Best Rimfire Revolver/Trainer

You might look at the Charter rimfire lineup.
I think they still make the 6 inch barrel pathfinder. That might make a good trainer.

If S&W still sells a K-frame 22lr, that is my favorite 22 revolver of the many I've owned and/or shot.

dont buy a gun that isnt top of the line. 22 revolvers of quality are costly but made by ruger, colt or smith are worth it. i have a model 17 target smith from the 70/s that would fit the bill for you. it will cost 1000 or more. i also have a lcr ruger 22 mag. it is very well made also. you can go with the other companys that build fair guns but they are not smiths rugers or colts. they never ever will be no matter what anyone says about them. i would look at the smiths if i were you. also look for a good used s and w model 17. you would love that gun. mine will cut a blade of grass at 20 yards. have taken prairie dogs at 100 yards and out to 200 yards with it. if your serious about shooting,GET A GOOD ONE. you should see my deck facing east. their must be 5000 or more 22 long rifle spent cases on it. have to sweep it off now and then or it gets hard to walk on.

New Ruger GP100 .22 or S&W 617.

Both are pricey, but I doubt you will wear either one out in a lifetime.

"Both are pricey, but I doubt you will wear either one out in a lifetime."

My K22 is about 70 years old and still going strong.

I agree that the 617 is the best .22 revolver if you are buying new, older 17's are nice if you can find them, but only 6 shots instead of 10. My 4 inch model has better balance than the 6 inch.



I also have the Ruger GP100 shot, well built if you get a good one, I had to do a bunch of rework on mine to get it usable.

I completely agree with the others. If you're going to get a 'practice' .22, better get a quality one. Because I have shot and seen .22 revolvers that seriously broke down, and which feel very cheapo. A Smith & Wesson would be my first recommendation.

I would go straight to the 4" S&W Model 617 and don't look back. You won't wear it out. If you want something a bit smaller, go with the 3" Model 63. Both provide a lot of flexibility for the future in terms of use.

tu sens si bon , i do feel good on most days, thank you. my mothers family comes from france.

If you're only looking at new revolvers, these would be my choices, in order:
1) S&W 617
2) S&W 17 Masterpiece
3) Ruger GP100

The Smith's should have the nicest triggers, and the 617 is a 10 shot and can be had with a 4 or 6" barrel, while the 17 only holds 6 with a 6" barrel. The Ruger is also a 10 shot but has a higher D/A trigger pull from the factory.

Tallball said:

My K22 is about 70 years old and still going strong.

Click to expand...

Only 70?

This one shipped in 1932. That makes it 87 years old, as the wear to the finish testifies, and it is still the most accurate 22 revolver I own.






If you want a 22 rimfire revolver, don't scrimp. Buy the best, it will outlast you. Left to right, K-22 Combat Masterpiece that shipped in 1953, K-22 Outdoorsman that shipped in 1935, the above pictured K-22 Outdoorsman, the good side, that shipped in 1932, a K-22 Masterpiece that shipped in 1950, and my Model 17-3 that I bought brand-spanky new in 1975.






If you don't want to buy used, I can understand, but there are plenty of terrific deals in used revolvers out there. That beauty in the middle only cost me $600 because of the distressed finish. The most expensive 22 in the photo above is the K-22 Outdoorsman 2nd from the left. It cost me $1200. The rest each cost between $800 and $900. I only paid $125 for my Model 17-3, but that was over 40 years ago. Compare that to the price of a brand new Model 17 or 617. $997 for a brand new Model 17 $883 for a 617 with a 4" or 6" barrel.




I don't much care for the modern Model 617 that S&W is producing today. I don't so much object to the lock or MIM parts, it is that full length underlug. Besides making the gun ugly, it makes it way too muzzle heavy for my taste. I suppose the 4" version would not be as muzzle heavy, but I don't buy brand new Smiths anymore. Ten shots? Who needs so many? Six shots has always served me fine in a 22 revolver.






Here are a couple more older 22 revolvers you might try looking for.

A Colt Officer's Model Target that shipped in 1935 and a Colt Police Positive Target that shipped in 1936.






