22 revolver to enjoy for life

[Steve_in_Marietta]

I think it depends on how serious your plinkin' is. I have a 3" M317 and a 6" M17. I love the 317 and it's a hoot to shoot, but the M17 is a more accurate plinker, and the 17 (or the 617) seems a better bet for the "lifetime" requirement. If the "kit gun" factor is more important I'd lean toward the 317 or Bearcat.

 

[.357MagTaurus]

Heritage Arms Single Action 22LR

This is just another option you can consider. I am happy with mine so far.You can pick up one of these for less than $200. Many nice choices on grips. Cannot use a speed loader with this one though, because cylinder does not swivel down. Real nice for plinking or even some target practice. Cylinder is easily removed for easy cleaning.

 

[searcher451]

A Ruger Bearcat. It was my first handgun purchase ($32 and change), and it's still a frequent companion when I go to the range. I've added three more through the years, including a nice stainless model, and I went out and found another Old Model that I gave to my son for Christsmas a couple of years back. It is, without question, a terrific revolver.

 

[280shooter]

I have a few 22's,,I have a single 6, stainless.
a buddie of mine had a nice stainless charter arms 22,,that was slick and smooth.I know he wished he had that one back, he just picked up one of the tarus 22,i know its brand new, but the trigger is gritty,more so then what I would like.I might have to take the trigger group out and polish it,
If weight is what your going after i go for the Bear cub by Ruger,

 

[AZ Desertrat]

I have had a Single Six for many years, and they are very rugged, easy to take care of, and accurate. My latest vintage is a 9.5 inch barrel, with the extra .22mag cylinder. I am never without it when I go out to my "boondocks" shooting places in the desert.

 

[gunut]

I am usualy a S&W guy but picked up a 99% in box Taurus model 96 today at a small gun show 4 $200 cash and carry...Hope it makes a good plinker...

 

[Hoffy]

Wow! Thanks for all the great feedback.

It provided more details on some of the aspects of the decision I have been wondering about.

 

[D Alan]

I have both a Bearcat (stainless) and a 50th Anniversary Single-Six. Neither are great out of the box; really stiff. I added some hand-carved Elkhorn grips to the Bearcat; had the action smoothed, and trigger lighten slightly. It's a real gem; the envy of many who've shot it. Great trail gun! The Single Six is at the gunsmith for the same work (sans the grips). The Single Six will eat all you feed it - all day long. The Bearcat gets gummed up after a couple of boxes; will really degrade accuracy. Both seem partial to Eley Sport. All that said, I'm looking hard at the 317; given the weight and size it may be the ultimate trail/kit gun.

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

My two favorites are the S&W K-22 6 inch, or the Colt Diamondback 4" barrel. They both pack and shoot beautufully, and should last a lifetime. Worth every penny in the long run.

 

[hddeluxe]

I would go with the Ruger Single Six. I have both the Smith and Wesson and the Ruger and it seems I always go for the Ruger when I to the range or just out and about. Safe to say I am a fan of the single action as I have a Vaquero as well.

 

[punkndisorderly]

I've fired a few of the Smith .22's and always came away very impressed. If I ever decide on getting another .22, they would get the nod.

 

[deputy tom]

Hoffy,I would choose a Ruger Single Six and/or an older S&W K-frame 4".The Ruger for just plain fun and the K-frame for fun and pride of ownership.YMMV.tom.

 

[jggonzalez357]

I'm a big Ruger fan. I have a .22lr SP101 with a 4" barrel that is very accurate and fun to shoot. If you're looking for a packing gun, then this one in a 2 1/4" barrel would be neat. The gun also comes in .357, so it is very solidly built. If you're looking at the bearcat vs. single-six, I would go for a single six with the shortest barrel you can find. I've also owned a stainless single-six and found it to be very rugged and reliable.

 

[Hoffy]

Thanks guys!

I went with the model 63 and am feeling pretty good about it! I decided to go new from Buds. It will be up to a couple weeks on logistics, but the decision is made.

It seemed like a compromise between the very light 317 and the pretty heavy 617.

I may go for a single action next time around.

Again, thanks for all the advice.

 

[wanderinwalker]

Excellent! Don't forget to post pictures for us to drool over as soon as you can!

