Best S&W .22LR revolver?

[Hair Trigger]

I'd have to vote for the K22 Masterpiece. I've got the M48-4, the .22 Magnum version. Looking for a LR cylinder and yoke for it.

 

[bananaman]

All I have ever fired are the 17, and a 617, 10 shot. I am happy with my 17-2, that I picked up a few years ago. I paid the Buy it Now price so nobody else would get it. Lost out on too many others. It shoots like a dream! Bob

 

[twodog max]

For me the Model 34 4 inch. I have carried mine for countless days in the woods. So easy carrying you almost forget it is there. I do however enjoy my 617 4 inch 10 shooter. I always wanted the K 22 but by the time I had the money sadly were out of production. Around here rarely see a used one offered.

 

[shocker]

I have a 63-5. I think it has a great trigger considering it's a small frame rimfire. At the time I bought it, the alternative in the display case was a 617. I wanted a kit gun so I went small. Eight shots are enough.
I've put a lot of rounds through it. Things being what they are, it and my Glock 44 are what I shoot now.

 

[PALADIN85020]

My vote went to the Model 18. It's basically the time-honored Model 17, but with a tapered barrel and a ramped front sight. It's just as inherently accurate as the 17, but it's also an excellent practice stand-in for the popular center-fire K-frames with 4" barrels. It's also a better holster gun for field use.

John

 

[gerhard1]

I own a M63 no dash and M617-6 and recently due to the ammo shortages have rediscovered the joys of shooting these guns. This got me wondering what the team here thinks is the best 22 S&W revolver readily available.

Fully recognize the different models have different purposes, but if you had only one option to satisfy all your 22 wheelgun needs, which one would it be?

For me, it would probably be the 617, though I could be convinced otherwise....

I'd tend to agree with you.

 

[DS-10-SPEED]

I think the older 17's and 18's are very nice but the original post was about "readily available" .22 revolvers. I think the 617's are easier to find in my area and for the shooting sports I do a 10 shot is a must have. I also have a new 8 shot 63 that I will carry when out for a walk in the woods but I can shoot the 617's better.

 

[cmansguns]

They're ALL sweet!

I'm with Mike, SC Hunter....the ones you own are the best of the best.

In order left to right: 22-32 HFT, 6" 1915; K22 Masterpiece, 6" 1947; Model 17-3, 6" 1971; Model 34-1, Kit Gun, 4" 1972.

Most frequently used? Toss-up: the Model 17 when wanting to punch close group holes in paper....the Kit Gun when plinking cans, spinners, etc.

Love em all.

 

[The Norseman]

Double Six

The S&W Model 617-1 22lr 4"bbl Revolver.
The S&W Model 617-3 22lr 6"bbl Revolver.

K-Frame Size, very well Made, Stainless Steel, Simple,
Reliable, Heavy, and Accurate.

For me it's the Best 22lr Revolver on the Market.

 

[c.w.]

Model 63 for me...but true love is my pre-model 18...American Industrial Art.

 

[22shtur]

I am as much an outdoors person as a shooter. Hiking, hunting, fishing, woods bumming, I carry my model 63 everywhere. I carry it inside the rear pocket of a Maxpedtion satchel- it stays there even when hung in the closet.
For it's portability, easy to maintain it's finish, good accuracy, no ammunition sensitivity, can be used outdoors in all weather, fair price compared to blued collectable revolers, it's hard to beat.

 

[dmar]

Okay, this post inspired me to bring along a M17 to the range today. Hadn't taken this one out in a long time, and it shot great, such a nice trigger... It was beautiful shooting weather, 28 degrees with light snow.

I really do prefer the 17s. I love blued and walnut Smiths, and prefer the longer sight radius of the 6" barrel over my shorter barrel .22s. I get good accuracy out of them.

 

[Chukar60]

I am not a target shooter nor do I frequent a formal range. Therefore, I have little use for a nice target revolver which is what I categorize all K frame 22 LR.
I like my 4" 63 no dash just fine. Diminutive frame for a diminutive cartridge. I shoot it just fine and it will do what I need a 22 to do without all the extra weights of a K frame.

 

[KalamazooKid]

Best S&W .22LR revolver?

I was ecstatic to pick up this birth year K-22 last night for what I consider a great price. Lettered to June 11, 1956. No box but no worries. Weather cooperating, it's going with me to our winter squirrel camp weekend after next! [emoji41]

 

[ray45]

Love the older 17.

 

[mstem]

In my opinion which means nothing, Pre-17.

 

[dmar]

I was ecstatic to pick up this birth year K-22 last night for what I consider a great price. Lettered to June 11, 1956. No box but no worries. Weather cooperating, it's going with me to our winter squirrel camp weekend after next! [emoji41]

Congratulations, that's a beauty!! It's nice to find the birth year guns, and that one is in great shape.

I've got a similar vintage 17, bought it from the original owner about 10 years ago. He was in a gun shop looking to sell a couple of guns. Owner of the gun shop low balled him pretty bad, so the guy said no thanks and walked. I saw him in the parking lot and gave him my card and asked him to call me if he was interested in selling them privately. Long story short, went by his house the following week and bought his 17, in really nice condition, along with box and docs, and also a beautiful Colt Match Target .22 auto (with the under lug barrel) with box and docs. I had been looking forever for that particular Colt, so I was really happy. Fair deal on both of them, I didn't rob him, he didn't rob me...

 

[jag312]

I know this is for S&W Revolvers: 1980 to the Present, but my opinion is a Smith & Wesson K22 Masterpiece like mine, serial number K15XXX. I bought it many years ago when it was a used gun in a pawn shop. I have no idea how much shooting it did before I bought it, but I have fired tens of thousands of rounds through it. It still has razor edge accuracy.

 

[keithhagan]

The correct answer is the 63-4: 5" barrel, 8 shots, doesn't weigh as much as a boat anchor like the K frames. The only negative is the keylock.

 

[BigBill]

Being fairly new to s&w revolvers with my many decades of owning them but not shooting them all. I have to say my experience with the k22 wins hands down, built by the old s&w craftsmanship gun makers. Second to none.