Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns If you wanted the worlds best .22 rimfire revolver

I like the thread about the 45, figured this was another good idea.

I'm thinking about the S&W 617, I want stainless but what is the best?

My $.02, S&W 17, though a case can be made for the model 18.

If someone says LCR I'm going to puke.

lol

In a revolver in really like my 617. In a semi auto it would be the S&W model 41for me.

Model 17 Smith & Wesson. Hands down.

My personal Favorite... Ruger Single Six. Not the same quality, but tons of fun in an affordable package.

I think stainless makes any revolver better. I've never owned either a 17 or 617 so my advice is hearsay but when I think of the answer to your question, that's what immediately jumps to mind. There may be eras of the 17 that were better than when the 617's were made though. I'll let the experts sort that out, but if I were looking for the best revolver, the 617 is what I think of. If it had to be more packable, I'd go 63 in a heartbeat. I've owned at least one of those and it was great. Wish one of each was in the gunsafe right now.

If for some reason you wanted a single action, I'd get a Colt Scout-sized New Frontier with the extra Mag cylinder or a stainless Ruger Super Single Six. My wife has the Colt but I'd actually kinda lean towards the Ruger on this one.

Overall, 617.

I bought a used S&W model 17 with an 8 3/8th barrel and it the most enjoyable revolver I have ever fired, not as accurate as my Ruger .22/45 with the red dot, but that's my old eyes - not the gun.

Terry

I dunno, maybe a S&W 63-3, SS, 4" round butt. Not a 22 revolver guy. My thing's 22 autos:






DMc

In a revolver, I'd have to take a Freedom Arms. I've currently got a S&W 617 4" no dash, have had several K22's of various vintages (and not all is sunshine and roses with those revolvers; two of mine were finicky about ammunition, the other two spit lead. My 617 has neither failing), and have a S&W 317 3" no lock and a Ruger SP101 .22lr 4.2". All are fine revolvers. The Freedom Arms revolvers in 22lr I've handled are, however, on a whole other plane of precision and accuracy. If you want the "best," and in stainless, that'd be my pick. I don't own one. Yet. For what I paid trying out K22's I could have bought a Freedom Arms and been done with it.

Hands down the LCR.......




Where's the puke? 617 4" may not be "the best" but it's pretty darn good.

The 617's are nice; I like mine because it balances almost exactly the same as my 4" 586 .357 Magnum. Heavy for a 22lr, but the weight helps with fast DA shooting.

JJ..there are lots of "best"s...question I have for you is what is your primary use going to be?

If you are looking for a double action that is a match to the Mountain Gun then the 6 or 10 shot 4" 617 would be hard to beat. Finding one, especially a pre-IL, is very hard and going to be expensive. A blue Model 18 4" Combat Masterpiece is also a nicely balanced gun.

I'm in the process of some "downsizing" and in looking what I have for DA .22 revolvers the two that I am probably going to come down to is a stainless 4" Model 63 .22 LR that has an extra fitted .22 Magnum cylinder and a blue 70s vintage 4" Model 48 .22 Magnum that has a .22 Long Rifle cylinder fitted to it.

Bob

Model 17 K22 Masterpiece and a (M48 in 22 mag), one of each 8 3/8" Both first models

Model 63 4" first model

Model 41 with both barrels (early model)

I have these but would like a good 6" revolver to fill the gap!

FA M97, without question.

This. Slick as eel snot.

Might not be the World's best, but the little Model 63 4 inch is dang hard to beat.

I'm quite fond of this one:

I can't think of a better choice than my old S&W 6" K-22 that I've had since the early 60's. I carried it on a trapline for many years and it's never let me down.

early 60's ? ..THAT'S 50 YEARS..

I jut recently found this 18-2 for $500 out the door. Dealer said it is from the early 60's but I haven't looked up the numbers. This is 6 at 20 yards hand held resting on a bag.


It might do better when I get use to it. This is the only 6 shot group of the session. I shot a lot more in some targets and just wore out the center with a few fliers thrown around.

I've always wished S&W had made a stainless match to the early M17's without the full underlug. I know some like it, but I could do without the extra weight.