Best .22 revovler?

[Brian Williams]

I personally prefer the S&W 35-1 that I have. It is a J frame and a 6" barrel with target sights.

 

[22-rimfire]

If you could find a 95% Colt Officers Model Match, I would choose that one for general use. If everything is collector grade that you find, I'd get the Smith Model 17 for this application. Either is a very good choice. In general I would give a slight edge to the Colt for accuracy, but most could never exploit the true accuracy potential of either. Hence, they are essentially equal.

 

[snooperman]

For accuracy??

I will take my Dan wesson any day over any S&W 22.

 

[wanderinwalker]

Radagast,

What did the 18 need, if you don't mind my asking?

I picked an M-18 up last winter, and, ummm, I think I have a Single Six still somewhere... Mine is a -4, made in 1982, and looked well cared for and not heavily used. It's still well cared for, but for some reason always looks like it has been to the range recently! The DA trigger could use to be tuned up, but it's the only way I fire it now too. It locks up tight as a drum on every chamber and is in excellent time. IMO if one wants a nice .22LR sixgun, there are the K-frame .22s and then everything else, having never been lucky enough to fire or handle a Colt.

Now for commonly available and inexpensive, the Ruger Single-Sixes are awesome. I really like mine with the .22WMR cylinder in it for a woods bumming gun when plinking isn't on the agenda. But in pure .22LR mode, I'm positive my S&W is more accurate. Now if only I could remember where I put the Ruger...

 

[oldfool]

the Ruger Single-Six is a great little plinker
the Freedom Arms single action is hands down the best single action
the (original) Dan Wesson's were great, but better known for 38 bullseye competition, along with the S&W k-38s of course
but "best of all world's", no contest... S&W k-frames
(and you can shoot a lot faster and reload a lot faster than those FA guys !)


6" K-17
if you are lucky, find a excellent condition one, and have the dinero, 6" K-22 Masterpiece
(never bet against somebody w/ a K-22, if it's a revolver contest, no matter what the other guy has)
if you like "smaller", 4" model 63 j-frame
(if you want to shoot 22WMR too, just buy a K-48 also, no cylinder swapping required !)

PS
nothing wrong with the more recent crop of 617s and new model 5" 63s either
can be had in six shooters

 

[Colt Smith]

Another vote for K-22

 

[Big Bill]

I have a Ruger Single Six convertable. I love the way it handles and shoots. Here's my model 6029:

 

[black_powder_Rob]

know I will be laughed at for this but I find that my Heritage Rough Rider (the target model) is one of the best 22 revolvers I have handled and it is very accurate. I shoot it at 25 yards with open sights and keep all 5 shots in (sometimes just touching) the circles.

attached is the target that i use.

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

If money is no object, take a look at the Colt Diamondback (out of production, but still around.) Next is the S&W K-22 or Model 18. A Ruger Single Six is indestructible, and available in stainless. All are lifetime guns.

 

[Radagast]

Wanderinwalker:
It spat lead occasionally and the trigger would not return forward every time. It still has an issue with getting the cylinder to close properly once it has heated up after a couple of hundred rounds. The double action is very nice, around 6 pounds. I'll take it back to the S&W service center in the next couple of months and see if I can get it sorted out.

 

[K9american]

It's the only .22 revolver I own, so it's my favorite.

 

[hinton03]

One of the few guns that I would never part with; my S&W M63 has been my constant woods companion since 1985. When flying helicopters for the Army in Alaska it was always in my helmet bag with 200 rounds of ammo.