I'm thinking bit about purchasing a new handgun...one that I will use a lot on my acreage....mostly plinking and small varmint shooting. My Ruger Mark II with its bull barrel seems to be getting a little heavy for daily carry. Any comments about the new three inch Model 63? Being an "old guy" the HiVis sights are OK by me. IMO the Model 63 is sort of "pricey" for a .22 plinker.

I agree that the model 63 is pricey. That being said, it is quickly turning into my favorite revolver, helping me forget about the price paid. My particular sample is very accurate; extraction was pretty sticky, but after a few hundred rounds fired seems to be much improved.

It took me awhile to warm up to the Hi-Viz sites. I'm pushing 60 myself and the fiber optic does help draw my attention to the front site, where it should be. I also installed the grips found on the Model 60 Pro to better fit my hands than the grips that came with the Model 63.

Every type of .22 handgun of course has its advantages and disadvantages compared to others, such as the airweight 317 v. the 617 heavyweight.

The new 3" 63 has the potential to become the best all around 63 built to date; all things considered, maybe the best all around .22 revolver of any brand, period. Tough, well-built, good looking (maybe not as good looking as the 4"), good trappers'/ranch/boat gun, handy, accurate and backed by S&W.

But if you want to hunt small varmints humanely with a 3" 63, you would be limited to about 15/20 yards (unless Annie Oakley is your grandmother).

Yes it is pricey, but I had to have one. The only thing I don't like is the grips. Looking around for some now.

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May God Bless The USA

L O V E mine. Like most .22's it likes some loads and doesn't like others. Best I've tried so far are the CCI Small Game Bullet (SGB). Eight rounds in to 1.5" at 25 yards from a bagged rest. I'll take it!

I replaced the Hi viz front with a serrated one and like it much better. I clipped several coils from the main spring, vastly improving the DA pull and still having 100% ignition.

Right now I have the Ahrends combat finger grove stocks on it and like them...but also have the 60 Pro's on the way from S&W amd a set from Altamont that are rosewood, open backstrap and fingergroved.

Just got a Threepersons model belt holster from Lobo Gun Leather in Pueblo, Colorado in cordovan. I had thought about starting a new thread and raving about the quality and how perfect this holster is for the model 63, but then I thought (selfishly) "But - that might increase my wait time when I order more stuff from Lobo!" Really - check the website and see what he's got. It's a one man shop and it couldn't be easier to order on line. Everything is made to order and Ray gave me a production time of 4 weeks, but I got mine in 3. I like mine so much the day I got it I ordered one of his belts and two speed loader pouches to complete the rig.
Speaking of speed loaders, I just received three for the '63 from DS-10-SPEED. (I'm outta control!) I've never seen this type of speed loader before but they are very innovative and slick.

Gee, all I need now for it is a picatiny rail, a white light, laser and night vision.

Can you tell I like this gun?

I also changed grips. Since my guns are all "working" guns first, my 63 now wears the old rubber Hogue Monogrips with the semi-square looking butt. It keeps the weight of the gun (now about 26.5 ounces) off the knuckle of the first finger and onto the palm of the hand.

There are any number of pretty stag and wood grips for BBQs, and some good looking wood tweener grips (e.g., 60 Pro wood grips).

I like mine, and have carried it all over our ranch. I put a set of Altamont walnut grips on it since the rubber ones do nothing for me in either fit or looks. It's short & light enough that it's no bother in the truck or working on fences or @ the supper table or... It's also the only new gun I ever bought that the sights didn't need adjusting. The Hi-viz sights suit my 51 year-old eyes just fine. The only downside is that my old 2" model 34-1 is getting a little jealous.

I got my new 4" 617 9/08 - a late 60th birthday gift to myself and my first DA rimfire revolver. A range-friend bought a new 5" 63 sometime afterwards, but passed before getting a chance to shoot it. I bought it 8/09 from his estate. All I could think, from Day 1, was how neat it would be with wood grips, a HiViz, and a 3" barrel. S&W announced the same revolver - less the grips - nearly a year ago - I had my pusher order me one. It finally arrived just before Thanksgiving - and was more than I expected. I ordered the 60 Pro grips - perfect!

