revolver to My humble collection. They may be fun to shoot but don't really have a SD value to Me. I'll stick to 9mm and .357. Steve AKA kingcobra07

As my wife stated when I told her I did not need such and such a pistol and decided not to buy it...."you passed need about four pistols back" Get it if you want it and will enjoy it, but be patient and get one at a fair price...

That is a personal decision but here are a few things they are useful for.
1. Double action trigger/target practice, to become a good double action shooter it takes a lot of live fire practice .22 is a cheap way to get it.
2. Training inexperienced shooters, like starting a new driver off with a manual transmission starting a shooter off with a DA revolver always made a lot of sense to me. Once you master the more difficult skill set transitioning to simpler mechanical devices is a lot easier. There are states that if you want to conceal carry both revolvers and autos you must get a revolver permit and take your test with a revolver. Sadly now days too many look for the easy way not the right way.
3. Ammo versatility, you have a wide range of ammo from CB caps that are as quite as a pellet gun to high velocity rounds that are good for small game hunting. For this reason I also like pump or lever action rifles.

.22 revolvers excel as training tools. They allow the revolver shooter affordable practice ammunition and are the preferred tool to teach young shooters the art of shooting. I have a couple of .22 pistols (Browning) which I prefer for plinking; but for training new shooters my 17-2 is my best tool. It also is great for working on my single or double action revolver trigger control.

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Revolver luvin' Mountaineer

I have tried convincing my wife that I *need* all guns, so the answer is yes.

Seriously, they are a good way to practice. 22 LR is so much cheaper than centerfire ammo that you can recoup your costs pretty quickly (unless you reload).

To me, until you go to the range, and spend time with a quality .22, like a K22, and quality .22 ammo, you really don't know how well you can shoot. Eliminating muzzle blast and recoil, as much as possible, allows finer honing of your shooting skills.

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Wayne
Torn & Frayed

i love the ones that i have.....cheap to shoot, quiet, ammo is abundant, and the guns are just neat in .22

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Kris
OGCA, NRA LM

in my part of the woods i don't know anybody that dosen't own one. so i would say yes.

I frequently encounter comments by so called gun enthusiasts that denigrate the 22lr revolver. While there may be cheaply made 22s so are there cheaply made 9mms. However knowledgeable gun enthusiasts appreciate the precision delivered by a nicely made 22lr. My collection runs from big to small and if I had to choose the humble 22lr would be one of the last I would give up. And here is my 17-6, they cost the manufacturer the same amount to produce. (

There are a number of reasons to own a 22 pistol whether it is a revolver or semi auto.

The first one is that they allow for a lot of practice and trigger time for next to no cost because the ammo is so cheap. The basic's of shooting have nothing to do with how much recoil a gun has but with sight picture, trigger control, and consistent stance.

The second is they are fun to shoot and great for teaching new shooters how to shoot.

The third for me anyway is that when my grandkids come I can take them to the range I belong to and set down a brick of ammo and they can shoot to their hearts content and all that quality time costs less the $20.

S&W 22 revolvers are expensive and used ones have really jumped in price the last two years as ammo prices went up and ammo was hard to find. Many shooters bought a 22 to continue shooting because a couple of bricks off 22 ammo gives many days of shooting time.

I find the question a little funny because most of the forum members who have bought one S&W revolver end up with more then one soon after getting the first one and shooting it. I know because I bought my first one 3 years ago and now I have five.

I think it depends on where you live and what you plan/can do with it and maybe even if you can reload for the larger calibers. You can shoot the larger calibers about as cheaply as you can the 22. The bullet cost is the only real drawback and if you have a neighbor like I do who cast a few hundred a week and gives you all you want, you can reload 38-special, or the 32 variants for around 6-7 cents a round.

Not trying to draw anyone into the continuous argument over the 22 as a SD round, but it is all some people can comfortably shoot. If you live out in the country like I do...the 22 in an invaluable tool for plinking and for range work as well. If all I had was a 38, the cost of the ammo to just fool-around like some people do would be prohibitive...unless you reload.

If it is strictly for HD, then I can easily see the point of...why bother and a 38 (or whatever) truly meets the need and a 22 may be in the way around your house.

