J Frame Revolver 22lr or 22 WMR Information Please

[Chukar60]

Any of the J frame 22's are nice guns. I do not care for the marvel metal versions but a lot of folks like them. I had a 3" 317 for a short time. It was wonderfully light and I think the holster weighed almost as much as the gun. I much prefer my 4" 34-1. It fits my hand much better being a SB, and a set of target grips make it even better.
for the most part a 22 LR will do all you need. 22 WMR seems a waste in a short barrel and as a carry gun would seem more a deterrent than a stopper.

 

[Lobster Picnic]

Personally, I wouldn't buy a 22 WMR snub. I checked ballistics-by-the-inch and 22 mag doesn't do any better than 22 lr from a 2" barrel.

Fortunately, the devil's in the details. Did you read the disclaimer at that site, that the .22 Magnum bullets are so small and fast that their chrono results were not reliable, especially with the shortest barrel lengths?

And did you note that NONE of the new short-barreled defensive ammo was tested? From other published data and my own real world testing, I have settled on the 40gr Speer Gold Dots for carry. They are very reliable, accurate, and they do expand, even out of a 1.875" barrel. They also have excellent penetration.

 

[ColbyBruce]

To the OP, have you considered a .32 S&W Long revolver instead of a .22 LR revolver?

 

[Rhetorician]

Rhetorician Response

To the OP, have you considered a .32 S&W Long revolver instead of a .22 LR revolver?

Mr. Bruce,

To answer your question:

I have not considered the 32.

What do they cost?

How hard are they to get?

I now have a 32 Colt Police Positive and have had a terrible time getting ammo for it; can ammo for this 32 be had?

How much does it costs?

And, all the gurus say the 32 is too light to carry for SD?

More needed information from you and others might help.

Advise when possible.

Also please supply me with a SW model number so I can begin my research.

rd

 

[paupal]

Model 51

I just bought a Model 51 WMR in very good condition. I think that they are very rare, as you can't find too many on the brokerage sites. I think you are better off buying the Model 48's as there are more of them advertised. Also, I buy my 22WMR ammo from "Ammotogo.com". They have several brands available for a reasonable price.

 

[22 Short]

I just purchased a nickel 2" .32 snubbie for $450. Ammo is easy to find here in Washington and it is about $21 a box of fifty for Magtech wadcutters which are nice rounds.

Look on Gunsinternational there are a few .32s out there and they can be had cheaply now and then. I picked up a model 31 a few months back for $375 in a 3" barrel. It is a very fun and accurate gun.

 

[murphydog]

Surprised no one has come up with a list...here are most of the alternatives, in approximate order of how easy they are to find (or least to most expensive):

2" model 34, 317, 3" 63 (current production), 2" 43c, 2" 63 in .22 LR.

351PD, 351c, 651 (all 2") in .22 Magnum.

A few other options in the 3.5 - 4" barrel range, mostly longer variations of the above. Happy hunting!

 

[shocker]

I tested CCI 30 gr V-tip 22 WMR. Gun was a PMR30.
Target was a well seasoned 2x12, distance 40 ft. Bullets went "plumb thru". Recalling a phrase from a WWII training film 'a projectile capable of penetrating a 1" board can inflict serious injury', I said to myself, "this will do".
I shot the same through catalogs and dug the bullets out of a tire that was the backstop. Expansion was to .4" and weight retention 90% +.
It's not cheap, but the CCI/Hornady is high quality, very clean stuff and has been 100% reliable in the auto pistol.

 

[raylan007]

Wow $95 for a 500 rd. brick of American Eagle lead tipped .22 l/r. I wondered why I didn't have them on my saved ammo dealers list. If money is no object, no I take that back there is nothing to justify that price in today's market on any level. Just my opinion naturally.

 

[NovaJoe]

Mr. Bruce,

To answer your question:

I have not considered the 32.

What do they cost?

How hard are they to get?

I now have a 32 Colt Police Positive and have had a terrible time getting ammo for it; can ammo for this 32 be had?

How much does it costs?

And, all the gurus say the 32 is too light to carry for SD?

More needed information from you and others might help.

Advise when possible.

Also please supply me with a SW model number so I can begin my research.

rd

For a .32 Long, I suggest researching the S&W models 30 and 31. The 30 is the round butt hand ejector, and the 31 is the square butt regulation police. Available in different barrel lengths.

 

[pharmer]

A little less than 2 years ago I was at a small local gunshow. A dealer had these 2 (2" 34-1, 3" 36) marked $425 each. I asked how much he'd take figuring on $800. When he came back with $700 I didn't have a counter offer ready. So I shot the 36 and while nice and handy I had no love for it. Sold it last spring. A grand total of $300 in the 34. Shoots quite high with solids, better with hp's (that 4 grs less lead is 10% lighter). I'll keep it even though it ain't pretty. Joe