Thomas Garrett
Member
I shoot a 1958 Colt Officers Model Match 6" .22lr. Just love that pistol. But been looking for a nice S&W K-22. 6". That's another "Older" fine shooter. Back then pistols were made with Pride.
22 revolver to enjoy for life
- Thread starter Hoffy
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dogngun
Member
My favorite .22 revolver ever is an odd old thing,
a High Standard Sentinel 9 shot, made in the 1950's, nearly as old as me.
It is a great design, very light alloy frame, accurate enough for my uses, and carries easily even with a 4" barrel. I use speedloaders from HKS with it - they were made for H&R's, work great with the old High Standard.
Paid under $150 for it, would buy another in a minute.
mark
a High Standard Sentinel 9 shot, made in the 1950's, nearly as old as me.
It is a great design, very light alloy frame, accurate enough for my uses, and carries easily even with a 4" barrel. I use speedloaders from HKS with it - they were made for H&R's, work great with the old High Standard.
Paid under $150 for it, would buy another in a minute.
mark
bflobill_69
Member.
There are so many GOOD choices... but a .22lr revolver to shoot for life, only one seems sensible:
Model 17 S&W
Bflobill69
Model 17 S&W
Bflobill69
LTR shooter
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Same here , as much as I would love to have an old 17 or 18 they are simply NOT TO BE FOUND locally. The ones on the auction sites are commanding a premium , on the other hand they will not be getting any cheaper!
Found this at a shop last week and it was still there yesterday so it came home with me:
It is a used Taurus 96. The sideplate area is not discolored , evidently oil , in fact the bluing is pretty decent for a budget revolver. Will probably test it out today. It was $239+ tax.
Peter M. Eick
Member
No one suggested the Dan Wesson 722. A 22 lr built on a 357 magnum frame. Works great, very accurate and a lot of fun.
jad0110
Member
Nice! So, where are the pictures?
If you ever decide to get another DA 22, it sounds like the no-underlug S&W Model 17 or 18 (K-22) would be preferrable to the full underlug 617. I've got a 4" 686, full underlug, and I personally find it to be a bit on the barrel heavy side myself. On the other hand, my 6" 17 balance closer to the cylinder, despite the extra 2" of barrel length.
Taurus_9mm
Member
salvo
Member
Double action, my very favorite is my Dan Wesson 722 so very accurate and smooth. If you can find a clean used one you wont be sorry.
Single action, the Ruger Single Six can be passed down for generations of shooting fun.
Single action, the Ruger Single Six can be passed down for generations of shooting fun.
I too was looking for that one good rimfire revolver. I almost went with another Single Six, but went with a Smith instead.
I'm really liking my model 63. Single Sixes are nice too, but a S&W will have a better single action trigger out of the box.
I'm really liking my model 63. Single Sixes are nice too, but a S&W will have a better single action trigger out of the box.
wyohome
Member
I have a K-22 Masterpiece that my dad bought in the 1950s. It still shoots better than I can.
Smith Model 18
I would vote for the K frame Smith (17, 18, 617 or 48). I have had 17's but wanted a shorter barrel so got a 4" Model 18 21+ years ago and have enjoyed it ever since. Had an action job done and fitted custom grips just as I have bestowed on my centerfires. The K frames have a leaf vs. coil mainspring and to me seem a bit smoother and have enough weight without being too much. If I was looking for a field gun might look at the J frames then. Did have a nickel Diamondback 4" once which was really nice which was a few ounces lighter but those are extremely pricey now. If you want to shoot .22 mags there are a few 48's with both .22LR and mag cylinders out there but they would be pricey.
I would vote for the K frame Smith (17, 18, 617 or 48). I have had 17's but wanted a shorter barrel so got a 4" Model 18 21+ years ago and have enjoyed it ever since. Had an action job done and fitted custom grips just as I have bestowed on my centerfires. The K frames have a leaf vs. coil mainspring and to me seem a bit smoother and have enough weight without being too much. If I was looking for a field gun might look at the J frames then. Did have a nickel Diamondback 4" once which was really nice which was a few ounces lighter but those are extremely pricey now. If you want to shoot .22 mags there are a few 48's with both .22LR and mag cylinders out there but they would be pricey.
MichiganShootist
Member
I vote for the S & W model 63 if you can find one. The J frame on the pistol makes it a great gun for people of all hand sizes to shoot.
Mine is over 20 years old hand has fired MANY thousands of rounds without a problem.
The only repair was to replace the firing pin which was worn down.
Mine is over 20 years old hand has fired MANY thousands of rounds without a problem.
The only repair was to replace the firing pin which was worn down.
OrangePwrx9
Member
I have both a 6" 617 and a stainless Single Six with adjustable sights. The Ruger is the favorite, by far. I can shoot it very accurately and it has great balance. Only negative is that the chambers are quite tight and after 50 or 60 rounds, it gets hard to load and unload due to fouling. A quick swab out with a brush and a little solvent is all it needs to keep going. I've learned not to complain about revolvers with tight chambers...they always seem to be the most accurate.
