I would like a .22 revolver. Options on the market seem limited. Can you folks give me your personal experiences with .22s you have owned? It's hard to justify paying a premium price for a S&W, but I'm not sure how confident I am in offerings from Taurus and Charter.

Taurus and Charter are cheaper for a reason.

I have two S&W 617's that are just great. Expensive yes but you will save lots on ammo. I shoot mostly .22 these days because of the cost of ammo.


There are some very reasonable .22's in semi autos on the market.

Friends don't let friends buy Taurus, Charter, or Rossi!

I'm focusing on revolvers because I feel they're better for using shotshells. I'm in the country and run across vermin from time to time.

Semi autos will shoot bird shot one at a time. I will also add my experience with .22 bird shot is that it has a very short range.

even if a S@W wasn't a better gun, and it is, why would you want to tell someone who asks, that you are carrying something basically inferior to the real thing?

the price of admission is well worth it.

I go by the old adage "you get what you pay for", and for me that means Smith & Wesson when it comes to revolvers. I have older K-22's and a 617 no dash, and highly recommend both models.

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In my experience, .22 shotshells only work well in smoothbore; a .22 smoothbore long gun can be fun for knocking off grasshoppers.

Beyond about two steps, .22 shotshells from a 4" model 63 just stick up the #12 shot in a cardboard box, and leave gaps a mouse could walk through. To kill a snake requires getting dangerously close with a .22 shotshell.


The shotshells for .38 use larger shot and keep a pattern longer, making them effective against something like snakes at a safer distance.

If you really want a .22 revolver to carry around, look at the J frame Smiths. The 317 is pricey but very light and superior to the South American offerings in every way..

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Science plus Art

If I was in the market, right now for a rimfire revolver and could not find a Smith and Wesson model 17 or 18 that fit my budget I would have to consider Ruger. I think Ruger makes a good rimfire for the money. At one time I had a stainless Bearcat that was very neat, accurate and easy to carry. I remember thinking that if I didn't have a 63 it would make a good kit gun. I have owned single sixes and they are good too. I know they aren't DA but they may very well be the best one could do when wanting a revolver.

Too bad you won't consider an auto because the Ruger .22's are awesome for the money.

Ruger mark II and III's are awesome semi autos and all of the in S&W revolvers are all good. I have 8 and I shoot them a lot and they are accurate and totally reliable. I'd look for a Model 17-3 or -4 that has been shot quite a bit and isn't in prestine condition. If it locks up tight and the timing is on you can find them for $500 or slightly less and they will last you a lifetime shooting them all the time. Model 18's will run you quite a bit more because they have a 4 inch barrel.

I would agree with you on the MK II's but not on the MK III's. I had a MK III that was nothing but problems. It went back to Ruger twice before they fixed it right. I have heard many stories of the same problems I was having. And on top of that, Ruger's Customer Service was terrible. I will never buy another new Ruger because of their Customer service. Too bad because I have many that are great guns and I enjoy them very much.

Model 63s can be found often. They are good to carry in the woods but they are harder to shoot than the bigger versions in my opinion.

So far, I've only killed snakes with .38 shotshells. I'm going to borrow my friend's P22 to check out patterns and see what it will penetrate. I've shot a bunch of mice with the .22 shot out of an auto, but never anything bigger. I really like revolvers, hence the question here.

I'll have to go along with Deanodog re: the M63. I picked this one up a few months ago at a local PHX gun store for $419 O.T.D.!
Fun gun and it will go to my grandson.

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Bill - SWCA #2327

I have 2 617's, a 34 snub nose, and a 351 22 mag snub nose, by far the 617 will out shoot my eyes, the 351 is more fun than should be allowed. I had a Trarus revolver, nothing bad about it, always shoot well, but it just wasn't a S&W.

I've had a 5" model 63 for about a year and could not be happier. It is more accurate than I am and using either CCI or Federal bulk has never failed me.

Caution, it is expensive ($650+) but worth it.

DRYHEAT: beautiful gun. You really lucked out.

I've got a DAN on my mind right now.

Someone please remind me of the difference between the 63 and the 64.

The 64 is a .38.
Denis

the ruger single-six is very nice and can also shoot 22mags. but they are single action only.

I rented a Mod 63 at my range the last 2 times I was there. A lot of fun to shoot. Very accurate & lightweight.

The best price for value today is going to be the Smith's, either the 617 or the 63.

I have both and they are keepers, but I prefer the larger 617 w/4" barrel for range fun.

The higher cost of admission is WELL worth it, and remember that you only have to pay that admission cost one time.
You'll quickly forget the cost, while you will enjoy the quality of the pistol for the rest of your life.

If you want a small pistol, get the 63. For a larger frame, get the 617.
In the end, get both.

