New best price and value IMO is the Sp101 version from Ruger. Used? I would lean towards finding the aforementioned kit gun.

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Still just a kid at heart

samwood hit on a valid point: hand size.
I have small hands, and have had a K-22 and a M63.
Got rid of both due to the fact they didn't fit my hands.
Both were square-butt. I now have almost all my firearms
in round butt, including a K frame, which is a little
big for me, but does feel good.
I would go with the M317, M63, or any K frame,
IF they had round butt frames. Meant everything to me.
JMHO, TACC1.

I handled a Ruger SP101 today and came home and ordered one.

I held a 6" 617 and that is just too big of a gun for a .22 meant for a kid, heck it was larger than I would want.

Then I looked around for a j-frame without the lock and couldn't find anything for a reasonable price.

I wanted to stay with brushed stainless, and the Ruger I played with was beautiful. Adjustable sights, smooth but heavy trigger, crisp single action, 8 round stainless cylinder.

I'll keep my eye out for an older j-frame S&W .22 still, but this Christmas my son will be getting a Ruger.

Thanks for all your help everyone!

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Kirk / Spock 2020

Curious to find out what choice you made? Best of luck.

Ummm.... ^^^^^^ It's in the post right before your post!!!

Ruger SP101


Hope I find a nice model 63 in a short barrel, 3 or 4" would be great!

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Kirk / Spock 2020

I bought the new SP-101 .22 the first day a regional gun store had them in stock. First range trip was a bit disappointing. Heavy trigger, gritty action. I then dry fired the gun about 1,000 times then lubed it with Weapons Shield. Decent improvement.
Ordered a 2lb lighter than stock mainspring and rebound spring from Wolfe. After I installed the new springs the gun was pretty darned decent. The Ruger is built like a freaking bank vault and will last a lifetime.
My S&W Model 18-3 with target trigger, hammer and stocks with the SP-101 and a Hogue grip because I have big hands!

Alas, I tired of the Ruger SP-101 quickly and traded it in on another S&W.

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Virtue,Liberty & Independence

I can't read all the comments - I knew I'd see every great .22 recommended. Nice thread.

Let me add one small remark - depending on your budget - an Old West style .22 revolver adds a little something "extra" for a kid, IMHO, so a Bearcat or Single Six would be my first choice. I love S&W sixguns (or however many rounds they can get into a cylinder) but a single action has a certain panache that you can't miss.

***GRJ***

Model 63
A favorite of mine. I have owned three or four of these and every time I sell one i hunt for another.

Great choice L L!

He will love it for plinking and for target shooting. Best thing is that he will be able to give it to his kid in the future.

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paws for friendship

A good K frame, 4 or 6".

I learned to shoot on a Colt Officers Model Special with the bull barrel and an incredible action and while I love that gun, the factory Coltwood grips held me back so get him grips that fit him.

My daughter loves this 4" 34-1 of 1981. It's shown with the pachmayrs but came with the original flawless, numbered magnas - which I carefully stored away.

For the OP; the 34-1 is pinned and recessed. It holds 6 rounds and has a semi-target trigger and hammer.

IN MY OPINION; the six shot .22 revolvers are more desireable BECAUSE of the tendency of .22 brass to expand when fired. When this happens, and it does, the extraction becomes difficult. .22 revolvers that I've owned, that hold 8 or 9 shots, become almost impossible to extract the spent brass. 6 shots vs 8 or 9 = less friction = easier extraction.

Attached Images

IMG_2021.jpg (125.0 KB, 18 views)

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But then, what do I know?

Id also go 3" 63. I have a 617 4" and it would start getting heavy after awhile and wouldn't be fun. 3" still has good accuracy.

I have 3 S&W revolvers, sold/traded off all my autofeeders and had previously traded out my old blackhawks. I just didn't like the frame/grip on them, I think the lines on a S&W are much finer. However...I ran across this tonight and picked it up for my son. I do like the feel in this smaller model. While I agree he will likely outgrow it eventually, when that happens he can move up to one of the 38 specials.

1971 Bearcat

accurate gun ,fairly stiff trigger compared to smith&wesson should be good to learn on.
cool gift, youre a nice dad

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the rules? there are no rules

The Heritage Rough Rider with two cylinders (.22LR and .22 Magnum) was my first handgun. I prefer its timing mechanism to Rugers (Single-6 and Single-10). The clicks to remove the casings are a lot more "aligned" with the ejection rod. And I like the half-cock for loading,
Got a pair of aftermarket wooden grips on it with finger grooves. (Doesn't look much like a Cowboy gun (sleeker than a Peacemaker) but still is a beauty.)

I got a new S&W 586, 6", 6-shot .357 mag/.38 spcl.
Need to make room in my gun safe. Might have to let the Heritage go. My go to single-action-six for .22 Mag will have to be the single-six Ruger.

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NFA CSSA CCFR (Canada), NRA

I agree with Cholo-especially the single 6. My Dad had one that I shot regularly. Good training and a good investment, and a life long keeper.

Gosh darn it that model 18 is a beautiful gun......

I have to add that to the list.

Fellas, I bought the Ruger, and the model I handled was a peach. The trigger was smooth as a babies bottom and she broke crisp in single action. Maybe it was a fluke, but it was a sweet trigger.

Compared to a Taurus..... OMG have you pulled a Taurus lately???

That would be a great tagline... Have you pulled a Taurus lately??? LOL!

Anyway, the model 63 and the 18 are on my list, along with a 17 and MAYBE a 4" 617... But that 617 is a heavy heavy gun....

But hey, they make new safes every day right? And can a guy EVER have too many guns??

So don't be disappointed if I didn't get a 17 or 18 if you recommended it.... It's just that I could order a Ruger and I know it will fit him fine now, and maybe for his 14th birthday he'll get a model 18 or 63!!

That's just a couple more guns on my grail list....

.

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Kirk / Spock 2020

For a revolver:

Get a M34 or earlier kit gun 22/32.

Best 22 revolver available. Best made , best proportioned , most likely to be a cherished gift.

Fore an auto, get a Colt Woodsman, first generation or high standard model B. Nothing comes close. P

Just my opinion of course.

There's an old Colt Woodsman at my local Gander Mountain for sale. Kind of a plain looking gun with a big price tag (but what isn't priced high at GM? )

But my son specifically asked for a revolver. I have a model 41 that he doesn't care much for, while he likes the Ruger Standard I have and loves the M&P22.

No accounting for a young kid's taste huh?

.

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Kirk / Spock 2020

Gotta type something here....

I vote 617 6" 10 rounds put a k frame standard round but grips on it and you are golden.

I assume you want a S&W. 22LR since you posted your question here. I have 12 year old & 10 year old sons - and we have the following .22 Smiths: an M&P22, a model 617 10-shot 4", and a model 63 8-shot 3".
Of those I would recommend the 3" mod. 63, and it wouldn't even be close. Several reasons why, but mostly because it will fit him so much better that I'll bet the house he will be more accurate with it than the other two. The 3" 63 is just an awesome gun, I love it, and I even shoot it as accurately as the 4" K-frame 617, and my hands are big. There is just no downside with the sweet 63.
Good luck, and get what's best for you - regardless of what you hear. I'd try to shoot what you can first, and take posts like this as advice, not gospel.

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63-5, 5906, 915, MP15-22, MP22