Taurus Tracker .22 what barrel length is best?

[TTv2]

I've pretty much accepted that the 942 snub is not going to be available soon and even if it was I'd still likely want a larger double action .22 revolver with better ergos and likely better trigger and the Taurus Tracker .22 revolvers fit that bill too.

There's a 6.5" one used at a nearby ffl for $450, comes with the .22 Mag cylinder as well.

Normally I'm all in for a longer barrel, but it did seem a bit too big. Between the 4 and 6.5 inch barrels on a .22 revolver, which would you choose?

I can't imagine there would be much velocity gain with .22 LR, but the Magnums might get a decent boost, however I'm not planning to shoot the .22 Mag much.

 

[.308 Norma]

Normally I'm all in for a longer barrel, but it did seem a bit too big. Between the 4 and 6.5 inch barrels on a .22 revolver, which would you choose?

I'd get the 6.5" for the longer sight radius and because I already have enough 4" .22LR handguns. Besides, the .22 Mag cylinder might come in handy someday.
"Might come in handy someday" - did you hear my hoarder leanings in that?

 

[TTv2]

I'd get the 6.5" for the longer sight radius and because I already have enough 4" .22LR handguns. Besides, the .22 Mag cylinder might come in handy someday.
"Might come in handy someday" - did you hear my hoarder leanings in that?

The thing is with the .22 Mag cylinder... all of my .22 revolvers are single action and have the .22 Mag cylinder, one of which is a Heritage with the same barrel length. I've been disappointed with velocity results from the Heritage, probably has to do with the large gap, so hoping that Taurus Trackers have a tighter gap and will get me a good velocity is taking a risk and I've not been lucky this year at all.

I've gone down the list of larger frame .22's and I'm not willing to pay the S&W price, the Ruger GP100 is also pricey, only in the 5.5" barrel.

 

[.308 Norma]

I've been disappointed with velocity results from the Heritage, probably has to do with the large gap, so hoping that Taurus Trackers have a tighter gap and will get me a good velocity is taking a risk and I've not been lucky this year at all.

My wife had an old Ruger Single Six (actually a 1976 "American Liberty" model) with a 6.5" barrel, and it has the .22 Mag barrel - which probably hasn't had a dozen rounds through it. Nevertheless, even though I've never experimented with shooting that little revolver over my chronograph with .22LR and .22 Mag, I'd bet there's not "much" velocity gain with the .22 Mag over many types of "high velocity" .22LR ammo. Especially not if you're talking about "high velocity" .22LR ammo like CCI "Stingers" or Remington "Yellow Jackets."
BTW, my wife killed an awful lot of ground squirrel last spring using her little Ruger Bearcat (which has about a 4" barrel) using Remington "Yellow Jacket" ammo. Sadly, I've heard we're not going to be able to get Remington "Yellow Jackets" anymore.

 

[TTv2]

My wife had an old Ruger Single Six (actually a 1976 "American Liberty" model) with a 6.5" barrel, and it has the .22 Mag barrel - which probably hasn't had a dozen rounds through it. Nevertheless, even though I've never experimented with shooting that little revolver over my chronograph with .22LR and .22 Mag, I'd bet there's not "much" velocity gain with the .22 Mag over many types of "high velocity" .22LR ammo. Especially not if you're talking about "high velocity" .22LR ammo like CCI "Stingers" or Remington "Yellow Jackets."
BTW, my wife killed an awful lot of ground squirrel last spring using her little Ruger Bearcat (which has about a 4" barrel) using Remington "Yellow Jacket" ammo. Sadly, I've heard we're not going to be able to get Remington "Yellow Jackets" anymore.

There is a significant increase in velocity with .22 Mag over the fastest .22 LR in a revolver, but for me it has no use while plinking and the goal with this purchase is just to have a .22 revolver with a swing out cylinder and holds 8 rounds or more.

