Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns What's the best 22 revolver being made today

Can't shoot the colibri's in my buckmark...

What's the best revolver - they aren't making K22's anymore are they?

Spot

Smith&Wesson mod 617

Spot,

Have you tried the Aguila SSS (sub sonic sniper)? They use a 60-grain bullet to generate enough recoil to work the action of most semi-autos. The SSS is not as quiet as the colibri, but still pretty darn quiet.

Ditto on the M617.

While I like my older model S&W 617, my Ruger Single Six Hunter is my favorite. It's not too fussy about ammo. Plus it can shoot mags also.

My personal choice is any S&W. That said, there are also Colt and Ruger .22 revolvers in the safe. The number of Smiths equals the number of the other two combined. My "go to" .22 revolver that sees the most use is a 6" 617 with the ten-shot cylinder.

While I love my S&W 617s and like my Ruger Singel Six, the top of the line in .22 revolvers has to be the FA 97.

Freedom Arms makes a fine revolver, but the price is way too high for this old Country Boy. I am sticking with older Smith& Wesson .22 LR revolvers.

I'd choose an older Smith & Wesson M17 K-22. They can be found fairly easily if you look around some. The M18 with a four inch barrel is right there alongside the six inch M17, it is a great handgun also. For pure packin' pleasure the M34/63 J-frame Kit Guns with four inch barrels are pretty darned sweet little pieces of art.

I'm a S&W guy, but the Colt's revolvers are fine shooters too. The Diamondback is a classic. The various older Colt's .22LR's are excellent too. These would be pretty pricey in todays market.

A tuned Ruger Single action is a fine little rimfire if you don't mind the single action loading procedure. I said "tuned" because as issued they are usually pretty gritty and stiff in the action, and, the trigger is gorilla tough. Add some dollars to the purchase price for a trigger job and general slick-up by a reliable gunsmith for a Ruger to even begin to equal an out of box S&W action wise.

S&W still makes the K-22 in the form of the 10 shot 617. I have one and not only is it my favorite revolver, it�s my favorite handgun. It�s not as accurate as the old school K-22�s and it�s not as pretty, but it�s still quite accurate and it�s not exactly an eye sore. The newer ones with the MIM internals have smoother actions than your daddy�s K22 and the 10 shot cylinder is a DA shooters dream. You can expect sub 1.5� groups at 25 yards all day long with most quality loads. Mine shoots 2.25� at 50 yards with CCI Mini Mags.

The Ruger Single Six has always been a standup performer in both .22lr and .22 mag. If you do your job, it�s up to anything you could ask of it.

I have no first hand knowledge but I did drive by the Holiday Inn once.

Seems like a year or so back that Dr. Ken Howell had a thread going comparing current Smith's with Taurus versions of similar persuasions. At that time he came down on the side of the Taurus. I've looked at a few of them and they appear to be well built but I just haven't felt a real rush to buy one.

Anyone ever check these out. I think they were the model 94/941 series.

I'd go with a stainless Ruger Single Six. I have a 6-shot S&W 617 6" and don't like it, as it is just too damned heavy. The S&W 18 is a wonderful 22 revolver, just wish that S&W had copied it in stainless as a mate to the old S&W 66.

If you're looking for a good, less expensive, 22 revolver, check out the old Rossi 518. You can often find them in like-new condition for around $200.

Jeff

Agreed � the M18 was one of the best revolvers S&W ever produced. If only they made that one in a 10 shot�but I�d be willing to settle for a 6 shot.

Since I always wear my 617 exposed in a good holster, this hasn�t bothered me; but I can certainly understand where you�re coming from

I have a 5" Taurus 94. I beats the heck out of the current comparable S&W (J-frame) revolver. But that's because S&W only sells the short-barreled aluminum versions that come with sucky triggers and so-so accuracy, at this time. Accuracy with my 94 is very good. I doubt that a comparable S&W would be better - even in steel. And the trigger, in single-action mode, is excellent. But the steel J-frame S&W .22lrs come (came) with a better DA trigger.

I have a K-17 in a 6-inch and its clone, the Taurus 940, in a 4-inch stainless (941?). The Taurus shoots really well. I use it for fishing, glovebox, shooting rats in the barn by flashlight - to avoid abusing my K-17. It shoots shorts, long rifles, and rat shot really well.

Of the new stuff, I like the Ruger single-six 50th anniversary model........

Of any, I like these...........

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=78591249


http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=78866836

I have the same exact one as the bottom one in about the same condition. Sold my S/S single-six after I bought it.......

S & W Still makes the equivalent of the K-22. But the best .22 cal revolvers are Freedom Arms.

I have a FA model 97, and the test target came showing 10 shots in 1/2" @ 50 yards. Totally awesome.

I'll agree with most everybody else 617, 63 or Super Single Six dependent upon your taste. The Ruger has the advantage of an easily obtainable magnum cylinder though.

I don't know my best any more, I was wiping my pistols down tonight and my wife just informed me that my S&W 63 is her's. It happened so innocently, just trying to take care of my guns, saying in my mind, I like this one and this one, and bam, down one good pistol. So it will be like the rest of "hers" I only get visitation to clean it.

Buy my 2" S&W 63-3 for your Wife, she'll think that it is "cute" and you can get your revolver back.

Jeff

Wow the S&W lists up there pretty high.

Spot