General recommendation: .22 plinking revolver

S

Stiletto

New member
So apparently, I can't actually BUY one yet (being under 21 and in North Carolina), but I can certainly start saving up for firearms when I am "of age" :rolleyes:.

So far my wishlist includes a USP40 (fullsize) and maybe some extra mags, so that's $800 so far.

What are you recommendations for a .22 plinker? I'm thinking something with a longish barrel, for better sight radius and accuracy and such. Name anything, any price; I won't be buying anything for a while, and I assume .22 revolvers don't really get that expensive anyway.
 
Most .22lr revolvers will be more expensive than the semi-autos. A very good one that can be found relatively cheap is the H&R 999. It is a top break design and most are quite accurate. They have been made for many decades and plenty of examples are all over.
If you rather have a swingout cylinder you can hunt up an affordable S&W K22. Taurus makes a similar model that would probably be cheaper.
Then there are the single actions where the Ruger Single Six rules the game. It probably comes in more variations than any other .22 handgun on the market.
 
My plinking revolver is a Ruger SP 101, 4" .22LR. I'm pleased with it.

Geoff
Who would have bought a .22 Kit Gun from S&W but they weren't available at the time. :cool:
 
Smith & Wesson K-22. Models 17 (blue 6"), 18 (blue 4") and 617 (stainless in both lengths). JMHO, but I don't think there's a better .22 wheelgun out there. :D

I assume .22 revolvers don't really get that expensive anyway.
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Don't bet on it. They can get a bit pricey. A good condition K22 will usually run you between $350 and $400. Really nice ones cost even more.
 
I like the 617 4" 10-shot Smith and Wesson I have. It is a shame they are so expensive, but there is no getting around the fact they are the same to machine as a larger caliber revolver. I look at mine as a wheelgun trainer. It has a heavier trigger pull than my 686, but then I look at it as a workout as well. I like the Ruger MKII autos a lot as well.
 
Same combo, both in 4 in. They're like twins. I also figured that DA practice with the 617 would help out with less frequent/more expensive practice with the 686. Someday I'll reload, but for now the 22 is king.
 
Nothing wrong with a Ruger Bearcat. It's a great trail gun and small & light. The Ruger Single Six's are reputed to be even better and have adj. sights, but I have no direct experiance with them.
 
Ruger Sp101, S&W mod 617 or 17, Ruger single six, Colt Trooper (if you can find one) . Not allot of other 22 revolvers I could recommend (and I've owned ALLOT of them)
 
check out the Taurus Tracker. Its a sweet little revolver with a 6.5" or maybe a bit longer barrel and very accurate. The one my friend has come from the factory shooting great, hes never touched the sights. We were hitting a 300 yard target pretty regularly last weekend with it. Price wise I"m thinking he paid around $350 or $400 for it.
 
.22 plinking revolver

I just purchased a Taurus 94 for this purpose.Its a 9 shot with 4" barrel and more acurate than expected.If budget is a consideration these are quite a bit cheaper than some others mentioned,i bought mine on the net in excellent condition for $175.00. Another reason i like it so well i have an abundance of different kinds of .22 ammo s,l,lr,cb,colibri ect. and of course it will chamber them all.Just a perfect little gun for plinking. Good luck Shoot safe
 
I also highly recommend taking a look at a S&W K-22 - I'm very happy with my Model 17. They are not inexpensive - but they are quality and a true piece of firearms history.
 
I'm very happy with my Ruger Bisley Single Six. It's the most accurate handgun I own. It's a single action.

If you want a DA/SA gun I'd save my pennies and get the S&W K22 others have mentioned. You can get used ones for $350-400.

I bought a Taurus 94 some time ago and ended up selling it a few months later. Didn't like the trigger (and couldn't fix it with new springs), adjustable sights wouldn't stay tight, and even when they did it wasn't terribly accurate.

-- Sam
 
I'll add my .02 for the S&W K-22.

Mine is probably more accurate than I'll ever be. And as someone else said, if you get one of the older ones, you truly feel like you are holding/shooting a piece of history.
 
Maybe I could mention the Colt Diamondback. I've seen them in 4" and 6". I have a 6" and my Dad has a S&W K-.22 6"...both shoot better than I hold. Good idea to have a .22 plinker. I always seem to start and finish my range trips with the .22.
Mark.
 
S&W K-22's are fine revolvers. I like the Colt Diamondbacks but they cost so darn much I'm afraid to shoot one anymore. I would love to find a diamondback in about 90-95% condition that would NOT qualify for a collector gun and just shoot the heck out of it. Colt made the Officers Model Match that is hard to beat. It is one of the finest 22 revolvers ever made. I like the old Troopers too and am begining to look more closely at the Colt Trooper Mark III's these days. As you can tell, I'm a Colt fan. Colt made other 22 revolvers (Police Positive, Official Police, Cobra, Courier), but the top ones are probably listed from recent post-war production. The pricing ranges from moderately high ($400-ish) to very high in as new condition. I have no experience with the Taurus Tracker, but have owned a H&R 999 which I did not particularily like. (Sights worked loose all the time, blew lead and powder out a bunch around the cylinder). I stay away from the really inexpensive stuff for the most part, but the Rugers are fine revolvers in general; just not as smooth as the Colts and Smiths.
 
Maybe I could mention the Colt Diamondback.
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The market for anything with a horsie on it has gone absolutely crazy, but even against that inflationary backdrop, the price spike on .22 Diamondbacks stands out. It wasn't too long ago that they were middlin' priced revolvers, comparably stickered to a decent K-22; nowadays you'll see grown men nearly come to knuckle-jousts in gun show aisles over a good example.

I just purchased a Taurus 94 for this purpose.
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With the demise of the Model 34, and no "634" replacement in sight, S&W has effectively abandoned this market niche to Taurus. A kid's first .22 revolver should be small of frame, of steel construction for ruggedness and recoil moderation, and inexpensive. Oh, well, at least the S&W 317 gets one out of three, being made of unobtainium and priced like imported sin...

I also highly recommend taking a look at a S&W K-22 - I'm very happy with my Model 17. They are not inexpensive - but they are quality and a true piece of firearms history.
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I'll third (or fifth, or whatever) this suggestion. A K-frame .22 is just a wonderful, wonderful gun. From the original K-22's to the current 617 "ten-shooters", you're unlikely to be disappointed. If you're lucky enough to find a good early one, your plinker will even appreciate as you shoot it. ;)
 
Look around and be patient; bargains will turn up. I recently found a beautiful S&W 34 that has been a joy. I specifically wanted a 6-shot (I'm old-fashioned), so this jewel has been the cat's meow. I was very fortunate to come across a Pachmyer grip that gives the J-frame a K-frame trigger reach, so it's like having two guns.
 
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