In my personal family situation....the wife can only handle the 22 and her little 10.5-ounce (expensive) 317 would have to be pried from her hands to get it away from her. It's the only thing she can comfortably shoot (has had a trigger job and Wolff springs). I would hate to take 3-rounds of CCI shot-shells in the face and then let her take her time to see where she wanted to place the remaining 5-rounds at her discretion after my eyes were shot-out.

The 22 has it's place. Can they be had cheaper than at the S&W store....you bet. I think if the 22 was eliminated or discontinued....it would be like taking away the right to vote. Lots of us grew-up with them and I would hate to see the caliber go away. It's like mom's apple pie. If I had to choose one weapon to keep....it would be a 22.

It I only owned firearms thast I "needed", then my collection would be reduced drastically.

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Proverbs 14:7

Yes, for all the reasons listed and more. And a lot of folks obviously agree, because they are in great demand even with the prices so high.

Oh man!! I wouldn't know what to do without atleast one 22 rifle and handgun. The Horror!!!!!!

A .22 is better than a towel, or a bottle of shampoo.

Police ID slain home invasion suspect  | ajc.com

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Proverbs 14:7

Because a person can shoot at a certain level of skill/accuracy/speed with a rimfire does not necessarily mean he can also do it with a centerfire.

However, if you can't do it with a rimfire, you certainly can't do it with a centerfire.

A good practice tool . . .

Absolutely YES!!!

No gun collection is complete without one. I almost always take a .22 to my range and shoot it first to get "warmed up" and on target, then I switch to my center fire stuff.

.22 is also indispensable for training new shooters and kids.

I think if I had to part with my guns, one of the .22`s would be second to last to go. A.357 would be the last to go.

PS.I know it`s probably sacrilege here ,but my all time fav. is a 4 inch blue **** Diamondback

Mine (a 1947 K-22) gets used for training newbies and for checking the chrony and for calming flinches that folks develop and for inexpensive target work. I know I could use it for small game and for putting down varmints in the yard. It also has class.

I don't know if any other man needs those things, but I have a use for my .22 revolver.

(Oh, and I also have a nifty Bowen-customized .22 Mag Bearcat that's just cooler than a fan. I doubt anyone needs that, though.)

I like my .22 revolvers. Bought a M18-3. Then bought a 4" 617. Recently bought the 6" M17-3.

It's a great training tool. Getting the muscle memory of the sight picture of the .22 at ignition carries over to the center fire guns. It's hard to not flinch, it's easier to get muscle memory of not flinching.

I have 14 (12 smiths and 2 colts) so I guess you know my answer to the question. I like collecting and shooting them. I keep a 28 in the house for home defense and carry anything from a .380 to a .44 depending on situation. But I like the .22s the best. To each his own.

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Jim
Many K and N Frames

I live in Pennsylvania, where the gun laws are fairly reasonable for an east coast state. However, you cannot legally hunt with a semi-automatic firearm. So, if I wanted to do a little small game hunting with a handgun, I needed something other than my 2206. I found a really nice M63 at a dealer's shop within 30 miles of home. He did have a pretty hefty price tag on it, but I traded him a ratty SIG P226 police trade-in I had plus $50, and came home with a very nice S&W .22 revolver. The very next day, I also found a set of J-Frame, square butt combats, which were also rather expensive. But, now that I have it all togther, I wouldn't trade it for any other .22 that I can think of off hand. That's my story. Whether or not you need a .22 revolver, that's up to you. I can tell you they are fun, accurate and also very cheap to shoot.

Attached Images

Smith M63 2.jpg (83.2 KB, 168 views)

I am not that old, but do have a fair amount of gun. The past few years, I find myself buying more .22 revolvers( just my preference) and .22 bolt guns than anything else. They are fun, good investments and are just so much fun to shoot! I have a lot fo centerfire stuff, but I have noticed the only centerfire gun I shoot is my carry gun to stay comfy, I just love shooting my .22's and it lets you save more money to buy more guns, crazy ammo prices!

Without a decent 22 revolver, all is darkness and chaos.

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Dum vivimus Vivamas

Good honest question and the answer is YES, for all the reasons others have already stated. A few months ago I got back into shooting and Smith and Wesson revolvers after about a ten year absence that also saw me sell all my Smith revolvers except a Model 66 no dash, which I bought the first year they came out. That ten years was the first time I had been without a Model 17 since I was in my 20's. One of the first three Smiths I bought to start rebuilding my collection of shooters was a 99% Model 17-3.