 

[Merkelman]

There is one and only one and that is and always will be the Ruger Single Six with the interchangable cylinders.

 

[zt77]

the taurus m94 isnt worth looking at, not when you compare the trigger to one on a s&w, and the underlugged barrels are a bit too heavy for me, my model 18-3 with tyler-t grips have the best trigger i've ever felt on any revolver and is as accurate off a rest with any of the ammo i've tried (about 15 different kinds, 5 or so of the higher end stuff) as any of the 6" m17's and even the two 8 3/8" m17. it's also about equal in terms of target size between all of them when shooting off hand at 15 and 25 yards. I know the longer sight radius makes it EASIER to shoot accurately but none of them balance like the 4".

oh and between a 4" m17 and a m18, with the 18 you get a ramp front sight and the 17 you don't. either way i always paint mine orange.

also a side note, if you plan to paint the 17's sight it is flat and the fingernail polish ends up with a flat surface (actually round) that reflects light, the 18's front sight is serrated and does not.

 

[280shooter]

http://www.charterfirearms.com/

check out the little pathfinder S/S in 22,,

 

[Brian Dale]

Good news, Hoffy! Please let us know how it shoots once you've got it.

 

[TimboKhan]

I enjoy shooting the single-six, and I think you would be pretty hard-pressed to find anyone who truly had anything bad to say about them. Yeah, the unloading and load is slow, but that is just part and parcel to that gun. I enjoy it because of what it is, and for what it is, there is very little fault to be found. Additionally, I really like shooting .22 mags out of them.

Having said that, my favorite all-time .22 revolver is the H&R 999 Sportsman. Nice little shooters, and the empties fly out of the cylinder when you break the top. Plus, it is a 10 shooter. A little hard to find, but I really liked the one I had, right up until it broke, lol.

 

[Hastings]

I got my wife a Ruger Single Six, 5-1/2" ss with fixed-sight and ivory polymer grips for her birthday. It was used, but shoots incredibly well with both the 22lr and 22wmr cylinders. She shoots it better than I do. I was sorta hoping she would hate it so I'd have to keep it and buy her something else.

My favorite 22 handgun, however, is my Smith 648 22wmr with 6" barrel. I wish it were a 4" barrel, but the underlug and longer barrel prevent the revolver from jumping at all when shooting, and it is obnoxiously accurate (much more accurate than I am). Plus, it handles like my 686-4 2-1/2", and 686-2 4". I can practice with the 648 for about $11/50 22mag rounds, and know that the trigger pull, grips and sight pictures are essentially identical to my carry guns. I really like the 22mag round. It's not given much credit, but it's a nasty little critter (especially when used on nasty little critters). I sold another 648, earlier this year, hoping to pick up a 617 10shot 4" or 6"er, but that didn't happen. If I can find a reasonably priced 650, or the above mentioned 617, I plan on rounding out the family.

 

[JFrame]

Hoffy said:

I went with the model 63 and am feeling pretty good about it! I decided to go new from Buds. It will be up to a couple weeks on logistics, but the decision is made.

It seemed like a compromise between the very light 317 and the pretty heavy 617.

Congratulations, Hoffy! I think you made an excellent choice.

I have the older six-shot 63 (4" barrel), and it is arguably the one handgun I would keep if (heaven forbid!) I could only have one.

Let us know how it shoots!

 

[gepreston]

Congrats on the new pistol!! I'd still be on the lookout for a single six. Good deals come to those who wait.....I love mine and picked it up for $150 a few years ago. It was used but the Mag Cylinder had never been used!!!! I don't have a "shot count" on it but, several boxes of "bulk ammo" have bit the dust with no discernible wear noted!

 

[n5odj]

A couple of folks have mentioned the Diamondback. Yes...$$$$$$$$$$ I had one about 10 years ago. I bought it because it was one fine looking revolver. Very pretty. Unfortunately, it was one of the most inaccurate guns I've ever owned. Also, common light primer strikes. The inaccuracy was just something I couldn't forgive, so it found a new home. Wish I had waited to sell it since they are now $$$$$$$$ on gunbroker.

Robert in the hills of Tennessee

 

[pinstripe]

I have this one. It is a commanche.22. Cheap but effective.