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.

R.H.,
Let me know if you don't "get used to it". You stole that one! Nice.

Smiths are alright.

I like my LCR better.

Haven't tried one of the SP101's but if you like S/A's I don't think you can beat a Single Six.


Travis

Freedom Arms made, apparently, at least one M83 in .22LR. It was tested by the American Rifleman and they raved about the accuracy, some absurd groups like 1/4" or so at 25 yards - equal to Olympic Free pistols, or so they said. still a huge revo for .22, I think they were catering to silhouette shooters.

One of the full-lug 617's ought to be a more reasonable option. There is a pre-lock 6" model at the local Gander Mountain, but I really don't want to pay $950 for a .22, and I have a 5-screw K22, anyway.

Actually, come to think of it, it might be real interesting to find a 5 screw S&W, and hand it to a master like Bowen and let them install a new barrel & line bored cylinder. It would be expensive, but probably worth it.

Now that'd be a neat pistol!

Looking at stainless firearms only -

A Smith 617 is, after all, a S&W Model 17 which is and always has been one of the finest .22 revolvers in the world. But the 617 suffers from that totally useless underlug which adds weight to a handgun that never needed it. If the weight doesn't bother you then the 617 is still top dog for a quality DA .22 revolver.

The S&W Model 63 in it's original 4" form or one of the earlier iterations, like the 5" model, is a great .22 revolver for packing. The current 3" model is still good but IMO not up there with the original. The only problem with the original is the red ramp sight is too wide for the rear notch, or the rear notch is too narrow, take your pick, but that's a small quibble. If'n I had my druthers I'd get the 5" model where they remedied that by putting a nice all black front sight on it to give it a very good sight picture, but those are pretty rare on the used market.

Have no experience with the new Ruger SP101 4" model but everything I've read shows it to be a typical Ruger. Tough, accurate enough, but not very refined in trigger pull.

The new Ruger Single Ten is a dedicated 22LR single action handgun so from what I understand they remedied the oversized bore of the convertible models which were sized for .224 .22 Magnum ammo, not the slightly smaller .22 LR. The longer 5 1/2" barrel gives it a nice sight radius so one should be able to do some decent precision shooting with it. Lipsey's also makes a 4 3/4" barrel stainless model. Other than that I don't know much about them.

Bearcats are neat but without an adjustable sight you are stuck with wherever it wants to hit which may or may not coincide where you want to hit.

I'd have to go with the Freedom Arms M97, even though it's a bit heavy for my taste (5 1/2" bbl is 44 oz). It has a dual firing pin setup and I can't ever remember having a misfire with mine (and that is unusual with all the sub par .22 ammo around). I had a 617 and was not impressed. Have a new SP101 and also not impressed. Love the K22 and J frame 22s (including the aluminum frames), but probably not the "best". Probably the best value for what you are looking for would be a Stainless Ruger Single Six.



FWIW,

Paul

Now that is sweet!

Dunno if it's THE best but I would say a S&W 17-8 Performance Center Lew Horton Heritage Edition is up there. I choot d'crp outta mine

Paul,

That thing is bitchin'.


Travis

I'd say a pre-war K-22 Outdoorsman

(Not my guns or pictures though, too rich for my blood)

Jim,

Gotta agree with the odd choice of the underlug. Why? I think the 63 is a better choice for carry, but then only 6 shots.

Am I correct in assuming the 63 and the 617 differences are only the underlug and capacity?

Not all 617's are 10-shots; my early 617 has a steel 6-shot cylinder. Later 617's have alloy, 10-shot cylinders. The 10-shot models have a distinctly different double action feel, which is why I wanted a 6-shot version as it is timed, and has the same action "feel" as my 6-shot L-frame .357's.

S&W likely went with the underlug so that the 617's and underlugged 17's would have the same balance as the L-frame .357's. They make for heavy 22's, but good "understudy" revolvers for the bigger bores.

63 is built on a J-frame. 617 is built on a K-frame.

63 pocket size. 617 medium size.

If you really need more capacity in a J-frame 22lr, the 317 has either a nine or 10 shot cylinder. I can't recall which as I don't have my 317 3" pre-lock handy right now. They're light guns but built quite well. Tough to shoot DA, however, given the trigger is several times heavier than the revolver itself. Shot SA they're a joy.