I am searching for a small .22 revolver. I already own and enjoy a Model 17. Recently I've come upon two 4" Model 34-1 Smiths (one 99%, the other NIB) for $600 each. Is this price reasonable?

The less expensive little Ruger Bearcat is also appealing. While its being single action is not a concern, I wonder if its fixed sights are noted for shooting to point of aim. Thanks for any feedback. --c

I would search over on a particular gun selling/bidding site for a model 17 or 18. They both can be found for decent prices.

Might consider the new Ruger, when it comes out.
Denis

Any of these would be hard to beat for a field gun. From the top down, two Model 17s and a Model 18. I particularly like the Model 18, as it duplicates the feel of a Model 15 or 19, and it's excellent for economical practice. Any would do for a "snake gun" with .22 shotshells at close range.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

Another +1 for the Model 63. This little guy gets shot far more than my centerfires, and makes a great snub trainer. Cheap to feed, easy to maintain, compact and an all around fun gun. A 4" M63 is on my BOLO list too.

Like others said about the price of admission; your rimfire S&W will pay for itself easily in the $ saved after a few range trips. I don't personally know how the other brands stack up against S&W, and I likely never will You can't go wrong with any of the .22 caliber S&W revolvers.


Model 63 w/ a friend



By his lonesome

Two that have not yet been mentioned are the High Standard Sentinel and its western-style brother, the Double-Nine. Now available only on the used market, these two were excellent quality, equal in accuracy (at least in my hands) to the K-22, and offered in a variety of barrel lengths, blue or nickel. While they are climbing in price these days, an excellent example can still be had for well under $300.

Larry

CCI .22 shot shell are deadly on snakes. The trick is,in a revolver get as short a barrel as you can. Longer barrels distort the shot and the pattern. I regularly kill 4 to 5 foot rattlers and copperheads around my property and I don't have to get within striking distance for the snake.This year I have used my S&W 317-2[.22LR] with 100% success on snakes up to 4-4&1/2'.Prior to this I have used a 3" Mod. 60 with CCI shot shells for several years.Colt SSA .22 has done well over the years with the shorter barrels[4.4"] patterning better than the longer[6 or 7&1/2"].A word of caution here. Several years ago I killed a 6' rattler with a mod 625 Smith[ the 1988 Target Mod.w/ 5" barrel] using a .45 ACP shot shell. I had no CCI or capsule type ammo on hand so,I used a shotshell designed for autos with a"banana peel" type cartridge shell crimp. One of the "petals" of the crimp broke off and tied up the revolver.The snake expired with the first shot but I sure felt stupid standing there with a jammed revolver! I have lived in this location for nearly 25 years and have killed something like 125 or so snakes without a problem using shot shells. I even experimented with shot through a P-22 with a suppressor[it actually works!]Put down paper plates at various distances and shoot for patterns so you will know what ranges you can be comfortable with your gun and load. I only go out 10-12 feet 'cause a snake beyond that is no danger to me and I will let him go if I can.This all ,just based on my experience with shotshells. Nick

You might want to consider a M317, eight shot, 10oz.

light, handy, fast, and fun.

Slim

Wisdom from my Grandfather:
You may not always be able to afford the best....but always get the best you can afford....
I will add:
Someone's life may depend on it.....

If you want to use shotshells for pests and snakes, I recommend a Ruger Single-Six over most any DA revolver. Its dual cylinders give you more versatility as a field gun. Plus, the gun is well made, reliable and accurate. Also a lot of fun to shoot. And compared to a comparable quality DA, it is relatively inexpensive.

There is significant advantage to the shot charge of a 22 Magnum for your intended purpose, not to mention the advantage of standard JHP 22 Mags for other purposes. It throws a heavier charge of larger shot.

I also find that short barrels seems to hold a better short range pattern for shotshells like another poster mentioned. You can get a Single-Six in a 4 5/8" barrel that makes for a very handy holstered field gun. The SA is at no particular disadvantage to a DA for rapid aimed shots once you become familiar with it. This becomes more apparent when you find that most DA 22s, especially small frame ones, have heavy DA trigger pulls to ensure reliable hammer strikes. I can cock and shoot my Single Sixes just as quickly and accurately as my 4" S&W Model 651 or 2" Model 63, and in fact find myself carrying a Single-Six more often (but no, I don't want to sell either one!).

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" I said, good DAY! "

I bought my first double-action .22LR revolver in 1984... S&W 18-2. Since then I have owned a small number of DA revolvers. Two have been COLT Troopers and four have been S&W... 17-2, 17-2 and 18-2, 18-3. Recently I bought a 17-1. I was not impressed with the COLT .22 LR revolvers. I have been uniformly impressed with the quality and on target accuracy of the five .22 LR S&W revolvers I have owned. Currently I own two .22 revolvers... 17-1 and 18-3. They are exceptionally accurate. In every way they are completely worth the money spent.

