A "Classic"

[skeezix]

Haven't bought a gun in 6 months or so. Got to considering what to treat myself to, and realized I only have one S&W revolver chambered in .45 ACP (a 1978 M25-2). So, that's it - I need another ACP gun.

I like blue guns, so that eliminates the M625 guns. Looked around the internet and found a smattering of old ones, but they were either well-worn and/or rusty/pitted. Also found some very nice old guns, but they were priced beyond what I wanted to pay for one.

So, I settled for this one.





It's a LNIB M22-4 -- a 2007 "Classic" version of the ".45 Cal. Model 1950". While it has all the modern "attributes", it looks old from a distance. (And no, the lock doesn't bother me.)

This model is no longer in S&W's on-line catalog, so I guess it has been dropped from production. Not sure when.

I'll replace those little service stocks with something more substantial for shooting (which I hope to do in the next month or so).

 

[roscoepc]

Nice Looker!! Congrat's!!

 

[lamarw]

Nice score. It looks to be in 90% + condition.

I am not a big fan of pistol rounds in revolvers, but I appear to be in the minority. LOL

Did you score the box and other goodies?

 

[murphydog]

Nice find! These were fairly unloved when new, but prices have risen steadily since they were discontinued. The 5.5" .45s seem to have not caught on in the same way. Enjoy!

 

[ronnie gore]

45

I have the thunder ranch model, it has better grips, but I did remove the lock.

 

[skeezix]

It's actually much better than 90% (IMO). Maybe fired a box. No blemishes on exterior - some oil I didn't get off and reflections in the pics.

Yes, original box, papers, bore lock, ISL keys, vapor paper, and moon clips (full and 1/3). It will accommodate the RIMZ moon-clips which makes for easy reloading at the range.

LC

Nice score. It looks to be in 90% + condition.

I am not a big fan of pistol rounds in revolvers, but I appear to be in the minority. LOL

Did you score the box and other goodies?

 

[DR505]

I really like the looks of that one! Good find. How does it shoot?

 

[jimwilkes]

Very nice

Great find, I have the nickel version. Too pretty to shoot just yet!

 

[Dennis The B]

I own one of its twins. Same blue finish. It's a ball to shoot, and I wouldn't hesitate to carry mine if the need arose. I did put on some Ahrends target stocks, since those old style magnas are painful to shoot with for very long.

I also snagged a nickel version (Model 22 Model of 1917). It's a great shooter, and the 5.5" barrel is perfectly balanced. It also wears Ahrends stocks.

I understand why S&W stopped producing them, but I'm glad I got mine.

 

[Macinaw]

Nice score! Mine is also a 22-4 (Model of 1917)

Yes, you will want to replace those stocks. They are brutal. So far I have endured the pain. Such a fun gun to shoot!

 

[steamloco76]

Very astute purchase!

I love the way my 22-4 Thunder Ranch handles and shoots. Anybody who thinks .45 ACP is not a good revolver round needs to shoot on of these Smiths!

 

[brucev]

Beautiful revolver! Always did like the M&P style revolver, particularly w/ the half-dime front sight. Only problem... when I'd see one for sale it was of course a older collectable revolver with a sky high price far beyond my means.

A few years ago S&W brought out the Thunder Ranch 21-4. Unfortunately for me, it was a bad time with two daughters in college, two car payments, etc. So I figured it just wasn't in the cards. Then one afternoon back in 2010 I found and bought a 21-4 NIB in a smallish LGS... $500 OTD. Using cowboy action type loads or older vintage Winchester Yellow box .44 Special ammo this revolver will keep six shots into hardly more than a inch at 10 paces fired SA. Shooting DA I can keep 12 rounds (twice around the cylinder) in less than two inches... usually about one and a half inches. Using the CCI Blazer load using 200 gr. Gold Dot's this pistol will shoot equal sized groups with POI about one inch above POA at 10 yds. I've always preferred a SB grip. But, the factory RB grips on the 21-4 are very nice. And... w/ some fiddling I will be able to get some RB to SB grips that will deal with the grip issue.