My First Revolver!!

S

Skullygirl

Inactive
I am new to this forum and fairly new to shooting...so hello!

I am looking for feedback/advice on my first gun. I am in the market for a .22LR revolver, probably a 6" barrel, for target shooting. I will be using it with iron sights, potentially getting into some competition stuff. Right now I am shooting my husband's S&W revolver with pretty good results. I'm not sure the model (NOT the S&W 617, which i DO have my eyes on for my first purchase), but it's a .22LR w 6 rounds and a shortish barrel (maybe 3"-4") and synthetic grips, which I'm just not a huge fan of (but truly, that is a secondary consideration and I could be swayed).

That being said, I'm SO excited to get my very own gun. While I actually do really well on the targets with my husband's revolver, he and I both think the "right" gun, one designed more for target shooting, will just put me over the top!

Oh, and for arguments sake, let's just imagine cost is not a factor. :)
Thanks!
 
Welcome! You will get lots of recommendations here, and there are many good choices. But it really comes down to what works for you. So here we go. I'll vote for a Dan Wesson. I have a stainless 22 and love it. Great triggers and very accurate. Plus you can change the barrel length if you want(and have the barrels).

Here's a sweet Pistol Pack on Gunbroker. Pretty spendy though, but hey, you said cost is not a factor:D

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=280796541

That new Ruger Single 10 and the new SP101 in 22 would be worth looking at as well.

I'm not all that familiar with what Smith has in 22 so I'll let others go there. But they will certainly have some great choices too.

Have fun.
 
If you like a snubnose revolver, then we would be doing you injustice by not suggesting you at least checkout the Ruger LCRs. They are available in .22lr, .38 special and .357 magnum. IMHO they have the best trigger of any DAO revolver right out of the box. They are a little odd looking but handle very well.
 
Skullygril:

If you are seriously contempleting target accuracy, then a six inch barrel is a must. The distance betweem the sights allows you more leway when shooting. If you can find a used Smith K 22 you'll be very happy with it. The Smith 617 is a very accurate pistol also. Happy shooting.

Semper Fi.

Gunnery sergeant
Clifford L. Hughes
USMC Retired
 
I agree with GySgt that a 6" K-22, or it's descendent, the Model 17 would be an excellent choice.

The 617 is a great revolver, too. I have one in 4", and it rivals the accuracy of my 6" K-22, but many (including me) think the full underlug makes the 6" 617 feel muzzle heavy.

Dan Wessons have a great reputation for accuracy as well.

Oh, and for arguments sake, let's just imagine cost is not a factor.
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ok, then, if you were planning on shooting it single action anyway, how 'bout a .22Lr revolver from Freedom Arms? Their reputation for superlative accuracy is well-established.
 
^ Oh yeah, I forgot Freedom Arms made a .22. I usually think of high powered calibers when I hear the name. So if money was no issue, that's what I'd get. They are beautiful guns.
 
Nuther +1 on the K-22 or 17.

And welcome aboard- hope to see you and your hubby back here often. TFL is a great place to hang out.
 
Thx for all the great input! I did check out the Freedom Arms...beautiful guns! I could probably even convince the hubby that they are worth the price tag, seeing that a revolver like that would be a perfect heirloom gun for our son (he's 18 months now...but SOMEDAY!!). However, it looks like the .22s are all 10" barrels (I think I would be more comfortable in the neighborhood of 6"). Also not sure about the hand seating with a wood dowel...hmmmmm??

Definitely want to check out the k-22 / 17. Not quite clear on the genealogy of these guys. Seems the k-22 ("Outdoorsman") is the grandpapa, but this was somewhat tweaked into the k-22- "Masterpiece"...followed by the next offspring, the model 17 k-22. As i understnd it, these have all been out of production for sometime. Then we have the current in-production grandbaby ... the 617. Did I get that sorta right?

Came across this interesting article on that subject matter today... http://www.gunandgame.com/forums/smith-wesson/62119-lets-discuss-famous-s-w-k-22-masterpiece.html
 
Thx for all the great input! I did check out the Freedom Arms...beautiful guns! I could probably even convince the hubby that they are worth the price tag, seeing that a revolver like that would be a perfect heirloom gun for our son (he's 18 months now...but SOMEDAY!!). However, it looks like the .22s are all 10" barrels (I think I would be more comfortable in the neighborhood of 6"). Also not sure about the hand seating with a wood dowel...hmmmmm??
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Freedom does make a different model that comes in various barrel lengths. Under their Guns section, scroll all the way down to the bottom of the page and you'll find the Model 27. Click on the "Premier Grade" link down there, and you'll find a 22 version that you can get in 4.5", 5.5", 7.5" and 10". Also they come with what they call the "Sporting Chambers" which are a bit larger in diameter, so the shells will go in and out easier. If you would prefer a different model with a shorter barrel length, they will custom build one for you(for an additional fee of course).
 
