.......

[atomicsmurf]

.......nn..

 

[Walter Rego]

I have a Model 48-4 made in 1980 a couple of years prior to the discontinuance of the pinned barrels. It handles just like a Model 17 with a 6" barrel, that is to say balances very nicely.
The .22 WMR round needs a longer barrel for maximum effectiveness. I have not fired a 4" Model 48, you don't see them that often. I imagine that production was lower than on the 6" guns as most people wanted the higher velocity of the longer barrel.

On the other hand, a 4" .22 WMR as a plinker could be fun just for the size of the fireball at the muzzle.

 

[nutsforsmiths]

I have a 48-3 from 1977. Fit and finish are great. The only issue I've ever had is powder residue builds op under the extractor star, so I need to clean that out aster about 24 of 30 rounds so the cylinder work properly. Other than that, it's great!

I can't comment on either barrel, since the one I own has an 8 3/8 barrel on it as you can see.

 

[22hipower]

I have a 48-4 4 inch and a couple 8 3/8 48-4s but no 6 inch. Do have a 648 6 inch though which is pretty much the same thing except in stainless. I suppose my vote for your purposes would be the 6 inch if you can find one; I've been looking for one for awhile but am still looking. Don't know that you gain all that much from the 22WMR over a 22LR in a handgun; more noise and muzzle flash but maybe not a whole lot of difference on the receiving end and ammo costs three times as much. If you don't already have a model 17 I'd probably get that first. As far as fit and function, they're pretty much all the same; great! Just for fun here's my 648 (yes, it has a coat of something black). Good luck.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[MJK-MOD-547]

I have the 6". The balance will change with different stocks (grips)

Mine is a 82 vintage. Fit and finish are good but IMO the older ones (maybe up to the mid 70s )were better made and finish was outstanding!!

I'm happy with mine though. I just bought the stocks you see in the picture so I could use a speed loader. They also change the balance and feel for me. If I shoot it more I'll pick up some Hogue rubber ones,they are the best for target shooting.

I'll second what nutsforsmiths stated about keeping the extractor star clean. I have the same issue with my 48, 650 and 651.
Hey, the are close tolerance machines! Some brands of ammo are just plain dirty too.

 

[RSinOR]

I've got a 48 6" from first year of production, 1959. Fit and finish are typical of the time period when craftsmanship was paramount. There is 22 cal ammunition out there, primarily from CCI, that can almost duplicate the velocities of WMR without paying the high cost of 22 mag ammo. My first choice would be an older Model 17 with with some of the newer HV ammo.

 

[silentflyer]

I have a 48 8 3/8", Hornady now offers a "critical defense" 45 grain round for the shorter pistol barrels , with a faster burning powder. Cuts down on the "flame thrower" experience with the rifle type rounds.
Works quite well in my 48, but it still groups better with the 50 Federals when I can find them.

 

[The_Truth]

I've got a 48-4 4" and absolutely love it. Def need to keep it clean while shooting it. Mine likes 30 grainers the best so far. I shoot mostly Hornady VMAX. Sometimes I'll mix in some 40 grain TMJ just for plinking.

You might not get max velocity out of a pistol but I'll take 22wmr over 22lr any day. YMMV

 

[sodacan]

I have an all target optioned 48-2 with a 6" barrel. Beautiful gun in fabulous condition. Have never fired it. I thought I wanted a 22mrf, but 22lr is more than sufficient for me. I'll sell it when the right buyer comes along.

 

[PALADIN85020]

This 6" Model 48 has served me well for years. Meticulous fit and finish, quite accurate, and works as a small game killer out to 100 yards or so. I have an article on the 48 in the pipeline for future publication. It's one of my favorite revolvers.

