New .22 handgun?

[Carbon_15]

I'm thinking of buying a quality "grownup" .22 pistol. Right now I'm considering the 617 in 4 in. 10 shot, the snubie 317, or the Kimber Rimfire target. I have the requisit MKII, Neos, Walther P22 types, but I want something built with the same quality and materials as a centerfire.
Pro's, con's or gereral impressions with these 3 would be apreciated..aswell and any suggestions of stuff I have overlooked.

 

[Cliff47]

Consider the CZ75 Kadet. Alternatively, a CZ75B full-size pistol and a Kadet conversion unit.

 

[Princi]

Well do you want a revolver or a semi? I don't have the 317, but I do have the 617 and a Kimber Target. I don't like the Kimber because of its light weight. It just doesn't feel right because it is too light. Also, I don't shoot it very well.

The 617 is a great gun, but I have it with the longer barrel. Only downside is that with 10 rounds, that is 10 little holes to clean out when you clean the thing. I didn't think about that when I bought it.

In SA there is always the Ruger Single-Six. However, on the ... never-mind, just remembered that you said "quality".

If you want quality in a semi then there is the S&W 41, and if you want "Real Quality" there are the Pardini's Benelli's and Walther SSP. (A friend of mine has the older Walther that shoots 22S, and I won't recomend it because of the higher price of the ammo)

I disagree with Cliff on the Kadet because I have both the CZ75B and the Kadet, and both have creepy triggers. Yes, they can be fixed, but I don't consider anything out of the box with a creepy trigger to be "quality".

 

[Geno]

In terms of pistols, perhaps you want to look at a Colt ACE. I do have the Kimber .22LR upper, and it just doesn't feel the same. It is quite accurate, reliable and looks great. However, the aluminum upper doesn't have the same balance. Now, the Colt ACE...not only does it look right, it feels right.

In terms of revolvers, I do like the S&W 617, but I like the 6-shot with a 4" barrel. I disagree that the Ruger is not quality. My daughter's Ruger .22LR revolvers have been great, reliable, accurate. If I were looking to a quality revolver, I would probably be looking to Freedom Arms.

There is one area that has yet to be mentioned. T/C Arms Contender and G2, for that matter now even the Encore are tremendous quality .22LR pistols. Yes, they are single-shots. They are also the most accurate pistols in thhe world. It can actually become boring putting shot-after-shot through the same hole with little effect at 25 and even 50 yards. I realize that this format of pistol really strays from the norm, but they are wonderful to shoot, and they are geuine centerfire quality. I suggest a G2, with a 10" barrel, and match chamber and the standard iron sights.

Just my 2 cents,

Doc2005

 

[woad_yurt]

Try an original Wolverine. You'll smile the first time you shoot it, I promise. Plus, investment potential is great.

 

[MCgunner]

It's just damned hard to beat a Ruger Mk2/3 and especially for the money. I tried for many years, but finally joined the crowd.

Was at Academy last night to look over the kayaks one more time (gonna get one, soon) and they had a, think it was Sig, called a "mosquito". Looked like an interesting little .22 to me and it's a Sig, after all. Price on it wasn't too bad, either.

Heard all sorts of bad stuff about Walthers, P22 I think, but I have no direct experience. All the bad stuff I heard, I just went ahead and bought the Ruger about a month ago. LOL I was lookin' at a Walther at a local gun shop, but the bad rep scared me off. Might be a good gun, though. I have a fantastic Kel Tec and three fantastic Tauri, after all, and I'd never bought them based on gun board rep.

 

[BlindJustice]

S&W 617 - Quality gun
THe only BBl. Len. options are 4" or 6"
& 10 shot cap. cyl as the 6 shot cyl is out of prod.

The 317 - I have heard some say it is too light to easily
stay on target as well as the sights are small and hard to pick up.

Another J-frame but all steel is the S&W Model 63 "Kit" gun
it's only available with a 5" Bbl. at present - it was just reintroduced
with the same 8 rd cap. cyl. as the 317. But it weighs 28+ oz.
FYI the 617 4" Bbl. is approx. 42 oz. - I've got the 6" Bbl. at 45 oz
it is the same weight and almost the same sight radius as my 625
with a 5" Bbl. It's a beauty and a tack driver, mucho fun gun

OUt of production S&W .22 LR.= all 6 shot
Blued Carbon Steel
S&W Model 17 K-22 Target Masterpiece
6" Bbl. or 8 3/8" Bbl. Len. Target Hammer & Trigger adj
post or patridge front, adj rear sight
and here's one - I had one as my first handgun
back in the '60s
S&W Model 18 Combat Masterpiece
4" Bbl. Len.
plain ramp front sight, adj. rear sight,
Standard trigger, & hammer
These are running $400 or more depending on cond.

and the J-Frames including
Model 34 - carbon steel
Model 43 - aluminum alloy
Model 63 - stainless
Bbl. len. vary - the 3 1/2" are a nice balance

Any of the above have a close sibling in centerfire S&Ws.

Here's an example of quallity, recall I got a Model 18 at age 14
my Dad matched my savings, from mowing lawns, etc. it
cost $78 - I went out with my buddies who all had
cheaper .22 handguns, the cheap .22 single action a
Great Westrn ? another guy nad the H&R break open
etc. In comparison that S&W was/is something you're
proud to pass on some day. It serves me very well on
the farm, pllinking, snakes, horned toads, rabbits,
although the only thing it did to coyotes was make em
run faster as you shot them in the ass.

Hey, coyotes are NOT nice to calves and lambs...
they deserve to be shot on sight.

Randall

 

[Cliff47]

I only suggested the CZ75/Kadet for consistency of trigger pull and control layout. Granted a traditional DA/SA will rarely be the equivalent of a true SA trigger. For what the Kadet is going for (and at gun shows, sometimes less), you can have a tack-driving .22lr to practice with.

 

[paintballdude902]

In SA there is always the Ruger Single-Six. However, on the ... never-mind, just remembered that you said "quality".

whats wrong with the single six? i have never had a problem with mine or any of the ones ive used

i would stay away from the walther p22 and the sig mosquito ive used both the walther was too light so anything that was off in your trigger pull screw u over plus it doesnt like alot of ammo but it was mostley cheap bulk ammo the one i used didnt like. the sig ive never used but ive heard that the polymer from makes it really light and it has poor fit

 

[MCgunner]

I always thought the Single Six exuded quality next to a Colt new frontier. It's a more solid gun. It's a quality single action revolver.

 

[BlindJustice]

SIngle Action = 19th Century Firepower

Depends on what you want to do with the "Grown Up" .22 LR Handgun

R-

 

[Princi]

Sorry for the confusion guys. I should have just erased what I typed. I was about to suggest a Heritage, but then remembered that mine really stunk until it fell apart. The screw holding the anchor of the ejection rod fell out, and the barrel came loose. I never did find the screw. So back to the manufacturer it went. When it returned I couldn't believe the difference in the gun. Apparently a real gunsmith worked on it and did more than just tighten the barrel and replace the screw. I now love the gun.

Absolutely nothing wrong with the Single-Six. I am a big Ruger fan (well there is that little trigger problem with the SR-9, but every family has a black sheep).

 

[smith627]

I have a 1975 S&W Mod 17 Blue 6-shot that is extremely accurate. Thought this was the last .22 revolver I'd ever need until the stainless M617 10-shot 6in.came out and I had to try one. It is a nail driver with any brand ammo. Clark Custom did a trigger job and installed white outline rear sight. I rarely shoot my Mod 17 now and have thought about selling it.