recommend a DA .22lr revolver

[harmon rabb]

I like .22lr practice to improve my shooting, but I'm starting to think I'm not getting enough from my 22/45 because the trigger is so light. Therefore, I figure I'll look into a DA revolver.

I'd love a SP101 in .22lr, but I don't think they're made, and if they ever were, they're not available on gunbroker.

 

[ClemY]

Unfortunately, the .22 version of the SP101 is out of production. Currently manufactured revolvers are the S&W 617 and 63, as well as models from Taurus and a few others. The 617 is a full size S&W K frame. The 63 is the slightly smaller J frame. Out of production guns also include the S&W 17 and 18, which are also K frames, and models from Harrington & Richardson and others. My personal preference is for the S&W 17, 617 and 63.

Here are examples of the 17, 617 and 63.

 

[bowzette]

I strongly recommend NOT buying a Taurus .22. I had a model 94 and sent it to Taurus 4 times in 7 months:banghead: And this is not a case of it being a "lemmon". Not many happy campers with the model 94 re: DA trigger pull. I traded it at a gunshow and have a model 617 on order. I hate to spend that much money but there is no market for new DA .22 but S&W. Wished Ruger would come out with a trainer .22 in the LCR or SP 101.

 

[Guillermo]

as ClemY says, the SP101 is out of production and the few that they made are treasured by their owners. They don't come up often.

 

[8emem]

Recently at the range I had a chance to fire a friend's 4-inch 617 10-shot, which has the lock. Great trigger pull, every shot fired, and accurate. Price is an eye-opener, these are not cheap. This is the one I would get if I decided to spend the money. After looking around at all sorts of .22's I decided to purchase a stainless Ruger 10/22 Target rifle for hundreds less than what the 617 would cost, even with scope and rings.

 

[engineer88]

What 8emem said. I went that way as well. One day when I get a big bonus or something I will get me a smiff. 22 revolver. Until then the little rifle has been hours of fun on the range.

 

[CajunBass]

Smith & Wesson D/A 22 revolvers are expensive because they are worth it. There is simply nothing else in their class anymore.

Even then they are no more expensive than a comparable S&W revolver in some other caliber, and you'll probably shoot it a lot more than any other gun you own.

Bite the bullet once and enjoy it for the rest of your life.

(If you can find a Dan Wesson 22, that's a good choice too.)

 

[Bill B.]

recommend a DA .22lr revolver

Buy Used! I would look on GB for either a S&W M18 or M17. You should get either cheaper than the $700.00 + they are asking for the new S&W 617.

 

[CraigC]

Bite the bullet once and enjoy it for the rest of your life.

I agree! I don't understand why some folks refuse to pay good money for the guns they will shoot the most. Luckily, I bought my K-22's 10-15yrs ago, back before the prices skyrocketed. Got my early `80's model 17 for $265 and late `70's my model 18 for $200. IMHO, there is no better tool for mastering the double action revolver.

 

[doubleh]

There is no sweeter revolver than the Smith Mod. 17. That said, my three screw Single Six is pretty darn nice too. I haven't shot any of the newer .22 offerings so I can't comment on them.

 

[RugRev]

I have a Model 18 4" K frame I bought back in 1984. Had it the longest of any of my
guns. Smith offers .22's in both the K frame and J frame as noted above by others.
If you are using it as a "trainer" for other guns I would get the size that matches best
the others.

From time to time if persistant one can turn up a .22LR SP-101. May want to check
the for sale sections in the 2 Ruger Forums as a while back someone had one for
sale.

Other than that there is the Dan Wesson and at one time Colt offered some Mk III's
and the Diamondback in .22LR but if one thinks the Smiths are pricey than the Colts
are .....well really pricey. For what it is worth had a Diamondback in .22lr years ago
and still have the Smith.

 

[harmon rabb]

I have no issues with paying good money for a revolver that will last me the rest of my life. Don't know where anybody got that from.

