Recommendations for a Revolver in .22 Long Rifle

July 22, 2019, 05:04 PM

What does everyone like for a high quality .22 Long Rifle Revolver? I have a Colt Offical Police which is more of an heirloom and a High Standard Camp Gun which is less than impressive. I’ve looked at S&W 34 “Kit” guns and the 617. Looking for one for target shooting, but wouldn’t mind something compact as well. Appreciate any input.

July 22, 2019, 05:12 PM

9mmnut

Look no more. Go out and buy the S&W 617. I have a 4 inch that I shoot with a red dot and 6 inch with open sights. Hard to beat. I suggest buying in person so you can check it out rather than on line.

July 22, 2019, 05:51 PM

YooperSigs

S&W K-22 Masterpiece. If you can find one.

July 22, 2019, 06:01 PM

Dakota Slim

Smith & Wesson is the "last stop" in high quality double action rim-fire revolvers.
If you want new production (and a warranty) the full size (k-frame) 617 and compact (j-frame) 63 are the basic choices, and they simply have no peer in the category. There's also the Airweight j-frame 317 "Kit Gun", but these aren't made for high volume shooting and are difficult to shoot well due to the light weight of the gun (11.7 ounces).
If you are willing to look at used examples, the 4 inch barreled Model 18 ".22 Combat Masterpiece" is my favorite in the K-frame rim-fire models and are considered by many to be "the best of the best". You can also look at the 6 inch barreled Model 17 "Target masterpiece" in the K-frame offerings. The Model 34 (blued) and Model 63 (stainless) "Kit Guns" are also wonderful little (j-frame) guns and available in 2 and 4 inch barreled examples.

My current favorite rim-fire revolver is my Dan Wesson Model 22-4VH. Extremely high quality, beautifully made, and as accurate as revolvers get, but scarce and some raise concerns over parts availability. I, however, can't imaging anything ever breaking on this L-Frame size brute of a .22.
None of these guns are cheap in any sense of the word, but quality is an end in itself, and with proper care any of these guns will outlast your grandkid's grandkids. It's all a matter of figuring out exactly what you want the gun to do and choosing the best fit for your use!
Good Luck!!

July 22, 2019, 06:19 PM

brianfede

quote:
Originally posted by Dakota Slim:
Smith & Wesson is the "last stop" in high quality double action rim-fire revolvers.
If you want new production (and a warranty) the full size (k-frame) 617 and compact (j-frame) 63 are the basic choices, and they simply have no peer in the category. There's also the Airweight j-frame 317 "Kit Gun", but these aren't made for high volume shooting and are difficult to shoot well due to the light weight of the gun (11.7 ounces).
If you are willing to look at used examples, the 4 inch barreled Model 18 ".22 Combat Masterpiece" is my favorite in the K-frame rim-fire models and are considered by many to be "the best of the best". You can also look at the 6 inch barreled Model 17 "Target masterpiece" in the K-frame offerings. The Model 34 (blued) and Model 63 (stainless) "Kit Guns" are also wonderful little (j-frame) guns and available in 2 and 4 inch barreled examples.

My current favorite rim-fire revolver is my Dan Wesson Model 22-4VH. Extremely high quality, beautifully made, and as accurate as revolvers get, but scarce and some raise concerns over parts availability. I, however, can't imaging anything ever breaking on this L-Frame size brute of a .22.
None of these guns are cheap in any sense of the word, but quality is an end in itself, and with proper care any of these guns will outlast your grandkid's grandkids. It's all a matter of figuring out exactly what you want the gun to do and choosing the best fit for your use!
Good Luck!!

I agree with Dakota's advice with a preference for the older Smith's. I have the 17 (6 inch), 18 (4 inch) and 34 (2 inch). I typically prefer short barrel revolvers but if I had to pick just one, it would be the Model 17.

July 22, 2019, 06:33 PM

SigSentry

The GP-100 ain't half bad.

July 22, 2019, 07:02 PM

newmexican

I’ve got a Ruger lcrx that’s come in handy for ptarmigans and grouse.

July 22, 2019, 07:16 PM

valkyrie1

S&W 617,6 inch barrel and 10 rds, never had an issue,killed a ton of rabbits and birds with a laser grip.

July 22, 2019, 07:33 PM

henryaz

S&W 617, 4", 10 shot, stays loaded with CCI shot shells and lives near the front door. It is our dedicated snake gun.

July 22, 2019, 07:35 PM

2000Z-71

If you can find one, a used pre-lock Smith & Wesson K-frame. I've got 2 of them and they will never leave my collection. I searched for probably 15 years for a pre-lock, 10 shot cylinder 4" 617 and finally found one after moving to Alaska. My 6" 617 full lug was a, "Consolation Prize" I ran across while searching for the 617.

They are both well made and extremely accurate. The 617 as far as I can tell has a stock trigger. That said it is probably the easiest trigger to stage of any Smith that I own.

July 22, 2019, 07:37 PM

Pale Horse

I had a new production S&W 617 that was pretty nice when it went bang, which wasn’t always unfortunately. It also had one chamber that was pretty tight and made extraction difficult. Then after firing a hundred or so rounds it would be hard to chamber new cartridges. I traded it for an old model SP101 to a guy who thought he could fix it himself. The old SP101 doesn’t have as light a trigger but it goes bang every time I ask it to.

I’ve owned 3 new Smith and Wesson revolvers and had problems with two of them. I like their older guns but I’ll pass on anything new.

Of course I’ve sent a Ruger revolver back and had another NIB with a bent rear sight so nobody is perfect. Personally I’d go play with a few of the Ruger and Smith offerings and make my choice based on what felt best in my hand. I would ignore the idea that one brand is superior to the other though because while it may have once been true I don’t think it is so much anymore.

One company didn’t drill a hole in the side of their guns twenty years ago though and on more than one occasion that’s played into my decision too.

July 22, 2019, 07:40 PM

SW_Sig

I have a 17-3 K22 Masterpiece 6” and a 617 no dash 6” full lug with factory combat grips.

I was fortunate that they both came with the original boxes, Paperwork, and tools.

July 22, 2019, 07:59 PM

captain127

My current favorites are a 17 from the mid 60’s ( though I wish it had the more recent production 10 shot cylinder- I hate the full lug and stainless so have to stick with the 6 shot.
My smaller one is a 2” 34 6 shot. I shoot steel challenge with it and even on targets at 40+ yards rarely need the extra round to hit the 5 targets per string.
If they made a no lug blued steel 10 shot k frame I would be first in line

July 22, 2019, 08:28 PM

Browndrake

For an all around great little .22 revolver I settled on the S&W 63 with a 3” barrel. I’ve owned quite a few .22 handguns over the years including both the 4” and 6” 617, but the 63 just hits the sweet spot for my uses.

July 22, 2019, 08:49 PM

12131

This one, https://sigforum.com/eve/forums...0601935/m/8200006854

July 23, 2019, 12:32 AM

jimmy123x

I've had both a 617 and model 17. I much prefer the model 17 6" barrel as it has no underlug and balances really nice. The 617 balances fine in 4" and the 10 shot cylinder is much nicer than the 6 shot on the 17 (for the range), but the 617 becomes very heavy and doesn't balance well at 6" and 8 3/8" barrel lengths IMO.