Classic looking Snub .22s

317 Airweight gets my vote.

It would be nice to find a pre lock.

If you can find a nice used model 34 it would fit the bill. It's a 6 shot 22 in either a 2 or 4 inch barrel, exposed hammer and adjustable sights on the J frame. Made until 91. Early ones were I frames

You might also look at Charter Arms for new or used.

https://www.usconcealedcarry.com/blog/charter-arms-pathfinder-22-snubbie-revolver/

They go for around $300 brand-new from the bigger retailers.

If you're willing to accept a 3 inch barrel, the older Charter Arms are very classic looking.



The sad thing is there's not much out there for classic .22 snubs because back in the day not many companies made them that will fit your budget. Any older Colt or S&W will cost you $600 and IMO aren't worth that price, H&R did make snub .22's, but they're ugly revolvers, Taurus did make some snub .22's, but those are all going to be stainless and I assume you want blued finish.

Mine doesn't look classic, but if I changed the grips (there are probably wooden ones somewhere) it would look more classic, anyway.

I've never had a S&W 22 snub, but I've had most of the others and in general haven't been impressed.

So far the little Charter Arms has been my favorite. The trigger is pretty good. My other ones had stiff triggers.

Trashyshoots said:

Thank you for the responses so far. Those older charters do look fantastic, but I've never gotten to mess with one. For some reason I thought the smith 34s were all 4 inchers and if the early ones were on I frames, thats super cool. I really would like a small 22 snub, but cannot stand the NAA ones. I want a shooter, not a gimmick. (No offense to those who own them ment.)

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The NAA's aren't great shooters, but they're not gimmicks either, at least not for the first 5 shots. They're a niche gun that you take with you when nothing else can or carry as a backup in a place no other gun can be carried.

The 317 is a great carry piece, and having more than 6 shots in the cylinder is nice. It is pricy new, but older ones are out there if you search for them.

There is a LOT of steel between the chambers of my M-17 6” and Single Six 6.5” revolvers, plenty of room for more shots .

My Taurus 94 (9 shot) and 941 (8 shot .22 mag) are both 4”, a bit longer than you’re looking for.

Stay safe.

How about an I-Frame 22-32? It's the one on the left...



Bought it from a guy at church a while back. I think I gave him $350 for it. Not the easiest or most accurate thing to shoot, but loads of fun.

S&W .22 revolvers are kind of rare in the shops around here, and not cheap when you do see them.

I picked this up earlier this year. 2" S&W 63. 6 shot J frame.



Got this 8 shot, 3" S&W 317 a couple of weeks ago for about half of what the 63 went for.

The Charter Pathfinder is made with a 2 inch and 4 inch barrel. The 2 inch will fit in most S&W j frame holsters.

Look around, deals are out there. Lots of old guys dying every day leaving "classic" revolvers behind. Families are not wanting to keep them, found money for survivors. I got this one cheap by buying 2 guns for one price and selling off the other. 34-1 with a million rounds through it. Joe

IIRC High Standard made a snub Sentinel.

How about a 3", Model 63-5. Stainless Steel, J-frame, eight shots, round butt, adjustable rear sight, fiber optic front.





I paid about $600, but it was very lightly used. It's the only 22 I've got these days.

How about a Ruger SP101? I have one, haven't shot it yet, trying to build up strength in my trigger finger.

Trashyshoots said:

Thats stunning and what im after.

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They're out there, but prices seem to be going up. Especially on the Pre-34's. Grab one while you can because the older one's are getting harder and harder to find.

The S&W Model 34 is the first that comes to mind. People tend to scoop them up when they are sub-3" barrels.
The second is the 2.5" Colt Diamondback. But of course $600 wouldn't touch one of those even 20 years ago. But it is as classic as you can get. Very cool revolver!
The NAA Ranger II is a top break 22 with a sub-2" barrel. Little different beastie than the standard mini revolver.
Ruger LCRx I believe is made in 22.
The Colt Cobra was a 3" 22. Probably get one for just a bit more than $600 in pretty good condition. I have one with some initials scratched on it that I would sell you for $600. Looks brand new except for the initials on the bottom strap.
The Courier was also one of the 3" Colt 22's.

Snubbie 22 revolvers have always appealed to my "gun self", but the 3" is the most practical of the short barreled ones.. Probably the best of those is the S&W M63-5. But $600 won't touch a new one generally.

I'm gonna vouch for the Ruger SP101. Solid steel, through and through; good quality, and it doesn't have a Hillary Hole.

I bought I CA Pathfinder 2" stainless. I have a 4" & 5" 63 but didn't want to risk bashing one off a rock or something carrying them in the woods or fishing. The little .CA is a honey. Sweet SA trigger. DA not so much. Hoping it wears in and smooths out. The added bonus is mine's an 8 shot instead of 6. I don't know why they went back to 6 shots of when. Only real issue is it has a low ramp front sight and being stainless I have a hard time defining it. Going to remedy that with some paint. Saw a guy somewhere on the web offering up a 2" Mod 63 and he was asking $1600! I think it was the S&W blue board. Way too high for my budget and not realistic IMO.

It would be hard to get more classic than an Iver Johnson swing-out or top-break .22. You can find them with short barrels if you look.

I had a Taurus blued model 94 with a 3" barrel and I may be wrong but I thought they also made a 2" barrel version. Mine was accurate. We would set up lit candles inside of a box so the wind wouldn't blow out the flame then shoot the flame off the candle at 25 foot away. I shot the flame off many times. I also shot the candles too. Oops!

H&R or NEF guns are overlooked (cheap) but are well made (steel, heavy) and are typically good shooters.

ACORN said:

I bought I CA Pathfinder 2" stainless. I have a 4" & 5" 63 but didn't want to risk bashing one off a rock or something carrying them in the woods or fishing. The little .CA is a honey. Sweet SA trigger. DA not so much. Hoping it wears in and smooths out. The added bonus is mine's an 8 shot instead of 6. I don't know why they went back to 6 shots of when. Only real issue is it has a low ramp front sight and being stainless I have a hard time defining it. Going to remedy that with some paint. Saw a guy somewhere on the web offering up a 2" Mod 63 and he was asking $1600! I think it was the S&W blue board. Way too high for my budget and not realistic IMO.

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I want to see some pics of these mythical 8 shot Charter .22's.