Wanting a 22lr, torn on options and in need of opinions

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trickyasafox

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I am in the market for a new 22lr revolver. I am torn on a number of features, and would like to put it to the 'the road for some advice.

I want this 22 for plinking and small game hunting, but wouldn't mind terribly if I could drop it in a jacket pocket either.

The small game hunting to me, means no DAO hammers - eliminating the Ruger LCR in 22lr, which would probably be the best pocketable gun. It does leave a taurus 94 in the contest, but reviews on them have been. . . . mixed.

throwing all hopes of pocket carry aside, I could go with either a Ruger single 10 or sp101 in 22, both of which would be great choices, with slight preference going to the sp101 for ease of loading.

Sure I'd love to save 50-100 bucks and go with the taurus, but I am just a touch apprehensive as I have never had the chance to hold a taurus revolver. Are my fears based only on internet conspiracy, or are there some issues with their rimfires?

Ruger is a tough brand to beat for a 22, but selecting a model that satisfies all of my wants and wishes is, as of yet, not feasible. Ideally, I'd get a snub'd sp101 variant - but I don't think ruger will bother with that market and canabalize the LCR's post.

thoughts and opinions?
 
A used S&W 617-1 (circa 1994 6” full-lug bbl, Stainless K-Frame, six-shot) ended up being one of my favorite firearms I ever purchased.
 
A nice vintage S&W model 18 would be on my list 4" barrel and very accurate. Personally I would only buy a Smith in .22 and it would be a K frame
 
My suggestion is that you find a S&W M63 (Steel J-frame DA). The current ones are 3", but the 5" barrels were discontinued a couple years ago. There are also older M63's that are 4" around. Saw one in a gunshop a month or so ago for $300 and I was very tempted, but cash supply was low. The M63 would probably be about perfect for your needs. The 5" is too long to put in your pocket.

The other nice 4" is the Colt Diamondback (DB) or the old Colt Trooper in 22LR. Both will be pricey with the DB being the most expensive.

The new Ruger SP-101 would work for your purpose as well.
 
I have a Ruger Single Ten that I use for hunting and plinking. My wife has an SP-101 22.

Either is an excellent choice for your purposes. It really comes down to personal preference. The SP-101 is quicker to load as you mentioned but I find the Single Ten has some advantages for me. I find that the Single Ten taking more time to load is not much of an issue. For plinking, I'm not in a big hurry, my wife and I enjoy shooting for a couple hours at a time when we shoot on our home range. For hunting squirrels and rabbits you seldom get more than one or two shots anyways. With practice, the Single Ten can be loaded quite fast. The loading gate is wide enough to load 2 rounds at a time and I can load it pretty quickly. The Single Ten has a lighter, smoother action than the SP-101. This is even after I installed a Wolff reduced power hammer spring in the SP-101. The revolver had too many misfires with the 9 lb and 10 lb springs but works flawlessly with the 12 lb spring. My wife likes it much better. The stock spring is rated at 14 lbs. My Single Ten has the stock springs in it and is so smooth and light that I see no room for improvement. YMMV. I also like the way a single action revolver naturally points, it feels like an extension of your arm. I love the fiber optic sights on the Single Ten, while the SP-101 has just the front fiber optic sight. I find, that for me, the Single Ten is more accurate of the two. I routinely shoot at .410 shotgun hulls at 10 yards offhand and hit 7 or 8 out of 10. Poker chips at 10-15 yards is also fun.

If you have the opportunity I would try shooting both of them and see which you prefer and which you are more accurate with. Hope this helps you and if you have any specific questions, I'd be glad to answer.
 
I have a Smith mdl 63 4". I bought it to carry in the woods when fishing etc. It is sweet little peice. I found a 651 .22 Magnun 4", This one lives either on me or in my backpack. I take my pack everywhere. The magnum is enough more cartridge than the .22 LR when you need it. But I used the .22 LR for years, it shoots great.
 
Look in the used section and think outside the box.

I picked this one up a week or two ago for less than $175.00 at the LGS. It's a High-Standard Sentinel R-106, DA/SA, with a 4" barrel. The cylinder holds nine rounds of long rifle ammo. The grips are plastic, the frame is aluminum. You pull the ejector rod out to swing open the cylinder, then push it to eject the empties. A nice, solid, good shooting revolver that's about the size of a "K" frame Smith & Wesson, only lighter.

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I would want at least a 4" barrel for range use and any type of small game hunting. To carry, I would buy a good holster. As to brand, thats up to you but I prefer S&W model 17 or 617.
 
