stykshooter
Member
I am addicted to .22 handguns and own numerous offerings from Smith & Wesson, Ruger and Browning, plus conversion kits for my Kimbers and Glocks. I shoot a lot of .22.
I have a couple K-22's, Full lug model 17, 617's, etc. Always liked my S & W .22 revolvers. With the exception of the J frames. I have owned two different model 34's and a 1980's vintage model 63. Although I liked the concept, I couldn't find anything that would shoot even mediocre out of any of them. The 63 I had wouldn't group 8-10 inches at 25 yards with any ammo and considerably worse with some brands. As a result, I have kind sworn off of the J frame .22's over the years.
I recently had the opportunity to handle one of the new production model 63's and as a result, ordered one in for myself. I was impressed with the gun right from the start. Put together well and a great single action trigger. An added bonus for my 60 year old eyes is the Hi Viz front sight. Still, I was apprehensive about how well it would shoot. My K frame .22's have kinda spoiled me from an accuracy point of view.
I took it to the range yesterday and my son and I shot about 500 rounds through it, using 12 different varieties of .22's. A couple loads were obviously disliked by the revolver and produced groups in the 10" range but I was pleasantly surprised by how well it shot the majority of the loads. It didn't do particularly well with high velocity loads but anything subsonic or standard velocity shot very well.
It shot C.C.I. subsonic H.P.'s into a 2" group as well as C.C.I. Standard Velocity and Federal Automatch. Surprisingly, and very happily from my point of view, it shot two of the cheapest ammos into the best groups. It shot two cylinders full of Federal American Eagle into about a 2" group at 25 yards with the exception of one flyer and shot two sub 2" groups at 25 yards with C.C.I. Blazer ammo. Blazer and S.V. are basically the same ammo and I am going to utilize it as my go to ammo for this revolver until I discover something it shoots better. Gotta love a gun that shoots well with cheap ammo!
After several less than favorable experiences with J frame .22's, I am very pleasantly surprised with this latest offering. No problems, no malfunctions and what I consider exceptional accuracy from a 3" barrel.
One additional note... after shooting as much ammo through it as I did without any cleaning other than a pre-range going over, I experienced none of the sticky cylinder extraction problems that typically plague some S & W .22 revolvers.
I have a couple K-22's, Full lug model 17, 617's, etc. Always liked my S & W .22 revolvers. With the exception of the J frames. I have owned two different model 34's and a 1980's vintage model 63. Although I liked the concept, I couldn't find anything that would shoot even mediocre out of any of them. The 63 I had wouldn't group 8-10 inches at 25 yards with any ammo and considerably worse with some brands. As a result, I have kind sworn off of the J frame .22's over the years.
I recently had the opportunity to handle one of the new production model 63's and as a result, ordered one in for myself. I was impressed with the gun right from the start. Put together well and a great single action trigger. An added bonus for my 60 year old eyes is the Hi Viz front sight. Still, I was apprehensive about how well it would shoot. My K frame .22's have kinda spoiled me from an accuracy point of view.
I took it to the range yesterday and my son and I shot about 500 rounds through it, using 12 different varieties of .22's. A couple loads were obviously disliked by the revolver and produced groups in the 10" range but I was pleasantly surprised by how well it shot the majority of the loads. It didn't do particularly well with high velocity loads but anything subsonic or standard velocity shot very well.
It shot C.C.I. subsonic H.P.'s into a 2" group as well as C.C.I. Standard Velocity and Federal Automatch. Surprisingly, and very happily from my point of view, it shot two of the cheapest ammos into the best groups. It shot two cylinders full of Federal American Eagle into about a 2" group at 25 yards with the exception of one flyer and shot two sub 2" groups at 25 yards with C.C.I. Blazer ammo. Blazer and S.V. are basically the same ammo and I am going to utilize it as my go to ammo for this revolver until I discover something it shoots better. Gotta love a gun that shoots well with cheap ammo!
After several less than favorable experiences with J frame .22's, I am very pleasantly surprised with this latest offering. No problems, no malfunctions and what I consider exceptional accuracy from a 3" barrel.
One additional note... after shooting as much ammo through it as I did without any cleaning other than a pre-range going over, I experienced none of the sticky cylinder extraction problems that typically plague some S & W .22 revolvers.
