.22 Revolver Question

What's your definition of inexpensive? These answers are going to range from Taurus 94s to S&W 63s. If you're just throwing it in a glovebox, get the Taurus. Some come with interchangeable 22 mag cylinders.

Older Taurus 94. Get one made in the 90's. Great revolver in 4in. they go for $295-$350.

SwampWolf said:

The further under $400.00 or so, the better.

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A .22 under 400$, SS & double action probably means your choices are either charter arms or taurus. Not much out there other than those two will meet your listed requirements. Neither are what I would consider great quality, but if you get a good one they should be serviceable.

Look for a 1950s/1960s Harrington & Richardson (H&R). Rock solid reliable. Full frame or Top Break. Models that start with a 9 will hold 9 rounds. Look for a serial number that begins with one or two letters. If a single letter then W, X, Y, Z or if two letters AA-AF. They had barrel lengths from 3" to 7" or longer.

"Inexpensive" and "DA .22 revolver" don't really go together. At least not nowadays...

It is kind of funny to see people recommending the Taurus 94; they were talked about like a dog not too long ago. A quick search on the internet will show you what I mean.

The H&R advice was better back a few years ago, but it's hard to find examples in the value price range nowadays that aren't overly worn for what you are paying.

Rossi made something called the Plinker for a short while, but just like that it is not listed as available anymore.


Seems like people talk about wanting truly affordable .22 DA revolvers, and then when a manufacturer makes them they sit unsold. Sure, they move a few, but not enough to be profitable and sustainable. Smith and Ruger have no logical financial incentive to make them over their existing models. Somebody like RIA could try - but with the past track record of people putting their $ where their mouth is I wouldn't blame them if they didn't.

I've owned a couple of Taurus 94's over the years, and a couple of the little known 6" Model 96's also. The key to the 94 IMHO, is to look for one from the 80's and early 90's. They'll usually have wood grips. I believe the 96's were only made for a couple of years. Basically Taurus' version of the Model 17. Not as nicely finished maybe, but a really nice shooter.

I believe a lot of the "bad" you hear about Taurus 22's especially, comes from their newer models. I tried one once, and the DA pull took two men, a boy, and a small dog to operate. The S/A wasn't too bad however.

High Standard/J.C. Higgins is another used 22 to look for. I carried one for years as a "bumming around" gun. Nice shot, hand ejector with an aluminum frame. In an Uncle Mikes holster, I could carry it all day and forget it was there.

Spend a few $$ more and get a new ruger LCR.

Armored farmer said:

Spend a few $$ more and get a new ruger LCR.

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Or a .22 Sp101-

CajunBass said:

I've owned a couple of Taurus 94's over the years, and a couple of the little known 6" Model 96's also. The key to the 94 IMHO, is to look for one from the 80's and early 90's. They'll usually have wood grips. I believe the 96's were only made for a couple of years. Basically Taurus' version of the Model 17. Not as nicely finished maybe, but a really nice shooter.

I believe a lot of the "bad" you hear about Taurus 22's especially, comes from their newer models. I tried one once, and the DA pull took two men, a boy, and a small dog to operate. The S/A wasn't too bad however.

High Standard/J.C. Higgins is another used 22 to look for. I carried one for years as a "bumming around" gun. Nice shot, hand ejector with an aluminum frame. In an Uncle Mikes holster, I could carry it all day and forget it was there.

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Yup, Taurus had a "golden era" for about a decade there (before the Braztech/Rossi merger) when the quality came close to S&W. If you know what your looking at, they can still be found for reasonable prices. I would try local pawn shops.

5ish for a rimfire SP.

The Pathfinders are serviceable enough, I had one and it was OK. Calling it "stainless" was a stretch, though- more like "somewhat rust resistant."

I wouldnt pay $380 for another one. $275-300 maybe, and keep it well oiled.....

My Taurus 94 had a horrible trigger.

My Ruger LCRx had a horrible trigger.

Both of my Ruger SP101's have horrible triggers.

