Need a SS .22 beater...your favorites?

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Tinker

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I used to have an old HR .22 LR revolver for plinking. It was blued steel and I really miss it for plinking. Didn't like having to oil it after every use to keep the finish from rusting.

Thinking about buying something like it again. This next one needs to be made of stainless for low maintanance. You have a favorite like this to recommend?
 
i dont have any personal experience with one, but if i was looking for a stainless .22 i would go for the ruger sp101 in .22lr. fiber optic front sight, adjusable rear, 8 rounds, and the size is just right IMHO.
 
Fun Guns

One of the funnest guns that I ever owned was a Ruger Super Single Six.

Circumstances were different then. No one saw a need to call the Black Suit Ninja Police when they saw a kid with a .22.

I no longer have the Ruger, but I do have a mid 50s K-22.:D

salty
 
I must live a charmed life because I don't worry about oiling my blued guns every time I shoot them. Unless they get wet, a few times a year is usually sufficient.
 
I've heard from a buddy that was stationed down in the southeast that it get's pretty humid. Does this apply to the Alabama area as well? If so I can see why you'd want stainless. If it's not all that humid for much of the year then I tend to agree with Craig that you don't really need to oil the guns EVERY time. Or at least nothing worse than a wipe over with a lightly oiled rag kept by the storage area for just this purpose.

If it's actually that humid down your way then the hot new option for a smaller plinker would be the Ruger SP101-.22. Or there's the short or long barrel versions of the S&W 63 depending on your tastes for the barrel.

Now owning two H&R revolvers at present I'm guessing that with your old H&R it was mostly shot in SA mode, right? Based on that a stainless Single Six or if you want something compact the Ruger Bearcat stainless model would be a nice way to go. The grips on the Bearcat are sized more for kids. But a set of new grips made in a size more suitable for an adult hand could turn the Bearcat into a sweet and compact plinker.
 
Agree on the Ruger SP 101 .22. Would love one. We do own a Ruger Stainless SP 101 in .357 and have had no problems with it.

The wife and I do own a stainless steel Mark III Standard. Actually, it's hers, and I have a hard time getting her to let me use it. Wonderful plinker.

About once a month, I do use car wax on both of them, and they both look like polished chrome. Now, if only I could get a Ruger LCP in stainless ~~~(Wish, wish!)
 
CraigC said:
I must live a charmed life because I don't worry about oiling my blued guns every time I shoot them. Unless they get wet, a few times a year is usually sufficient.
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I'm lucky that I don't tend to rust guns easily either. Probably because I do hit the blue with at least a silicone gun rag after handling outdoors.

Some people that I know, all they have to do is touch a gun with sweat dampened hands a few times and the orange haze comes right up.
 
It is usually really humid here in Alabama. My blued Rossi .38 also always gets at least a rub down in Remoil after shooting, like that old HR .22 did. My sweaty hands rust both if they don't get an oiling.

Also noticed that many of you mention Rugers. Will check those out. I did handle a Taurus in SS at a local shop yesterday. The Taurus seemed like a decent revolver, but I have no idea of the quality of those, long term.
 
I had a 4" Taurus .22 revolver. I forget which model it was -it was NOT the Tracker. It had the single worst trigger on any pistol I've ever shot (can't dry fire at a gunshow). Sold it at a loss a few months after purchase.

I then found an old H&R Sportsman 999 for a good price and couldn't be happier. My buddy bought a S&W 617 for the purpose you stated. It's stainless but I think it's a bit pricey for a beater. It is super nice though and wicked accurate.
 
Not too much around nowadays as far as a beater .22 revolver - especially in stainless. Demand is pretty high right now.

I guess you could do a Charter Arms or Taurus for about $350 or so...

If you found a used .22 revolver of reputable make and it wasn't in rough shape, you'll probably pay a price that would disqualify it as a "beater". Last gun show I went to, saw a Smith model 34 in what looked like maybe 80% condition for a cool $595.


I keep hearing about these deals on old H&Rs... but I am not seeing them. At least not in person. Same with used Single Sixes under $300; I say "show me where".
 