 

[Iron Sight]

Find a Smith & Wesson Model 17

http://www.galleryofguns.com/

 

[CraigC]

Don't know where anybody got that from.

Posts #5 and #6.

 

[RugRev]

"I have no issues with paying good money for a revolver that will last me the rest of my life."

I would still say go with the Smith Model 17 or 18. Ultimately, you can get what I think is a
better trigger on them than the Colt Diamondback and the parts are easier to come by.
If you are willing to wait the Ruger SP-101 would also be good but the trigger not quite as
nice as the Smiths. Also, the Ruger has a windage only adjustable rear sight.

 

[m500'92]

Another vote for a used S&W 17

 

[BullsAndClays]

I just picked up an 18-3, and sadly, I passed on several 17-3's over the past year due to other needs in the household. 617's come up often, but with higher price tags, especially for the pre-lock models. I'd also suggest a Colt OMT/OMS/OMM if one comes available.

 

[rainbowbob]

Another vote for a used S&W 17

And another.

If there is a sweeter, smother, more naturally accurate .22 handgun I don't know what it is. Of course my experience is limited, but after shooting the M 17-3 I recently acquired, I just can't imagine how it could get better than that.

 

[9mmepiphany]

I have no issues with paying good money for a revolver that will last me the rest of my life. Don't know where anybody got that from.

I think it threw folks off when you started out saying you were looking at the Ruger Sp-101.

My personal preference in a DA .22lr revolver is the Colt Diamondback. I used to have all three barrel lengths, but was foolish when I sold the 2.5" one. The 6" one just didn't balance right, but the 4" one is pure pleasure to shoot.

I actually shoot better with my 4" Diamondback than my 6" S&W K-22 (M17)

 

[Prosser]

I made the mistake of buying, then selling a Colt Trooper Mark III, .22lr.


Beautiful gun, selling big mistake.
I'd go with any Colt 22lr I could find, used. The S&W are supposed to be excellent as well. K-22, if I remember correctly.
I had a Model 63 and sold it. it was about as accurate as a 12 gauge.

 

[wanderinwalker]

Another vote for a S&W K-frame .22 if price isn't a big sticking point. Absolutely worth every penny. Pay once and then enjoy it the rest of your life and hand it down.

Mine is a Model 18-4, picked up used winter before last for $500. No doubt in my mind I would do it again. It is a great shooter and is always a hit when I let other shooters take it for a spin.

Here it is, as picked up. I had put a set of Ahrend's smooth combat stocks on it, but have since swapped those to my M-19.

 

[gmh1013]

I would get a Colt Diamondback .....of course used .....I would not get a taurus.

 

[Steve C]

In addition to the Colt Diamondback and Troopers consider an Officers Model Match in .22 lr. A Colt is likely to appreciate the quickest in value. Any of the S&W's suggested would be good to.

 

[BigDog2]

The older guns both Colt and S&W are lovely.

One day I went to buy a Colt Python that I had seen at a shop. I got there and decided not to buy it (I should have anyway) but I went to another shop and looked at a new S&W in 357. While looking in the case, I looked at another gun that looked just like the 357 and it turned out to be a 617-10. I decided that I would shoot the 22 a lot more than the 357, so I bought the 617----I've never been sorry. It's a wonderful revolver and I use it regularily for Steel Challenge. I think it's as accurate as my M-41 but I'm not as accurate as I'd like to be with the Double Action

 

[gofastman]

I strongly recommend NOT buying a Taurus .22. I had a model 94 and sent it to Taurus 4 times in 7 months And this is not a case of it being a "lemmon". Not many happy campers with the model 94 re: DA trigger pull. I traded it at a gunshow and have a model 617 on order. I hate to spend that much money but there is no market for new DA .22 but S&W. Wished Ruger would come out with a trainer .22 in the LCR or SP 101

I'm picking up a 94 on Friday, I got it for a great price. I thought the DA trigger pull was just dandy when i handled the one at cabelas , but I'll report back with my results after the initial range session.