small frame 22 LR/WMR rimfire DA revolver poll

choice of 22 rimfire DA revolver kit gun

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O

oldfool

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No shortage of rimfire fans on this board
As noted, 22 caliber rimfire only, small frame only, revolver specific only, DA/SA or DAO, but not SA only
Comments always welcome for any SA only examples (Ruger Bearcat comes to mind), but kindly restrict the poll "OTHER" count to DA capable actions
Any 17 HMR/HM2 or other specific model small caliber rimfires get Honorable Mention award points as well
Assumed barrel lengths 2" to 5", but nonetheless open to any/all lengths.

Any/all gun PICTURES posted get mega bonus points from pollster
Let's see those beauties !

Poll examples here do note some specific model numbers, but only as EXAMPLES, not restricted to those, any/all similar qualify
Intent is comparison, all other similar to those, oft referred to generically as "kit" guns
Would love to see some other specific make/models for "OTHER" in this genre

Poll examples named here in alphabetical order of brand
I gave S&W snubbies a slot, lest there be too many model candidates within "S&W" category
If can comment on approximate vintage of guns you choose, that would be nice as well.


disclaimer -
If you wish to share your own reasons for your own opinions, pro or con, all comments specific to any specific model are welcome.
But if ye simply must indulge in generic brand warz, name calling, personal insults, unspecified "POS"/"JUNK" belches, or he said/she said flame games,
then kindly start your own thread and do it elsewhere.
You can be as brazenly honest as you want, at your own discretion, but play nice.
I myself do not care if you don't know squat, or heard it from a friend of a friend who knows a guy who knows a guy, or just read a gunzine about it, or have/shoot one or not, or just want one.... but play nice.

thanks
will be back for a look... after range trip to shoot a couple of my own kit guns ! :)


Charter - Pathfinder, or similar
Colt - any appropriate model (?)
Rossi - 511, 515, or similar
Ruger - SP101 22, LCR-22, or similar
S&W - 63, 651, 34, 51, or any similar
S&W snubbie versions - 317, 351PD, or similar
Taurus - 94, 941, or similar
OTHER
 
If my usage were to be more utilitarian, and I were to carry it under conditions where it might get wet (hiking in the rain, fishing), I would get a new Ruger SP101 as it is all stainless steel. My second choice for this would be a stainless S&W. For collecting and occasional shooting, a Colt. The other makes, while not out of the question, are "second tier."
 
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I believe the SP101 .22 is about one of the most solid and reliable double action rimfire revolvers in current production. I would have said Smith and Wesson 17/18 but they are no longer produced. I would choose a 4" barrel variety revolver for woods carry. If it's for a long term survival go bag, I would choose a Ruger LCR .22 due to the reduction in weight.
 
Rossi 511 Sportsman, very accurate, lots of gun for the money if you can find one. DA isn't particularly smooth or light, but SA is crisp and light. God knows how many bulk packs I've put through this one and I bought it used. My original was bought new, but stolen. This one's slightly more accurate, 2" at 25 yards with Fed Lightening and 1" at 25 yards with RWS target from the bench.

I'm of the opinion it's just danged hard to wear out a decent quality .22. I don't know if this one will ever stop, shows no signs of that, yet. :D


t9tg0l.jpg
 
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Having only experience with Rugers, Smiths and Taurus.. I'd avoid the latter of the 3.. Personally I've been eyballing one of the Sp101s :) Good Luck!!!
 
Didn't vote.
I use an unconverted 5-1/2" 1957 Single Six. I doesn't really meet my criteria for a ''kit'' gun. It's too big (barrel length), too heavy, no adjustable sights and not very corrosion resistant. Every once in awhile I get the itch to sell or trade it. Then I pick it up, handle it and shoot it. Reminds me why I like it so much.

If/when I pick up a ''kit'' gun. I'll go with a 3" .22lr, must be light weight, corrosion resistant and have adjustable sights. Leaning towards one of the aluminum S&W's on the J-frame (317?). I think they market it as a ''kit'' gun? Or, something comperable to the S&W. It's not a SD gun, so I wouldn't want to spend alot of money. Generally prefer american made, though.

A friend of mine heard Taurus is coming out with a convertable .22lr/.22wmr on the Tracker frame. He seems pretty excited about it. He's got a .44mag Tracker he's fond of. This would be his ''kit'' and super cheap practice gun, matching his .44.
 
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While you've listed a number of nice .22s and any of them would be nice, I decided to vote "other" as Harrington & Richardson made some rather nice little DA .22s for the money. I own a 4" 622 that, while nothing fancy, is a reasonably smooth DA trigger and has good accuracy. I don't recall ever having a misfire with it either.
 
