How to get an accurate Single Six?

[P. Plainsman]

See title. General word of mouth on the New Model convertibles is that they're decently accurate, but nothing to write home about. I sometimes read that the "convertible" feature is a problem: cutting the barrel to accomodate .22 Magnums impairs the gun's accuracy with the .22 LR cylinder.

I want a reasonably priced single action rimfire revolver that will shoot well with .22 LR. Adjustable sights preferred. 4" - 5.5" barrel length somewhat preferred. Don't really care about shooting .22 Magnum.

Any tips or tricks for accurizing the Single Six?

What about that fancy stainless Single Six Hunter in 7.5" barrel? Do you get added accuracy for the added price?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Old Fuff]

Freedom Arms (www.freedomarms.com) makes a revolver like you describe, but it's in the $1,000+ range.

The Ruger 22.LR accuracy often (but not always) suffers because the barrel is bored for the .22 WRM. You can improve the accuracy by going to a custom fittted cylinder basepin to take out some of the wobble, and correct endshake if there is any. A lighter trigger pull will help hand-held accuracy, and I believe the Bisley grip profile helps too.

The hunter version is still bored for .22 WRM...

Last but not least, since I'm spending your money you could have a Single-Six rebarreled to .22 LR, and cylinder work done as described above. Better quality adjustable sight would help too.

If the best possible .22LR accuracy and reasonable cost was what you want, a hand ejector / double-action revolver would be a better option.

 

[P. Plainsman]

Old Fuff:

Sound advice, even if you're a little open-handed with my money. (Freedom Arms!? Yep, that's by all accounts a legit 1 MOA handgun, and there's one on GunsAmerica now for a mere $1729.00.)

I'm actually a DA revolver man by preference. Thing is, a blued 4.5" Single Six weighs 32 oz. That is tolerably handy. What's a quality DA .22 revolver in that weight range? Smith & Wesson's 4" 617 is more than half a pound heavier.

Not a lot of used K-22s for sale in my area.

Taurus 94? Anyone?

 

[ID_shooting]

My wife and I have 6 inch models, Mine is a new, hers is a 3 screw. I can't speak to measured accuracy, but resting, I have poped squirrels out to 100 yards, consistently bounce shotgun shells at 25 and pop cans at 50. Great fun!

We both have mag cylinders with ours, although the are rarely used. When I do use them, I notice no real accuarcy difference.

 

[grimjaw]

To compound the potential problem, I have the version of Single Six with fixed sights, which narrows my ammunition choices a bit. I haven't used the .22LR cylinder in mine since the first week I've got it. I like .22WMR. The trigger work does help, though. THe stock trigger is a little heavy.

Doesn't S&W still make an Airweight .22LR w/3" barrel? Don't know how accurate it is, but seems like it would make a nice kit gun. A bit pricey, though.

jmm

 

[cookekdjr]

I had one. I was much more accurate with my Single Six than I was with my Buck Mark Bullseye.
RE: the hunter model, you may want to check gunblast.com for a review.
I believe they got many groups of less than 1" at 25 yards.
-David

 

[P. Plainsman]

Grimjaw --

I crossed off the current S&W Airweight kit guns for my needs after reading a pretty convincing negative review of them in this month's Gun Tests. They abhorred the sight setup. Couldn't hit anything. Interestingly, the editors had good things to say about a little 9-shot Taurus 94 in the same test.

Jeff Quinn at Gunblast.com was distinctly critical of the S&W Airweight rimfires a few years ago as well. ("the newest Smith and Wesson .22 Kit Gun doesn't hold a candle to the older models 34 and 63, in my experience, when it comes to accuracy. I have an all-stainless model 63 that is superbly accurate, but the new lightweight Kit Guns that I have personal knowledge of, just don't cut it. The reports that I have read on them are the same as my experience: three-and-one-half inch and larger groups at 25 yards.").

I'd also prefer a bit more than 3" barrel length.

Glad to hear the encouraging reports about the Single Sixes folks have.

 

[Old Fuff]

The Taurus model 94 is a lot better then it used to be, but it's built on a small frame, and a 4" version weighs about 25 ozs.

Also, I will have to check for the details, but some of the older Single-Six's were made in .22LR only, and the barrels and cylinders are bored for that cartridge, not the Magnum.

I would start watching gunshows and internet auctions and try to find a S&W model 18 (.22 Combat Masterpiece) if you give up on the Ruger. Hard to find? Yes, but they do turn up.

Also check www.armchairgunshow.com once and awhile.

Never let it be said that I don't enjoy helping OTHER folks spend their money...

 

[Old Fuff]

This might be a possibility. I can, and will recommend the seller as I've done business with them in the past.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=44871973

 

[P. Plainsman]

Oooh, the half-lug! I always liked that better. (Weren't the later rimfire SPs all full-lug?)

That's tempting. I've got a .32 Magnum SP101. Great little gun; too bad it's not a half-lug.

 

[Old Fuff]

That's tempting. I've got a .32 Magnum SP101. Great little gun; too bad it's not a half-lug.

I think it can be rebarreled, or the present barrel modified into a half-lug.