.22lR revolver suggestions

[Hondo 60]

If you can afford a S&W, buy it! You won't regret it.

If you're looking for cheap, Heritage Arms makes a single action 22.
You get 2 cylinders, one for 22lr & one for 22wmr

 

[GunTech]

Since the OP was looking for a training revolver, I think he made the right choice, particularly if he uses a double action centerfire revolver. While the single action guns are neat, I don't see much utility as a trainer considering how few actually use single action guns for target or social work. If one the other hand, the OP uses a centerfire single action revolver, it is quite another matter.

 

[CraigC]

While the single action guns are neat, I don't see much utility as a trainer considering how few actually use single action guns for target or social work.

While some of us actually use them all the time, for a little bit of everything, including concealed carry.

 

[stinger 327]

The Smith Model 617 is a great revolver and does not run $1000 in stores. Good 22 rimfire revolvers have always been expensive. You get what you pay for pretty much as I started out with Tier II and III guns (H&R, Ruger at that time, High Standard, Charter Arms, etc.) and within a few years moved to Tier I (S&W & Colt) manufactures almost exclusively. Taurus and Charter Arms make double action 22 revolvers, but I would suggest you do an honest comparison between a Smith and one of these before you make up your mind. Check out the NEW revolver just like you would a used revolvers as Taurus has a history of problems that require you to ship the gun back for repairs. In my case, a couple years go by and you end up paying even a higher price for the better revolver.

You can find Smith Model 17 and 18's at shows for sale in the $500-$650 price range. They sell pretty easily. So when you find one, you buy it and you have a quality lifetime shooter. The Colt double action 22 revolvers are very good too. The least expensive is the Trooper Mark III which can be found on the auction sites as well as shows and gun shops as used guns. Price is about the same as I mentioned. Colt Diamondbacks and Officers Model Match and others are a bit more expensive, but quality handguns.

Of the single actions, the best currently made is the Ruger Single Six. Colt made some very good ones in the past (Peacemaker and New Frontier). The Heritage Rough Rider is about the least expensive 22 SA revolver available new. They have their supporters and detractors. But for the money and if you don't shoot thousands of rounds through them monthly, they should last a while but probably not a lifetime.

I just picked up a brand new 617 6 inch 10 shot .22LR revolver. I had trouble justifiying the cost of $675 for it as I could have purchase some real calibers like .40, .45, .357 or even 9mm all of which I already have except the .40 cal.
It turns out that this is a quality piece as you can see the kind of work went into it which is as much or maybe more than a S & W .357 revolver. So I feel like I got the Cadillac of .22 LR revolvers. I will look at it this way that it's cheaper to shoot, more enjoyable and most important it is a quality piece. If I know I am buying quality that alone makes me happy. But it was hard to decide on this purchase because the cost of it was the same if not more than some of the other heavier hitters in man stopper calibers.

 

[GunTech]

Notice I state that a few use the single action for 'social' work, not none. I'd wager it's less than one tenth of a percent. There are also people who carry knives and sword canes for self defense. But I know of no serious school of combat handgunning that advocates the use of the single action revolver as a carry/self defense arm. There are no advantages to a single action revolver as an SD gun, and many disadvantages. They are slow to fire and even slower to reload. Some are not safe to carry fully loaded.

Yes, I know how fast Bob Munden can shoot a single action, but that has very little to do with the real world. At its heyday, the single action revolver was the technical pinnacle of handgun development. That day is past. The only reason to carry a single action SD gun today is if a fondness for the design outweighs practical considerations.

 

[stinger 327]

Get a quality piece the S & W Mod. 617.

 

[788Ham]

Spec op Grunt,

If you're referring to the H&R, that's a Harrington and Richardson, not High Standard, the trigger on the H&R is very good. Thanks

 

[CraigC]

There are no advantages to a single action revolver as an SD gun, and many disadvantages.

That depends on the individual. If what you are focused on the is single action revolver, then use of a single action for self defense is an advantage, for you. I live with them every day, shoot several times a week and carry them everywhere I go. I may practice anywhere between contact distance to 100yds or more. There is no firearm type that I am more familiar or proficient with. So, who is better prepared? The guy who lives and breathes single actions every day or the guy with a Glock who shoots maybe once a week to twice a month at an indoor range and at 7-10yds? The shooter and his skill is more important than equipment. Proficiency is key and it's stupid to carry a weapon you are less familiar with because it's more fashionable.

Which is where these .22 single actions come into play. For nothing is better at building skill with a single action revolver than a rimfire version.

They are slow to fire and even slower to reload.