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<><

What do you put on your gun to make it shine so good? I just picked up a new 617 and would like to make it shine as good as yours shines.

Thanks
Darren

Darren,
I would imagine he polished it up a bit with mother's mag polish.
Eric

True.........But good on carpenter bees on the wing at 5-8 feet from my 4" 34.

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S&W Accumulator

I handled a new Ruger SP101 in .22 last weekend. The price on it is in the $500 range.

I have a Ruger GP100, MKII, Vaquero, and LCP which are all great guns in my book.I like Rugers a lot, but for that money, I would probably look for a K-22.

The new ruger didn't fit my hand well, and the DA trigger pull was so hard, I couldn't get the hammer to drop without shifting my grip to get more leverage. It was incredibly bad.

Not a thing wrong with an older H&R or JC Higgins. I've got two different models of .22LR double action JC Higgins' and they are both excellent shooters ~ and under $200.00. Also have the "original" SP101 .22LR with the full lug 4" barrel. All three are very nice guns.

If you are only going to purchase ONE .22 LR revolver make it the S&W 17 or 617.

My wife and I have a fair number of .22LR revolvers in the safe including older S&W K-22's,model 17's, an 18, Ruger Single-Six convertible, the new SP101-22 and a Taurus 917 Tracker. The long barrel 17 or 617 gets the most range time and is far more accurate than most shooter's eyes can hold.

I've owned a S&W 63 but just couldn't shoot it well enough to keep it.

317 is about the best walking-around-in-the-woods 22 I have ever owned....got two no-locks. One for me and the wife. Yes...I have larger frame 22's and the 617 is a dream....but I like the 317 walk-around gun in my pocket without having to wear the suspenders to hold up the 6-inch large frames. Yep....I like my little cap-pistols and they are really tuff and as accurate as I am.

You won't win any awards with the coated finish, but they are not safe-queens anyway.

My 317 was a piece of manufactured ****. Went back to S&W 3 times for two issues without resolution. I sold it for a substantial loss at a gunshow. It must've been the lock that jinxed it.

You might want to consider a M317, eight shot, 10oz.

I had a really nice used one in my hands last week I really wanted. I was quoted one price off the cuff later the price increased quite a bit. Nothing sinister just reality came in.Needless to say I was quite disapointed I did want it.
Anyone got one they would like to move drop me a line

Its really a nice piece

Hank

Trigger...sorry to hear you had bad luck. I have heard from folks that have ran the round-count up into the thousands and I have heard of one case in which Smith replaced the aluminum cylinder and barrel with a stainless steel set because they could never solve a cylinder flame-cutting issue. I have had a "lemon" Smith before and I no longer own it either.

I recently read something that stated Smith made some 120 of the 317's with stainless cylinders, cranes and barrels...which would be the same as the 63 parts I suppose. Anyway....if a guy could run across one of those...it would have to be a collectors item. They told me they would convert mine for $40 labor plus parts....or around $180, but I did not get that excited about it as I was buying some other guns.

I traded an almost new 317IL for a used 317NL here a while back just to keep my Smith family "lock free". I have two 317's and mine just keep on shooting.

What seems to be the issue(s) with the locks? I'm relatively a rookie revolver user, so I'd be interested in finding out.

I would suggest you go to the front of the 1980 to present section of the forum and find the "sticky" concerning the LOCK.

RaBar,
Except for some of the higher-powered light weight revolvers that may accidently lock up when firing, it's mainly an aesthetic issue with most of us.

Perhaps this is heresy here, but take a look at the (new to market), Ruger SP101-22.

It has a half lug barrel profile and an eight round cylinder.

Very nice!

I wish S&W would produce a similar model.

Since you don't have a lot of disposable income but still want a good sturdy holster gun look at the H&R, Iver Johnson, JC Higgins, High Standards, Dan Wessons, Ruger Single Sixes. The H&R's are 9 shot and usually sell for under $250.00, most I've listed are under $400.00 and available on auction sites or at your local gun stores.

I can attest to the sturdiness of all of the above, I still own 2 H&R's and shoot them on a regular basis. The D/A trigger pulls may be a little heavier on the less expensive revolvers but the S/A aren't bad at all. Parts for most I've listed are available to varying degrees at most quality parts houses.

In short, you don't need to spend a lot of money to get a decent .22 shooter. A little online research will help you narrow down the choices that will work best for you. Have fun with your new .22 and shoot the goober outta it!!

Howdy folks,
I've never owned a S&W .22 before,but if I was trying
to save some dinero I'd go with the High Standard's. I've
been shooting a Double Nine & a Sentinel MkIV for 25 years
or so with absolutely no problems at all.
Chipmunk6