Suggestions on .22 plinker

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ratt_finkel

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I'm looking for a .22 revolver to improve my overall shooting techniques. I would probably prefer a single action, but would not be opposed to a DA if the trigger is manageable.

I assumed 4-6" bbl would be most common. But I'm open to suggestions.

Don't really wanna spend more than about $500. But the cheaper the better.

Accuracy is really my prime objective. If it has the option to mount optics later on that would be sweet.

Thanks guys!

P.S. I should mention this will be my 1st revolver. And Ive only previosuly fired 38 snubbies. As I'm an auto guy. So dont be afraid to dumb it down for me lol
 
If you are interested in a Single Action and this is your first revolver, there is only one gun for you in my mind.

The Ruger Single Six

Well within your budget
Built like a tank
Beautiful
Great resale value
Many come with a .22 Magnum Cylinder
Accurate

If you find one you like, I wouldn't be afraid to buy used, even one 30-50 years old. Scratches give character. Like I said, they are built tough.


Here's mine:
IMG_4514.gif

Rimfire Central has a good sub-forum for te Ruger Single Six with lots of info.
 
Yeah look no further than the Ruger single six. You cannot be in a huge hurry to put tons of rounds through the things but they are great shooters and they will last forever.
 
I like DA revolvers better because they allow you to practice DA shooting. Personally, I would prefer a used S&W or Ruger (but Ruger doesn't make them anymore). Forget trying to find a used 22 LR caliber Colt DA revolver. I almost never see them (but was lucky when my buddy put my money down on a Colt Diamondback 22 LR years ago).
 
Fredie, that is a gorgeous gun. I've been looking at the single sixes for a while. And it sounds like they are an incredible bargain.

Anyone have exp with the Taurus tracker 700? There one on GB that looks neat.
 
I have 2 old High Standard Sentinel 9 shot DA .22 revolvers -

0ne from 1955, a 3", the other from 1956, is a 4" - both have aluminum frames and coil springs, and both are still great plinkers. I found them in the same shop, about 2 years apart - each was around $140.
H&R / NEF also made some good plinker .22 revolvers that can still be found for very little money.


mark
 
Ruger Single Six or a Ruger Bearcat. Have both love both. Great value for the $ too.
Love that Stainless short Bbl. SS.
 
Colt Frontier Scout

If You don't mind older revolvers Colt Frontier Scouts are out there. I bought this one 3 years ago for $350 ( M-I-L bought Me the grips for x-mas 2 years ago ) . Good shooter...WVleo
 

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The Single Six's are the way to go if you want a SAA style gun. They may cost a bit more than some of the other lesser known SAA style .22's but they've got a reputation you can't argue with.

But for me .22 is a caliber that begs to be shot a lot. And frankly the SAA style of clearing and re-loading would drive me batty. And this is coming from someone that really likes his SAA cowboy action center fire guns. Nope, for me a swing out cylinder is a must for a .22 plinker. And if that cylinder comes with more than 6 holes in it then so much the better.

If you think like I do then a great way to go, but pricey, would be a S&W 617 ten shot gun. But if you come across a 17, early 6 shot 617, 63, K22 for a price you can live with then you can't go wrong as they are EXCELLENT shooters.

Some budget priced plinkers that may or may not work out to having good tight groups would be the 9 shot options from H&R and Hi Standard. I owned or own an H&R922 and a Hi Standard Double 9. I don't know if it was me or not but the recently aquired S&W 17 shoots much tighter groups than I can manage with the 922 or D9. The D9 had (it's been sold very recently) the advantage of having a SAA like grip. And really the double action pull on it was so horrendous that in reality it really should be treated as a SA gun anyway. The 922 is slightly better in the DA pull but it's still not as nice as the DA pull on the S&W.

Cost wise the H&R and Hi Standard options can be had for half or less of your budget if you're patient.

There's also the Taurus 94. Those that have good ones love them. But the quality of the new ones seems to be hit and miss. But if you can solve any teething troubles that occur early on then they seem to be good enough guns and last for a long time.
 
If you shoot or plan to shoot, double action revolvers, I'd buy a double action 22 revolver. The Smith Model 17 or 18 comes to mind, but will likely exceed you budget slightly. Saw a slightly used Smith 617 for $500 a couple weeks ago at a gun shop. It was priced right but not everyone will spend $500 on a 22 revolver, even a fine one.

The least expensive Colt is generally the Trooper Mark III. It is a very good revolver and came in 357 mag, 22LR, and 22WMR.

