Barrel Length Opinions From K-22 Owners

[bmcgilvray]

Had a long session with my 8 3/8-inch Model 17 yesterday. It is a grand revolver that I've had over 30 years now and I've fired more rounds through it than any other firearm I've ever owned. I wiled away the middle of the day at our old place on the lake shooting at 5 1/2-inch steel discs on a swinging frame. It's always satisfying to spend time with a .22 revolver.

Perhaps I shot too long or maybe I'm getting old but it seemed like I flagged and began missing more before I packed it in. It isn't uncommon for me to shoot through a carton of ammo while out there. This time though I also shot up some dibs and dabs of partial boxes cleaned up from around the bench along with a jar of mixed left-overs from pockets and scroungings from the bottom of the shooting box. I may have fired up 700 to 800 rounds.

I had started shooting at 15 yards, then 25 yards, then 40 yards, winding up at 50 yards. After the lengthy warm-up, I was still hitting discs about 50% of the time at the longer distances but this faded to 1 or 2 out of 6 by the time I quite for the afternoon. I shot up the odd mixed lot of ammo first so that didn't contribute to misses at longer ranges.

What is the Forum's opinion of the 6-inch versus 8 3/8-inch versions of the Model 17? Which one is easiest to shoot with accuracy in your view? Also, where does the 4-inch Model 18 fit in? Does anyone have wide experience with these different barrel lengths? I've never ever shot a 6-inch Model 17 and have only shot a 4-inch Model 18 on a single occasion.

[Iggy]

6 inch revolvers are my favorites. The 8+ is no doubt like a rifle and the 4" is probably handier in a holster and packing around, but the 6" is just a nice accurate compromise for me.
I have Model 17s, 14s, 19s, 28s,and 57's in 6" versions so I may be somewhat biased.

[k22fan]

Hello bmcgilvary,

You have my favorite barrel for a K22 that is not holstered much. It's not too heavy for offhand and its long sight radius helps me see missalignmet of the sights but you have to be able to hold steadier than most people to benifit from a sight radius longer than a six incher's. Also an individual's vision may determine their preference. Old Elmer Keith wrote that he got his best accuracy with 4 inchers because he could keep both front and rear sights in better focus with them closer together. Six inchers are the most popular and are a great compromise for me but they're so common that they don't appeal to my collector's quest for anything unusual. 18s have a neater or more old fashioned looking light weight barrel, are less numerous which appeals to collectors, are the best for holstering, and currently short barreled revolvers are in vogue.

Approaching your deteriorating accuracy in long shooting sessions from a non equipment angle, I think firing less rounds more carefully is the way to become a more accurate shot. Maybe giving yourself breaks between shorter shooting sessions will help. Our eyes and muscles fatigue sooner as we age.

Best Regards,
Gil

[bmcgilvray]

Hi Gil;

Yeah, there is the vision thing as well. I've been struggling with whether I shoot better with my reading glasses or not. Yesterday, in good light, I seemed to do OK without the glasses. One should probably also know when to quite while he's ahead rather than keep shooting. But it was fun and relaxing to shoot a while, do some chores, shoot a while, eat lunch, shoot a while more.

I'm beginning to think that they should have made 18 3/8-inch barrels for those of us who can't see close up so well anymore.

[RussellD]

I have 2 6 inch K22's. I was eyeballing an 8 3/8 barrel at the last gun show but my wife almost broke my ribs with her elbow as I fondled the potential acquisition..so I left it with the kind gentleman selling his personal collection.

The balance was perfect on the longer barrel and my 50 year old eyes appreciated the longer sight radius.

[k22fan]

Continuing the tread's drift away from barrel length, you might consider buying a dedicated pair of shooting glasses. Some people's computer glasses have about the right focus but reading glasses focus at to short a distance. After I told my doctor what I was being fitted with new glasses for, he called me a fool for not bringing my target pistol with me, quit, and said we'd finish after I brought it in. Later, I held the pistol while he changed lenses on the trial frames. That's done more often than you might think. Unfortunately, its been maybe 10 years and I'm overdue for new lenses.

Drifting your thread off in yet another direction, there are Merrit aperatures that attach to your glasses and as a last resort, various optical sights, but I won't use that stuff until I'm so old and decrepit that the only other option is to quit shooting.

Gil

[OM18V]

I tend to shoot better with a shorter barrel whether a wheel gun or semi. Don't know why, just do.

[glenncal1]

I really like shooting my 8 3/8 model 48, I too have the aging eye issues. Your eyes are probably getting tired after shooting that many rounds. I am due for an eye exam and am going to try and find an optometrist that understands shooting.

[Lou_NC]

Originally Posted by bmcgilvray

What is the Forum's opinion of the 6-inch versus 8 3/8-inch versions of the Model 17? Which one is easiest to shoot with accuracy in your view? Also, where does the 4-inch Model 18 fit in? Does anyone have wide experience with these different barrel lengths? I've never ever shot a 6-inch Model 17 and have only shot a 4-inch Model 18 on a single occasion.

I wouldn't personally own an 8 3/8" barrel model 17. I'm not a big fan of barrel lengths longer than 6" on any handgun. If I want/need a longer barrel than that, I'll pick up a rifle! Just my opinion, and I recognize it as such!

I own several 6" models (both 17 and 617 variants). I also own a few 4" variants (both 18 and 617 variants). I like them both for a number of reasons. I don't think anyone should own just one!

But, if I had to give up all my S&W .22 revolvers except for one, I would keep the model 18. (It's a pre-lock, of course).

Lou

[Bat Guano]

I have always liked the 4" guns for handling, for work or play, although there is certainly nothing wrong with a nice K-22. Back in the day I had 4"M29 that of course kicked severely. Had S&W put an 8 3/8" on it, and eventually sold it without even firing it.

To each his own.

[H Richard]

To open up a new line for your problem, did the excess shooting make the barrel dirty enough or leaded up enough for the accuracy to deteriorate? I have heard of people having to clean Mod 17's after a couple hundred rounds. All ammo isn't created equally either, and some is much dirtier than others. (Maybe it isn't you missing?)

[Nframe_is_no1]

My obsession with the K22 began with an 8 3/8" model 17-3 I found for sale at a local haunt many years ago for a great price. It has always shot almost as good as a rifle! A little later, I met a guy at the range who was testing his wife's 4" model 18 and he let me shoot it. Obviously, I then had to find a model 18. Then, I found a 6" 5 screw pre-17 for sale from a friend of a friend. I had to get the 6" to finish the set! Why decide if you can get one of each length? Here's the family:
From top:
8 3/8" model 17-3 (1977)
6" 5 screw pre-model 17 (1951)
4" model 18-3 (1971)

Then I found a 617 at an irrresistable price, so I had to have a stainless representative for the collection. The full underlug is really heavy, but this revolver is wierd because it is like shooting an airgun. There is no muzzle movement at all! I think that was the intent behind the underlug.

Model 617-5 6 shot:

[cp1969]

It's like anything else....quit while you're ahead. If you're training someone or taking a guest shooting, you should always leave them with the wish they could have shot a little while longer. The same thing goes for you.

I had an 8 3/8's and had it rebarreled to a 6". It had to go back to the factory for b/c gap problems and I was out of my long barrel phase by then. I also had my Blackhawk rebarreled to 5 1/2". I like shooting both of these guns better now with their shorter barrels.

Having said that, if I had it to do over, I would NOT do it. I'd keep the guns original and just go find another one with a shorter barrel. Whatever collector value my guns *might* have ever had is gone now.