AB2506, thanks for that clarification, there are a plethora of models it makes my head spin!

The 6 shot would have a completely different feel in DA, after all the rotation of a 10 shot cylinder is pretty small.

My limited experience with DA .22 rimfires is that they need a rather stiff trigger to fire the rim based primers. Again maybe this is just my experience and not true in all cases. However it has been mine so far. For this reason I think the medium frame revolver might have a smoother trigger. This begs the question.

Which has a better trigger? J frame 63 or K frame 617?

K-frame 617. The J-frame triggers are both stiffer, and proportionately heavier in relation to the weight of the gun itself so they feel less smooth and cause you to pull the gun one way or the other while firing DA.

I could certainly make a case for the Smith 18, but I'm limited to the Ruger LCR, SP101, Single Six, Smith 63, Smith 317, no particular order here.

The K frame definitely has the better trigger compared to the J frame. The levers are bigger with the bigger frame.

Also, I find that I have to really hook my thumb down on the J frame (or point it strsight up) because the tip of my trigger finger runs into it at full pull.

The 18 (4" medium K-frame) would be a great choice, I sure like mine, but it's blued. Of course, it could always be cerakoted.

Just my totally subjective opinion, but a blued older Model 17 - 6" K frame (medium frame) with no underlug, is just about unbeatable for a combination of accuracy, great sights, good sight radius and great trigger pull in a revolver that, while heavy for a .22, won't drag your pants down. Then have it cerakoted for rust protection.

They are a used market proposition only and folks are proud of them, but there are enough out there in good mechanical shape but with bluing wear that it wouldn't break the bank to buy one and then have it refinished with a protective coating anyway.

The best I have ever had are two K's made in the late 40's...

George, those are some beautiful Smiths... You have fine taste..

Hell I bought a 1953 K-22 6" for the princely sum of $250 last week

Wonder if I got a good deal?

Colt Officer's Model Match. Lacking that, then a 5-screw K-22.

Hands down Smith and Wesson 617 over anything Ruger and FYI I own and shoot both

My opinion the best 22 revolver is the Smith 617 Pre Lock six shot

I would not turn up my nose at a Colt Diamondback in .22 LR or a S&W 17 or K-22.

Yep. I have always wanted a 4" Colt Diamondback in .22 lr. Sweet little revolvers. But I'm damn sure not paying Gun ShowPrices! Those fellas think they are made out of pure Gold!

Yes my apology for excluding the diamond back ,I looked at one a few years ago 4" barrel as new in box 1500.00 and just recently saw one with 6" barrel at 1695.00',beautiful guns,just ALOT of money for a 22 that you'd feel guilty just banging around with.

Speak for yourself.....I'd bang it. And not feel guilty......

Smith still makes the 6" 17.


Travis

63 with extra .22 Magnum cylinder...



Patridge front sight...





Plain Jane 63...





Stainless Charter Arms Pathfinder....






Diamondback with extra .22 Magnum cylinder...





Model 18 round butt...





Model 34 round butt that now wears a 6" Model 35 barrel...

[img]http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b77/RJM52/SMITH-WESSON/DSCF4336.jpg[/img]



Model 51 .22 Magnum...also has a .22 LR cylinder...

[img]http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b77/RJM52/SMITH-WESSON/DSCF4334.jpg[/img]



60s vintage Model 18...that is at the smiths now being fitted with a .22 Magnum cylinder...

[img]http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b77/RJM52/SMITH-WESSON/DSCF5844.jpg[/img]



70s vintage Model 48 with extra LR cylinder, 50s vintage hammer and grips with Combat wide trigger...

[img]http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b77/RJM52/SMITH-WESSON/ColtCC091611004.jpg[/img]


Just a few thoughts for you JJ...

Bob

Bob, I'd REALLY like the patridge sight on the top 63, if'n it had a gold bead stuck in it....

It has a recess for a white dot and could easily be drilled for a gold bead....wish I knew who did the work...