Most of the inexpensive double action 22's have very strong (read heavy) triggers and are not very suitable for practice for DA shooting. But you can shoot them single action and save the DA for times you want to shoot it that way.
 
High Standard Double Nine

If you can find one, the High Standard Double Nine is DA and (at least mine) is surprisingly accurate. The added bonus is that mine came with both.22 and .22 magnum cylinders which makes it that much more versatile. Just a thought....

Warner
 
The Charter Arms target pathfinder might be worth looking into. It won't break the bank, and the brand is "good enough" according to most owners. The newer ones and the originals from a few decades ago are the best, while the ones in between have a bad rep.
 
Thanks everyone for the replies! Very helpful!

BCRider: I didnt realize the ruger single six had the cylinder flap? Thank you for pointing that out. I love the look of the gun and I've read nothing but good things about them. But I can't imagine having reload with that method. I shoot several hundred rounds per range trip.

I'm gonna have to google those smith models you mentioned. As I'm not familiar with them.

Here's the Taurus model I was looking at.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=206719290
They make a 9 shot variant as well.
 
Also check out the smaller frame S&W...model 34, 63.

I have a 4" 34 with target grips that is very enjoyable.
 
Go ahead and get a Single-Six. That's what you'll end up with anyway. I'd look for an unmodified, "three screw old model" myself, but I wouldn't turn my nose up at a New Model either.

100_0078.gif

Yea, they're slow to load and unload. So what? You in a hurry to shoot up your ammo? :D
 
since it is not a defense handgun, the slow reloading just makes the fun last longer
Click to expand...

Actually, unless you have a 22 semiauto with dozens of preloaded magazines ready to go, I've not noticed much, if any speed penalty in my SAA-style Heritage over my sister's Ruger Mark II when you have to stop and reload the mag.

Granted, a swing out cylinder revolver is faster than either when loading from loose cartridges. But I quite enjoy the process of cocking my Heritage's hammer back to clicks, loading/unloading one at a time.

Here's the Taurus model I was looking at.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=206719290
Click to expand...

If going with a Taurus .22, I think the Tracker is probably your best bet. I've not heard nearly as many horror stories with them as I have the 94s. Like another poster said, good ones are much loved by their owners. But there are quite a number of lemon 94s coming out of Tauri's doors - I was the unlucky recipient of one such turd.
 
My absolute favorite double action 22 revolvers are the Colt Diamondback and the S&W Model 18 with 4" barrels. Both are similar sized with the Colt being slightly smaller. The Diamondbacks have gotten very pricey with prices frequently over a $1000 for one in excellent condition. You seldom see them in condition under about 95% blue. The Model 18's are hard to find as most people that buy them, keep them for a long time. The Model 17 is usually the 6" barreled version. The 4" S&W Model 617 is a great currently made DA 22 revolver. I like it better than the 6" version. They are just expensive new (and used for that matter), but once you buy one, you'll never look back and wish you bought something else.

I much prefer a DA 22 revolver for general purposes and prefer a 4" barrel for general use. It is easy to carry in a holster in the woods. I like the flip out cylinder for loading and unloading and the double action capability if I choose to shoot that way. I don't own a Ruger Single Six even though they are an excellent 22 revolver because I just don't like to load the little 22LR cartridges one at a time through the loading gate and unload them one at time. I do own a few Colt SA 22 revolvers, but they aren't shooters for me.

I started out with an H&R Model 999 Sportsman which was good for a couple years until I discovered just how much more enjoyable shooting Colts and Smiths are. There is a significant quality difference over the H&R. H&R made quite a few DA revolvers in 22LR years ago and a lot of people really like them from a cost versus performance standpoint. They will have a very heavy DA trigger and in my case I had to keep an eye out for the sights working loose and falling off. I just got sick of that and felt it should not be necessary to lock-tite a rear sight to keep it on the gun.

The current less expensive DA 22 revolvers are the Charter Arms Pathfinder and the Taurus Model 94. I have almost bought both at one time or another and I just keep asking myself why I would spend good money for one of those when I already have better revolvers. At one time, I would buy one just to try it out, but those days are past.
 
Another vote for the Ruger Single Six:)

I also have one in Stainless with a 4 5/8 barrel. Careful though........those Single actions will multiply quickly
IMG_4037.jpg
 
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No ones mentioned anything about optics options for these revolvers. I'm assuming these pistols should be mechanically capable of 50yd+ shots with reasonable accuracy. Or am I wrong there?

At this point I'm really leaning towards the Taurus Tracker 990. The rugers are beautiful guns but I think my 1st single six will be something in a heftier caliber.
 
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