I think I'm beginning to understand

Going back to a recent "if you could only have one" post, I think a K-22 would be it.

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The bullet is dropping the second it exits the barrel. It doesn't climb after dropping.
You are referring to the bullets path in relation to the sighting line, which is straight.

^^^What he said!^^^. The bullet doesn't drop then rise, it starts out in whatever direction it leaves the barrel and is steadily dropping (from its initial angle of travel) but if it is angled upward initially it just doesn't continue to go upward as much. There are many ways this phenomenon is described, but the laws of physics would not allow a bullet to turn around and increase its upward trajectory without the addition of more energy.

Froggie
 
What's the story on why you bought it?

You say you didn't get the attraction ... but something made you buy it.

The first gun I ever shot was likely the 1955 K-22 up in my safe so I've always understood the attraction.
On our local gun forum there was a guy advertising about a dozen guns that he had inherited.

Two of them were S&W revolvers, this K-22 and an older M43. Both of them are all original, with some honest holster wear. He had both of them listed for $550 each for a couple of weeks and I made him an offer of $900 for the pair. He took it so they came home with me.

I wanted to see why the K-22s are so popular, and figured if I didn't like either of them I could probably sell them and at least get my money back. Now that I've shot it, I'm pretty sure this one has a permanent home with me.

In fact, I'll probably keep them both, but I may sell my much higher condition M43 now that I have another shooter-grade one to plink with. Maybe.
 
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I love my 17-3 6" . Im not a bad shot, not a competition master..
I was blown away when I could reliably hit a 15" plate at 100 yards ( single action ) . Ill never let this gun go.. plus given ammo prices in general, I can enjoy this for hours for a few bucks ��
 
There is a reason that S&W has sold 40 bazillion k-22's of various types and has been making the same basic gun from 1931 to 2020. Nobody doesn't like a K-22 :)



I never quite got why people so love their K-22 revolvers.

A K-frame for shooting 22LR? Seemed like a LOT of gun for such a pipsqueak round. Heck, the J-frame or even a palm-sized semi-auto is more than enough gun for 22's, right?

That last part is still true, BUT, I now understand the attraction for the K-22, after my first trip to the range with my newly-acquired M17-3.

I'm no great pistolero, but here is my last 8" target of the day with the M17. Shot 18 rounds at 7 yards, single action, with a 2-handed grip. This is the closest I have ever come to one ragged hole. 11 of them in one 3/4" hole and the other 7 grouped around them within a 2-inch circle.

Like I said, I'm no great pistol marksman. But I think that's probably the best I've ever done with a gun the first time taking it to the range. I LIKE IT!

P.S. I added a couple of pictures of the gun for good measure.
 
My 617 would be one of the last guns I'd ever part with. It's tack-driver accurate and just a hoot to shoot. It doesn't matter what I bring to the range ... the 617 always comes along.
 
I used to shoot the NRA National Match (bull's eye) course with my K22. I am convinced that any short comings in my scores were due to my skills and not the revolver.

My buddy Jack fired his K38 out of a Ransom rest at a 50 yard target. Jack was pretty fussy about his hand loads. I was pretty amazed at the results.
 
I've long been a fan of the K-22 family. My stable of guns includes these beauties. Besides being quite accurate, they also make excellent stand-ins for K-frame centerfires, particularly for double action shooting. What's not to like?

John

 
I bought mine to have an example of the old skool S&W polish & bluing to fondle. It shoots nice but I have to brush out the chambers every few cylinders.

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My favorite .22 is a Second Model K22 Masterpiece 22/40 that I have. The combination of the non-ribbed barrel and the more modern Micrometer sights are perfection in my opinion.
 
I saw a lot of white paper going to waste there... and that's a good thing!, now buy up a bunch of decent 22 ammo and keep practicing until you can do that single action with one hand at 25 yards, then you will really begin to appreciate what that K22 was built to do.

It, and its brethren in 32 and 38 were designed to eat the center out targets in old fashioned Bullseye events. Casual shooters can get a glimpse of their inner beauty, and the more seriously you shoot them, the better they respond, and the more you love them.

Froggie
 
It's tough to beat a K22. I think the Ruger MkIV comes close for range fun, but no cigar from this revolver enthusiast. It's amazing how much quieter the revolver is vs the auto. I've never shot CB's in a K22 (simply bc I've never seen it on a shelf), but based on my experience with long rifle, I doubt I'd even notice if the gun went off.

Here's my latest K22 acquisition from late last year.

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My 17-3 was the best gun money I ever spent. Beautiful, accurate and just a joy to shoot, hold and own. 20th century American craftsmanship at its best.
 

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