 

[ontarget]

Maybe look for a used Taurus Model 94.
I can't remember if mine is 8 or 9 shots, I think 9. Its got a 4 inch barrel, and is a pretty decent plinker.

 

[12Bravo20]

Maybe look for a used Taurus Model 94.
I can't remember if mine is 8 or 9 shots, I think 9. Its got a 4 inch barrel, and is a pretty decent plinker.

I don't remember what barrel lengths the old Model 94 was offered with. But the new 942 that replaced the 94 is only available with a 2" or 3" barrel.

 

[TTv2]

Maybe look for a used Taurus Model 94.
I can't remember if mine is 8 or 9 shots, I think 9. Its got a 4 inch barrel, and is a pretty decent plinker.

It's 9 shots. IDK all the differences between the 94 and Tracker, but the Tracker .22's don't seem to get any bad reviews, while the 94 I've heard of issues.

I don't remember what barrel lengths the old Model 94 was offered with. But the new 942 that replaced the 94 is only available with a 2" or 3" barrel.

It's a smaller frame too and doesn't have great sights. The 942 is really meant to be a snub, which is fine, I still want a snub .22 revolver.

 

[Tallball]

I had a 22 Tracker. The trigger was stiff so I eventually traded it away. Changing the spring might have helped.

Switching out the 22lr/22mag cyinders was very slick and worked well. I probably never shot 22 magnum out of it, though.

Four inches was long enough for me. 6.5" might be kind of heavy for a 22, if it has a barrel shroud.

 

[12Bravo20]

The Taurus 94, 941 (22WMR), and the 942 are build on the Taurus small frame. The older 94 was a 9 shot while the 941 an 942 are 8 shot. The 94 and 941 have both been discontinued and replaced with the 942 which comes with either a 2" or 3" barrel. They are nice little revolvers and great companions if you happen to have a Model 85 or newer Model 856.

The Tracker is built on the Taurus medium size frame and are 9 shot, available with either a 4" or 6 1/2" barrel.

I personally have not had any issues with all of the Taurus revolvers I have owned or currently still own.

And one has to remember that a double action rimfire revolver will always have a heavier DA trigger pull when compared to centerfire revolvers, This is because rimfire primers are harder than centerfire primers.

 

[TTv2]

The Taurus 94, 941 (22WMR), and the 942 are build on the Taurus small frame. The older 94 was a 9 shot while the 941 an 942 are 8 shot. The 94 and 941 have both been discontinued and replaced with the 942 which comes with either a 2" or 3" barrel. They are nice little revolvers and great companions if you happen to have a Model 85 or newer Model 856.

The Tracker is built on the Taurus medium size frame and are 9 shot, available with either a 4" or 6 1/2" barrel.

I personally have not had any issues with all of the Taurus revolvers I have owned or currently still own.

And one has to remember that a double action rimfire revolver will always have a heavier DA trigger pull when compared to centerfire revolvers, This is because rimfire primers are harder than centerfire primers.

That's known, but something that seems to get brought up often when talking about the weight of the DA trigger in a rimfire revolver is that the larger the frame, the lighter the pull seems to feel.

Of course, with the larger frame I'm less likely to be shooting quick in DA, but the snub I would.

 

[12Bravo20]

That's known, but something that seems to get brought up often when talking about the weight of the DA trigger in a rimfire revolver is that the larger the frame, the lighter the pull seems to feel.

I haven't really noticed much of a difference in the DA trigger on rimfire revolvers with different size frames.

And I brought up the point about triggers since some get disappointed when they buy a rimfire version of their centerfire revolvers and the rimfire version has a heavier trigger.

 

[Tallball]

My daughter was eight or nine. The springs on the Tracker were stiff enough that it took her real effort just to cock it.

A Single SIx is very easy to cock, so after I got one, the Tracker became irrelevant for her.

After I got a K22, the Tracker was completely irrelevant, so I traded it towards something else.

It's an okay revolver for the money. The springs could always be replaced. The Charter Arms Pathfinder isn't terrible, either.