Thinking of .22 Revolver but which one?

[22-rimfire]

Range gun and plinking use....

My recommendation would be to handle one of the new Ruger GP-100's before deciding. They should be an excellent general use double action 22 revolver. I would not purchase a Ruger SP-101 which were the discussion rage a year ago, but many are dissatisfied with them due mostly to the trigger. The GP should be better out of the box.

Great choice = 4" S&W M617 or used/good condition Model 17 or 18's. The 18's are generally 4" which I have come to prefer for general shooting.

Colt Trooper Mark III... excellent gun and one of the lowest priced Colt double action 22s. All the Colts are good by the way, but some are rather expensive these days due to collectablity. If you like single actions, I would generally choose a Ruger SA over one of the older Colt SA 22's even though I own a number of them.

I do not like the little single actions (22's) for general shooting as I often prefer to shoot quickly and the reloads are a lot more convenient on double actions. But if handling the small 22LR cartridges one by one to load and unload is your thing, the Ruger Single Six or Single Ten would be great.

 

[Catpop]

I love the single actions and they are very accurate. My Ruger ss single six with scope will print a 6" group at 100 yards with common otc 22 ammo.
But I too get tired of the slooooooow reload times. Of course you shoot less ammo that way, so that's a plus.
I really prefer double action due entirely to that reason. In a weak moment I bought a Tarus 94. I have regretted it ever since. I have strong hands so the double action is ok, but everyone else that shoots it quickly gives it back to me- even if I am furnishing the ammo!
It wasnt totally reliable to begin with (used), but after a little work, it now is. In single action mode it is ok and it is minute of 3" circle at 50'.
I would trade it on a GP100 in a heartbeat it that deal presented itself.

 

[Jamesk]

I have a S&W 617, a model 18 and a Ruger sp101. For walking around and general plinking I prefer the Ruger with the Hogue grips but for the range Ill take the S&Ws.

 

[Traffer]

If you are lucky enough to find a revolver with double cylinders you'll have fun shooting both the long rifle and magnum round. They demand a premium price though.

If you are willing to sacrafice some higher level of engineering and better fit and finish you can get a Rough Rider new or near new for $150.00-$170. Big Box store frequently have sales on them. You might find one used @ $100. They are not bad at all. They are accurate shooters. Sort of starting out slow. When you are ready to move up you can sell it.

I just bought a Heritage Arms Rough Rider about a month ago. They were on sale for $129.99 plus an extra $29.99 for a 22 magnum cylinder. That was for the six shot aluminum frame unit. Very nice little unit. You simply cannot beat them at the price. heritage also makes them in steel frame models and 9 shot models. I would suggest one unless money is no object. If I had more money to spend I may get a double action or the newer Ruger single 10.

 

[adcoch1]

I just went through this. Wanted a good general use full size 22. I couldn't find a s&w to look at, the only colt around was a beautiful collector piece WAY north of $1000, and everything new was expensive. I ended up with 2 guns, both used but one was a single six 22 mag. It is amazing to shoot. For a single action I would go that route. For double action I got lucky and found a hi standard double nine. Nine shots 22lr, single/double action and very good plunked overall. Both together cost about what a decent Smith would have. Like I said I got lucky. I would probably go for a s&w if I could find one...

 

[TfflHndn]

+1 on the Single Ten. That's the one I would buy if I was going to buy another .22lr revolver. Or take a look at the Single Nine if you are willing to go with .22 magnum, which are easier to find these days and not a lot more expensive in today's market.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

Seems this same question gets asked every couple of weeks. Dunno what you think a 'ridiculous' price is, but I will give you the same answer I always give.

Find a nice classic S&W. K-22 or Model 17.

I bought this Model 17-3 brand-spanky new in 1975. Still have the box, all the papers and the tools. Paid $125 for it back then, you will probably have to pay a bit more for one today.






Don't let the worn appearance of this old K-22 Outdoorsman from the 1930s fool you. It is the most accurate 22 revolver I own, with the lightest trigger pull. I only show the bad side, the other side looks much better. But at about $500 a couple of years ago, I just couldn't pass it up. Sure glad I didn't.