The original small frame .22

Would of course be the S&W .22/.32 Kit Gun
4" barrel, adjustable sights, reliable and accurate. Pity S&W can't take the clue and resurrect this classic, instead of the stub-barrel 8-shot wonder they replaced it with.
 
There are few better than the 3" S&W M63 with its steel frame. I also like the M34, but it tends to be a little pricey at shows when I see it.

The D-frame 4" Colt Diamondback in 22 makes a great kit gun. Same goes for the Cobra in 22.
 
I picked the S&W kit gun class for no terribly profound reason...A S&W 63 4" revolver is the second gun I ever bought -- used. After 31 years, it's still as tight as the day the previous owner bought it; it's so darned comfortable, shooting it is like pointing a finger for me; and it always makes my short list of that agonizing "if I could only keep one" decision process... :)

I'll post a pic of mine when I get a chance...


.
 
J-framed S&W would be my pick (mods 34, 43, 51,....). Well scaled quality made guns that will hold value very well.
 
hariph creek said:
That 999 is looks nifty, break action is a novelty, too. Is the action decent?
Click to expand...

Mine is fairly new in use. I inherited this gun unfired.
The double action is smooth but tough, single action ain't bad. I hope to get it out more and brake it in. The real advantage is the reloading, when you break it open the shells automatically eject and with a hr22 speed loader you can load this thing pretty fast.
 
I have a couple of Taurus M94's that see a good deal of use.

Yeah, they have very heavy DA triggers and rather crude sights, but they are both very accurate with most ammo. I do not get to concerned if they show a bit of wear or if they go without cleaning for a while. I do not consider them valued heirlooms that I take out to show to my friends.

Small frame DA revolvers seem to feel and balance just right for my medium hands, so I tend to shoot them well.
 
I have a 4" 617 - great range gun - my first .22 revolver. Great shooter. Not a kit gun. The next one was a ANIB 5" 63 (top, below), too big for a 'kit' gun. Then, 11/10, the new 3" 63 (bottom, below) finally was delivered. Wow... kit gun! The 63's are both 8-shooters. Almost a year later - and I found, at a lgs, an ANIB 4" 651 (.22 WMR) (middle, below). I wear rags... but I have some nice J-frame rimfires - and I bought them all S&W '60 Pro' grips. They even shoot better.

003-2-1.jpg

If I could only have one of the above... it would be the 3" 63 - super revolver. My mature eyes like the HiViz sight - I even put it on the 5" 63 and 4" 617.

Stainz
 
wow, skidder, those H&Rs would charm me beyond temptation !
thanks for sharing those pictures

with near 70 votes in, I just now voted in my own poll here...
a pair of minty old model 4" S&Ws, 63 and 651.. see Stainz middle picture above, and wundudnee post
(both bought ANIB, a self indulgence I very rarely allow myself, I wear rags too. The 651 was unfired I do believe, the 63 extreme little if any, but both have been fired aplenty now. I keep 'em nice, but will let the five great-grandkids worry about a minor scratch or two when the time comes.) Spooky accurate little guns, I do believe they can run with my6" k-17s on that, with better hands/eyes than mine, though I do get lucky with them every now and then. Good DA triggers, better than most 'typical' J triggers IMO, and getting better every range trip.

Though I have original and other grips (both presently wearing matched 'Shooting Stars'), I might have to try a set of those '60 Pro grips'. I do tend to pull to the right on DA DTs with what I have on 'em right now, but milady likes 'em.

That's really all that I have in what I think of in 'kit' gun genre, but if Ruger does do their LCR in 22WMR, I think I am just going to have to own three 'kits', even if if I have to trade away some other way too little used long guns for financing.

Surprised to not see a few more votes for the old model Rossi choices, too long out of production now, not enough in circulation I guess.

PS
pity not more Colts, they sure made their share of truly fine rimfires, but I could not myself think of any specific models that didn't strike me as "kit" gun genre frame size, in either SA or DA/SA
same could be said of Dan Wesson, but I don't remember them making small frames either
did High Standard ever do any in that smaller size ?
I know they put out some real decent steel D-9s of the Ruger Single Six size (own one, dual cylinder), and some Sentinels; don't know if any were comparable to J size though
 
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I voted S&W 351PD because I have one and like it a lot.
I am looking for a 3" Taurus Model 941 in 22Mag though because I think that would be the perfect kit gun.
 
I'm sure I'll get the new SP-101 some day sooner rather than later.

I also want to give the Pathfinder a shot.


A little off-topic, but I want a Bearcat too. Don't want to pay what they're asking nowadays, though. I'd do $300; not so interested at $400-plus.
 
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