Looking for a .22 plinker and knockaround gun: S&W 317 or Taurus 94UL?

[mini14jac]

I would like to get a snub .22 for plinking, hiking, etc.
I want to keep the weight down, so I didn't list a Ruger.
I'm not looking for long range accuracy, just something for popping cans and wasting a brick of ammo.

Anybody have experience with the 317 or the 94UL in .22?
I'm sure I would love the light little Smith, but it is expensive and I hear that they all need a trigger job.
I like Taurus revolvers, and I hear that they can be found with decent triggers, but the 94UL weighs almost 1/2 pound more.

Opinions? Likes? Dislikes?

 

[Stainz]

Reconsider the Rugers. My only bottom-feeder is a MKII. You can get a short barrel in either MKII or 22/45 style - it'll be more 'fun' plinking - well worth the additional weight & bulk. For a revolver, consider the infamous Bearcat.

Stainz

 

[VictorLouis]

One of the FEW S&Ws I would'nt endorse

Atrociously heavy triggers outta the box, and I can't stomach an aluminum cylinder even though they do work and hold-up well(by all accounts). Buddy has the UL, and it has a steel cylinder. IMO, neither one is really good for cans outside of 15yds., whereas the larger guns will get you out to the 50yd. with no trouble.

 

[sw442642]

I had a SW 317 with a terrible trigger. I had a SS older model 94 and the trigger was decent. Haven't tried the UL models.

I'd go with the Taurus if I were going to buy a 22 rev. again.

 

[mini14jac]

Thanks for the replies.
I already have a stainless MKII, but I just realized that I never take it to the range.
They are great guns, but they just don' float my boat.
I don't know why.

I seem to like revolvers for .22 shooting.

 

[BryanP]

I own a Taurus 94 with a 4" barrel. It's a nice little shooter. I've never tried the 2" version.

 

[chaim]

I am thinking about a .22 snub myself.

What do you want yours for?

I had been thinking about the Taurus for a long time being a Taurus fan. However, the reason I want a .22 snub is essentially to be used as a trainer for more powerful snub revolvers (the small framed snubs tend to be the hardest revolvers to become proficient with their use so I figured w/ the zero recoil of .22 I could shoot all day, and with the price of .22 ammo I could afford to so that I might become good with a snub with a few months or a year in practice). Anyway, even the 2" 94s have an adjustable sight. Great for most uses, but not so great if you want to use it as a "trainer" for a fixed sight 9mm and/or .38spl snub.

If your uses are just for fun, or whatever, but not like mine, and the adjustable sights aren't a problem (or are even a plus) then the Taurus should be a good gun. I had a Taurus 605 and I can attest to the fact that Taurus has the trigger on small framed snubs down, that was one heck of a good trigger. Fit and finish on their revolvers is pretty good these days, and the price is significantly lower.

For me, with what I want (it doesn't hurt that I am also a S&W fan), I might have to go S&W. However, the price difference has me unsure.

BTW (and not to hijack the thread, please leave this to one or two responses)- I hadn't heard about the 317 having trigger issues. Do all S&W .22lr snubs have this problem (or if not, do all lightweight .22lr snubs?)?

 

[gau5]

I have had my 317 for many years and love this gun. It is plenty accurate, you just have to work a litttle harder.
The trigger needs some attention, but nothing impossible. Mine has a great trigger. I carry this in the state gamelands where only a .22 is OK if you are not a hunter. It has fired many thousands of rounds with no problems. It dissappears in the pocket due to its lightweight and blasts off 8 rounds of whatever combo of ammo you want, from ratshot to Stingers. The Stingers clock 1200 fps from the little snubbie barrel.
Get the Smith.

 

[V-fib]

Recently picked up a 2"bbl Taurus 94 steel version. I wanted something about the size and weight of my Ruger SP101 3" .357 to use as a cheap practice gun. I've put about 500 rounds through it so far with no problems. I also like it as my carrying around the homestead gun since it fits easily in my back pocket. I also like the 9 shots and picked up a couple of HKS speedloaders for it. Accuracy is very good at 7 yards.

 

[mini14jac]

Thanks for the replies.
It sounds like I won't be doing too bad if I get either gun.

chaim,
I guess mine will be a combination of uses.
My wife and daughter have 2" .38s, so it would serve as a trainer for them.
For me it would be a fun gun.
Several people have mentioned the heavy trigger on the Smith.
I'm sure a trip to a gunsmith would fix this.

 

[Quantrill]

S&W hands down!! Quantrill

 

[Nick96]

Like V-fib, I was looking for a "trainer" for my 2.25" SP101 .357. Came very close to getting a Taurus M-94 as it was the closet current production match I could find (size & weight wise). I was fortunate to run across a 2.25" SP101 in .22 though and got it (an identical twin except for the windage adjustible rear sight).

Not to berate the Taurus M-94, but the SP101 is a much more substantial gun when compared side by side. I've been very pleased with it - and would highly recommend the current production versions. I hear the S&W's are nice. But they are considerably more expensive than the Ruger or Taurus, and none were of a configuration I was looking for.

 

[Cooter Brown]

I have a .22 LR 9-shot 94 Taurus Stainless with a 4" barrel and wouldn't exchange it for anything similar on the market. #1 on my list. This barrel length on the small frame is plenty small for sticking in your pocket or holster carry, and yet plenty big enough for accurate shooting.

 

[raveon59]

Was looking for a 22LR snubby for my daughter a few years back and found the Rossi to be the best one over all-no cylinder movement like the Tauri and no big $ like the S&W. Speaking of 22LR, has anyone evaluated the Quickshock?

 

[jmbrowning]

S&W 317 experience

I picked up the S&W 317 for the exact same reasons you listed. I do own a Bicentennial Ruger Single-Six but thought it was a mite weighty for the caliber.

My model is the Kit Gun with the 3" barrel with the fiber-optic front sight. The trigger was truly a mess, but this wasn't too difficult to correct after a Wolff spring set. The trigger still feels a bit stacky and uneven but it's hardly the torture it used to be. It cleaned up a bit further with some careful stoning and about four bricks of ammo.

The wheelie is a pleasure to shoot now for simple plinking. The trigger and the sights preclude fly-swatting accuracy at 25 yards, but maintaing MOSC (Minute of Shotgun Clay) at the same distance is no problem. It disappears into a vest or jacket pocket due to its incredible weight. The sticky grips are nice too, but I was thinking of upgrading to smaller laminate grips.

The one thing that astonished me, however, the first time I shot it off range though, was how loud High-Velocity 22LR is out of a pistol when you don't have hearing protection! Pack a set of foam ears.

If you'd like another opinion, try this one at GunBlast.com

Have fun with whatever Kit Gun you choose. I just picked up a Walther P22 that will be put into the hiking buddy rotation. Report to follow on the appropriate forum.