63 4 inch Kit Gun

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DeafSmith

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Well coming back from another state I spied at a pawn shop a 4 inch Stainless S&W 63 kit gun. This is the older stainless version in .22 lr. Six shooter.

$700. But folks... I said another state. Hence to purchase it I'd have to get my local FFL dealer in the act to get it shipped to him, then do the ATF forms. That jacks up the price.

Now why do I want a J frame .22? Cause long time ago I had a 63 and used it in Colorado while elk hunting (used it to get a rabbit!)

Would like to have another one. Now this one has rubber grips but I have an original pair of square butt J frame wood grips just doing nothing..

Oh dang..... they said $675 inc shipping....

Thankfully I have a LGS that would be happy to do the transfer.

So, done deed! Monday I put the wheels in motion! Already paid 'em!
 
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I've had a 63 for quite a while and shoot it on a fairly regular basis. I've always found any J-frame gun regardless of the chambering and barrel length far more difficult to shoot well than a larger framed revolver.

However, I think there is no revolver better for improving one's shooting skills than a J-frame as they are not very forgiving of a shooter's shortcomings. When you can shoot one of these well at 25 yards, you've certainly accomplished something in the way of marksmanship. The guns are far more accurate than many believe them to be.

I wouldn't be without a 63 (or a 4" Model 34), even if I can't shoot it as well as I'd like.
 
I have been shooting mine A LOT since I got it a couple months ago.
What a great little gun.

I did put a Wilson spring kit in it as DA was a bit heavy. DA now is much easier to shoot accurately, and it's been 100% with everything except for Aguila. Must be harder rims than other brands. I don't have much of it, only a 250 round box left. I can use the Aguila in my rifles.

Mine came with rubber grips too, I got some Hogue Goncalo Alves checkered (and no finger grooves). They are slim with a palm swell in the middle, man do they feel good.

You'll really enjoy it when you get it, slim and light. But it is harder to shoot than a Model 18, K-22 or a 617. I really have to concentrate more to get hits with the J frame.

Mine shot really high when I got it and the rear sight was all the way down already. Turns out it had a taller rear sight blade (maybe a 126" ?).
I ordered the .086" for it and now it is zeroed at 25 yards and the rear sight blade is a few clicks up from the bottom.
oBqi48Th.jpg
 
Very cool!

I bought mine with full disclosure that it was hard to eject fired cases. (Which meant impossible without a mallet)

I rented a reamer and it is now a completely reliable easy-to-shoot .22 Magnum.
 

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Good buy on a nice .22. Bought mine 7 years ago and was able to get some NOS square butt J frame target grips on line. Prefer the targets. Found the S&W branded holster at a yard sale. What a great combo.

Enjoy.
 

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sigp220.45 said:
Very cool!

I bought mine with full disclosure that it was hard to eject fired cases. (Which meant impossble without a mallet)

I rented a reamer and it is now a completely reliable easy-to-shoot .22 Magnum.
Click to expand...
Thank you for reminding me. I had to have the chambers of my 63 polished for it to reliably eject casings.

If i'm reading you correctly you actually rebored yours to .22 Magnum. Does it shoot accurately?
 
I think he meant he reamed the chambers with a 22LR Finishing reamer, which removes very little metal, but just enough to make it a standard 22LR chamber, and you will never have extraction problems again. (As long as you do clean it ever few hundred rounds or so).
 
cd228 said:
Thank you for reminding me. I had to have the chambers of my 63 polished for it to reliably eject casings.

If i'm reading you correctly you actually rebored yours to .22 Magnum. Does it shoot accurately?
Click to expand...

Yep, it is now a .22 Magnum. Its very accurate.

A previous owner had tried some home method of polishing the chambers and made a mess of it. He then sent it to S&W who returned it with a note the chambers were out of round and they had no replacement parts.

I paid $400 for it knowing its problems. The ream-out to .22 Mag did the job.
 
DeafSmith said:
Well coming back from another state I spied at a pawn shop a 4 inch Stainless S&W 63 kit gun. This is the older stainless version in .22 lr. Six shooter.
[...]
So, done deed! Monday I put the wheels in motion! Already paid 'em
Click to expand...

Congrats on a deed well done. I found a 63 no-dash 6 shooter in 22LR at my local shop a couple years ago, wearing the original wood grips (matching serial number). Small, slim and so much fun at the range.

When I saw on this thread that S&W made target grips for this gun, I thought I'd better start searching, when I remembered this gun came with an extra set that I had put away when I bought it. Sure enough they're the target grips - I never tried them until now and they sure feel great on the gun. Looking forward to trying them at the range.

Enjoy your "new" 63.
 

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Sheeeeee came in today! Signed papers and $25 transfer fee.

Ah... SN is M135### which makes it in 1980!!! Yes pinned barrel. The front sight has a black insert... not a red one. Strange.

Now about photos... first tomorrow I will shoot it then photo the gun and groups. I have the Pachmayr grips off and wood ones on. It is tight as can be and no doubt will last tons and tons of shooting.

Yea tomorrow I'll go out and do some practice with my CCW guns as well as the Kit gun.
 
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