John

(click for larger picture)

 

[Izzydog]

I have a 4" model 48, I can't tell you what dash number, because it isn't stamped on the gun. I can say that it is a pinned, two screw model, probably from the late seventy's. I have shot it only twice in the last 25 years, mostly because .22 mag has been expensive, and sometimes scarce. The biggest issue that I've noticed it that powder doesn't compleatly burn in the short barrel' and fouls the action. I don't even really think about it anymore. I understand that it's valuable, but it's really not very useful.

 

[Walter Rego]

I wish I had a chronograph. I would like to clock some various .22 WMR loads out of a couple of Ruger Single Six convertibles with 6.5" barrels, a 6" Colt New Frontier, my 6" Model 48-4 and my AMT Automag II with a 6" barrel.
The AMT makes a fireball the size of a basketball at the muzzle with many types of ammo and theoretically should have higher velocity by not having a cylinder gap. But you never know.

 

[daddio202]

You made a good choice but really was no bad choice to be made, either 4 inch or 6 inch are both great and have their own advantages and disadvantages. I love my 1978 48-4 with 4 inch barrel. To get the best of both worlds I recently found a like new 1970's 22lr cylinder for sale for $79. The 22lr cylinder is on the gun in my pictures and it just so happens to fit and time perfectly on my gun. You will enjoy yours when it comes, give us a range report!!

 

[Big Cholla]

I have a M 48 4"from the first year of introduction. It has been a lot of fun to plink with and do range shooting. No matter whose ammo I use it has never proved to be very accurate. I was a pro gunsmith before retirement and I bought a 22LR M 617 cylinder and fitted it to my M 48. The accuracy is not as good as my M 617s, but it is acceptable and certainly cheaper to plink with.

The fit, finish and workmanship of my M 48 is typical 'impeccable' for a S&W revolver at that time.

In an effort to increase the accuracy I made a resizer die for the 22 WRM in an attempt to uniform the factory ammo. It was a lot of work with very little payoff. I concluded that most factory 22 WRM ammo is just not target quality.

I fitted my 4" M 617 with another cylinder that I rechambered to 22 WRM. It has proved to be even more accurate than with the OEM 22 LR cylinder. So, the upshot of that was the M 48 became a gunsafe queen.

 

[Murdock]

Mine is a 48-4. Agree with others that the 6-inch barrel is superior to the 4-inch in velocity and accuracy. It has an auxilliary cylinder for .22LR, which I was fortunate enough to obtain as a new, unissued part while they were still available. It's just as accurate with the LR cylinder as it is with the WRM. Love it.

Shown below with M25-2 with .45 Colt auxiliary cylinder.

 

[350mag]

Mine is a 48-4. Agree with others that the 6-inch barrel is superior to the 4-inch in velocity and accuracy. It has an auxilliary cylinder for .22LR, which I was fortunate enough to obtain as a new, unissued part while they were still available. It's just as accurate with the LR cylinder as it is with the WRM. Love it.



Shown below with M25-2 with .45 Colt auxiliary cylinder.

Very nice. I have a 48 in 22 lr and the MRF cylinder was not with it when I got it.


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[350mag]

I'm looking for a early m 48 cylinder.


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[glenncal1]

The first handgun I ever bought when I turned 21 was a 48-4 6". Still have it 42 years later. I am relatively tall so carrying a 6" gun while hiking etc is no big deal. I have 4" and 8.375" guns as well. The long tube shoots like a rifle and the 4" is very handy. IMHO you cant go wrong with any of them. The newer ammo they have come out with designed for short barrels just increases the utility of the round.

 

[Big Cholla]

22 WMR Cylinder

Very nice. I have a 48 in 22 lr and the MRF cylinder was not with it when I got it.


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Most any competent Pistolsmith can find an early standard six shot M 617 or M 17 22 LR cylinder and fit it to your M 48. Then and only then the Pistolsmith would rechamber the 22 LR cylinder to 22 WMR.

 

[Geronimo Jim]

To help on the build up under the extractor star, be sure to
turn the gun upside down (muzzle up) when ejecting empties!