School me on the 650 in .22 WMR

[batex]

Hi everyone. I have a chance to purchase a S&W model 650 for $450. It's a j-frame stainless gun with 3" barrel in 22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire. I've never heard of a 650 before so I'm hoping someone can provide me with some information. The gun is used somewhat but not abused.

I understand these guns were only made for 3-4 years. Was there a problem with them? I've also learned that some of these had both a 22LR and 22 WMR cylinder. This gun only has one cylinder which I assume is 22 WMR, but I don't know for sure. The barrel is marked 22 Magnum, but how do I ensure that the cylinder is 22 mag?

What about the accuracy and durability of these guns?

It's pretty neat which is why I'm tempted.

 

[jframefreak]

Sounds like a neat little gun. If it will chamber a magnum round, I'd say it's a magnum cylinder.

 

[cobra44]

I bought one of those about a year ago. I did not know anything about it.
I have shot it a lot and I can say that it is a thrill to shoot. It sounds like a much larger revolver. I like the flames that come out of the barrel
I would not sell it. It is really a neat little revolver.
I think that the reason they were not made very long is that the price of the 22 mag ammo compared to the standard 22 long rifle, cut the demand.
Mine only came with the 22 mag cylinder as I bought it off the original owner. Some did come with both cylinders, and some owners had a 22 long rifle fitted to the revolver.
That is a good price that you mentioned.

 

[ColbyBruce]

I have owned a S&W #650 for several years. This is one LOUD gun, second only to the AMT Back-Up .380 and the Ruger Blackhawk .30 carbine handguns that I have owned; all ear splitters. Very ammo picky, as most all rimfires are. Mine likes the 33 grain Remington ammo the best.

 

[SuperMan]

I've had two and sold both...

Hard to see sights that don't always shoot to POA.

If you can find a Model 63 .22 Long Rifle cylinder it can be fitted to the 650. I did this with a Model 651 adjustable sight gun.

If priced under $500 grab it...fun to shoot and a good investment...

Bob

 

[SAFireman]

Gee, If you don't buy it...

lemme know where it is at, I might have an interest...


sounds like a neat pee shooter...

Scott

 

[Speedo2]

+1 on grabbing it quick. There's a 651 at my local pusher's shop and he's asking $750 for it. Wayyyy too much for a j-frame 22, IMHO (M35's excluded, of course). Fortunately for my wallet, although I'm a sucker for K22's, I'm not a big fan of 22-mag's. But for the price that you were quoted on that 650, I would become a believer. -S2

 

[BUFF]

The M-650 is, basically, a fixed sight, round butt stainless steel Kit Gun chambered for the .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire cartridge. It has a barrel profile referred to as a "heavy barrel" shaped like a 3 inch Chiefs Special .38 Special/Model 36-1. Made from 1983 to 1988. The factory called it the "Service Kit Gun Stainless", probably because fixed revolver sights are often called "service sights."

It was the only production fixed sight .22 rimfire J frame that S&W made until the AirLite Model 317. It was introduced along with a 4 inch, adjustable sight version, also chambered in .22 WMR, the Model 651.

Short of measuring the chambers with tools, I would try to slip an empty (spent) .22 Mag casing into one. The bigger, longer WMR cartridge case won't fit into a proper LR chamber. A spent casing would likely be less upsetting to a store clerk than a live round. That tends to make them nervous!

There was nothing "wrong" with them, mechanically. Like mentioned above, being fixed sighted, the point-of-aim/point-of-impact might be off for you, with little means to correct it. Being a short barrel .22 WMR, they are loud to shoot, and the ammo is much more expensive than the .22 LR. Just an odd combination of features.

I think, had S&W made and cataloged the same gun in .22 LR, in both the 3 inch barrel and also a 2 inch barrel, it sould have sold in much greater numbers.

I bought mine NIB in December, 1987. Like a distressing number of other guns I bought, I never shot it. I always intended to my range time has never been plentiful enough.

 

[noshow]

You wan't it and you need it!

I have one since they were introduced. Of my 9 handguns, it's my favorite and most used. I have no safe queens. I also have the 22LR cylinder mentioned above. That makes it very versatile and inexpensive for range visits. It served mostly as my tackle box gun with the magnum cylinder. I would carry 2 shotshells and 4 Winchester WRFs. The 22 Mag shotshells are devastating on snakes and the WRFs are much less painfull on the ears. If I use it defensively, I load it with Winchester Dynapoints which are slower and heavier than the standard 40gr loadings, and also not as earsplitting. It will be part of my estate someday. Go for it!

Here's a link to a discussion on the merits of the 651 and the auxillary 22LR cylinder that you might find of interest:
http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=335088&page=2

 

[Combat_Diver]

I had its sister the 651, 4" adj sights. Great gun when fishing and canoeing. As mentioned they are loud as the .22 Mag was designed as a rifle round and powders used are as such. Use the WRF or cheaper Dynapoints for practice. They also have a .224" bore and not a .222" of the .22LR. From the 4" or my Ruger Single Six 5.5" barrel my velocities would compare to what a .22LR fired from a rifle would be. So whatever was suitable for the .22 rifle then I could hunt it with the pistol.

CD