Best rimfire handgun?

[maytom]

Another vote for the Ruger super single six!
Yes, compared to a double action, a singe action is slower to load/unload, but for target use, is speed "REALLY" that important? Also, how many shooters actually use the double action feature when shooting? Most use the single action mode and carefully aim before taking the shot? That's why I never liked the semi-auto's, way to easy to just rip out 10 shots as fast as you can pull the darn trigger!! And unless your resting that gun over sandbags, your groups will be all over the place.
About the S&W K22(model 17 to some) that was the very first .22 I got, brand new in the box. That gun was must of been a lemon, because the timing was way off and the hammer was hitting inbetween the chambers on the cylinder!! Soon the hammer actually cracked off due to the metal to metal contact!! Also, when I tried to shoot it in the double action mode the action would jam up, it would feel like someone put a pencil behind the trigger and I couldn't pull in back any farther!! This turned out to be a design flaw with all smiths, and some lawsuits came of it. I figured that if a .22 could act like this , what about their model 29??????
It's been single action revolvers ever since for me, much more dependable, even though they are slower????

 

[SnWnMe]

Wow this is an interesting bit of info. When did Smith get sued for malfunctioning revolvers? If it was a design flaw if must've been a heckuva redesign to get it corrected. Can you point me to a reference so I ca look it up? I have quite a few Smith revos and would like to know if any of them are affected by this flaw that you mentioned. If so, I would send them all back to Smith for correction.

Thanks

 

[Trumpet]

I have a Ruger MkII slabside and love it. Yes, the take dwon isn't exactly "easy" but it's really not hard either. Doing it the first time was interesting, but by the second time I had it down. I actually (as it says in the manual) had to tap the rear of the upper receiver with a plastic mallet to loosen it. Course, that didn't bother me any, I prefer that to having it be loose! As pointed out earlier, since it's a .22 you shouldn't have to take it down much anyway. I've had mine a year and a half and only took it down twice thus far.
Another thing to consider (particularly if you're a 1911 fan) is the Marvel conversion units. They are top notch in every way, and they shoot incredibly well!!

Rich

 

[foghornl]

I see that Ruger has the 50th Anniversary Single-Six. 4-5/8" barrel, .22LR & .22Mag cylinders. Mrs. Foggy said no more guns this year, but I'm gonna cry like a baby to get her to let me buy this one....

First revolver I had was a Ruger Blackhawk in 357, so I've always been kinda partial to Rugers SA revos.

If you want to approximate the "feel" of the 1911's, take a look at the Ruger .22/45 series.

 

[maytom]

SnWnMn, on that S&W .22 in question, I took it back where I bought it to get fixed and as soon as I got it back I sold it!! This was a gun that I bought new back in 1978. The story on the lawsuit was that a state trooper stopped a car and it turned out to be a fugitive, as he was getting out of his patrol car the other man got out and drew on him. When the trooper drew his service revolver it jammed like I mentioned and he was shot and killed. His widow was the one who pushed the lawsuit, and hired a special attorney and a firearm expert to find out what happend. This was the story that I had actually read way back then in a gun magazine. They did extensive tests on his gun and found that under recoil, the cylinder would shift and bind, preventing the cylinder from turning, hence a design flaw. I believe that since then, Smith & Wesson made design changes to prevent that condition from happening. So if your guns are from that time period, I'd have them checked out. True story.

 

[Sheldon]

I remember some time back they were making a big deal about design changes to the S&W 629. I think part of it was that under heavy useage with heavy loads the gun would go out of time and they lengthened the cylinder notches as part of the solution to prevent that. There are an aweful lot of people out there that shoot the double actions the way they were meant to be shot.....double action. In just about any type of competition shooting where a double action revolver is used it will be shot double action if speed has anything to do with it. You do see a lot of people shoot them single action.....but that's usually because they don't want to spend the time to learn to shoot them double action. It is no small thing to master that.

I would have to say your Model 17 had an issue with it and not condemn all the S&W revolvers out there. Also S&W has been very good to me in regards to any issue with the products of theirs that I own and even in your case they fixed the gun and that does say something. I'm a big fan of S&W revolvers and would love to add a few more to my collection, especially that 10 shot 617.

 

[SnWnMe]

The one that Sheldon said, I knew about that. That was at the end of the 80s/ beginning of the 90s. I think this resulted in the 629-4. But I thought it was the silhouetters who were pounding their 44mags with their heavy loads.