One Of The Best:
- - - - - - - - - -

Colt Officer's Model Match, DA Revolver, 22 LR

Bought it in 1971 - NIB
Sold it in 2011 - - 97%

Be very hard to beat a 63. Mine is an old pinned and recessed one that guy wanted 300 for. I said something along the lines of "ok i reckon i can give you that for it" to make him feel like he wasnt getting reamed. Beautiful little pistol that is so fun and cheap to shoot. Mine will never be for sale along with my old 686. All the rest of my pistols are replaceable.

The "best" from a pure shooting stand point would have to be the Smith K-22, 6 inch, I had back in the 60's. Hate to admit how many quail, doves, and squirrels I shot with it. Killed a hawk at 125 yds. once. Ground squirrels up to 50 yds. were in real danger. It would put all six into 1 1/2 inches, outside spread at 25 yds.
I couldn't leave it alone. Had a four inch barrel put on it. Big mistake.
On a four inch gun, I like a little extra weight from a full lug barrel.
My current .22 hunting pistol is a Ruger Single Six. Not because it shoots better, it doesn't shoot quite as well. I use it because it can fire the .22 Rimfire Magnum ammo. Makes a real difference on live targets. E

Where the heck did you find a Diamondback with a magnum cylinder?

Speaking of Magnum cylinders.

I have only had a couple experiences with these switchable cylinder revolvers. I may have just had an off manufacture on the one I owned. But the other was not "great" either.

Because the barrel is a bit bigger the .22 rimfire bullets just did not seem as accurate as I would have liked. Neither one of the guns was a double action or even a S&W, so that may have been the problem.

I'll say this, those .22 magnums are lethal far and away beyond their diminutive capacity. I'm not sure what more a person would want for an inside the house self defense round. If the crazy high performance of those little bullets does not kill or debilitate an intruder, the muzzle blast will likely knock him unconscious anyway. Is there a sharper more painful report, and muzzle blast from any handgun made today?

I've killed some stuff with the .22 mag, some pretty big stuff. Things you would no way ever consider it to be effective on. I'm not suggesting that the .22 mag is a big game cartridge, however It will deliver a far more devastating lethal impact then what I would have ever imagined had I not done this and seen it with my own eyes............. plenty of times!

Again, "worlds best" would be the FA M97. Do you like your M83?

"Worlds Best" as far as accuracy. While technically Not a revolver.

The Colt "Camp Perry"

I vote for the Model 63 also. Affordable, handy, accurate,and the cylinder and latch operate in the correct directions.

+1
The Single 6 is a winner. $ for $ the most fun gun you can get.

Bob, what's the story on this??

DMc

All of the Smith's are great. I like the SP 101's. My latest is the 8 shot model & it is built like a tank for a 22.

The more I use the 8 shot SP101 the more I like it.

Not having ever shot the SP101 how does it compare to the S&W for trigger and accuracy.

I have seen great reviews for the sp101 but in most cases it's along the lines of "for a ruger"

It's not really comparable to say a S&W 617 by most folks accounts. If in fact it is I would certainly look at them. I've just been led to believe they are not in the same league.

Is the SP101 comparable in frame to the J or the K?

The trigger on mine is heavier and rougher than the 617's I've shot. Accuracy has been very good. It's a tweener on size, very solidly built but not oversized or to heavy in my opinion. It's heavy enough that it settles down on target but not so heavy that it's uncomfortable on the belt. The factory grips aren't the best but they can be replaced cheaply with very comfortable hogues. Very rugged build.

I don't consider it "the world's best .22 revolver" but I do consider it the best for all around use (target to sweaty carry on the farm). 8 rounds is nice, like the size, like the weight, like the finish Ruger uses on the stainless. Thinking it over, with a smoothed up trigger it might be in the running.....

The gun is a friend of mines... I found him the extra .22 LR cylinder assembly and he was able to find a smith to rechamber it and fit it to the gun.

Bob

..simple...take a perfectly good Model 18 and add a belt sander....



No clue who did the "work" but the gun does fit everyones hands... Perfect gun for training ladies as it has a very smooth double action pull and the grips are small enough to be comfortable...

Bob

Model 18-3
target Hammer
target Trigger
target stocks

my fav

I thought my Diamondback was awesome until I saw this one!
whelennut

Have to go with the Freedom Arms...but 2nd best by far....Ruger Single Six...I have had them for 40 years or so...different barrel lengths...old and New Models....built like Ruger builds everything....Tank like....

