Double Action, 22lr Six Shooters

[Bill_in_TR]

Who makes one? I have an interest in getting one and I am not sure who makes a double action 22lr that holds six rounds. And yes I know probably all or most of you will wonder why not 8 or 10 rounds. I can't give you any sensible reason. It is just what I would like to have.

 

[JERRY]

S&W, Ruger, Taurus, Charter Arms.

 

[Bill_in_TR]

S&W, Ruger, Taurus, Charter Arms.

Hmmmm. I don't know anything about Charter Arms. Never got exposed to them. But I looked at Ruger and Taurus offerings and they are 8 shot. I will check on S&W.

 

[Armored farmer]

And Colt's snake gun.....diamondback??
And Dan Wesson...

 

[chicharrones]

Hmmmm. I don't know anything about Charter Arms. Never got exposed to them. But I looked at Ruger and Taurus offerings and they are 8 shot. I will check on S&W.

There is one S&W currently made as a DA/SA .22LR six shooter. For the rest, I think you’ll have to hunt for used models.

https://www.smith-wesson.com/product/k-frame-150477

 

[NorthBorder]

Diamondback

 

[Bill_in_TR]

I may have to stick to the used market anyway. New models of a couple of those suggestions are kind of pricey. No big deal it is hard to wear out a 22 if it isn't abused.

 

[jstert]

I may have to stick to the used market anyway. New models of a couple of those suggestions are kind of pricey. No big deal it is hard to wear out a 22 if it isn't abused.

used, steel, top-shelf brand, i.e. ruger, colt or s&w, 22lr double-action revolvers don’t come cheap either.

mine are/were all 8-shot, only the ruger lcr remains and i would trade it in a new york minute for an older s&w blued 6-shot.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Theres not much out there in a new production 6-shot .22 DA.

Tons of options on the used market, but good ones wont be cheap and cheap ones wont be good.

All of these fall into the first catagory, all are fantastic. Of the bunch, the S&W M17 is the best all-round and one of the easier to find.

 

[Bill_in_TR]

Theres not much out there in a new production 6-shot .22 DA.

Tons of options on the used market, but good ones wont be cheap and cheap ones wont be good.
View attachment 1157358
All of these fall into the first catagory, all are fantastic. Of the bunch, the S&W M17 is the best all-round and one of the easier to find.

I was afraid I was going to get the response that a 6 shot double action 22 was going to be difficult to find. I was pretty much striking out with my own searching. That is why I came to THR. I've never used the on line market and I am not really crazy about doing so. I want to touch it and feel it before buying. And so far nothing at all locally.

 

[jstert]

I was afraid I was going to get the response that a 6 shot double action 22 was going to be difficult to find. I was pretty much striking out with my own searching. That is why I came to THR. I've never used the on line market and I am not really crazy about doing so. I want to touch it and feel it before buying. And so far nothing at all locally.

are you on gunbroker? indeed buying sight unseen is tough, but in 70ish gb buys i was only burned once, by a (small) ffl no less, on a used rossi 32 revolver. the giveaway should have been his cancelled phone when i tried to call with questions but he talked a slick email reply. out of time, i paid $80 to repair it then sold it on consignment.

a used s&w 22lr revolver with a nice looking appearance from lots of photos, a detailed written description, from a large & reputable ffl dealer, can likely be ok on gb. figure that final sales price will be $350 upwards quickly, plus another $100 in gb & ffl fees, postage, sales tax these days. a 6” barrel revolver was probably owned by a target shooter enthusiast, i.e. not shot alot and well cared-for. certainly even a full diet of 22lr ammo won’t beat up a s&w. colts look nice too but i worry about repairs & parts etc.

 

[Tallball]

The Smith and Wesson is the only one I've owned that's really good. The current model is I believe the 617.

My Charter Arms Pathfinder actually has a decent trigger, but it needs to go back to the factory to be made reliable.

The rest I've owned have had poor triggers or other problems. The single-action ones tend to have decent triggers and work well.

Not only does a 22 rimfire require a stronger strike, but small-framed revolvers also have worse trigger geometry. Most DA 22 revolvers are on small frames, so most of them have poor triggers. The S&W Model 617 and precursors are on a medium frame and typically have good triggers.

The single-actions are generally good - if you want nice sights, go for a Single Six. The good autos are more bang for the buck. A Ruger Mark or Buck Mark will shoot better than any 22 revolver that's not excellent. If you want a really nice DA 22 revolver, just pay for the Smith and be happy. That's what I finally did.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Agreed, save up a bit, get an M17/617, shoot happy forever.

 

[Bill_in_TR]

The Smith and Wesson is the only one I've owned that's really good. The current model is I believe the 617.

My Charter Arms Pathfinder actually has a decent trigger, but it needs to go back to the factory to be made reliable.

The rest I've owned have had poor triggers or other problems. The single-action ones tend to have decent triggers and work well.

Not only does a 22 rimfire require a stronger strike, but small-framed revolvers also have worse trigger geometry. Most DA 22 revolvers are on small frames, so most of them have poor triggers. The S&W Model 617 and precursors are on a medium frame and typically have good triggers.

The single-actions are generally good - if you want nice sights, go for a Single Six. The good autos are more bang for the buck. A Ruger Mark or Buck Mark will shoot better than any 22 revolver that's not excellent. If you want a really nice DA 22 revolver, just pay for the Smith and be happy. That's what I finally did.

