Took my new to me 34-1 four inch to the range this weekend. I put targets on it versus the Harretts it came with. The grips fit my hand OK but the gun just feels like a “toy” in my hands. I’ve got reasonably big mits. I’m one of those freaks that thinks a H&K Mk23 is comfortable.

I shot it OK but I felt like I was struggling. I shot better groups with my 625 that day.

I’m not going to sell it or anything but I just feel like my model 17 and 18 just fit me better for 22lr.

ETA:




I don’t have a recent picture of my 17. I need to fix that.

I have long, thin hands, as opposed to big meaty hands. A long time ago one of my older, wiser, and more experienced friends laughed at me for fiddling around with different oversized stocks on my Model 34 kit gun, and he showed me his technique for shooting Model 34s with factory stocks. His hands were bigger, but not longer, than mine. I practiced with his suggestion and haven’t used targets since. They’re kind of contrary to the general purpose of the kit gun. I won’t describe the technique since you all would laugh me out of the corps, or brand me a revolver-marksmanship heretic, or something. Good shooting can be done without target stocks since there is little recoil to deal with.

In any case, we should discuss these guns more around here. They’re great fun.

I have average hands and have a 317, 34-1 and a 63 no dash. I just look at them as fun little plinkers. They’re not serious target guns just fun to shoot at cans with and easy to carry. If I’m feeling serious I take one of my target guns.

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Very nice. Love the Cocobola Ahrends on the 18.

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"Happiness is a warm gun"

I’ve got a M63 (same gun but in stainless) and yes it is a bit small for my hands. The revolver used to accompany me on pheasant hunting trips for the sole purpose of taking an occasional squirrel that I could not see shooting with a #5 12 gauge Shot Shell. A Tyler T Grip is still on the grips and that did help give the small revolver a bit more for me to grab on to. I rarely shoot the M63 anymore and will always grab a M18 for target shooting now.

Unless my wife likes it I’ll probably sell it in the future as I rarely use it now. It’s in perfect condition but is just decorating my safe.

For 22 rimfire revolvers I also prefer K frames, but my 2” 63 and 3” 650 are a hoot to shoot. The OEM Uncle Mikes boot grips do make it easier to shoot.

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213th FBINA

Yep, K frame with magnas for me. K22 Combat Masterpiece. I do like a square butt kit gun though.

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I agree, I have some J-frames but they always felt way to small for me. My least favorite of all the frame sizes. I have small hands but for me the trigger is just to close to the grip for me to shoot them well. I have a 640 Pro Series I carry in the hot weather but as soon as sweatshirts and heavier clothing comes out I move up in frame sizes.

My ham fisted friends have had the same comments. I got these from someone here. They fit me fine. And they seem to fit the gun as well. It feels "balanced".

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Those little guns are just hard to shoot! I bought a 63 and it just did not shoot well for me. I actually have small hands but mostly shoot N frame .357s and .44s. The grooved trigger chewed up my trigger finger and it shot low with the rear sight about as high as it would go! First, I found some target stocks at a gun show and they helped. I put a smooth trigger in it and found a .146 rear sight blade and installed it. All that made the gun shootable and improved the group size. Then, at a gun show, found some factory J frame combats. Wow, that made a big difference in the feel and handling. It is nice and light and handy and goes in the emergency kit along with a hundred rounds of .22. Oh, did I mention, I just happened to have a J frame holster for it that was sold as a K frame holster, several years before. I think the kit guns require more "adjustments" to make them shootable for different folks.

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Richard Gillespie
FBINA 102

Well I have a 34 4'' (Nickle) since about 1975 or so. I also have rather big hands and have no problem shooting that little gun comfortably. Discloser I do have a set of Mustang finger grip stocks on the gun.

Also in the J frame category I have a Model 60 purchased about the same time and also have no problem shooting it with its original grips. I have kept the original grips on it as for years I carried this gun with the Bianchi 9R upside down shoulder holster I also purchased at the same time. The holster fits real close and most times any grip change will not fit.

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14 S&W Revs none with locks!

I wear XL or XXL gloves and have a wide palm. I don't have a 22 kit gun but have a 32 I frame that I shoot very accurately. I played with grips with a 36 and found it easier to shoot well with but impossible to carry without printing. I think each of us has to decide what to give up with a J frame. The first one I saw a lot of was carried in a shoulder holster as the owner was horseback a lot.

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Front sight and squeeze

I have a 63 square butt 4 inch. I find the square butt makes it more shootable with standard magnas. The K frames are definitely easier to shoot well but I find the J frame is more proportioned to the 22LR and thus find myself shooting the 63 more than the 18 for that reason. Not long ago I had an i-frame 22/32 and it was definitely harder to shoot than the J frame. I can’t imagine shooting one of the old m-frame ladysmiths… that would be a challenge!

Something you might try, I have medium sized hands, have only tried this on revolvers, Right handed. Place your right hand on the gun, raise your right thumb up, place your left hand on the gun, rap your left thumb all the up high as you can, then rap your right thumb over your left hand. up high will give you a shorter grip, down low will be a longer grip, It's best to try it at the range, that places my hand and trigger finger way back in a nice position, That's Just Me, I don't know if anyone has tried that grip..

