choosing my first .22 caliber revolver

[mg357]

Dear Smith & Wesson Forum, in the near future i will be purchasing my first .22 caliber revolver. I have 3 s&w .22 revolvers in mind but i can't choose which one to pick the gun will be used just for target practice at an indoor range and i will be using federal 40 grain .22 long rifle ammunition in the revolver. any and all help with this would be greatly appreciated by me sincerely and respectfully mg357 a proud member of the Smith & Wesson Forum. p.s. here is my list of the 3 .22 caliber revolvers
1. s&w model 617 with a 4 inch barrel
2. s&w model 317 kit gun with a 3 inch barrel
3. s&w model 63 with a 3 inch barrel

 

[wsl1971]

617 How do you know that the federal 40 grain is going to perform well in a firearm that you have never shot?

Bill

 

[noah228]

Since you want a good 22 for target work, the 617 will probably give you the best results. Its a bit heavy for a 22 coming in at 39-40 oz. but as a K frame it will have a nice trigger right out of the box, the full lug bbl. will help your aim and with 10 shots you don't have to load up as often. Considered near the top among the best 22 revolvers available.

The much smaller alum. 8 shot J frame 317 is really a kit gun (hiking, fishing and backpacking) and not really meant for target work but its a dream to carry at under 12 oz. and its fairly accurate with some practice (its light weight requires a steady hold). The 317 is best for carrying in the woods and for plinking.

The new 8 shot 3 inch bbl. 63 would be a dandy gun for both target work and as a kit/trail gun. Sort of a just right kind of size for all shooting purposes. Fairly light too at about 26 oz. & J frame size like the 317, but easier to shoot for target due to its weight, probably easier to maintain since its stainless, and will have a better trigger too.

I am fortunate to have the 617 and 317 but my 63 has the five inch bbl. and is my favorite. Good luck with your choice.

 

[Big Ranch]

I love my 617

I have a 4" 617 and I love it. It is great for plinking and very accurate. I hope to teach my kids to shoot with it when they get bigger. My oldest is only 3, and mommy says I need to wait another year or two!

 

[snubbiefan]

Obviously the best target piece should be the 617 due to the longer barrel and overall weight and I agree it will have a very good trigger. If you plan to pack it around much....#2 and then #3 in that order. If you plan to pack it around a LOT....#2.

I have a 617 no dash in a 6-inch barrel and two 317's. Can't say much about the 63, but the guys that own them think a lot of 'em.

 

[one eye joe]

Since you want a good 22 for target work, the 617 will probably give you the best results. As a K frame it will have a nice trigger right out of the box, the full lug bbl. will help your aim and with 10 shots you don't have to load up as often. Considered near the top among the best 22 revolvers available.

I AGREE. SEARCH FOR A CLEAN USED ONE WITHOUT A LOCK.........

 

[6pack]

I want a 617 at some point in the future....not sure if I'm going 4" or 6".

 

[Stainz]

I'll be honest... I can't help you, other than to say that the 3" 317K would not be a consideration, unless it's lite weight was real important.

I started with a new 4" 617 three years ago in September. I cleaned up the trigger and re-sprung it, added a HiViz front sight, as well as added wood grips (Ahrends retro targets in cocobolo.). I also added a DS-10 speedloader and 8 x10 baseplate. Fun! Next, I added a LNIB 5" 63 from a friend's estate. Miserable trigger - but somewhat improved with some work - and springs. Added the wrong length HiViz sight - works great. Finally, after months of waiting, my new 3" 63 arrived before last Thanksgiving. It's trigger was better NIB than the 5" 63 was after all of my work - and has gotten better. The 617 is still the best, trigger-wise. I added S&W 60 Pro wood grips to both 63's... and bought a speedloader and 4 x 8 baseplate for the 8-shot 63's - uber fun!

I have grown quite fond of the newest - the 3" 63. It is quite a plinker. Always remember, folks will tell you how picky .22 rimfire firearms are as to ammo. That pertains to a self feeder - not a bolt action rifle or revolver - there is no action to work. Sure - you can expect different velocities - and POI - with different ammo fired from a revolver. Some, like CCI Stngers or Velocitors, will be harder to load/unload. It's all in how much you want to spend. I opt for the 36gr plated HP Federal 550 packs at WallyWorld - <$16 - and it works fine - never have had a dud. Being inexpensive ammo, I can blame my odd poor marksmanship on 'fliers' - very convenient.

Another reason to like the 3" 63, should I ever have to seriously downsize my minor collection, is that I bought a 3" 60 Pro - and an S&W holster to fit either 3" J-frame. The 4" 617 is fun - but in a carry situation, it starts out 50% heavier than the 3" 63 - and I don't have a holster for it. Seriously, consider either the 4" 617 or 3" 63. Obviously, I couldn't care less whether it has an IL or not.

Here is that new holster - with the 3" 60 Pro in it, and the 3" 63 alongside. It came from S&W Accessories (~$75 with S/T & S/H) - perfect fit. Oddly, I bought two sets of '60 Pro' grips - liked them so well, I bought a 3" 60 Pro in January! I never thought I'd enjoy J-frames... wrong!

Stainz

 

[PMRet]

Of the 3 guns you listed, the 4" 617 would be the obvious choice for your intended purpose. However, since it's a target shooter you're looking for, let me suggest that you also consider a K22. The older K-22's are some of the most accurate revolvers you will find, period. This 4" 617 no dash is one of my favorite revolvers, but this old K-22 from 1948 will shoot rings around it.

 

[ab4ka]

I'd stick with a K frame. I had a really nice model 63 and it was a sweet gun, but I couldn't hit squat with it. The K frame, due to it's larger size just worked well for me. I've got a 6" 617, and if for some reason I had to get rid of all of my handguns except for one, it would be the last to go.

 

[vytoland]

S&W model 617 K frame is a fine .22 but maybe on the heavy side for target & plinking. 4" barrel 39 ozs....6" barrel 44 ozs.

in addition to the 3 inch barrel (24 ozs), the model 63 J frame also can be found with a four (26 ozs) or five (28 ozs) inch barrel. ........accurate with good sight radius.

 

[617X10]

I love my 617 but I've noticed a lot of threads lately that seem to raise concern about the quality of Smith's current .22 revolvers. If you decide to buy new I suggest you look through past threads so you'll know what to watch out for when you go shopping. Or you could look at the older models on gunbroker. I saw a couple of nice aluminum cylinder -2s last weekend. I also saw a couple of no dash models with the really nice combat grips.