Your Favorite Smith Wesson .22 LR caliber "Kit Gun"?

A

Ala Dan

Member in memoriam
Greeting's Everyone;

I was just wondering if any TFL member's had an opinion on
what they think is the best Smith & Wesson .22 LR caliber
"Kit Gun" of all time? Would it be the model 34, 35, 43, 63,
or the 317? Personally, the only one I've ever owned was
a 2" barrel, blue steel model 34. Great little firearm, the
only drawback is it's weight. Personally, I would favor the
3.5" barrel Airweight model 43. However, most of
these "crown jewel's" have been discontinued; and are
rather hard to find. So, what's your favorite? All replies
are certainly welcome.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
 
Model 34

Greetings Ala Dan,

I wish I could help you with a comparison of all of the models you listed, but there is only one model that I have any experience with. I inherited my Grandfathers model 34 a number of years back, blue w/4" barrel, the same pistol he taught me to shoot with when I was 6. Overall, an excellent, accurate, little pistol with a lot of fond memories associated with it.

Warmest Regards
 
I've been disappointed in the 63

with regard to accuracy. In hindsight, perhaps I was just handicapped due to the white front sight. Even coating mith a Sharpie, though, didn't seem to help.

I found a pre-M43(4-digit serial) recently that's been around the block a time or two. However, it's definitely in the K-frame league as far as accuracy and action. It needs a couple of tweaks, and it'll be a sweetheart.:)
 
I've owned a model 34, model 34 in nickel, a 3" 317 and a 63.

My choice is the model 63.
 

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Mod 650

IF you can find one, the model 650 was beyond cool as far as I'm concerned. J frame, fixed sights 3" heavy barrel. .22 mag. Sent it to the factory and they installed an extra .22 LR cylinder. The only other .22 revolvers I have are a mod. 18 and a Colt Diamondback.
 
Great looking pair of S&W's there 9X19, thanks for sharing
the pic.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
 
I've had a couple - - -

Back in the late 60s I bought a 4" square butt. It was a neat, accurate little handgun, but I just flat didn't like the looks. Beauty in eye of the beholder, you know. I never liked the appearence of the J-frame square butt--Too long and skinny or something. And the four-inch bbl looks out of place on the J frame. The 3 or 3.5" look much more in proportion. I know, I know - - -I'm talking esthetics, not function, and very subjective esthetics, at that. I also dislike the tanto blade shape. Sue me!:p

Around 1971, though, I blundered across a NIB 2" round butt M34. Cute as a bug! Yeah, a little heavy, but fits any holster made for Chiefs Special, and it has been my pocket gun on many a bird hunt. It'll do to keep the snakes well away, and, not being a world class wing shot, it has dispatched many an injured bird.

Really, I do know about the horribly short sight radius. I don't care. This is a VERY accurate little wheel gun, and is, for me, VERY easy to shoot well, even way out yonder.

And, with the same stocks in place, it makes a really nice, cheap-to-shoot training piece for a Chiefs Special.

Ideally, I'd like a lightweight in .22 Rimfire mag with spare LR cylinder and 3 or 3.5" bbl. Did they ever make such a thing? In the meantime, I have my 2" and really like it.

Best,
Johnny
 
Of those mentioned I have owned a 4" blue Model 34, 4" nickle Model 34, blue 3" Model 43, and a 4" Model 63. Of these I like the Model 43 the best. These little revolvers will shoot with the best of them but they require practice. Regards, Richard
 
Ala Dan,

You're welcome, but that's an old picture as the "banana" grips are off and theyy both wear the same square butt style grips now.

BTW, one of those is a model 651 in .22 WMR.

The new pics are too large to attach here, and I haven't found a picture hosting site I like yet...
 
I had one of the early Kit Guns in .22 Magnum - with the 3-1/2" barrel. As I remember, S&W listed it as the "Model 1960" at the time. Even with a set of custom Herrett's grips, I could never shoot that little revolver very well. Muzzle blast/flash was intense, and ammo cost too much to shoot extensively. It was cheaper to reload for a .38 than to buy factory ammo for that little .22. I haven't missed it since trading it off!
 
Thumbs down on the 317. I score better and get more pleasure shooting the 342PD.

The finish on the 317 is difficult to keep clean without changing the appearance of the surface around areas where lead deposits tend to be more resistent to removal. I spent all day cleaning my 317 (periods of soaking in cleaner alternated with periods of applying lots of elbow grease) last week. There was an area around the barrel protrusion in front of the cylinder that I could not get all the lead out of, and between the remaining lead and the surrounding surface there is a bright shiney surface unlike the rest of the gun surface.

And if you don't keep it clean, it looks really, really cruddy.

The 317 is a short-timer at my home.

Melos
 
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