.22LR Revolver

My first .22 revolver was a Taurus 94. Fit my hand great at the gunshow. Completely crap trigger once I got it to the range.

I since bought what I really wanted (because I coveted my cousin's) - an H&R Sportsman 999 breaktop revolver. I shoot it nearly as good as my Ruger MkII target gun. I carry it in the field at my folk's farm for varmits and snakes and such. They aren't made anymore but I see them from time to time for about $400.

My buddy just got a 4" 617. I like it a lot too but I shoot my H&R better (perhaps I'm more used to it but I think the trigger is better). I think I'd get a 6" model 17 if I had to get something else. I personaly like the longer partial underlug barrel more than the full underlug 617.
 
Ended up going with that 617-6 used but in great shape. Haven't had a chance to fire it yet, but the trigger is buttery smooth, and the single action is the best trigger I've come across in my limited exposure to 1911s and the like. Can't wait to get it to the range, Friday at the latest. Will post pictures.
 
Congratulations. That is a revolver that will last you a lifetime and then your grandchildren's lifetime.
 
617 also

Found a LNIB 617 also and when I saw the price of $550...it went on lay-a-way in a heart beat. Picked it up Friday and shot it on Monday. It is a very good shooter! I was ready to trade for a new one at $740. So I am a happy camper.:D
 
oldgranpa said:
"I then did some Chrony tests to compare with what Jeff Quinn reported....

http://www.gunblast.com/Ruger-LCR22.htm

Average results...
Win Dynapoint...860fps.....JQ...866.
CCI MiniMag.......1000fps...JQ...928
Fed BulkPac.......980fps......JQ...831
Velocitor............980fps......JQ...885
Stinger..............1300fps.....JQ...NA"

I've been looking into .22s and noticed something in your and Jeff's results.

Both of you show the MiniMag being faster than the Velocitor.

CCI's site shows 1235/1260 fps for the 40/36gr MiniMags, and 1435 fps for the Velocitor.

The CCI tests likely used rifle barrels, and yours used a 1 7/8" handgun.

Do you think the faster (per CCI) Velocitor was slower in the shorter barrel (your tests) than the MiniMag because of a slower burning propellant?
 
Hello Scotchman,,,

Well, I put my money where my mouth was,,,
I purchased a brand new Charter Arms target Pathfinder.

I paid $334 for it at The Evil Pawn Shop.

It is almost exactly the same size and shape,,,
As my S7W J-frame Model 34.

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The biggest difference between them is the full lug barrel,,,
But they feel and handle exactly the same.

I bought this as a gift for a wonderful young lady I know,,,
We have been shooting together for a while now,,,
She has put 550 rounds through it,,,
And likes it very much.

She doesn't know it's hers as yet,,,
I haven't quite finished the gun-belt and holster.

It was (is) stiff right out of the box,,,
But I attribute that to it's being brand new,,,
We are breaking it in now and I think it's loosening up nicely.

I'm not a fan of rubber grips,,,
But I must say that these are comfortable.

The only thing I don't like is the front sight,,,
It's a smooth ramp that tends to disappear in bright light,,,
I am going to apply some orange paint to try and correct that problem.

Yes, my Model 34 and Model 63 are great guns,,,
But I feel that this Charter Pathfinder will be just fine for her.

Especially at it's very affordable price point.

Aarond

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I bought a model 17 about 25 years ago and have put a gazillion rounds thru it. I bought a 617 about two years ago and have put hundreds of rouns thru it. Upon my demise my two miserable Grand Kids will inherit two tack driving .22 handguns.
 
I bought a S&W 63 years ago and it's a good shooter. My only criticism is the double action trigger is heavy.....my guess around 12lbs, and I assume that's for rimfire ignition reliability. And for whatever reason, after I'm shooting the gun for awhile and the cylinder heats up, it becomes more and more difficult to extract spent casings.