If you can find one, there are a number of H&R .22 revolvers that might work for you. I used to have a 904 and often wish I'd never sold it.
 
I have a Single Ten, 2 Single Six convertibles, a S&W 317 3", S&W 617 4", SP101-22, Taurus 94 2" and an LCR-22. Stay as far away from the Taurus as you can. The triggers are terrible, and the quality control is staffed by, well... no one. If you can find one in stock, look it over really well, and know how to check out a revolver for problems. You can have 2 Taurus 94s side by side, and one will be good, and the other one will have issues. If you cant afford any of the Rugers or S&Ws, look to the used market. If you can afford, and find the SP101-22 or 617, buy one. The Single Ten or Single Six will be easier to find, and are excellent, if Single Action isnt a problem for you. The S&W 317 is a neat little revolver, and the aluminum construction is truly remarkable, but I have an issue with the Fiber Optic front sight. It has a rounded top, and the rear is a "V" notch. Its a very accurate revolver, but because of the sights, difficult to shoot accurately. I have changed the rear sight to a white outline square notch, and am in the process of finding a standard front sight for it. It kinda sucks to have to change things on a $700 revolver, but once I get it to my liking, there is nothing like it. The SP101-22 is probably more durable because its all steel, but at 10 oz, the 317 is by far the lightest 22 revolver there is.
 
Hard to beat the S&W M17 or M18, or current M617 in 4". They just are larger than the J-frame M63's. But they tend to have a better trigger overall. I suppose you could pocket carry a M18, but to me it is something that merits a holster.

I really like the Ruger Single Ten and I suppose I would like the Single Nine in 22 Mag. You just have to decide about SA and the size. The Ruger Bearcat is a much smaller SA 22 revolver that may fit your needs if smaller is that important.

In semi-auto, I have been very pleased with the Ruger SR-22P. It is very pocketable, but still big enough to shoot comfortably. But I don't know if it fits into the "hunting" catagory. Seems more of a plinker to me, but very reliable.
 
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Bearcat is OK for plinking and certainly small enough for any pocket. Hunting though? I find the sights leave a lot to be desired. YMMV
 
For any kind of small game hunting, I want at least a 4" barrel. A short barreled K-frame or Single Six/Ten would be ideal. Enough length/heft for hunting but small enough to carry easily. The Bearcat is another option. Mine is certainly accurate enough for close range small game and the sights are more than adequate but they take some discipline to shoot accurately due to their small stature.
 
Look for a used Single Six convertible, the .22 mag would be better for hunting due to it's greater range and power + you can use regular .22's for plinking. I seldom buy new guns as I find there are a great many used firearms out there that can be had for a fraction of the cost of a new one.

Two years ago I bought this Single Six as part of a package deal along with a .357 New Model Blackhawk. I paid $225 for the pair which I thought was a pretty good deal.
IMG_1863-XL.jpg
 
I would keep an eye on the used gun market.
There seems to be a lot of revolver trade ins at my LGS as people clamor for autos before the sky falls.
I found a nice used SP101. 4", 6 shot, low profile windage adjustable sights (all steel), half lug (saves a few ounces).
The low profile sights are nice, I can slip it into a pocket and put my thumb on the hammer to draw and it won't snag on the sights. A dab of hot pink nail polish makes the front sight nice and bright.
 
I would not buy a Taurus unless I could carefully inspect it beforehand. Some are quite nice, but too many of them seem to have problems.

A ruger single six with adjustable sights is hard to beat, and they are a good gun to buy used. Unless they have been obviously mistreated, there is seldom anything wrong with them. They are tough, simple little revolvers that won't surprise you.

Bearcats are nice, if you can manage the sights. I love mine but I find it trickier to shoot well, less forgiving of poor technique. Your grip has to be just right, and your trigger finger has to really work independently of the rest of your hand. The larger guns seem less affected by small errors here. However, if you can master it, it will serve you very well.

And old S&W 17 or 18 would be top of the line, but expect to pay more for it, and you'll want to inspect it first if you're buying used. Check crane alignment, and look for damaged screw heads. Inspect the muzzle for signs of wear from overcleaning. I'm one of those who seldom cleans rimfire barrels, cleaning seems to wear them out much more than shooting does.
 
I've been buying trading and selling .22LR hand guns for years trying to find the best, S/A, D/A and semi auto. I bought a used S&W 617ND 6" last year and found the perfect .22LR pistol! I haven't shot any other .22 pistol since then and may never.
 
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