So an unfortunate trooper died huh? That was tragic Maytom but you have to keep in mind that hundreds of thousands of peace officers all over the planet carried a Smith revolver of some sort back in the 70s. If there was indeed a design flaw it would've been much, much more of a mess for the LE communities of the world and Smith. I think the tragedy of the trooper was the result of a poor QC check on his specific sidearm. Hopefully it didn't happen to anybody else.

FWIW, I have a few Smiths that pre date this incident. None of them bind.

Anyway back to the thread. Yeah, an SA revolver is a pain to load and unload. Plus none of the models in current production not known to be tack drivers either. Probably because there is no market for very accurate SAs not because of a shortcoming of design.

 

[maytom]

Hey guys, I'm not knocking the new Smith's, just the ones from that time frame. I realize that in gun comps they shoot double action, but I'm not talking about that. I'm refering to the everyday joe target shooter, who shoot's a box or two, mostly shoot's in the single action mode. Granted a double action revolver has a faster lock time, hence they can be a tad more accurate than a single action, but I've shot some groups and seen groups shot with single actions that go "toe to toe" with the double actions. I guess it's that I just prefer the single action, personal choice I guess. To each his own.

 

[pinetree64]

I've owned several 22 pistols. My favorite is the Ruger MkII Govt. Revolvers just aren't as fun as a semi and let's face it, a 22lr plinker is for fun. It is unbelievably accurate and cheap to shoot.

tjg

 

[Vman]

I love Smith & Wesson revolvers, I have a tuned 6" M617 10 round revolver that is a fine a firearm as I have ever owned.

Although I bought mine new I have seen used guns at what I consider bargin prices.

 

[makarov]

Can anyone comment on the triggers of the 10-shot 617's vs. the 6 shot 617's. They continue to make both I believe. Some indicate that the trigger on the 10 shot has a shorter stroke DA, or feels different than the 6 shooters. Was wondering if that was true and if it bugs you.

 

[Brian Dale]

Welcome to The High Road, Vman!

 

[tex_n_cal]

Lots of good comments above.

here's some other options on .22's:

IF you can find one, the Belgium Brownings are pretty cool, too...actually the newer ones made by ATI I think work fine also. Mine has many, many rounds through it, and it is still wonderful.

I vote Ruger Mark II's to be a pain to clean - I have owned and sold two and want no more.

The High Standards are classics, and priced accordingly.

S&W's lower cost autos are worth a look.

The 617's are indeed very nice - so are the M17 & M18.

Beretta now has a match grade .22, but I forget the model number.

Colt Woodsman Match targets had a fine reputation - pricey now, but good investments.

Kimber now has a .22 cal 1911 - aluminum slide.

The best .22 of all may be Marvel's conversion on your favorite 1911 - unlike the cheaper Ciener conversions, the Marvel locks to the frame, and is known for 1 inch 50 yard groups. They aren't cheap but they are well regarded.

choices, choices, choices....

 

[Sheldon]

That would be the Beretta Model 87 Target. Yeah, that's a nice looking pistol in around the $550 range I believe.

I shoot double action revolver pretty good and I had to really make an effort to do so. Being a reloader had a lot to do with making that easier than maybe someone who don't, because ammo costs can be a major factor. I can see how one with a limited supply of factory ammo would be inclined to try to get more accurate shots shooting single action than to strive out and practice with the revolver double action. Let me tell ya.....once you get the hang of it, it is a lot more fun. I NEED to get one of them 10- shot S&W 617!! Then ammo would not be an issue at all. It would be a great practice tool for one trying to get good shooting double action, in my opinion.

 

[duckfoot]

Colt Diamondback or a Colt trooper Mk III

 

[Mastrogiacomo]

Sheldon

It is a nice gun and one that would be my first choice if we had it in this state. It's not allowed -- along with the Cougar, Elite, Mini-Cougar, Neo, Bobcat, Tomcat, etc.....

 

[Owen]

Mastro,

If you are willing to look, I know that there are some of those Berrettas in Mass. I was fairly close to buying one at least a year before the AG came along.

owen

 

[Mastrogiacomo]

I'll keep an eye open for the Beretta 87. Don't have the funds yet so I have plenty of time to wait....