The 6" 617 is just too heavy and bulky. I'd probably like it alot better if it had a 4" barrel. It's never matched the Ruger's accuracy either.
Bob
The 6" 617 is just too heavy and bulky. I'd probably like it alot better if it had a 4" barrel. It's never matched the Ruger's accuracy either.
Bob
I got a new single six in .17 yesterday and put 200 rounds thru it. It's highly accurate, well balanced, and simply shot great. I'm pretty confident the 22 cal version would be as nice. I'm quite impressed with the revolver as the accuracy and ease of aim are right up there with the best. The handle feels really nice as well.
6-gunfun
Member
i bought a .22 heritage its a .22/.22 mag i love it and i got mine for around $200 but thirs nicer ones also the holesters rock at least the mexican double loop does but just take a look.
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arcticap
Member
My .22 club has man-on-man falling steel plate matches using .22 revolvers and the S&W Model 617 is the most popular model by far. The 4 inch barrel is more popular over the 6 inch by about 2 to 1.
Some folks add fiber optic sight, a Wolff spring, have S&W do trigger work or chose from a variety of very nice after market wood grips.
Being a 10 shot is its best attribute and all of our fastest revolver plate shooters seem to prefer the S&W 617 almost exclusively.
With enough practice over time, some of these "elite" have learned to shoot them so well that they can often outshoot semi-auto's during those matches. I believe that it is at least partially due to the qualities of the gun.
While the stock rubber grips aren't perfect for everyone, there's the after market grips. But most folks just shoot them stock and really like them a lot.
Some folks add fiber optic sight
Being a 10 shot is its best attribute and all of our fastest revolver plate shooters seem to prefer the S&W 617 almost exclusively.
With enough practice over time, some of these "elite" have learned to shoot them so well that they can often outshoot semi-auto's during those matches. I believe that it is at least partially due to the qualities of the gun.
While the stock rubber grips aren't perfect for everyone, there's the after market grips. But most folks just shoot them stock and really like them a lot.
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Keeterbird
Member
I have a single-six with a 6" barrel. I shoot 100-150 rounds a week and it gets better and better.
I also have a Taurus Tracker 22. It also has a 6" barrel. I kind of like that too. It is double action.
Both have accuracy are in excess of me.
I also have a Taurus Tracker 22. It also has a 6" barrel. I kind of like that too. It is double action.
Both have accuracy are in excess of me.
HB
Member
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- Dec 18, 2007
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- 2,379
I have a single-six and it is absolutely a nice gun. Good sights, nice grips, and good blueing but I can't shoot it worth a darn! With my Buckmark I can shoot golf ball sized groups at 15 yards no problem, with the occasional flyer. With the single-six, I usually shoot about soft-ball sized groups! Even off the bench it shoots rather poorly (in my opinion) with long rifle, but the mag cylinder shoots better. This is due to the .224 bore with .223 bullets in LR rounds supposedly. It also has a pretty rough trigger but not terrible. It is the best .22 revolver that is reasonably priced right now, everything else is through the roof.
bestseller92
Member
Ruger Single Six. It'll outlast you.
Don't have a DA .22 revolver right now...DO have a Single-Six
WAAAAAYY UP on the "Fun Gun" list. I did have a Bearcat for a while several years back, but it was a smidge to small for my Ham Fists, complete with Sausage Fingers...AKA "Fat Hands" syndrome...
WAAAAAYY UP on the "Fun Gun" list. I did have a Bearcat for a while several years back, but it was a smidge to small for my Ham Fists, complete with Sausage Fingers...AKA "Fat Hands" syndrome...
krs
Member
To enjoy for life?
Well, I guess my K22 qualifies - it having been born the same year I was born, and with Federal champions it was putting five shots through the same hole over and over just yesterday and I ALWAYS enjoy for it to do that.
Well, I guess my K22 qualifies - it having been born the same year I was born, and with Federal champions it was putting five shots through the same hole over and over just yesterday and I ALWAYS enjoy for it to do that.
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Stainz
Member
Below are two new S&Ws from last year - actually funded with money from the sale of my Ruger SA's and a .32 SP101. I don't miss the SA's at all. I also have some .44 & .45 S&W revolvers - still fun - but... I could be happy with just these two - a 4" 617 in .22LR and a 4" 627 Pro in .357M/.38. A ten-shooter and an eight-shooter - true bliss! Only keep one of the pair? Tough one... but I think I'd keep the 617. Seriously, get the .22 revolver that fits you - get it sooner than you plan to... you won't regret it, believe me.
The grips on both are my new favorites from Ahrends - their 'Retro Targets' in cocobolo.
Stainz
The grips on both are my new favorites from Ahrends - their 'Retro Targets' in cocobolo.
Stainz
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