Looking for a .22 revolver

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Pokajabba

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Here's my desired specs. Note that I prefer it be a DA/SA but will accept SA only if it's got the specs I want.

- hold more than 6 rounds
- have a 3 inch barrel or longer
- cost less than $500
- weigh 30 oz or less


Slight bonus if it converts to .22 Magnum, but it's not necessary.
 
Ruger SP101 comes close to satisfying all of your criteria. Still will be a little over-budget.

S&W model 63 (or 317) will be even more over-budget.

Ruger Single Ten actually clocks in at 38 ounces. Even the Lipsey's blued model (which I have) is a bit over your specified weight at 32 ounces. If you could find one used and live with the weight, that would be an option.



If you can live with 6 shots, the 4-inch Charter Arms Pathfinder ticks all of the other boxes. I have heard that they briefly made an 8-shot version, but it is so rarely seen that it's existence is virtually mythical.
 
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In that price range, start looking around for an H&R 922 revolver. Many good, solid H&R's still around that will meet your specs.
 
I have a NEF and a Heritage Rough Rider that were inexpensive and fit you criteria. Both were less than $200
Good plinkers and trainers.
 
Found this one a couple of years ago for less than $400. A S&W Model 34 with a 4" barrel, like new in the box. The only thing I added was a Hogue Monogrip.

002_zpswv4thxmc.gif
 
Consider a Rossi Plinker,,,

Consider a Rossi RPlinker.

ROSSI "PLINKER", 8 ROUND, RIBBER GRIP, ADJUSTABLE REAR SIGHT, FIXED RED FIBER OPTIC, HAMMER BLOCK, TAURUS SECURITY SYSTEM, ALOY STEEL, CYLINDER ALOY STEEL, BLUED FINISH, 4" or 6" BARREL.
Click to expand...

It even makes your weight requirement at 29 ounces. :)

Here is picture of mine along side a S&W 63 for size comparison.

160113-RossiR98vs63-lr.jpg

Mine has been proving to be a nice little shooter,,,
I have it paired in a case with a Savage MK-IIF.

I've already used to start teaching two newbies,,,
It's plenty accurate for that purpose,,,
And both people like the gun.

I was leery of the fiber front sight,,,
But it has turned out to be very usable.

It was very gritty at first,,,
But a few hundred rounds and a bit of spray clean cured that.

I bought mine through Budsgunshop.com in December of 2015,,,
I paid $278 plus the credit card fee and extra insurance,,,
I also bought Buds lifetime warranty for the gun,,,
Total cost for everything was $303.24.

I give the gun the aarondhgraham Thumbs-Up Stamp of Approval.

Hope this helps,,,

Aarond

P.S. I almost forgot,,,
The pictures on the Rossi website show a glossy blue finish,,,
They have since changed that to a matte black finish that I actually liked better.

.
 
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I would have to agree that a S&W model 34 or 63 would be a excellent choice. Also look for a model 17 or 18. I know these are only six shot but the accuracy of these revolvers is very good. The H&R 922 is also a sleeper. These revolvers can be bought for under $500. I once had one and enjoyed the revolver.
Good luck,
Howard
 
Consider a Charter Arms Pathfinder,,,

http://www.charterarms.com/collecti...72242-22-lr-target-pathfinder-with-4-2-barrel,,,
It fits all of your requirements except for one.

It has a six-shot cylinder. :(

Mine is a very nice shooter,,,
I have it paired with a Henry Acu-Bolt rifle.

It's MSRP is $9.00 over your $400.00 limit,,,
But I'm sure you can find it closer to $300.00 on line.

I bought mine new at The Evil Pawn Shop a few years back,,,
IIRC I took it home for right around $360.00.

The only thing I didn't like was the front sight blade,,,
It's matte stainless and tended to disappear in bright light,,,
But I put a tiny bit of orange sight paint on it to solve that problem.

Here is a picture of it beside my Rossi R98 Plinker,,,
Both revolvers are comparable to a S&W J-Frame.

160113-RossiR98vsCA-lr.jpg

I hope this helps,,,

Aarond

.
 
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My top two choices would be finding a used S&W Model 17 or Model 63. You can find them within your budget, but not easily. The weight thing is a problem if you hold to it.

It mostly depends on your time table to buy and how much effort you put into the search. The Ruger GP-100 is an okay choice and well made, but above budget new.

Ruger Single Six might be a consideration if you want single action and you get the 22 mag cylinder. Good revolver. I just think double action 22 revolvers are more fun.

The guns that fit your budget are the 3rd tier manufacturers with Taurus probably being the better. But if you purchased a Taurus, inspect closely EVEN a new gun. Others include the Rossi, Charter Arms Pathfinder, Heritage Rough Rider, and used H&R.

Another approach is simply to go semi-auto and the Ruger Mark III or 22/45 would be my top choices for general purpose shooting. I like the heavy barrel versions the most.
 
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I own and have owned a lot of 22 revolvers. The Ruger Single Six is easily my favorite. It only holds six rounds. I think there are versions that hold more. It and my Browning Buck Mark are my two most accurate handguns. Some days I shoot one better, some days the other.

My Ruger SP101 has a horrible trigger. I have heard that lots of them do.

I own two Charter Arms firearms. They are accurate and have decent triggers. If I had a Charter Arms 22 that functioned as well as my 44 and my 32, I would be happy enough with it.