Lots of good advice from you and others. I will do some searching on the likes of Gunbroker. This is not a gotta have it thing or even something I really want badly. It is a whimsical something I thought I would like to add to my safe. I have both a Ruger Mark III and a Smith 41 and a couple of othe 22 semis.

I am specifically looking for exactly what I posted, a double action, six shot 22lr revolver. I would like decent quality but it doesn't have to be new, just in good condition. I do want to keep the cost down but that will depend on what I may find.

If I don't find one it won't be the end of the world as we know it but close.

 

[Sarge7402]

In the used gun market you've got H&R Iver Johnson and quite a few old colts . Prices for the h&r are usually pretty reasonable

 

[.308 Norma]

In the used gun market you've got H&R Iver Johnson and quite a few old colts .

Don't forget about the great Smith .22/32 "Kit Guns" in the used gun market. Mine's a Model 63 - stainless with a 4" barrel. It's sure not for sale though.

 

[Sarge7402]

Didn't add the 60"s era guns from High Standard or those cheap ones from Germany in the 50's and 60's

 

[Bill_in_TR]

Seems like I have some serious searching to do on the used market. It would have been nice if there were some new production options but I understand folks desire for capacity. A new Smith 617 is too pricey and I kind of wonder how many six shooters are out there.

 

[cfullgraf]

Don't forget about the great Smith .22/32 "Kit Guns" in the used gun market. Mine's a Model 63 - stainless with a 4" barrel. It's sure not for sale though.

The Model 34 is the blued version of the Model 63. Both are built on the J-frame. Folks are real proud of their Model 63's, at least in my part of the world.

FYI, for most of production life of the blued K-frame 22 RF guns, the Model 17 came in 6" and 8-3/8" barrels. The Model 18 had a 4" barrel but I forget if S&W ever made a 2" version. Before the Model number days, the names were K-22 Masterpiece and K-22 Combat Masterpiece.

At the end of the production life of of the guns, S&W dropped one of the model numbers but still made at least the 4" and 6" barreled guns.

Sometimes S&W Model numbers make sense, sometimes not.

 

[Bill_in_TR]

The Model 34 is the blued version of the Model 63. Both are built on the J-frame. Folks are real proud of their Model 63's, at least in mart of the world.

FYI, for most of production life of the blued K-frame 22 RF guns, the Model 17 came in 6" and 8-3/8" barrels. The Model 18 had a 4" barrel but I forget if S&W ever made a 2" version. Before the Model number days, the names were K-22 Masterpiece and K-22 Combat Masterpiece.

At the end of the production life of of the guns, S&W dropped one of the model numbers but still made at least the 4" and 6" barreled guns.

Sometimes S&W Model numbers make sense, sometimes not.

I am not too picky about barrel length but I would prefer to avoid the extremes. I particularly don't care for the 8 3/8 inch barrels. I would want to carry this gun on woods walks.

 

[cfullgraf]

I am not too picky about barrel length but I would prefer to avoid the extremes. I particularly don't care for the 8 3/8 inch barrels. I would want to carry this gun on woods walks.

I only mentioned the long barrel just so you knew what was out there.

For a long time, I had no use for the 8-3/8” S&W revolvers until I got an 8-3/8”
Model 25-5 (45 Colt). I’m a Model 25 fan. It’s a hoot to shoot but not a good carry gun.

 

[TTv2]

I don't think anybody is making a DA six shooter .22 currently, so you'll be hunting the used market. I don't believe Ruger ever made a 6 shot .22 LR DA, I think the SP101 was always an 8 shooter, so you're down to Smith, Colt, Charter (older the better), H&R, Iver Johnson, and if you're a gambling man, Rohm.

Obviously skip Rohm, the H&Rs I believe the consunsus is the 6 shooters are okay, but the 9 shot models lose their timing quickly. My suggestion for a more affordable option is an older Charter made in Bridgeport or Stratford. If I wasn't opposed to 6 shot DA .22's I would have bought one of those already. They're also not heavy either if weight is a concern at all.

I was just going to talk about Taurus, but IDK if they ever made a 6 shot .22 and given Taurus .22's are so hard to come by today, you may as well put them in the Ruger camp of don't bother looking.

IDK if you want to spend the money on a S&W or a Colt, if this is a collection gun you don't mind turning into a safe queen, then go with them, but as of right now my suggestion is and older Charter. The DA triggers on them have been considered very good for rimfire and they'll have good sights and if you have any issues Charter customer service still supports the older models and is considered very good, but it won't be free.

 

[Bill_in_TR]

If I wasn't opposed to 6 shot DA .22's I would have bought one of those alread

Yeah, if common sense was a factor here I would go with a newer 8 or 10 shot. And if my efforts to find what I want are not fruitful I may at some point down the road go that way. But thanks for your comments.

 

[JohnKSa]

And yes I know probably all or most of you will wonder why not 8 or 10 rounds. I can't give you any sensible reason. It is just what I would like to have.
...
Yeah, if common sense was a factor here I would go with a newer 8 or 10 shot.

If sensibility and common sense are not factors, get an 8 or 10 shot model, take it to a welder and have him plug as many chambers as required to get down to your desired capacity count.

 

[Jeff olson]

Who makes one? I have an interest in getting one and I am not sure who makes a double action 22lr that holds six rounds. And yes I know probably all or most of you will wonder why not 8 or 10 rounds. I can't give you any sensible reason. It is just what I would like to have.

If you have deep pockets, a local has a 6" Diamondback with tore up box and papers in new condition for $2800. Only about $900 too much but hey.