May not qualify as best gun,
But best value might be the charter arms pathfinder 4" barrel with both 22mag and 22 LR cylinders

Never saw one, made 100% in USA and only 500 bucks with both cylinders.

....have never shot one but have handled them at the SHOT Show...very underwhelming.

Bob

JJ,

Do yourself a favor and avoid the pathfinder. I had one for the same reasons you state, sent it back to the factory for repairs and it came back with the same problem. In my opinion, they are inexpensive for a reason.

I sold mine at a deep discount with full disclosure and was glad to be done with it.

FWIW,

Paul

Does anyone like the Dan Wesson .22s? Out of production, but still around used.

I had a Dan Wesson 22, great revolver. Close to a K or L frame. Also had a Colt Trooper in 22LR. My favorites are a H&R 999, and a S&W 617. To me the S&W's are the best 22LR Revolver.

Colt OMM, Smith 17 and 48.

A Single Six for the SA lovers.

Smith and Colt all the way !!!

I have one with 4 and 6" barrel assemblies...shoots very well.






Bob

500 bucks? You can get a Ruger Single Six convertible for less.

My S&W 617 has seen many, many thousands of rounds down the 6" tube, most in competition at a winter league in Logan, Utah, it has done very well against the semi autos. My best time for 9 shots, 3 each on 3 different targets is 2.99 seconds. You start out holding your gun on a red dot on the wall. All were A zone hits. A 4" gun would be a better packing gun.
Pheasants hate my 617! Took 3 with a 14" T/C contender in 410, also took 2 with 2 shots using my 617. The red dot is a Leupold/Gilmore.



Dick

I'm getting in on this thread way late. For what you're looking for, the 617 is the best stainless .22 revolver there is period.

This is the best I can do, and of course I think the best there is...

My 617 is the first K22 I've had that hasn't been ammo-sensitive; in that respect, I like it more than the '48 K22, the '66 M18 and '73 M17 I had. Nice revolvers, but they were a bit picky and if I'm going to deal with a picky 22lr revolver it's going to have "Freedom Arms" etched on the barrel

S&W 17. Sold one a while back that was made in 1951, regretting it ever since. Ruger Single Six's are great guns, carry a 6" that has taken all kinds of grouse when out deer hunting. Great revolver for the money, IMO.

My favorite is the old S&W 63 I used to have. It would group minute of squirrel's head with Remington sub-sonics though it is very hard to choose between it and the model 17.

I have had three single six revolvers

Only one shot great, the other two were okay for kids and cans but they were I long shot worse then my patience.

One had both cylinders, the 22 mag was pretty good, but the LR was just horribly bad.

I looked at that ruger SP101 today. I'll tell you, that is a very well made little gun. I'm not sure if I trust it to be accurate, but it's made with visibly great quality.

Original flat top single six before they changed the bore for magnums. reflex264

Well I think the SP101 ends up being the best combination of weight size quality and capacity.

I really like the 63 but it's small and light with a stiff trigger
The 617 is brilliant in every way but size is kinda on the big side

The SP101 is like blending the 63 and 617 together.

They are built like a tank, and the trigger with work and money can be fixed. Accuracy will be what ever it is. It is after all a Ruger. Worlds best?? Not even close for myself.

I guess the FA probably owns this title

Not saying that a SP101 can't be a good one, just that the odds of it being better than several others is not as good. For myself I could never shot a SAA style very well, S&W, Dan Wesson, and the Colt Diamondback are different animals.

This is why I went with the SP101. I don't think it's the "best in the world", but do believe it best fits what I'll use it for...if I had the "best in the world" I probably wouldn't do anything but shoot targets with it (or sell it ).

Bought a 95% Model 48 no dash 6" with box and all contents yesterday. It belonged to the father of a friend of my son. I might not keep it. If the son wants to buy it back, I will sell it back to him. The son is not thinking straight right now.

S&W Model 53 .22 Jet with the extra cylinder

Yep, add the right inserts, you could have it all:

.22 short, long, Long Rifle and .22 Mag., WRF.

The older 50s to 80s K22s are head and shoulders above all competition.

Get one while you still can find one for a decent price.

!!!!!!!