I'm a big fan of the M 617. But you should go to a range that rents them and try one out. It is a relatively heavy gun and some people don't like that.

As others have said the earlier models such as the K-22, M 17, and M 18. almost the same gun, but they don't have the full under lug that adds weight.

Another option is the M 63 a lighter gun that you might want to check out.

There are a couple of single action revolvers you might want to check out. The Ruger single six and the Colt New Frontier. Both are more accurate than most people and both have the 1873 SAA form that lots of people find very natural to point.
 
Then we have the current in-production grandbaby ... the 617. Did I get that sorta right?
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Mostly right except that S&W makes "classic" version of both the Model 17 and Model 18.

I'd suggest looking in the used market. These guns are very durable and, given minimal maintenance, most of them will work just as well as the day they were made
 
If you are seriously contempleting target accuracy, then a six inch barrel is a must. The distance betweem the sights allows you more leway when shooting. If you can find a used Smith K 22 you'll be very happy with it.
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I also agree with the gunny Sgt.on the K-22. I have one it is a real tack driver and lots of fun to shoot.
 
Don't overlook the K22 with an 8 and 3/8 inch barrel.
Super accurate and surprisingly not front heavy.
 
I have been reading that the 617 can be a lil heavy. Not to pull the girl card here...but the strength in my arms DOES leave something to be desired. They do tend to get tired when on the range. And any notion of competitive target shooting in which I will need to hold a gun for 90 rounds with ONE hand, has me definitely concerned about weight. It seems that the 617 is weighing in at 44.2 oz, and the Model 17 at 40.0 oz. I imagine 4+ oz under those conditions might become rather noticeable?

We belong to a sportsman's club, and I am hoping to make friends with people that own these few guns I've seemed to narrow my decision down to. I'll keep my eyes peeled at the range for these guns, and start asking around. I think the only way to really figure out what I'm going to like best, is to shoot it!

Oh, and although I hadn't mentioned it before, I prefer to shoot single action, but want the flexibility to also shoot double action. I have a feeling that a smoother trigger might make the double action a lil' more enjoyable than it is with the gun I'm shooting now ;)
 
Either a K22/Model 17. The 617 is nice I suppose, but stainless steel and rubber grips are no match for blue steel and walnut.
 
Welcome to the forum...."let's just imagine that cost is no object"...wow....in 42 years of marriage, I don't ever remember my wife uttering those words with respect to a gun!....

That said, I recommend that you go to a firing range where they offer rental guns to try. You can find one that fits your hands and that you are comfortable using. If you plan to use it eventually in some sort of competition, then an auto loader is probably the route to go...as a new shooter, learning the basics with an auto loader can be done, safely, with an instructor who knows his or her stuff, but a revolver is a better choice from the safety standpoint.

As to barrel length, I think you'll find that 6" makes up for a big hand gun. A four inch barrel can be more useful in the long run and will not hurt your competitive scores. I shot a Colt Woodsman with a 4" barrel for years in a NRA 50' bullseye league with good success as an example. And if you find you enjoy plinking at informal targets, and carrying the gun when you back pack, hike or fish, the shorter barrel is far more convenient. (The longer 6" models make sitting in any kind of a vehicle, or for that matter on the ground or in a chair an exercise in "it's sticking me in the ribs"!)

Weight....there's a tendency among new shooters to select a first gun that's too light...weight helps to steady your aim as you concentrate on the sights. A 4" barreled S&W, Colt, or a 4-5/8" Ruger will weigh just enough to help in that regard without tiring you out.

If it was me, I'd opt for a revolver made by Ruger Single Six in 22 lr, or one of the S&W's. I'd stay away from Taurus for their spotty reputation for quality. Colt, if you can find one, made quality revolvers in .22 lr for years, but you'll have to look on the used gun market. In any event, try the trigger at the store, and pick one that's smooth with a crisp break as the hammer falls.

If you want to go the auto-loader route, then S&W, Beretta, and Ruger all make first rate guns. Again, a good trigger will make learning easier and more fun for you. Good luck in your search. Rodfac (30Cal's Dad)
 
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