22lr plinkers

O

Ocraknife

New member
I'd like to have a 22lr revolver that I could use for plinking and poking holes in paper but it's been so long since bought a revolver that I'm not sure what is on the market and what is a good value.

I've heard that S&W and Ruger both make .22s based off their medium sized centerfire platforms and they are priced pretty much the same as the higher powered chamberings. Is that pretty much the rule? That is, should I expect to pay as much for a good .22 as I would a .357 mag or .44 mag? Not that I could see any real reason why a .22 would be cheaper I'm just trying to manage my expectations.

Weight doesn't matter but I have bigger than average hands so a small gun would be no fun at all to me. I'd rather have a longer barrel because the longer site radius makes it a little easier for me to shoot.

I'm good with SA or DA

Any suggestions? If possible I'd like to keep it $500 or less but I could go up if need be.

Thanks.

Okra
 
A quality .22 revolver will cost the same as a quality .357

The Ruger Single Ten is excellent. Its a single action 10 shot based on the Single Six. As far as plinking, I think its a fine example. $500

Ruger just announced a GP100 in 22 LR. It will give competition to the S$W 617. Neither of those will be in the $500 range. The 617 goes around $650, and I bet the GP100-22 will be around that price point.

Ruger also has the SP101-22. Mine is a nice revolver, but a Wolff spring swap is needed to make the trigger manageable. Its right at the $500 mark, new.

S$W has the model 63, but again... $650

Charter Arms has the Pathfinder. Taurus has the 990. Those last two are in the budget class... the Charter $350, the Taurus $450. Both are well made, and would serve well. I have the 4" Pathfinder, and its a nice revolver, but it isn't pretty, like a Ruger or Smith.
 
I love my Ruger Single Six. It is the second one I have had. They have both been great. I have XL hands, but you are supposed to tuck your pinkie underneath a SA plough handle grip anyway, or so I have been told. It works fine for me.
 
I'm looking too, considering a S&W 617 and the Ruger GP100.

I'd Considered the Single 6/10, but I think I want the convenience of loading and unloading from a DA revolver, and a larger grip and frame for my big hands. The S&W may be worth the extra money aesthetically and for the trigger, we'll see.
 
I'd probably wait a bit until the Ruger GP-100 in 22LR hits retail and then take a hard look at it and the S&W M617. The old Colt Trooper Mark III revolver is a good one as well for someone that likes a big 22 revolver. You have to buy those "used" but you can certainly find them in as-new condition. They used to sell for about what a used M17/617 did, but have seemed to bounce up in the last year or so in price, probably due to collectors, but also because it is basically the least expensive Colt DA revolver in 22LR. It's high quality.
 
I would look around for a High Standard Sentinel 22 revolver. They can be found used for around $300.00. For a cheap revolver they are reliable and have a smooth double action. They are no longer being manufactured.
 
As for me, the Ruger Single Six works great. Mine is 6 1/2". If there was any reasonably priced .22LR bulk around, I'd be shooting it a lot more. As for kicking them out one at a time, no biggie... At least for me. Not a speed shooter to see how many rounds I can shoot in 'x' number of minutes. More interested in hitting something with it :) . Whether a SA or a DA, it's all a personal preference thing.
 
With 22's I really do not like to push each round out of the cylinder. No problem with larger calibers. I have a couple single action 22 revolvers, but always go for the double action ones if for no other reason than loading and unloading. Wanted to buy the Ruger Single 10 after handling one and decided I simply would not shoot it when I have a dozen double action shooters already.

For pure plinking and range fun, I recommend a double action 22 revolver.

I also recommend you buy a "good one" first. Confine your search to Colt, Smith & Wesson and Ruger and you'll be okay.
 
I have two .22 plinkers, a Heritage Rough Rider and a S&W 17-4. Hands down the Smith is a better, and more accurate target, shooter, but the Rough Rider is the most fun. Mine is a bird's head grip 4", and there's something to be said about looking at your targets and stating to them, "I'll be your huckleberry!".

You can't go wrong with a Smith or Ruger, although I don't have a Ruger wheel, I do have a MK III, for high end, or the Heritage for value single action plinking, IME.

I also wouldn't discount the Charter, or Taurus, offerings.
 
My wife picked up a Model 317 (S&W). It's a 3 inch, but the sights are great and the trigger is typical S&W butter smooth. She's a relative beginner, but was able to hit the black consistently with a few in the center on a 50 yard target at 9 yards. DA/SA, light, accurate. Pretty much what I want in a plinker.
 
If you want a fine 22 target revolver you want to handle it in person, imho. Everyone may tell you that the such-and-such model has a great trigger, but you might order it and receive the one with the worst trigger that the factory sent out that week. No two guns are exactly alike.
 
I recommend the Single-Six. Everyone I know who has one loves it. My second handgun was an RG $69 cowboy pistol back in 1979. Couldn't afford to shoot my .357 Security-Six, so I got the RG. It was a cheap gun that needed its plastic grips changed after every outing. I sold it to buy a Ruger Standard Auto and missed it so much that I later bought my Single-Six. Very nice shooter, like the extra cylinder and it's very accurate.





Ruger Single-Six

The Ruger SP-101 .22lr is a very heavy little gun I'm not overly fond of. Also very accurate, but you'll have to wait for the action to smooth out.



Ruger SP-101, a heavy but well made revolver.

I once had a S&W 63 Kit Gun that I loved. Fun to shoot, but very expensive and I had to wait months on a list to get it. It was stolen out of my apartment and I replaced it with two of these Rossis. I was amazed to find it easier to shoot, just as fun to shoot and every bit as accurate, not to mention cheaper! If you can find this or a modern Rossi, you might give it a shot. I later gave one to a friend.





Rossi .22, a low cost, accurate, well made revolver.
 
Thanks. I think I'd rather go ahead and spend a little more to get what I want.
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Then buy the best. Look for an older S&W Model 17. I bought this Model 17-3 brand-spanky new in 1975 for $125. You will have to pay a bit more for one now.


Model_17-301_zpsced0a477.jpg




Or it's older brother the K-22. Don't let its worn appearance fool you. This K-22 from 1931 is the most accurate 22 caliber revolver I own, and I have a bunch. It has the best and lightest single action trigger pull of any revolver I own. Best of all, I only paid $550 for it a few years ago because of its appearance. The only caution I will mention is that you need a tiny screwdriver to adjust the rear sight. They changed that a few years later.


K%2022%201932%2001_zpsvyvgivt0.jpg



In this photo, the old K-22 is at the top, the Model 17-3 is in the middle, and a modern Model 617 is at the bottom. The 617 is a ten shooter, but I really do not like the heavy, full length underlug. I think it makes for a butt ugly gun. And the action and workmanship does not compare to the older guns.

k22m1761702_zps46185241.jpg
 
Once you go longtube you will never go back :D



All kidding aside the long tube S&Ws balance much better than you would think and are very accurate.
 
There are some decent H&R .22s out there also. No semi?
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I have a pretty decent Ruger MK III. I don't know the full name of the thing but it is stainless, has rosewood grips and has a "USA Shooter" logo on it. Whatever it is, it shoots well. Still, that doesn't stop the revolver gas (gun acquisition syndrome). It is like the age old comparison of Fender vs Gibson. I've always said BOTH! Same with revolvers and semi autos.
 
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