S&W K-22 and Model 18 owners........talk to me.

[Zaydok Allen]

I own a Ruger SP101 in 22 lr. But I find myself looking at it, and going "Yeah, it's ok I guess, but it doesn't really fit my hand all that well, even with the multiple larger grips I've tried on it." and putting it back in the case. I like having a 22lr revolver on hand for plinking now and then, but my primary interest is in center fire guns.

I've been thinking about picking up a S&W 617, as I have larger hands and it seems like it may appeal to me more than the Ruger since I primarily like Smith's.

I've also been craving a pre-lock pinned Smith, so I have naturally come around to older model 18's. Though I'm concerned I will be trading one gun that is too small for me, for another. Granted, I could put larger grips on the 18, and scratch both itches for a gun more suitable to me, that has IMO a better fit and finish, and is a little more collectable than the Ruger.

However, I've also been drooling over K-22's lately since they seem the perfect fit for all my desires. They command a premium though, so the price is a concern to me.

So I'm debating a 617, M 18, and K-22. Life is short so I'm sort of leaning towards just spending the money and getting myself a K-22, and selling the Ruger off to help fund it. I guess I'm looking for a little input and some pictures to help me decide.

I just don't have enough disposable income, or interest in rimfire to warrant owning more than one 22 revolver. I would certainly shoot the gun, but I do like having older smiths mixed into my lineup.

It would be kept in a padded case and only shot on the range or plinking. Wear and tear would be kept to an absolute minimum. I carry a 357 for trail work, and M18's and K-22's are too collectable to carry holstered I think.

Any thoughts? Any pics for comparison? As a reference, I put larger grips on my L frames that enclose the backstrap to get a proper trigger reach. So I find myself veering towards larger guns as I shoot more and more.

 

[TANZER]

S&W 22 revolvers

My S&W 22 revolvers consist of the following:
22/32
K22 birth year gun 1950
17-3
18-3
617PC
617 4" 10 round with IL
617 6" 10 round with IL

The 617 10 round weapons + speed loaders are more fun than you can imagine.
You will not be disappointed with a 617.

 

[cfullgraf]

You cannot go wrong with any of them.

The 4" Model 18 was not as popular as the 6" Model 17, so the Model 18 is a bit more rare.

A nice pre-model K-22 would be nice to have but I would rather have a good Model 18 or Model 17 than a tired K-22.

L frame and K frame Smith and Wessons have the same size grip frames. So, if your favorite grip is on a square frame L frame, the grip will work on the M17, M18 and K-22s. Or, maybe there is a square butt version of the grip.

 

[the Real Alpo]

I bought a 8 3/8 Model 17. Liked it, but was just too long. Thought about having it cut down, but it costs money to cut it, and you lose money in resale (if you are one of them strange people that sells their guns). So I went looking for an 18.

Looked for an 18 for over a year. Couldn't find one. My gun pusher had a SP101 in 22 - the old one, six shot, metal sights. Wasn't what I wanted, but I needed a four-inch 22.

So I bought it. That was in May of '04.

In September of '06 I found an 18. That 101 has not been out of the safe since.

 

[CajunBass]

I've had a couple/three K-22 over the years, both "17" and "18." I put the numbers in quotes because a couple of them were "pre" numbers. It would be hard to find a better 22 revolver. I remember one day the range shooting a Harrington & Richardson 22, and thinking I was really having a bad day at the range. My target looked like a buckshot pattern. Putting the H&R aside, I picked up my Model 17-3, and proceeded to shoot the X out of the target. Don't let anyone tell you they're all the same.

The only consistent complaint I see about them is it seems a fair number of them, especially the Model 18 it seems to me, have tight chambers, making it difficult to extract the empties. The "pre" 18 I had, was like that. You can either have the chambers reamed a bit, or just take stuff to clean the chambers with you to the range in case you need it. Sometimes just a change of ammo takes care of the problem.

 

[nettlle]

I have a K-22. I agree it would be hard to anything better.

 

[Radagast]

Had the 617, didn't like the balance or the wide target trigger. I have the Model 18, it's a keeper. Balance, trigger and accuracy are just right. I need a Model 17.

 

[bannockburn]

If given a choice between the three I would go with the K22.

 

[StrawHat]

One problem that seems to plague &W 22 caliber revolvers is the chambers can hold the empties from ejecting easily. An easy fix is to polish the chambers or sometimes they need to be re-reamed.

Both my M17-4 and 34 had this issue. Easily corrected. Both were very accurate and filled two different needs.

Kevin

 

[Zaydok Allen]

One problem that seems to plague &W 22 caliber revolvers is the chambers can hold the empties from ejecting easily. An easy fix is to polish the chambers or sometimes they need to be re-reamed.

Both my M17-4 and 34 had this issue. Easily corrected. Both were very accurate and filled two different needs.

Kevin

I actually had the same issue with my 22lr SP101 that I'm considering ditching.

With a 22 cal bore mop, and a little bit of Mother's Mag Polish, I was able to hand polish all 8 chambers very gently in about 15 minutes or so. The extraction issue was solved after that.

That K-22 is sounding nicer and nicer to me. Most of my guns are stainless, so some nice highly polished and deeply blued steel and walnut sounds like a nice idea.

 

[.45cultist]

And one can pick through dozens of "K" frame grips to find one to fit your hand.

