S&W Escort opinions/advice please...

[PX15]

I just purchased a S&W Escort 61-2 and would appreciate any suggestions or advice regarding the potential for actually getting the little sucker to feed and shoot reliability..

I didn't buy with pistol with any intention of using it for self-defence, but it would be nice for it to be reliable, and "reasonably" accurate if possible.

I've been advised the Escorts in general are criticial in the ammo that will feed properly, and also which brands might be the more reliable as rimfires go.

Just looking for help.

Thanks,

J. Pomeroy

 

[ACORN]

While I've never owned or fired an Escort, I've always wanted one. I'd start with a good brand of solid nose, quality ammo. Keep away from the promo stuff.
CCI's would be a good place to start.

 

[Jeff Timm]

I've only seen a few and never fired one.

I have never heard of a reliable one with any ammo.

Geoff
Who notes they were hyped when they were new, and disappeared directly.

 

[Onmilo]

The -2 indicates your Escort is a late production version.
These had many of the faults of the original design corrected and tend to function quite well if good cartridges are used.
Your pistol is actually a more desirable collectors version of the Escort for collectors who lke actually enjoy using their acquisitions because they do function with decent reliability.

I would recommend Winchester Super-X solids as a starting point for ammunition choices.
This stuff tends to perform reliably in a majority of .22 firearms.

Use a grease for lubrication over an oil. I like Tetra where grease is the required lube of the day.
Plain old white lithium is another good, and cheap, grease to use.
Oils tend to migrate and some of the newer formula oils may cause the plastic grips to begin to break down.
I think the grips are actually made of a composition of plastic and nylon fibers and chemical action will cause the composition to begin to seperate and crack or fall apart.
Replacement grip plates and magazines are in short supply for these guns and tend to be expensive when found.

Your biggest challenge to owning an Escort will be finding spare magazines. Not that many pistols were made and the magazines just aren't that common and will probably be ridiculously expensive when, and if, you do find one or two offered.
If you intend to keep the pistol buy the spares.
Magazines are the general problem when a reliability issue crops up with a later Escort.

I own and shoot a Model 2214 Smith which is a short Escort type version of the Model 422.
You bought a fairly decent, but not exactly stellar designed, pistol, enjoy it.

 

[BillCA]

Wolff springs makes a replacement recoil spring for the M61 Escort. If you're having reliability problems due to misfeeds this might be worth looking at.

As mentioned above, use high quality .22 LR "High Velocity" ammo like Winchester Super-X. I've had good luck with it and prefer it to Remington.

I recently acquired a Model 2214 that looks like an Escort on steroids.


S&W Model 2214 "Sportsman" .22 LR Pistol

 

[PX15]

Onmilo & BillCA:

Thanks for the input..

As I mentioned I bought this little Escort just to piddle around with, and if I can get it to functioning properly all the better.. At absolute worse I can clean it up and put it away (with my Centennial J-frame), or sell it. My (gundealer) friend sold it to me very reasonably so I can't see ever losing money on it. In my doteage, wisdom, whatever, I seldom sell a firearm anymore.

Hey, I like the looks of the 2214.. Since you both have one I would be interested in your opinions on that model too.. Is it reliable? Reasonably accurate? I'd like a small 22 for my bride (of over 38yrs) to take on the golf cart with her and the Granddaughter when they're out rambling the rural countryside here in SE GA.

Thanks Again!

J. Pomeroy

P.S.
BillCA: Wolff replacement springs already ordered.. Thanks..