If You can Afford a K-Frame S&W .22....

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Jim Allen

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My ideal plinker would be a K-frame, long barrel Smith in 22 cal. My wallet says, "make another choice." What can I find used for about $200 that would come as close as possible to that for target shooting (not competition) and close range varmint eradication? Don't mind single action, but would prefer double. Looking for a good balance, nice trigger in SA and good (for the price) accuracy. Will consider any brand and style.
 
A well-used but not abused Ruger Single-Six is about as close as you can get to $200 and still have a good quality gun. But even finding one like that for two bills will take some doing.

Good revolvers are not spit out of an injection molding machine like some auto pistols. Good ones cost money to make them right.

Cheap ones are not often good ones, unless you just get lucky on a one-time deal.

rc
 
There is the Heritage Rough Rider (SA) but it is not comparable to the Ruger, at least in fit and finish. I would save your money if you have something quality in mind. You could also get a H&R if you look, but they aren't close to the Rugers or S&W's in quality.

HB
 
I believe the H&R Model 922 is similar in size to a S&W K Frame, perhaps a little smaller. Though certainly not as nice, they are solid, dependable DA revolvers that should offer many years of fun, trouble-free use. And good used ones can be had for under $200.

The pictured 922 below is NOT mine, I just found the pic by googling:


922left.jpg
 
Hi Standard/JC Higgins 9-shot DA revolver... I've seen the latter (a Model 88) for ~$125.

I have one, it is quite accurate.
 
S&W K-22, Colt models OMT,OMM. are quality .22s. (Target /Match) Swiss watches of their era. If you plan on just 1, save and get a quality piece. Plus they will appreciate through time.;)
 
I feel your pain. I have quite a few S&W revolvers, but is just kills me to pay $600 for a .22 for chrissake. Get a Ruger Mk II or III. That's what I did a few years ago. Would have preferred a revolver, but the Ruger .22 was just to compelling a quality, accurate pistol to justify paying two to three times as much for a good revolver.

I like the idea of the "Plinkerton" (and like the name too!), but looking at the Gunblast report that accuracy is awful. They of course don't say that outright, but that's their style to not find fault.

For a few dollars more, a Ruger .22 auto is going to give great accuracy and very good satisfaction based on my experience.
 
Although this is in the revolver section, someone has recommended a semi-auto for a 22lr. I agree. If you can't afford a S&W 22lr revolver, you will be disappointed and frustrated with most manuf'rs of 22lr revolvers in that price range. Most have poor fit and quality, give light primer strikes(very annoying) and their retail sux.
I have a Ruger pre-warning Mk1. Excellent range gun and fits great in the hand.
l_23d26fee6f03be4dbf1d12681addad2e.png
Only difference between it and the Mkll and Mklll's is it is 9-shot vs 10(big deal)
 
Find a way to get a S&W K22/M17 while you still can or kick yourself for the rest of your life.

For all anyone knows the only shooting anyone will be doing in ten years will be .22's and airguns, and in fifteen - just airguns.

Nevermind the money and enjoy the fine stuff while you still can.
 
This will sound a little odd, because I love Smiths so much, but get a Taurus 94.
I have one, and it really does shoot beautifully.
Cost me $175
 
Yeah, I wasn't thinking through but I've liked every Taurus .22 I've ever tried. Hard to break a decently made .22.
 
Where are you at in NW Ohio? Jaquas in Findlay has a couple of used Ruger MK I's in your price range. They also have some single six Rugers. Do a search for their website and go to the gun list under handguns.
 
A used Ruger semiauto is doable on your budget, but you will have to look around for a while.

My sister got this Ruger Mk II in Nov '08 for $199:
Click to expand...

I've had cash in my pocket and turned down $250 Mark II's in lesser condition... nice find!

... still looking...

oooh, and a lefty too!
 
oooh, and a lefty too!
Click to expand...

Ha, not by choice. She is cross-dominant (left eye dominant, right handed). So are my father and mother.

She shoots her Ruger left handed, and DA revolvers right handed (her left hand trigger finger isn't strong enough for the DA pull). Right handed and firing DA, she can put all six shots into a golf ball sized hole at 7 yds with her S&W 681.
 
I picked up a 98% Taurus 96 with box and papers at a small gunshow...$200 cash and carry...shoots better than a S&W 6 shot 617 I had years ago...and a whole lot cheaper...
 