It really is the ideal .22. Points perfectly - great balance - good DA trigger - right out of the box!. The sight is easily picked up in any light. It made me think... I need this in a .38/.357M... my wife shocked me with a late Christmas present - a 60 Pro! Nice, but no 3" 63... and it's Trijicon H3 'Night Sight' is fairly dim - and shielded by the recessed ramp's sides, making it basically a black ramp in room or daylight. Not a bad trigger for a new J-frame, but I do believe the 3" 63 is better - in fact, I think it is at least as good as the well broken-in 5" 63 - which has new & lighter Wolff springs, too. Odd!



Stainz

Thanks for all the comments. I'm not quite sure of the new Model 63's sight radius...maybe be a little short. My Ruger Mark II has a 5 1/2 inch barrel and I have "popped" bunnies and feral cats at 40/50 yards. My centerfire revolvers that are used for hunting have 6 and 7 1/2 inch barrels. Do you think that sight radius of this 3 inch "jewel" would allow for decent shots at 20/30yards? Dang it is a good lookin' gun. I almost bought a four incher over 25 years ago. Guess I should have.

Try to find a Model 63 with a 5 inch bbl. It holds eight shots. Mine weighs 30 ounces, give or take an ounce depending on the grip style. Off a bag rest it will group an inch or better for 5 shots at 25 yards with match ammo such as Lapua Midas L. That level of inherent accuracy is what you want; i.e., at 30 yds., off hand, a good shot can get 2 to 3 inch groups with whatever brand of ammo your particular 63 5-inch likes.

Here is my 3" 63 as delivered with the OEM grips - and my 5" 63 - with square conversion Hogue monogrips and a too-long HiViz. I like the faster acquisition, in any light, that the HiViz provides. Paper punching is probably better with the OEM black/black sights - not for me, sadly.



New springs and break-in helped the 5" 63. Yesterday found me replacing the rebound spring with a 13# in the 3" 63, and, I couldn't help myself, I had this 8.5# hammer coil - in it went (The 5"-er has been 100% reliable with a 9#!). It is slicker than the 5"-er, despite not being fully broken-in. It balances great - makes a great 'pointer'. The 5"-er, obviously, should be better at greater distance.

Stainz

I had to go with a different 13# rebound spring... the first one was just slightly too light. The second one is just right - very aggravating. This manifested itself by a slow trigger release leaving the trigger slightly back - the cylinder stop edge hadn't broken in. This is a first for me. The slightly stiffer - same OAL - spring was just enough to insure proper trigger return under any condition - and, with breakin, that will improve. Of course, for the fastest trigger return, probably the 15# would suffice. If it pops all of my types of ammo, I will be happy - that will be the test later this week.

Stainz

Do those "Hi-Viz" front sights have a reputation for being fragile?

I have seen the 5 inch revolver but never the 3 inch one, do all of them have the glow tube front sight?

I know the MSRP's listed but what do these actually sell for?

I've had this Mod 63 for a while, it's the least accurate 22cal J frame I own. You guys seem to get better results than I do in the accuracy of your Mod 63's. I'd like to try the 3 inch Model.



GF

"I've had this Mod 63 [4 inch] for a while, it's the least accurate 22 cal J frame I own." GF

That's been my experience as well, but the 4" is not inaccurate, either. It's plenty accurate for its purpose as a kit gun/plinker/working gun, and by "least accurate" I mean an insignificant .5" or .75" at 25 yards. IMHO, the 4" with a proportional BBQ grip is the best looking 63, with the new 3" a close second.

As to the "Hi-Viz" front sights having a reputation for being fragile, I don't think I've ever heard that. Never had a problem with them myself, and my 5" doesn't have one.

My 5" 63 came with a black ramp front sight. The 617-style front sight doesn't quite fit it - there is a 3/64" overhang on the rear. The 3" 63 was delivered with the HiViz - I added the 60 Pro grips. The newer 63 was ~$640 + s/t locally.

Stainz