 

[BCRider]

My 17 with the Wolff spring kit and the lightest rebound block spring installed isn't going anywhere until I'm too infirm or blind to shoot any more. And I'd consider that as being the same sort of perfection for any of the S&W K frame .22's.

I know the new S&W product has their share of issues. But they still cover any factory mistakes through the warranty. So older or newer you can't go wrong.

 

[CH47gunner]

I think a Model 17 would fit the bill nicely.
My 17-4 6" came with the target grips, hammer, & trigger - if the target grips are too large/small for your hands, there are many options either by S&W or after market.

S&W Model 17-4 6"

 

[Hoppes Love Potion]

I have a 17-3 and will keep it forever. It stays in a padded case and gets cleaned after every use. It's very accurate and has the classic S&W features - target hammer & trigger, pinned barrel, deep bluing, and an outstanding trigger pull.

 

[joed]

I owned a model 17 with 6" barrel, also owned 2 model 18's. They were all nice guns though I sold off all but one model 18.

The model 17 and 18 are built on the K frame which is my favorite S&W.

 

[paul105]

460K,

Had a Model 18 and foolishly traded it away, wish I had it back.

Here's a S&W K22 discussion on Singleactions.com, it also addresses the M617.

http://singleactions.proboards.com/thread/15284/david-bradshaw-photos-vol-lxxx

paul

 

[scaevola]

I've had several K22s over the years and I prefer 4" barrels. The two I currently own are both 5 screws made in the early 1950s and are both great shooters. I would recommend you save up and watch for a nice K22 - you'll never regret replacing your Ruger with a Smith. The one on the bottom has grips numbered to the pistol; unfortunately the other, while the grips are period-correct, doesn't have numbered grips.

 

[gbran]

Bite the bullet and get the K-22.

 

[bigtubby]

Just picked up my third K-22 combat masterpiece, I have large hands and shoot them with stock magnas. Don't think you could go wrong with a 18 I prefer them over the 6" target masterpiece but everyone is different.

 

[wproct]

As much as I love the GP100, the sp101 just never fit my hand right. This 4 inch bbl 617-1 with Hogue combat grips just fits me right.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

So torn. Can't make up my mind.

 

[nettlle]

If I could only own one 22 pistol it would be a K22. I wouldn't have any regrets on that choice.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

Here is my Model 17-3 that I bought brand-spanky new in 1975. Still have the box and all the papers.





A K-22 that was shipped in 1935. I suspect it has been refinished.





Another K-22 that shipped in 1932. Obviously not refinished. Shoots as good as the day it left the factory. Roy Jinks tells me this one was a police pistol team gun. Somebody replaced the original service grips with Magnas at some point.





A Model 617-6 that I bought on a whim a few years ago. 10 shots.




Obviously I love the Model 17 and K-22. I can't tell you which one I like best, but I can tell you I like the 617 the least. Too muzzle heavy for me with that full length underlug. And I really don't need a 10 shooter. Don't care too much for the grips either.

But these photos illustrate some basic differences between the Model 17 and it's precursor the K-22. With the K-22 you got a tapered barrel with no rib. I hesitate to call the barrel on the Model 17 a bull barrel, but it is the same diameter the entire length of the barrel, and it has a rib. Adds a little bit of weight.

The rear sights are different too. The Model 17 has the modern click adjustable Micrometer rear sights. Just about any small screwdriver will do and you can feel the detents as you turn the screw. The K-22 has the earlier system of adjustable rear sight with two tiny screws on either side of the frame. You loosen one, then turn the other one to drive the sight the direction you want it to go. Then you snug up the first screw. A good system, and it works, but you need a tiny screwdriver. And there are no clicks to count, you have to keep track of how far you turned the screw.

Here is the rear sight of that well worn K-22.





I really like the front sights of my K-22s, they came with a tiny bead inlaid into the rear surface of the front sight. This was known as a 'Call' sight after a S&W employee who developed it. I have read the Call sight came with a gold bead, but mine are a silver colored metal.



I'm pretty sure the sights on the K-22 are finer than the sights on a Model 17. I don't have my 17 handy to examine.

So if you want a really nice blued 22 target revolver, you can't go wrong with a K-22 or Model 17. If you don't like the stock grips, there are plenty of aftermarket grips to choose from. The sights on the Model 17 are probably a bit easier to deal with, but I just had to have a couple of K-22s too.

Plenty of used Model 17s on the market. Plenty of K-22s too, but you may have to pay more.

 

[aarondhgraham]

What is the frame size of the Ruger SP-101 compared to a K-frame &W

Way back in time I owned one of the old style SP-101 in .22 LR,,,
That was before I owned a K-frame S&W.

Is the SP-101 comparable in frame size with a K-frame?

I own several SA/DA .22 revolvers,,,
But my Model 18 that is my very favorite.

Aarond

.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

As much as I love the GP100, the sp101 just never fit my hand right. This 4 inch bbl 617-1 with Hogue combat grips just fits me right.

Yeah that's really the thing. Larger grip options are far fewer with the SP101. I've tried full size Badgers, some from Tim's workshop, and a set of crimson trace grips. None of them give me the trigger reach I need, and my shooting suffers for it. Eagle grips are probably going to be my next option for my 357 SP.

For target work though, a bigger gun will be a much better option.