tubeshooter
Contributing Member
- Joined
- Aug 15, 2006
- Messages
- 2,142
I've been looking for a good .22 revolver for what seems like forever. I had researched, weighed the pros and cons, and felt that I knew about as much as you can know via googling and the occasional gun shop visit where something was present.
I was really looking to round out my collection; it had no .22 handgun of any sort. I felt like I had everything else I wanted.
I've been a wheelgun man from day one pretty much... but the lack of selection and the pricing on what *is* actually available had me seriously considering a semi-auto (Ruger MK-series or Buckmark). The prices are literally through the roof, and I wish I had been in a position to get something 5 or 6 years ago.
Anyway - so I go to the funshow this past weekend. It was one of the smaller ones, which I kinda like because you don't have to walk 3 miles to see everything. I was scouring the tables, looking for something that fit the bill.
I was thinking in terms of something double-action that would work well as a trainer. Something small, light and handy. I know how great the 617 is and all, but I just didn't want a 3-pound .22.
I used to rule out single action totally, but I had warmed up to the idea of them and was seriously considering a Bearcat. A Single Six with a relatively short barrel would have been among consideration also.
After looking around, I saw 3 candidates. A S&W 317 3" (new), a Bearcat (I think it was new) and a Taurus 94 with 4" barrel (new).
Without getting into pricing and brand differences... I'll say I chose the 317.
I haven't gotten a chance to shoot, but I feel decent about my purchase. It's very light and I'm reading that some people feel it's hard to shoot accurately as a result, but for what I was seeking this seemed to come closest.
My question(s) to the group: Will this alloy 317 hold up well enough to be a dedicated, one-and-only .22 plinker? Should I maybe get a Bearcat also to split the duty? Can either of these guns be as accurate as the semis seem to be (according to what I've read; no first or even second-hand experience)?
I know there are some sweet older .22s around (S&W 34, 43) but I've been looking forever and I didn't want to grow old waiting to get lucky and find something like that.
I hear that they are making the S&W model 63 (stainless) in 3", and that would have been great if it was around, but I think that's a new offering and no telling when I would have seen that one either. I got to handle a used 5" version; I liked it but for what they were asking I figured I might as well go new.
Thoughts? Thanks in advance.
I was really looking to round out my collection; it had no .22 handgun of any sort. I felt like I had everything else I wanted.
I've been a wheelgun man from day one pretty much... but the lack of selection and the pricing on what *is* actually available had me seriously considering a semi-auto (Ruger MK-series or Buckmark). The prices are literally through the roof, and I wish I had been in a position to get something 5 or 6 years ago.
Anyway - so I go to the funshow this past weekend. It was one of the smaller ones, which I kinda like because you don't have to walk 3 miles to see everything. I was scouring the tables, looking for something that fit the bill.
I was thinking in terms of something double-action that would work well as a trainer. Something small, light and handy. I know how great the 617 is and all, but I just didn't want a 3-pound .22.
I used to rule out single action totally, but I had warmed up to the idea of them and was seriously considering a Bearcat. A Single Six with a relatively short barrel would have been among consideration also.
After looking around, I saw 3 candidates. A S&W 317 3" (new), a Bearcat (I think it was new) and a Taurus 94 with 4" barrel (new).
Without getting into pricing and brand differences... I'll say I chose the 317.
I haven't gotten a chance to shoot, but I feel decent about my purchase. It's very light and I'm reading that some people feel it's hard to shoot accurately as a result, but for what I was seeking this seemed to come closest.
My question(s) to the group: Will this alloy 317 hold up well enough to be a dedicated, one-and-only .22 plinker? Should I maybe get a Bearcat also to split the duty? Can either of these guns be as accurate as the semis seem to be (according to what I've read; no first or even second-hand experience)?
I know there are some sweet older .22s around (S&W 34, 43) but I've been looking forever and I didn't want to grow old waiting to get lucky and find something like that.
I hear that they are making the S&W model 63 (stainless) in 3", and that would have been great if it was around, but I think that's a new offering and no telling when I would have seen that one either. I got to handle a used 5" version; I liked it but for what they were asking I figured I might as well go new.
Thoughts? Thanks in advance.