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Back in the olden days my camping gun was a 4 5/8 blue Ruger super single six convertible. I still regret letting that one go, but since I was doing more rafting and kayaking, I got it into my head that I needed a stainless gun, so I traded the in the Ruger for a 4 inch Smith mod. 63, Also a great gun, too good in fact, because my best friend's wife fell in love with it, and he hounded me until I sold it to him for her. I now pack a 3 inch Ruger SP101. With .38 wadcutters, it's a nice plinker/small game gun and a variety of ammo, up to .357 mag makes it suitable for just about anything I need.
 
I guess it just proves that there's an exception to everything. I had the m617 itch a few years ago and bought what I thought was a pretty minty example on GB'r and was sorely disappointed with it. It shaved lead pretty bad and took a long time cleaning up the scorch marks off the cylinder after firing 20 or 30 rounds.
I took a bath on that one. S&W wouldn't warranty it because I didn't buy it new. I bought a Bersa semi auto 22 and like it a lot. I also found a used J.C.Higgins (High Standard) that fills the 22 revolver nitch pretty well.
Not knocking S&W, I have others I like alot, and would hate to part with those.
 
I have a Ruger Single Six with a 9" barrel and have never regretted buying it, it's a great shooter. I now want a double action .22lr revolver with a 6" barrel and have settled on getting a S&W 617. It is an expensive gun but everyone that owns on seems to be in love so I put money down at a gun shop and my order has been put in with his distributor. They told him that they expect some in this month, I can't wait!
 
You did good with the 4" 617 if I understand your choice. I also think the 6" is a little front heavy and certainly heavier than I want for a woods toy. The best price I have seen on a used 617 was $500 and that was a couple years ago.
 
This thread is from back in July, but I can provide an update since it seems to have resurfaced.

I purchased a used 4" 617, and kept it until about two weeks ago. I probably put 500 rounds or so through it. I found it similarly difficult to keep clean, but that seems to be the case with any revolver.

I had a Hi-Viz red fiber optic front site professionally installed in place of the ramp. This significantly improved the site picture for me. Here it is:

qPPKc.jpg


Back in January, a Ruger 22/45 Lite caught my eye at the LGS, and it ended up following me home. I fell in love with it. I put Ruger's after market fiber optic front and rear sites on it (made by a different manufacturer but sold through their site. Got them cheaper from Midway). Green rear and red front, makes it really pop.

The gun is a much closer simulation of my other semi-autos, and a lot easier to reload with the McFadden reloader I picked up. I found myself always packing that along in the range bag, and the 617 getting no love.

I am generally loathe to sell any gun, as I have regretted most of the sales I've made. So I sat on the 617 for a while and thought about it, but eventually decided that it was a lot of money just sitting in the safe not getting used. I couldn't really think of a scenario where I would take the 617 over the Ruger. Possibly for shooting CB Longs and Shorts, but I generally use a rifle for that anyway, and it's not the end of the world if I have to rack the slide to cycle the gun.

So, I let the 617 go, and traded it towards another revolver that I have more use for. While I owned it, I had no complaints with the 617, other than the difficulty in loading those tiny .22 rounds into all 10 of those tiny chambers. The McFadden system really makes it a breeze to load and shoot all day. I think if I was doing it again, and absolutely wanted a revolver, I would probably go for a M63 or an SP101 just because they already have the fiber optic site there.

Hopefully this isn't one I regret letting go of!
 
If you like revovlers or grow to like revolvers more, I suspect you will regret selling the M617. The 3" M63 is a nice little 22 revolver and I want one. Just never see them... ever in gunshops. Your M617 was a better gun than the Ruger SP-101 in my opinion.
 
22-R may be right about regretting the sale. I shoot my S&W .22 revolvers a lot. Las time I benched the 17 I got a 1 5/8" 25yd group That's from a guy whose eyesight sucks.


 
I've regretted selling/trading almost every gun I've let go. For some reason, I think this one was a good choice. The semi-auto .22 just does what I want it to so much better.

The M617 is also a premium, high dollar gun, and while I normally am more than OK spending to get the best, the 617 was not getting the attention or love it deserved. A Charter Arms Pathfinder (as recommended to me earlier in the thread), probably would have accomplished the task just as well.
 
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