My similar Rossi and High Standard had poor accuracy through one or more cylinders.

My Charter Arms Pathfinder 22lr 2" fixed sight revolver is the best of the lot. Its DA trigger is mediocre. The SA trigger, sights, and accuracy are very good. Shooting SA, at seven yards I can put a box of ammo into a group the size of my palm easily. Most of them will be right near the middle. It's the only smallish DA 22 revolver that I've ever owned and liked. It cost me $319 NIB.

"Inexpensive" and "DA .22 revolver" don't really go together. At least not nowadays...

Isn't that the truth. I ran across a Rossi plinker new in the box at a gunshow a couple of years ago. I liked it and dickered with the seller and he came down a litte so I bought it. The box was scruffed up and I observed that he must have had it for awhile. He looked it up and he had been carrying it to gunshows for five years. That should cast a little light on why it's no longer made. I lucked out on my purchase. The gun is accurate and has a good double action trigger and an excellent single action one. It has adjustable sights to boot and is an eight shooter. The one glitch was that the chambers were rough enough to make extraction somewhat difficult. A little time with a bore mop, some fine valve grinding compound, and a cordless drill cured that.

If you could find one of these it would suit your needs. It was inexpensive and is what I would call a "good" gun.

I've had two 94s, one from the late eighties, and one from 2014. I only still own the latter (let the former go with my then-wife when we divorced in 1996.)

Both shot/shoot straight and well. The one I have now has a heavy trigger, which I have no issue with, and one other issue; spent cases get wedged pretty tightly in the chambers. This could be due to some chamber wall imperfections I cannot see (less likely since all nine chambers are affected) or to chambers a little too great in diameter, allowing fired cases to "swell into place." The gun shoots remarkably well.

I think part of the reason the 94 has such a heavy trigger is because it has such a light hammer. What the hammer lacks in mass must be made up in speed to reliably ignite rimfire ammunition. This means a heavy mainspring. The hammer spur is 1-2mm shorter than I'd like it to be, making it a bit more difficult to get good purchase on with the thumb if you want to cock it. Conversely, my Smith and Wesson 63 has a longer and more-solid-feeling hammer, and it thumb-cocks like it's being pulled through melted butter. The trigger pull is noticeably lighter (of course, we're now talking a gun that can run near $600 used.)

Charter Arms rimfires only come in six-shot versions as far as I know, so you'll get three more rounds with the 94.

Personally, I think a .22 revolver makes an excellent vehicle gun.

SwampWolf said:

I appreciate all of the advice so far. I have some very nice .22 handguns for shooting in Bullseye matches and for hunting small game but I'm currently interested in getting a serviceable da, .22 revolver to keep hidden and locked away in a vehicle. The lgs has a new Charter Arms "Pathfinder" da revolver, chambered in .22rf, that pretty much has what I want (s/s, 4" barrel, adjustable sights) that is selling for $380.00 but I remember a time when Charter Arms firearms got some pretty bad reviews. Anybody have any experience with this revolver?
What are Ruger LCRs and Model 101s chambered in .22rf going for now in terms of "street" prices?
Thanks again all.

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You can find the LCR for sub $450. It's not stainless, but I actually thing the LCR is handsome in a utilitarian sort of way.

https://www.sportsmansoutdoorsupers...2lr-double-action-revolver-with-3-inch-barrel

jar said:

Look for a 1950s/1960s Harrington & Richardson (H&R). Rock solid reliable. Full frame or Top Break. Models that start with a 9 will hold 9 rounds. Look for a serial number that begins with one or two letters. If a single letter then W, X, Y, Z or if two letters AA-AF. They had barrel lengths from 3" to 7" or longer.

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I don't think H&R made many stainless steel revolvers.

Charter Arms Pathfinder.

I own one of the 4" models,,,
It shoots as well as my S&W's.

Aarond

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I picked up a stainless N E F 22 revolver on our trading post for $185. Good shooter.

Gave it to my daughter for car gun.