If I could have only three revolvers they would be the Model 66, my new (old) Model 17 and my Performance Center 625-8, which was also used but LNIB.

Besides a good quality .22, most anyone can also hone their shooting skills with an air pistol. The best handgun shooting I ever did with a centerfire pistol was when I shot a Beeman HW 70 air pistol 50 shots each day after work, right off my back deck or in the garage. The skill I learned with that air pistol absolutely did transfer to my centerfire pistols at the range.

Now that's funny right there
Someone on the Smith Forum asking about need

Answer: of course

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Fe Feo Fuerte

I have 47 .22 handguns....this thread is disturbing me, do I need to start a new collection?

Of the 8 revolvers in my modest collection, ranging from .22 to .44 Mag, the 17-1 gets the most range time.

I started out on a 18-3 and will end up on a 617-4. With ammo prices and tender old wrists its fast becoming my choice to take to the range.

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T. Johnson

I can't answer for other people, but for me, I always feel better after fishing, hunting, or time spent at the range. If I could get on my
motorcycle that would qualify, too. After each of these activities,
I am renewed insofar as to feel I have at least Some control over my
life. When daily life gets to be a weight on my soul, I need a break.
Can't afford to shoot the big guys all the time, but I can afford a
.22, and it keeps my skills sharp, better than dryfiring or snapping-in.
If you can't afford a S&W, try a NAA firearm.
TACC1

I've got a couple of .22LR revolvers, but when it comes to going to the range, I've got to admit that my semi-autos make the trip much more often than the revolvers. Reloading the magazines is a snap, and the semi-autos are just as accurate (or more) than the revolvers. It's also a lot easier to clean a semi-auto than a revolver, especially if it's a ten-shot revolver...

Does one need sugar in his coffee ? Does one need leather seats in his automobile ? Does one need anything better than a cheap Timex wristwatch ?

There are many things in life that we don't necessarily need that make our all too brief existence here more enjoyable and tolerable. When you get right down to it, after the basic necessities of life we don't need much else, but it's nice to have more. As with anything, that can be and often is carried to extremes, but for me life is a balance of being able to meet my responsibilities, share some of what I have with others less fortunate, and afford myself a few of the things in life that I don't actually need, but enjoy having. One of these days everything I have will belong to someone else. At that point, I plan on having better than I've ever had in this life .

Yes! I have 5 .22 Revolvers + 4 .22 Autos My .22's get shot more than all the centerfires.

I've rented 617's. While fine revolvers, I always thought the full lug was over the top, unless used to practice for a similarly equiped 686. They were also rather pricey.

Instead, a few years ago, I bought a nice 17-4 for $350. Great balance, and it operates like a Swiss watch. I'm teaching all my kids to shoot with it. I tell them it's probably the finest revolver they will ever try, they just don't know it yet.

I can't imagine needing "a" 22 revolver.

But then I've got let's see...eight or nine of them? Only one is a Smith & Wesson, but they're all fun to shoot.

A Model 18 is on my "look for" list.

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John 3:16 .

if the criteria for buying a gun is need, you will have a very small collection.

I have been mulling this very topic myself. I just bought my first revolver, a S&W 686. To make a long story short, I suck with it, and need a lot of practice. It was suggested that I get a .22 for practicing, so I am not overspending while I get used to a revolver.

My issue is with $$$. I work for a living, and money is very tight. I would LOVE a S&W model 17, or 18... but the cost is far too prohibitive for me. A .22 would be a good purchase, it would be something I could shoot the riflings out of, as well as my wife and kids.

What low cost revolver would you guys direct me to? I was considering the Charter Arms Target Pathfinder as a possibility. I know CA isnt a "tier 1" gun co, but there is no way I can afford a tier 1 pricetag, so soon after getting my 686.

Look forward to reading suggestions!

Can't add to what has already been said. A 34 & 317 in snubs. A 63 and 18 in 4" and a DW in 6"(really wanted a 17 but got the DW much cheaper). Also 3 rifles, bolt, pump and lever. Am I finished? The 43c may get me yet.