Hmmmm.... That Officer's Model Target may be more accurate than my worn old K-22 Outdoorsman.

I have always liked the S&W K 22's. Ive read great things about them for many years (I am a huge fan of Col. Charlie Askins & he loved them). My only 22 revolver is a 6-inch barreled Ruger Single Six & it may not be a K22 but it is extremely accurate.

There's no reason not to keep an eye out anyways. You never know what you'll find.

I recently picked up a 6" stainless (Monson!) Dan Wesson 722 for quite a low price. There's deals out there, however far and few between.

Otherwise, the 617 is very well regarded.

My K22 Masterpiece is from 1951 or 52, IIRC. It's almost 70 years old.

I haunted GB for a couple of months until I found a really good price. The finish is worn and it has incorrect grips. It functions perfectly and is tied for the best SA/DA trigger of any revolver I own (tied with a Model 28).

I paid $440 for it, plus FFL and shipping. IMHO it was well worth my modest investment of (minimal) time and effort. It's my most accurate revolver out of many.

Here's another vote for a used one.
Mine shipped within a few years of @Tallball and I picked it up within the past year for $500 all said and done.

Do know that a .22 revolver usually has a heavier DA trigger pull which is necessary to set off .22 LR reliably. Best to get a full size .22 if you want an easier DA trigger pull. Any quality .22 LR revolver is a good investment as these tend to keep their value or increase it over time. There is good advice above about choosing such. In my case, I have an old High Standard Sentinel that is actually quite accurate and these can be acquired relatively cheaply compared with the name brands but they lack the mystique and name brand appeal of the others listed above.


But, you can get a quality .32 S&W Long (in a solid frame obviously) or .32 H&R chambered revolvers that are actually quite good as understudies for their bigger brothers in Colts or Smith and Wessons. You can also reload the cases obviously. These being centerfire revolvers can have tuned triggers to be quite excellent without compromising going bang when you pull the trigger. In used models, apart from the wonderful .32 S&W Target models using a full sized frame, you can get excellent firearms for less than you would pay for a rimfire revolver. Often, far less and the .32 S&W Long is so accurate that target firearms are made for it.

I have a Ruger GP100 and it was great right from the box. I also have an older K-22 and it is really sweet. I like the GP to just blast away with friends and family and the K-22 when I am just by myself enjoying time. I am not sure why. If I were buying new, I would give the GP a good look.

bassjam said:

If you're only looking at new revolvers, these would be my choices, in order:
1) S&W 617
2) S&W 17 Masterpiece
3) Ruger GP100

Click to expand...

Yep. Op wants new, not used and double action so this would be my same order. Maybe rent some of these at a range. Pick the barrel length that suits you.

I was going to buy a used Ruger GP100 in 22lr that was at my LGS, but someone bought it before I came back a few days later to trade for it.

The trigger on that Ruger was good. The trigger on my K22 is good. Most of the smaller 22 revolvers I've shot had stiff triggers. My understanding is that 22lr requires a stiffer spring than centerfire cartridges, and the geometry of a smaller revolver makes its trigger stiffer to pull.

A full-sized Ruger or Smith should be pretty good. Just in case someone else is reading, I seem to recall that Taurus made a full-sized 22lr revolver back in the day. If I ran across a used one in good shape with a nice trigger, I would be sorely tempted.

NEW-S&W Model 617

Ruger GP100

Charter Arms Pathfinder

USED-S&W Model 17

S&W Model 18

S&W Model 34

you guys may have talked me into it. im thinking of getting a s and w 617 in a 6 inch barrel. or if you can convince me the trigger is better on the ruger gp 100 i may go that way. which one is better?

I'd look for a used but in very good to excellent condition 6" S&W model 17 (I already have one) or a 6" Colt Diamondback. I prefer the S&W, but would love to have the Colt to go with it. Back in the early 70s when I started learning how to really shoot a handgun, these were the two top-of-the line .22 revolvers. Haven't seen anything come along since then that is better, or as good. Bought my current 17 used in 2001 for $400. Still looking for a Diamondback. I wouldn't hesitate to buy a quality used gun (in good condition) compared to most new revolvers on the market today.