I have several old Harrington & Richardson/New England Firearms handguns and shotguns. They function well. The fancier model with the adjustable sights and 6" barrel (such as the NEF "Ultra") would probably be a pretty good revolver. Mine were very inexpensive.

My Rossi 700-series 44 special is one of my very favorite revolvers. Its trigger and accuracy are excellent. I will buy a 357 version when I get a chance, though they are rare and it will take a while to find one. I have heard from other posters that the 500-series 22's are from the same time period and are of the same quality. I have seen them for sale in good shape for around $500. The fact that it is an older model revolver from a "lower tier" manufacturer and that people are asking $450-$550 for leads me to believe that they must be pretty good.

I own two Taurus 22 revolvers. One is a Model 94 with a long thick barrel. It has a horrible trigger. I will get rid of it sooner or later. The 4" Taurus Tracker has a decent trigger and is very accurate. It holds nine rounds and came with an additional cylinder in 22 magnum. I consider it to be a very good revolver, but it is probably over your weight limit.

I have never owned a Smith and Wesson 22 revolver, but probably will eventually. I have heard good things about them. It might take some time to find one in your price range.

And... this is my own personal prejudice speaking... I would be surprised if any more expensive 22 revolver that I happened to buy would be any more accurate than the finish-challenged Single Six that I paid less than $200 for.
 
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I've had two Taurus 94 revolvers that ran well. The first one I got around 1989 and let my then-wife keep it when we divorced in 1996. Now, I have a satin-stainless one I got maybe two years ago.

I have two other .22 revolvers, but they are both six-shooting single-actions (HRR and RSS.)

As mentioned, the triggers on rimfire DA revolvers can seem stiff, particularly to someone with little prior experience with anything other than "Glock-type" triggers. Your intended uses and prior shooting experiences will help shape your decision.
 
Look at a Harrington Richardson 999 Sportsman. It is a topbreak 9 shot revolver , easy to load , ejects all 9 casings in one swift action , and it's great fun to shoot. I own a Sportsman , a Ruger Single Six , and a S&W K22. All are great shooters in their own right , but the H&R cost a couple hundred dollars less than either of the other two.
 
The old High Standard Sentinel is a pretty good gun is you can find one in good shape; the price usually is well under your target $300. I would prefer it to the H&R guns; it is more accurate and likely to have fewer problems.

Jim
 
460Kodiak

I was looking for a decent .22 revolver for my girlfriend and my buddy at the local gun emporium had this beauty set aside for me, knowing full well my affinity for vintage S&W revolvers.
 
Honestly haunt the gun shops and find a used S&W 34. Pretty much the best .22lr revolver ever made. If you can find a 3" model you'll be in heaven.
 
Hello jeepnik,,,

Honestly haunt the gun shops and find a used S&W 34. Pretty much the best .22lr revolver ever made.
Click to expand...

I will semi-agree with your statement,,,
Only because my favorite .22 revolver is the Model 18.

I own two Model 34 revolvers,,,
I also own an extremely nice Model 63,,,
We all know it's the same as a 34 except it's stainless steel.

They are the smaller J-frame.

My Model 63 came with the over-sized Target grips,,,
That makes it feel like you are holding a K-frame like the Model 18.

For that reason I like the 63 almost as much as the 18.

And the advice you gave the OP is not bad advice in any way,,,
But, and here's the all important after-but part,,,
Finding a Model 34, 43, 63 for under $400.00,,,
That will take a lot of time and some luck.

Haunting gun shows is all and well,,,
I mean I ghost those aisles a lot myself.

But if I am wanting a gun at all,,,
I'm probably wanting it now. ;)

I still suggest the OP find and handle the Rossi R98 Plinker,,,
It fits all of his criteria and is a very decent pistol.



Aarond

.
 
The old High Standard Sentinel is a pretty good gun is you can find one in good shape; the price usually is well under your target $300. I would prefer it to the H&R guns; it is more accurate and likely to have fewer problems.
Click to expand...

I've owned a couple of those myself and agree if you can find a nice one, you should jump on it. About the size of a K-frame Smith & Wesson, they're about as good a "bum around in the woods gun as I've ever owned. They have an aluminum frame so they're light as a feather, hold nine shots, have a hand ejector type swing out cylinder, with one stroke cartridge ejection. The rear sight is adjustable for windage only.

Just today my wife conned me into buying her one. It's about as ugly a gun as I've ever seen but she liked it. It's pink. :) It's got some scratches. It's got white plastic (fake Ivory) grips. Oh well. She liked it.

IMG_00721_zpstj2hlshu.jpg

IMG_00731_zpsmevoslxw.jpg

The OP would probably want to find a 4-6 barrel, and one in a more conventional color, but this one was less than $200.00. If she doesn't like, I'm sure I can get my money back on it.
 
Heritage Rough Rider makes a 9 shot with barrels of various sizes, additional cylinder for mags, and the price is the lowest you will find on a new gun. I don't know the price of a nine shot. Their 6 shot revolvers with an additional mag cylinder are under $200. They are good shooters. Not junk, not S&W's just good shooters.
 
I just looked them up. Found a Heritage rough rider combo (with the extra mag cylinder) for under $240 and without the extra cylinder for $165. That is with a 6" barrel. I don't know if it is within the rules to post the web sale so I won't.
 
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