Any shooter who doesn't own a double action .22 LR revolver,preferably a S&W is missing one of the prime essentials of any gun collection. The other being a good, solid .22 rifle.

I have a K-22 and a 617-6 and if I had to choose 10 firearms from my collection to keep, these two would stay.

Firearms are like golf clubs..... you have to pick the correct one for the job at hand.

What is the difference between a 6-iron and an 5-iron? I have no idea.

Now the difference between a 22-250 bolt and a 243 bolt
The .243 is for coyotes @ 200-yards.
The .22-250 is for coyotes @ 180 yards.

Same logic with .22 Revolvers:
The 2" revolver is for shooting shotshells at neighbor's dog @ 20 feet.
The 6" revolver is for shooting real bullets into skunks @ 20 yards.

I know lots of golfers that have more than one set of clubs.
I also know lots of us that have more than one set of guns.

Now, what was the question?

Also, you don't have top worry about losing a magazine, making it a single shot..

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NRA Life Member and Instructor

I wish s&w would make a .22 revolver similar to a model 67, that was affordable. Is a 6 shot cheaper to make than a 10 shot? Polymer frame? I wish I listen to my friends and got into revolvers back in the mid 1990s when they were affordable and plentiful in the new and used market.

All you really "need" is a stick.
I can't think of a more useful and practical wheel gun than a K frame .22.
Well, yes I can-a model 63 4"
I own:
Pre 17 6"
617-4 4"
63 4"
317 2"
NA mini 1"

Also own two Ruger .22 pistols, several .22 long guns.

If I could have but one revolver-it would be Pre 17 and the Model 63.
And the 617............................and the 317, but I could let the NA go. No wait, I gotta keep that one too.

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Forum consigliere

Well said brother.

I have 2 Masterpieces and 1 Outdoorsman. They will never be for sale. They are sweet shooting guns.

I had no idea how good my shooting could get until I put a few thousand rounds, of Fed bulk pack, through my new to me M18

Practice, Practice, Practice

I agree with all those who bought their .22's to work out their shooting mechanics. I did the same thing, and one of the first guns I bought was a Ruger .22 automatic. It was the best possible gun to get my wife used to automatics, and the thing is a real hoot to shoot. I recently put a 4x scope on it and it's far more accurate than I am now... Recently a buddy was having trouble sighting in his rifle at 100 yards so I helped him out by putting a bunch of holes in his target with my little Ruger. He was amazed (the grouping wasn't all that tight, but they were all on the 8" target somewhere).

It would be the perfect small varmint gun, too. I've even thought about putting a suppressor on it for those times when you don't really want to make a lot of noise...

Would I have done just as well with a S&W .22 revolver with a 6" barrel? No doubt... but I needed the automatic for other reasons, and it's been a great addition to my tiny collection.

.22 revolvers are great for a couple of reasons. First, they are fun to shoot, and the ammo doesn't cost an arm or a leg.

Second, they make great training vehicles. The K-22s I own all mimic the size and weight of their big brother .38s and .357s. Using them virtually eliminates any tendency to flinch, and allows one to concentrate on hold, sight picture and trigger control. I'll be taking my oldest grandson out soon with the 4-incher shown at the bottom of this group photo; practicing with it will stand him in good stead when he graduates to his father's 4-inch .38.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

This has turned into an interesting thread and the poster should have figured out now why the S&W revolvers are so expensive and that's because everyone wants one. I have a bunch of S&W revolvers but the 5 22's will never be sold as they are my favorites. I could live with those 5 22's and my model 28-2 with 4 inch barrel, Model 27-2 with 5 inch barrel, Model 29-2 with 4 inch barrel, Model 15-4 with 4 inch barrel and on and on and on.

Need? No all you need is food water and shelter. If you assume you need a gun you need 1. Self defense pistol in caliber above .38 2. Rifle for at least deer size game 3. Shotgun for fowl.

But what does need have to do with it?

I need water, but I like Talisker and IPAs

I need food, but I like roast venison with bacon and mushrooms.

I need my Model 21, but I like......darn near everything that says Smith Colt or Winchester. Do I need a .416 Rigby, a 10ga, a .50-110? WHen you are limited to need, life sucks. And as far as liking and fun, a .22 revolver or automatic can't be beat.

So go ahead, buy one you'll like it and shoot it more than anything, I would wager.