JERRY said:
id recommend a taurus model 94 in s.s.
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I would second this. For a beater .22, it will get the job done. You might get lucky and get a good trigger on one. Chances are you will do most of your shooting in single action anyday. You can get into a used one sub $200, quite easily, I would say. Rugers are nice, but pricey for a beater. I have a stainless Single Six and I love it, but for a beater, 9 shots in a swing out cylinder will beat the heck out of 6 shots through a loading gate.
 
Rossi M511 Sportsman. Super accurate, great single action, rough double action. I shoot this thing about every range trip. 1" at 25 yards accurate with Federal Auto Match. Not in production anymore. I had one i bought new that got stolen. I got this one about 17 years ago at a gun show for 200 bucks, what I gave for the one I had new in 88, but hey, I like the gun.

t9tg0l.jpg
 
MCgunner said:
Rossi M511 Sportsman. Super accurate, great single action, rough double action. I shoot this thing about every range trip. 1" at 25 yards accurate with Federal Auto Match. Not in production anymore. I had one i bought new that got stolen. I got this one about 17 years ago at a gun show for 200 bucks, what I gave for the one I had new in 88, but hey, I like the gun.

t9tg0l.jpg
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They are great and I really regret trading mine.
 
You should get out more.
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You shouldn't assume. I spent 32yrs in hot, humid central Florida. Where there is no winter, it's hot all year and this time of year, it rains every day. I know all about it. It ain't exactly arid here in TN either. My guns get used, almost daily so no, keep the condescension to yourself. :rolleyes:
 
For your purpose in mind, I'd choose either the new Ruger SP-101 or S&W M63 for general use and plinking.

Added: Unfortunately, I don't consider either of those as "beaters". So maybe you should just look for the Rossi, Charter Arms, or H&R and keep them lubed.
 
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How about saving a little more money than a beater costs and buying new? A Ruger Single Ten or Mark III will last your lifetime and give you great pleasure. Both are available in stainless. How about a Ruger 22/45 LITE? Polymer frame, stainless barrel with an Aluminum barrel surround. Just as corrosion resistant as a stainless gun, and nice and Light. 22 ounces. I love mine. Very accurate and a great plinker. Single Ten... $450, 22/45 LITE... $360

SINGLE TEN

1022pics002fixedMedium.jpg


22/45 LITE

markII004Custom.jpg
 
The problem with the term "beater" used in the title is that it implies you'll let it bang around unprotected. It likely would have been better to use some term that indicated "daily shooter" or similar that implies frequent use.

Given that since it'll be a gun you shoot frequently it should be a gun which you don't mind spending a few extra bucks on to ensure you get something that you WANT to use frequently. For example, it took me a while and a couple of cheaper guns to finally plunk down the coin for a S&W 17. I got it for a price which was competitive but hardly a bargain. But I like the gun so much that I shoot it a lot. So it has turned out to be a bargain.

The key would appear to be to find a gun you like and then put it away in a good holster that protects it from the elements and general handling conditions. Likely something with a full flap so as to protect the grips and frame. You may or may not have a secondary and more open carry holster.
 
CraigC, don't get your panties in a wad. Just pointing out not everyone lives in the same location nor has the same climate. For me, stainless is desirable, though I own blued guns, too. They tend to look rather weather beaten riding n a hot, sweaty pocket in the humidity after a few years. Easier to keep a OWB carry clean and easier to keep a stainless pocket carry clean. Either way, if I have the choice, I'll pick a stainless gun, though. To each his own. I don't particularly think God only loves those who stick with blue, though. :D It's a personal choice.

The Rossi was an affordable gun, but I'm not sure the definition of a "beater". I take pretty good care of it, don't leave it in a corrosive environment or something. I really don't neglect ANY of my guns. I can say the Rossis don't show up just everywhere used, either. Replacing it with another Rossi might be hard to do. I found mine at a gun show after losing my original in a home burglary, so I pounced on it because I missed my other one so much.
 
MCgunner: Just out of curiosity, what would it take for you to part with your Rossi 511?


I've always thought it was a pretty neat gun. I wish somebody made a product today that was consistently (key word there) at that quality for the price point.
 
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