Postwar K-22 Masterpiece from about 1948 at top, Pre-Model 18 from 1953 at the bottom. Picked both of them up quite recently. Not quite as accurate as the older K-22, but the rear sights are easier to adjust. Need a really tiny screwdriver to adjust the old fashioned type of rear sight.






Bought this hideously ugly Model 617-6 a few years ago because it was cheap. Wouldn't buy it again today. Muzzle heavy, and just plain ugly. And the trigger can't hold a candle to any of my old Smiths.





Don't get me wrong, I like Rugers too. Picked up this Three Screw Single Six convertable a couple of years ago with 22 LR and 22 Mag cylinders. Even got some ammo with it. I wouldn't bother with the 22 Mag ammo, much more expensive than 22LR. But it came with the gun. But I like Smiths better because they are double action.




I wouldn't sweat the supply of 22 Rimfire ammo these days, most shops I frequent have plenty. Now if I could just find some 22 Longs for my Winchester Model 1890...........

 

[Milt1]

I have the Ruger Single Six Convertible and a Smith 17-3 in .22 caliber and love both of them. For me the Ruger is my fun to shoot handgun as I've always been a single action guy. The Smith is just plain classy, a great target gun but it has always shot high at 25 yards, a fact that I can live with because I know that it does this and I don't want to modify the sights or anything else about it.

Tallpaul mentioned the new Ruger GP100 in .22 caliber and that revolver certainly looks like a winner. I have four .22 handguns, the ones mentioned above and a Ruger MKII and a Browning Buckmark. If I didn't have so many already I think I would seriously consider the new GP100.

 

[Tallball]

I own six or seven or eight 22 automatics and revolvers, mostly revolvers. My Single Six is my favorite among the revolvers. I previously had the "Super" model with the extra cylinder for 22 magnum. This one doesn't have the extra cylinder, and I don't miss it. The adjustable sights are a decent size and the trigger is nice. I have very large hands and it still works fine for me. Having owned or shot most of them, if I could only have one 22 revolver it would be a Single Six. (OT, my favorite 22 auto is my Browning Buckmark, the only 22 auto I have which will outshoot the SS.)

Like another poster, I have a Taurus 94. Its trigger is terrible, the sights are mediocre, and I got the heavy barrel version, which has a horrible balance. My most accurate handgun is possibly my Buckmark, but here comes the blasphemy... one of my revolvers will often outshoot it... most days, depending on the ammo and how I am feeling that day... and it is my other Taurus 22! I misremember the model number, but it is on the Tracker frame (basically a K frame size), has a 4" full underlug barrel, and an extra cylinder in 22 magnum which I rarely bother to use. The sights are nice and big, and the bigger grip fits my extra-large hands well. The double action trigger is mediocre. But when I cock that bad boy into single action it is beast mode. With good ammo at 15 yards I can hit a 50-cent-piece-sized bullseye virtually every time until my arms get tired. Due to the DA trigger and weird balance (underlug heavy barrel) it is not my favorite 22, but I have to admit that Taurus got it right on this one.

 

[Tallball]

Here is the Single Six when I bought it in abused condition. It looks way better now, but I am having trouble finding the newer picture. It is a great shooter and one of my favorite firearms.





Here is my Buckmark. It is absolutely fantastic. I have yet to find a person who can't shoot it well.




Here is the heavy-duty Taurus. It has no business being as accurate as it is: stiff DA trigger, weird balance, and it's a Taurus. But it's absurdly accurate anyway.

 

[Vernon1]

.22 Revolver

S&W has been making revolvers for much longer than I have been alive.

Pick up a Ruger and a Smith at the same time.

Read S&W 617 and Ruger Revolver .22.

Ask yourself which one will survive....

"oh I see you chose the S&W!"

Welcome to the club.....

 

[Traffer]

Howdy

Seems this same question gets asked every couple of weeks. Dunno what you think a 'ridiculous' price is, but I will give you the same answer I always give.

Find a nice classic S&W. K-22 or Model 17.

I bought this Model 17-3 brand-spanky new in 1975. Still have the box, all the papers and the tools. Paid $125 for it back then, you will probably have to pay a bit more for one today.






Don't let the worn appearance of this old K-22 Outdoorsman from the 1930s fool you. It is the most accurate 22 revolver I own, with the lightest trigger pull. I only show the bad side, the other side looks much better. But at about $500 a couple of years ago, I just couldn't pass it up. Sure glad I didn't.






