.22 target J-frame

[Woodsman67]

I'd really like to see a true target revolver set up on a j-frame, with a 4 1/2" or 5" full-underlug barrel and an eight-round cylinder. Even better would be for it to be blued with nice wood combat grips - a lot like a smaller 17-6 (another one they should have kept making). The j-frame is so well suited for the .22 LR, it's surprising that S&W doesn't currently have anything other than a few short-barrelled models. The model 63 is close, but only has 3" barrel.

 

[qzrider]

Hey guys,
This is my first post. Man, this thing is seriously regimented! : ) My current wish, and for which I would gladly trade my Weigand 4PJ Executive Centennial, is a stainless M60 in .22LR and/or .22 Mag, with a 2.5" barrel like the barrels on the ultralight Centennials...the sleeved barrel. The resulting gun would look very much like the 2.5" M19 .357, the sexiest/nastiest looking gun on the planet! BUT it would have to be the older pre-lock (yeah, I know) J-frame, cuz those new hammers are hideous! I don't know if I can say "butt ugly" or not. They look pretty much like a booger sticking out of the frame.

 

[Frailer]

FWIW, the 8-round 5" Model 63s can still be found, even though they don't have a full underlug. I really like mine.

 

[Forrest r]

S&W tried a target j-frame years ago with the model 35 & 35-1. They just never seemed to catch on. Here’s a 35-1 that was sold in 1971.

 

[Decker]

The j-frame is so well suited for the .22 LR, it's surprising that S&W doesn't currently have anything other than a few short-barrelled models. The model 63 is close, but only has 3" barrel.

Sounds to me like the 63 IS what you're looking for.

The 63 has come in various barrel lengths including 5" (I think a 6" on the 63 would make it too gangly).

Keep in mind that the J-frame is designed to be a small pistol from the get go, so if you want more weight, you should really be looking at a 617 instead. In fact, if you do what you want to the 63, it sort of becomes a 617... sort of.

But the 63 actually is a very good shooter if you get the 4" or 5" barrel, and most importantly, put some full size grips on it.
I have a 63 w/4" barrel square frame with original grips, and I find that it feels almost like a toy in my hands. The original grips are difficult to get a good grasp on for target shooting.
But put some full-hand grips on it and it becomes a different pistol.
I wouldn't want mine any other way than with the 4" barrel, but for "serious" target shooting, it's always the 4" 617 that I would choose first.