22 Revolver

[rgs1975]

I'm thinking of picking up a 22 revolver but don't have the foggiest idea of what's out there. My dad has an awesome S&W that dates back about 50 years but that's the only one I've ever fired.

How about a pick post....show me what you got and how you like it?

 

[JoeHatley]

I picked up this "left over" 17-4 NIB about 4 years ago at a gun show.



Fun shooter...

Joe

 

[Hammerdown]

Smith & Wesson K-22-Outdoorsman

Hello
A quick adding of up of the years on your father's revolver you speak of, would place it in the Late 40's. This is a Masterpiece series and Post War had the short throw hammer and improved Micro click rear sights. They also addded a barrel rib to increase the over all weight to match the rest of the Masterpiece series the K-32 & The K38. I Prefer the Prewar models Known as "Outdoorsmans" and they are a bit more money, A little tougher to find,but worth it if you are looking for a hand fitted revolver not everyone else has, with Immpeccable quality..and a glassy smooth action that was not mass produced as modern examples are.This revolver shoots better than any other K-22 I have or have owned. Hammerdown

 

[rbmcmjr]

My favorite is the K22:



Dates to around 1949 and is just wonderful in the hand. Taught my young son how to shoot a handgun with this.

Rick

 

[P95Carry]

K-22's, 17's - grab em .

If you want some single action fun tho maybe find a Single Six Ruger - the later ones can be kept loaded full but earlier ones best kept loaded on empty chamber.

 

[Rob62]

K22's/17's are probably the best .22RF SA/DA revolvers out there. And there are some super examples shown in this thread. As in Hammerdown's gun shown above - I can't believe the beautiful finish on that gun.

But if you are at all on a budget like most of us are. I highly recommend the Ruger Single Six. A very good gun at that can sometimes be found at discounts. I just got one in stainless steel and if it shoots anywhere as good as I hope it does I do not plan on ever getting rid of it. I have been lusting after a Stainless Steel Single Six for many years now and finally got into one in a excellent trade deal.

Rob

 

[rgs1975]

Excellent photos and advice folks!

I spoke with my pop tonight confirmed what he has. He says that his is a S&W 22 Masterpiece made in 1953 with a 6" barrel and a 5 screw frame. He said that S&W didn't put model numbers on them until a few years after his was made.

 

[Hammerdown]

He said that S&W didn't put model numbers on them until a few years after his was made.

Hello
Your Pop is Partially correct.All S&W revolver's have the serial numbers on there grip frame bottoms. The Model 17 Revolver's produced Prior to 1957 had Number's on the Bottom of the grip frame which was the revolver's serial number.But they did not have the Model number model "17" in the crane area until after 1957.Your Pop's gun will have some number's in the crane area but these are plant assembly location points, and are not to be confused with the guns model number or serial number. All revolver's made after 1957 by S&W had the model number's of that gun in the crane area, and later this changed to the number and dash series as design changes took place in that model such as 17-1 17-2 17-3 and so on.Your Dad's revolver should also have the serial number stamped on the cylinder face,On the Barrel flat up under the extractor,Yoke Crane, Behind the cylinder extractor star,and if it had it's original Service style magna grip's it should have had the serial stamped into the right grip panel. An exception for the grip stamping would be in the Mid to late 50's one could have ordered a set of Factory over sized target grips that had diamond centers and these were not stamped with the guns serial number in most cases, as they were considered an add on customer requested Factory option.Sometime in the mid 60's the stamping locations changed and we saw the serial number's disappear on the cylinder face, Under the Barrel flat extractor location, Right Grip panel,and the under extractor location. These serial number's still remained on the crane area along with the model number and new dash series design changes along with the bottom of the grip frame, but the previous areas mentioned prior to this time frame, were not used anymore due to universal fitting on production revolver parts that were prior fitted by hand and matched to the revolver frame when assembled at different points of the production Line. Best regards, Hammerdown

 

[CajunBass]

A couple views of my Ruger Single Six. A great little shooter.

 

[johnny blaze]

Here is a newer version of the 17.
It is a 617 - 3. This is a very good shooter.

 

[Sheldon]

I have 2 S&W model 617 .22 lr revolvers. One is an older 6 shot model and the other is a newer 10 shot model. Both a LOT of fun to shoot and great for low cost training on a wheelgun. It's too bad they are almost as expensive as their full sized 357 counterparts.

 

[Cocked & Locked]

A Couple of Colts....

Colt Official Police .22 LR made in 1937





Colt New Frontier .22 LR made in 1972

 

[MCgunner]

This is my Rossi M511 Sportsman. It wasn't expensive and it is oh such a handy size for packing afield. The DA trigger is cannot be described as light or smooth, but the SA trigger and the accuracy of this thing is nothing short of phenomenal. This one is my most fired handgun. I shoot it every range trip and it's my primary plinker, though I have 4 autoloading 22s for such use.

 

[Doug S]

I like this one. I bought one recently and my son and I have been having a lot of fun with it at the range.

 

[22-rimfire]

K-22's are excellent. My preference is for a 4" Colt Diamondback or 4" Colt Trooper Mark III for general shooting. It really depends on the kind of shooting you expect to do. Don't think of a 22 as having to be cheap. Think about buying a quality handgun and it will last you 50 years just like your father's.

The only current production 22 double action revolver that I would consider is the Smith Model 617.

 

[xx78]

There are many good .22 LR revolvers. I have a couple. But, I'd have to say my favorite is my 4" S&W model 17.

 

[xx78]

HAMMERDOWN,
I have to say that is one beautiful k-22 you have. WOW

 

[Ohen Cepel]

Too bad there doesn't seem to be that many new options out there.

I have a novice shooter who wants to buy a DA .22 revolver. However, the 617 is almost $600!!!

I found a new Taurus 94 today that was right under $300. Seems like a no brainer to me. Not a big Taurus fan. However, can't justify the $300 cost difference.

They don't make them like the used to!

 

[NewShooter]

If you dont mind single action, the Ruger Single Six is a fine choice.
For the budget minded, the Heritage Rough Rider is not as rough as it used to be. I got one with the 5.5" barrel and cocabola grips new for $109. Its a great shooter.

 

[MCgunner]

Well, I am quite a big Taurus fan, but I haven't tried the .22s. I have a M66 .357 magnum and a M85UL that I'd not trade for a Smith. I don't think you can go wrong with the Taurus since it has a lifetime warranty. And, I mean, it's just a .22. How much wear can a .22 cause? Heck, I know of ultra cheap H&Rs that are still shooting, had tens of thousands of rounds through 'em.

 

[Ascot500]

Look for a High Standard Sentinel.
There are still lots out there in good shape for less than two bills.

 

[Mannlicher]

Model 34 and 63

I am a big fan of S&W Kit guns. I have yet to find a more satisfactory handgun for just walking about in the woods. This is the Model 63 I picked up recently.

 

[MCgunner]

Look for a High Standard Sentinel.
There are still lots out there in good shape for less than two bills.

Got a friend that has a small collection of HS Double Nines. He loves the things.

 

[Hank Zudd]

HS .22

Cabelas in Buda has a .22Mag, 9 shot for around $170, as of this afternoon. How hard would it be to have a .22lr cyl. installed, provided I could find one?

 

[borrowedtime69]

for a single action, none better than the ruger single six. i love mine and wouldnt sell it for anything.

i also recommend the Taurus TRacker in either matte stainless steel for about $330 or the Blued one for about $295. i have one and am very happy with it shooting CCI Velocitors. its a large, sturdy gun that you will not wear out. the one in the picture is not mine, but i have the same one with out a scope.

good luck