I give up nothing to an auto shooter for the first five rounds.

But I know of no serious school of combat handgunning that advocates the use of the single action revolver as a carry/self defense arm.

Gunsite and Thunder Ranch have courses on the single action.

 

[duns]

I'm the OP. Some people didn't notice I already made a decision (see #20). I have ordered a S&W Model 17. Part of the logic was it is a DA/SA so I can train both ways. I would not consider using it for SD unless for some reason I could not get to any of my other larger caliber handguns. Thanks to everyone for the great advice that helped me make my decision.

I bought it as a Davidson's Exclusive -- it features a target trigger and hammer.

Here's a photo from S&W's website of the standard gun:

 

[CraigC]

I would not consider using it for SD unless for some reason I could not get to any of my other larger caliber handguns.

These discussions often go where they may. It was not about using a .22 for self defense, rather single action revolvers for varying purposes in general. For which a rimfire version makes for the perfect trainer. Just as your new K-22 makes the perfect understudy to a centerfire S&W.

 

[stinger 327]

I'm the OP. Some people didn't notice I already made a decision (see #20). I have ordered a S&W Model 17. Part of the logic was it is a DA/SA so I can train both ways. I would not consider using it for SD unless for some reason I could not get to any of my other larger caliber handguns. Thanks to everyone for the great advice that helped me make my decision.

I bought it as a Davidson's Exclusive -- it features a target trigger and hammer.

Here's a photo from S&W's website of the standard gun:
View attachment 515421

Is this the old counterpart to the 617 in stainless steel but in blue finish?

 

[oldfool]

duns,
welcome to the k-17 club, get ready to smile a lot !

what Craig C said, ditto that -
"Just as your new K-22 makes the perfect understudy to a centerfire S&W."
even better if you own three of each, and if you own one each, you likely will, sooner or later

PS
Craig is also right about that "dance with the one what brung you", re: SAs can-do whatever needs doing - but me be a DA wheelie guy myself.. enjoy !

 

[robctwo]

Good choice on the Model 17. I have 6" and 4" S&Ws and decided to go 4" on the .22.

I have an 18-3 on it's way. I paid "too much" for it. It is still less than a new one from Bud's, barely.

I have a few .22s. A couple nice Ruger semis, a Single Six, a CZ Kadet and a Ciener conversion on a Springfield loaded stainless frame. For someone like me who shoots, shoots regularly, shoots a lot and takes guests shooting a lot the .22s are a great way to extend the shooting day without breaking the bank. I also reload.

Shooting the .22 along with the center fire will drastically improve your shooting. I shot the CZ Kadet 4 or 5 times as much as the 9mm when I started pistol shooting. Getting the sight picture and muscle memory of the shot break on the .22 and carrying that over to center fire will astound you. Shoot five cylinders of .22, then one of .38 ten, fifteen or twenty times at the range and you will be shooting the .38 better than ever. I almost always shoot a few strings of .22 whenever I'm shooting center fire to prevent the dreaded anticipatory flinch.

I "needed" the 18-3 to round out my revolver collection. It should be here next week.

I wouldn't have had a problem buying one of the new ones either. I bought a new 25 Classic in .45 Colt, complete with the dreaded lock. VERY ACCURATE gun. It does ping when dry fired. I guess that's the sound of mim. I put a Wolff reduced main and rebound spring in it and it is a dream to shoot. The reduced main springs in the older guns lead to light strikes but for some reason the frame mounted firing pin likes the reduced spring. Not one light strike in a few thousand reloads.

 

[joed]

A Single-Six isn't going to be much help with "training" to use a revolver unless you happen to be training for the OK corral.

CajunBass, you made me laugh on that one, thanks.



I've owned a few of the S&W .22 rf revolvers, all were well made and worth the price. Most were picked up used which I have no problem with. But the price was in the $400 range. The price doesn't bother me as these are exactly the same as their centerfire versions just in a .22rf.

I certainly wouldn't pay 1k for a S&W .22rf but if you look you can find used ones in the $400 range.

 

[GCBurner]

Training with a .22 is good practice. My .22 revolver is also my very first handgun, a High Standard Sentinel Deluxe 9-shooter I bought at K Mart (back when they still sold guns) for $59.99, as I recall. I'd just read a copy of Ed McGivern's Fast And Fancy Revolver Shooting, and wanted to practice learning how to shoot double action for speed and accuracy. I don't know how many thousands of rounds I've put through it over the years, but it still shoots in time, and is still accurate enough. The double action practice has carried over to the shooting of my usual CCW piece, a S&W Model 642 .38 DAO hammerless revolver.