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I also picked up a used Taurus 96 yesterday , not as good a deal as gunut - mine was $239+ tax. My first ever Taurus.

The Smith 617 I was bidding on is up to $585 now and still has 4 and half days left to go! Another 617 over $600.

So I decided to take a chance on the Taurus , not expecting it to the equal of a K-22 Masterpiece but as long as it functions and shoots decently I will be pleased.
 
i have a taurus 94, great revolver! I would highly recommend it. It wasn't very expensive at all (can't remember what i bought it for, but it wasn't a lot at all) and it shoots great.:)
 
Got myself a High Standard Double 9 single/dual action revolver a little while back. Shoots far better than I can manage. Some bench rested shots showed it to manage a 1 inch group at 15 yards. And even then the group was far more likely to be that large due to my eyes and ability to hold the thing even with a rest than any issue with the barrel.

While it's a double action you may as well forget about using it that way. The pull is horrendous to the point that realistically it's a single action pistol. But don't hold that against it. I've tried a couple of S&W .22 revolvers and those had much the same sort of overly strong springs to fight as well. Something about .22's that requires a super hard hammer blow?
 
I lucked out a couple of years ago at our gun club swap meet. A K-22 with the 8 and a fraction barrel, 99% condition, for three bills. It's by far my favorite 22 and I can't even begin to shoot well enough to match its accuracy. But I've never seen a comparable one for anywhere near that price and I've looked.
However, I found a Ruger Mk II with the 6" bull barrel that is just about as accurate for $200. In your price range, I think you are more likely to come across one of those than a K-22 or model 17. Good luck with the search.

Jeff
 
I've tried a couple of S&W .22 revolvers and those had much the same sort of overly strong springs to fight as well.
Click to expand...

Just curious, what S&W 22s did you try? I ask because like the small Taurus 94, S&W J Frame typically have fairly smooth, if very stiff DA triggers in order to reliably ignite rimfire primers within their small frame constraints.

K-Frame K-22s (17 and 18s) and 617s OTH, do not suffer from this problem. In fact, I'd have a fairly difficult time telling the difference in trigger pull between my 17 (22 LR) and Models 14 and 15 (both 38s).
 
I've broken a taurus .22 m94. nice little gun actually, it had no underlug on it's 4" bbl. light and decent shooting. well semi decent compared to my s&w's now. course $200 you cant complain.
trigger was horrible, smooth but heavy. the hammer spur was to short too and the checkering on it was pretty rough, i filed the tips flat to fix that. the hammer pivot pin broke off after 15k rounds. pretty shoddy i thought, but they replaced it like they said....8 months later. sold it, bought an m18 smith and never regretted the extra cost.

only thing i miss was it's 9 round capacity and it's heavy trigger made shooting my m66 feel like a feather....haven't shot that good since i don't think....i might find another one just for trigger exercises....
 
Harrington & Richardson used to make a lot of D/A 22 pistols. Someone else posted a 922 I think it was. I found this 650 nickled not to long ago. In spite of it's "cowboy S/A" styling it is a double action. They should be in your price range if you can find one. I don't see them too often.

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If you can find a Dan Wesson 22, they're good guns too. Probably closer to the Smith and Wesson price though than the price you were looking for. Maybe half way between the two. Be aware that a Dan Wesson is a BIG gun. About the size of a "L" frame Smith. Shown with a Ruger Bearcat and Single Six for size comparison.

002-1.gif
 
I had acquired quite a collection of long and short arms over the years, including an assortment of Ruger Revolvers. Then, 9/02, I discovered S&W. Only Ruger handgun now is an Old Army bp c&b, all others are S&W. Fewer firearms nowadays - but what I want. My last one bought was a new 4" 10-shooter 617 last September - at $609 + s/t. Oddly, that was $40 more than the new 6" 629 I had bought a couple of summers previous.

Regrets? Yep... why did I wait so long? The 617 is a fine revolver that you will keep for a lifetime. Find something you don't really use or need and sell it. It's worth it. Asking for a $200 equivalent is akin to asking the age-old college essay question, "Define the universe. Be concise and state examples. Use no more than twenty-five words.". It simply isn't possible... unless you find a recently widowed lady in a bind. Seriously, they are that nice.

Stainz
 
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