Postwar K-22 Masterpiece from about 1948 at top, Pre-Model 18 from 1953 at the bottom. Picked both of them up quite recently. Not quite as accurate as the older K-22, but the rear sights are easier to adjust. Need a really tiny screwdriver to adjust the old fashioned type of rear sight.






Bought this hideously ugly Model 617-6 a few years ago because it was cheap. Wouldn't buy it again today. Muzzle heavy, and just plain ugly. And the trigger can't hold a candle to any of my old Smiths.





Don't get me wrong, I like Rugers too. Picked up this Three Screw Single Six convertable a couple of years ago with 22 LR and 22 Mag cylinders. Even got some ammo with it. I wouldn't bother with the 22 Mag ammo, much more expensive than 22LR. But it came with the gun. But I like Smiths better because they are double action.




I wouldn't sweat the supply of 22 Rimfire ammo these days, most shops I frequent have plenty. Now if I could just find some 22 Longs for my Winchester Model 1890...........

Anyone know where I can get a Smith & Wesson for $129.99 new in the box? I guess I will stick to my Heritage Rough Rider.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Anyone know where I can get a Smith & Wesson for $129.99 new in the box? I guess I will stick to my Heritage Rough Rider.

You pays your money, you takes your choice.

Also, you get what you pay for.

What do you think your Rough Rider will be worth in twenty years, if it lasts that long? Dunno if you noticed that other than the 617, all those guns are over 40 years old. The best, the old K-22 is from the 1930s. They were built to last.

I guess I will stick to the classics.

 

[hAkron]

Here are my .22 LR and a .22 WMR for your viewing pleasure.

 

[ChiefTJS]

My choices mirror most here, a Ruger Single Six and a Smith 617My Ruger is a 5.5" Convertible and my 617is a 4". Both guns are extremely accurate and perfectly reliable. I went through quite a few guns to arrive at these two and am quite happy with them. Now that the Ruger GP-100 is out I'd look at that too.

 

[22-rimfire]

I own six or seven or eight 22 automatics and revolvers, mostly revolvers. My Single Six is my favorite among the revolvers. I previously had the "Super" model with the extra cylinder for 22 magnum. This one doesn't have the extra cylinder, and I don't miss it. The adjustable sights are a decent size and the trigger is nice. I have very large hands and it still works fine for me. Having owned or shot most of them, if I could only have one 22 revolver it would be a Single Six. (OT, my favorite 22 auto is my Browning Buckmark, the only 22 auto I have which will outshoot the SS.)

Like another poster, I have a Taurus 94. Its trigger is terrible, the sights are mediocre, and I got the heavy barrel version, which has a horrible balance. My most accurate handgun is possibly my Buckmark, but here comes the blasphemy... one of my revolvers will often outshoot it... most days, depending on the ammo and how I am feeling that day... and it is my other Taurus 22! I misremember the model number, but it is on the Tracker frame (basically a K frame size), has a 4" full underlug barrel, and an extra cylinder in 22 magnum which I rarely bother to use. The sights are nice and big, and the bigger grip fits my extra-large hands well. The double action trigger is mediocre. But when I cock that bad boy into single action it is beast mode. With good ammo at 15 yards I can hit a 50-cent-piece-sized bullseye virtually every time until my arms get tired. Due to the DA trigger and weird balance (underlug heavy barrel) it is not my favorite 22, but I have to admit that Taurus got it right on this one.

Unlike many here, I often shoot my DA 22 revolvers single action. So, I could live with that Tracker. The Taurus 94 would get dumped unless I lucked out with a good one.

The one that has not been mentioned is the discontinued 5" S&W M63. It's a pretty nice modest sized 22 revolver. Trigger is okay for me, but a tad heavy. At first I didn't care for the barrel length, but it grew on me. Holsters that fit are a bit of a challenge unless you buy ones for 6" revolvers.

 

[tallpaul]

Unlike many here, I often shoot my DA 22 revolvers single action.

I think you took those comments wrong. I would bet that most DA revolver guys shoot their guns more single action than double action only. I know I do most of my shooting single action unless practicing self defense scenario's. Most target shooting and target work is generally done single action by most even if the guns is capable of double action.