Thought I was the only one!
Have a M63 4" with J frame Combats on it.
Have shot it side by side with my M18, 4" with smooth K targets on it.
I have large hands. I just can't get groups out of that M63 like I can the M18, either DA or SA.

The little 63 still is a handy woods bumming piece.

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Ret'd LEO
SWCA #2275

I bought a 4” square butt 34 in 1984 ($169) and while I really liked it I also felt it was to small and I have average hands. but the pawn shop I got it from needed it back because they were notified it was stolen. They gave me $450 credit in the store.so I chose a 4 3;4” nickel 1966 Colt SAA .357. I then bought a 1962 Model18 and it was all I needed in a .22 ever since.

I shoot my 63 reasonably well with J frame targets. You cant compare you shooting of a K frame to the J frames. The triggers on the Js are not n early as smooth as the K frames.

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Robert
SWCA #2906, SWHF #760

I very much agree with Rob.

Also add the lighter weight and shorter bbl of the J frames makes shooting a J or I frame much more challenging for me.

I used to shoot my Model 35 a lot until I bought my first K22

For me a heavier frame and a well broken in trigger makes me look like I shoot better than I do.

Ha! You think you got problems?

This is a Model 696...

I lose the J frames in my palm.

enjoy,

bdGreen

I think of Smith’s best 22 revolvers (the J frames) as perfect for what I want a 22revolver for: field use. The M34-1 with a Tyler T is the paradigm case for a field 22 revolver IMHO.

The K frame 22’s are too large for carrying in the field. They offer nothing in terms of field accuracy over the M34 (you’ll kill as many rabbits with the M34-1 as you will with a K frame). The K frames will probably group a little tighter than the M34-1 , but they both offer “rabbit head” size groups at practical handgun distance.

I don’t want to lug a K frame around for 8-12 hours for a chance at a rabbit or grouse when it adds nothing but weight and bulk over the 34-1.

I should also mention that I’ve no use for more than 6 shots in a 22 revolver and wouldn’t pay a nickel for more.

Good thread......
Ciphering more on this semi-phenomenon......
I have shot my M63 4" and M18 4" from sandbags with a variety of ammo, finding of course that each has a slightly different preference.
Still - the M18 shoots much tighter groups than the M63.

You'd think that SA, from a sandbag rest would have them 'neck 'n neck' as far as accuracy.

The M18, being a comparatively large K frame with little .22" holes in cylinder and barrel outweighs it's centerfire counterpart, the M15 .38 (or a M14 4" if you had one...), so is certainly not a great carry-all-day woods gun.

Neither my M63 or 18 are going anywhere soon, but to be honest, I can shoot better than either of them with my Browning Buckmark or Ruger/Tactical Solutions .22 Autos. Not sure why.

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Ret'd LEO
SWCA #2275

I have average size hands but discovered by accident I personally shoot better with Magna size grips. I had been shooting k & n frame revolvers for years with Target grips. About 10 years ago I bought a model 28 and being in a hurry to shoot it, kept the factory Magnas on. The difference was very noticeable. At first I thought I had just stumbled a super accurate gun but when I did put on the normal target grips, the accuracy fell back into my average size groups. Magnas back on and accuracy was back! I suffer a little with full house loads, but these days I shoot so few magnum loads it’s not a problem.

Years ago I carried 3” HB Model 36. I installed Mustang combat grips and a smooth combat trigger, made a huge difference in shootablity.

Gun was nickel and the grips were their blonde wood, made for a really pretty package!

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Richard

I got some big mitts so here are my J frame grips

The grips are important but the issue with the model 34 is the weight, the weight, the weight! Actually the lack of weight.

Once I learned that, I had no problem shooting accurately, even with my 2” Kit Gun. Sure I give up a little accuracy compared to my models 17, 18, 41, and Colt Ace .22 auto. But not enough to matter unless I’m shooting Bullseye matches.

If you have trouble holding a steady sight picture and squeezing the trigger lightly, the I and J frames are not for you.

To shoot the Kit Gun make a mental switch from shooting heavier guns: focus on the lack of weight, take a MUCH LOOSER grip hold and steady the sight picture, then sneak up on the trigger with a super light pull. It’ll become second nature.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

My 34-1 (4" square butt) is a bit small for me as well, but I did get Pachmayr complete wrap around rubber grips that do me ok. I have an XL sized hand.


But I agree with what was mentioned earlier. You can't expect a J frame to compete with a K frame for trigger performance.

I sold my previous 34 because it was hard for me to shoot accurately, but recently picked up another that I intend to keep. I just had to get my mind around the fact that it’s not a target gun, but a great gun for walks in the woods or plinking at the range.

I have gone through a long romance with I- and J frames, and still have several, however when I want to shoot a revolver at the best accuracy I can manage, the adjustable sighted K frames come out. When shooting the I’s And J’s I simply adjust my grip somewhat and reduce my expectations for accuracy.
Froggie