Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Most Accurate 22LR Revolver

I'm impressed with your 20 yard off-hand group. I've been around many shooters for many years, even some competition shooting. There isn't one man in a thousand that can shoot like that.

If you're wanting an accurate .22 revolver, then you want a Colt or S&W made before the mid '70's. Bout the mid '70's is when the last hold outs began dumping their target revolvers for target autos, and that's when accuracy standards for .22 revolvers began to slip ever so slightly. Today's K-22 is generally half as accurate as the K-22's of the '50's and '60's. Still, that's pretty damn accurate, and I wouldn't swap my current make 617 for anything but a pre-war K-22, because that 10 shot cylinder is just plain FUN!!

I regularly hunt squirrels with my 617 and it's plenty accurate for that.

how does a ruger single six compare to a 60's k-22 as far as accuracy?

Several of you have commented on the 617. How about the 63? It's really caught my eye and seems to be much more what I'd like in regard to size for a 22 revolver.

Any experience with the 63?

Thanks,

JCM

i own a smith 617 and am very, very pleased with it's performance.

-tom

Hello Doubletap
"Even a Blind Pig finds and acorn once in awhile" The day I shot the Target shown I had my Father with me. He is a stickler for accuracy. I planted the six shots shown and he stood silent afterwards. Now, If I tried to do it again, who Knows if I could repeat it ? That day all The stars lined up and the gun and ammo really got along. I remember one other time at the range with my Father, I was shooting a B-27 Man sized target at the 25 Yard range. He asked why I was carrying a High standard Derringer in .22 Magnum as he felt they were nothing more than a Belly Gun. I took aim at the B-27 Target, fired twice and Both shots were in the Head region of the target. He never again, questioned my selection of Carry Guns after that time again. Most handguns will shoot better than the shooter is able to hold them...Practice, practice, practice, put's em in the Ten ring area...Thegeneral.

i have a m63 also, and like it quite a bit. it stays at the ranch a lot. i like the 617 because it fits the same holster as my 686. like a glove, actually.

S&W models 17 or 48......Luckily I own both!

I was always impressed with the accuracy of the S&W M17 until I fired the S&W 41. Still, I love my 617.

Accuracy is a tough topic, I love the K-22, but in competition in the early 1980's I used to use my Model 63 in Saturday NRA "300" matches, and beat many auto's, including Rugers and S&W Model 41's, even though J Frames had not been competative in that game since the 1930's.

I learned DA by shooting thousands of wadcutter 38's in a pre model 10 S&W "K" frame, and then using the Model 63 on a fishing boat one handed to shoot far too many Seg^ll$. (Not a PC thing to do, but we did things different when it was a free country.) It was familiarity with the gun that made it such a good choice FOR ME, at the range. Plus, the range didnt pitch, yaw, and roll like that old St. Augustine Trawler.

Now a days old eyesight makes iron sight hand gunning a close range deal for me. I cant get into the 280's and 290's anymore.

Inherant accuracy and practical accuracy are related but not identical, so you kind of have to find out which gun works for you.

If I had a bigger Colt DA then I would pick a Colt so the controls were the same. I sold my Colts for that reason alone, a cop needs to control his gun without hesitation. I have essentially the same gun in my hand from .22 through snubby 38's and mid frame magnums on up into N frame 357's and a 460 Rowland.

No one mentioned Ruger's DA 22 - I haven't shot one - anyone else have experience with them and their abilities?

The Ruger SP-101 is a very nice .22 revolver, but for me at least, it has a hard time finding it's niche. It's on the heavy side for a compact revolver, and it's on the small side for a serious target revolver.

With that said, I still think it's an excellent revolver. They are very accurate, but certainly not in the same class as a classic K22 or Colt. But the SP-101 has a fantastic grip and feel to it, and it's just perfect for a woman's hands. The extra weight does make it settle well in the hands, and in the end, it's a Ruger, which means you can't kill it.