As far as the little smiths/rugers etc go from what I have scene the smaller frames and scales seem to have heavier trigger setups that the mid and large frame revolvers. I think a lot of that is due to the mass of the hammers needing more oomph to fire the primers coupled with the geometry of the smaller internal spaces involved. I and many have replaced the springs in the .22 sp101's with custom Wolfe springs and it helps a lot as it would likely help the small j frame smiths. I know it turned my sp101 from a turd to something worth keeping The smaller and lighter frames also are harder to shoot as well as the larger frames as accurately- for most adult males anyhow. I know I have NEVER seen a small frame on the bullseye line for score

 

[tallpaul]

hAKRON those dan wessons and that stainless one especially makes me drool

 

[highpower]

Anyone know where I can get a Smith & Wesson for $129.99 new in the box? I guess I will stick to my Heritage Rough Rider.

Also, you get what you pay for.

This^^^^^^

If okay is good enough for you then look no further than the cheapest one you can find. If everything you buy is solely based on how little you pay for it, then you are getting what you desire.

If, on the other hand, you are the sort of person that values finely made, accurate handguns, then a few extra dollars for a nice classic revolver is more than compensated for by the quality you get for your money.

I only have three .22 revolvers, all shoot better than I can and I know that they will be treasured by my son when I pass them on to him.

1930 Colt Officers Model Target:


A pair of 1948 K22 Masterpieces:

 

[Clark]

This 22 ounce Colt cost me $425 two years ago, and was made in 1926.
My youngest brother can shoot any handgun well, and he shoots these old 22 ounce Police Positive revolvers Very well considering the weight.
I saw him shoot a skunk between the eyes with the 22 ounce revolver.

If you are a putz like me, get a scoped 48 ounce K-22 or Colt Officers model.

If you can shoot like him, get a 22 ounce police positive.

 

[Traffer]

You guys are gonna make me sick with all those beautiful guns that I will never be able to afford. Wow. I did however just buy my first non 22 pistol today. Drum roll please....Norico Model 213 with free surface rust.

 

[Saleen322]

I have had a number but only two I kept; a single action Ruger and a double action Dan Wesson. The Ruger has two cylinders and the DW has two barrels. Both are accurate but the edge goes to the DW.

 

[tubeshooter]

I was on a quest for a good .22 revolver once, just like you.

One very important thing to ask yourself is what you will mostly be doing with this gun, and therefore what size and weight is appropriate.


This will go a long way towards helping you decide. I think there are basically 3 size/weight classes. Small is basically "kit gun" sized. Things like Bearcats and the S&W 317. Then you have what I call medium-sized guns, like the S&W 63 and current-day Ruger SP-101. Finally you have the larger guns, like the often mentioned K-frame Smiths and the new GP-100 that I've heard about. There can be some overlap between weight classes for some guns, as everybody's idea of S/M/L is a little different.



I knew right off that I didn't really want a large gun. For me, that eliminated the K-frames, even though everyone raves about them (especially the trigger) and I'm sure they are awesome. I found over time that the truly small kit guns, while wonderful to carry, are tough to hit things with beyond short range. For an all-purpose .22 revolver it almost stands to reason that the medium sized is the best compromise. I ended up with the new SP-101 for an all around gun, but I also tried some others that I kept and like just fine for what they are.


For the record, I've always liked the classic profile and trimmer look of the pencil barreled K-frames over the 617. I find the 617 to be chunky for my taste, and I suspect I would feel the same way about a GP-100. All that being said, any properly functioning .22 revolver is a great thing to have in the stable regardless of size and weight. Good luck.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

I knew right off that I didn't really want a large gun. For me, that eliminated the K-frames, even though everyone raves about them (especially the trigger) and I'm sure they are awesome.

Howdy Again

Just so you know, the K frame is classified by Smith and Wesson as a Medium sized frame. They consider the N frame (44 and 45 calibers as well as some 357Mags) to be a large frame.


High Power: That's a beautiful Officer's Model 22.

Clark: I'm still kicking myself over a Colt Police Positive 22 Target revolver that I let slip away last year. It was beautiful, almost no wear at all. Should have grabbed it.

 

[bigtubby]

I like the 5 screw pre 18 S&W's High standard's are a excellent gun if you can find one for sale.