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OldRook Offline OP
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Gang,

educate me about the Kit gun.. thinking I need to buy a K22 or something similar for the new year.. Always had a hankering, but never pulled the trigger. Thoughts from the board?

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The K22 or M17 is a K-frame, and a bit heavier than the J-frame kit guns. I prefer the Kit guns for carry, but that’s a personal preference thing. All the new Kit guns have 3” or shorter barrels AFIK, which means mine is illegal for hunting in my state. Hope to find a 4” or 5” someday.

K22s hold 6 or 10. Kit guns hold 6 or 8.


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Excellent, Thanks Pappy!

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My favorite .22 revolver is the M18 .22 Combat Masterpiece. I've had one since 1982/83 that has had at least 10K rounds fired and is still as tight as when new.

I bought mine as the understudy for my M19 and later M66.

EDIT: I have owned a variety of J-frame Smiths, but they never fit my hand right, so they went on down the road. I have been very pleased with the S&W clones from Rossi, the 511, 515, and 518. They use the same medium size frame as the 720 and 971, which seems to me to be sized somewhere between the J and K frame Smiths. Rossi also offered larger, "target" , grips for those revolvers that fits my hand without being too bulky.

The Rossis will never be Smiths, but they are stainless, so they are more useful to me when the weather is hot/humid and the potential for dripping salty sweat on blued CM and causing unwanted rust is present.

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Every man should own a quality .22 revolver at least once in his life. A couple would be better. Grab yourself a K-22 (or a Colt Officer's Model Match) and start kicking yourself for not having done it sooner.


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Originally Posted by 260Remguy
My favorite .22 revolver is the M18 .22 Combat Masterpiece. I've had one since 1982/83 that has had at least 10K rounds fired and is still as tight as when new.

I bought mine as the understudy for my M19 and later M66.


me too. so much so that i bought one for each of my boys.

i also have a 34-1 "kit gun". the J frame is too small for my paws and to put a giant grip on it kind of defeats the purpose. but it is pretty to look at.


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The "Kit Guns" (M-34, 35, 43, 51 and the stainless equivalents) and M17 are totally different in feel and use; they just work the same.

You need to handle both types and decide what you want to use your .22 for, and then how the two types feel in your hands.

In general, if you are mainly interested in a compact, light revolver for plinking and casual outdoor carry, the J-framed ("Kit") .22s will probably seem best. If you are also going to be shooting paper for score or hunting small game, the K-frames are much steadier platforms.

I don't plink or paper punch much any more, so my current Smith .22 holdings are a 4" M651 .22 WRM (in my hiking and fishing kit) and an 8 3/8" M48 .22 WRM for small game hunting and pest control (a kinda "baby rifle").


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My model 17 (K 22) and my model 34 ( Kit gun)

Love em' both and each has it's own usefulness.


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Great pair.. I have the same.. My 2" kit gun I have owned longer than any other handgun...


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Nice collection of useable toys there WCH. I have used the 22 for a long time to get enough lead downrange. For fun and practice. Now my 22s are a bit neglected. I have gone to the PCP pellet gun for the most part. Be Well, RZ


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The stock grips are too small on either of them, but easily rectified with a pair of customs. My first S&W was the K22 M17 6" but we were shotgunning a lot of barn pigeons back in those days and we were just finishing off the wounded birds with a handgun a close range. That K frame was too heavy for a .22 for my taste and I didn't need a 6" .22 for what we were doing. That K22 morphed into a M34 4" J frame and it has been here ever since. For a hunting handgun get the longer barrel K22. For a wear it and forget it to use as needed, get the J frame.


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Gnoahh: I agree with your contention 100%.
Yesterday I looked at an original and 98% Smith & Wesson K-22 Masteriece (Post War K-22 3rd Model) also known as the Pre-17.
This wonderful pistol is being offered at $1,099.00 and is on consignment at a LGS.
But the quality and fit and finish of this nifty 4" barreled pistol just made me happy to be handling and contemplating buying it.
IIRC the price tag referred to 1952 manufacture.
Anyone interested in it - SAVE ME by buying it - P/M me for shop info.
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You won't regret buying a K22/M17 S&W .22 revolver. They are superb handguns.


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MOGC: Great advice.
I have 5 Model 17's right now two are unfired in the box 8 3/8" barreled guns and the other 3 are 6" minty models (no boxes for these).
Every once in a while I get the urge to shoot one of my 8 3/8" pistols off of sandbags just to see how well they shoot - but have resisted to date. They are just to valuable in their unfired condition.
Plus the 6" barreled guns shoot better than I can anymore, I am sure.
IIRC the very similar Model 18's in 22 L.R. were only offered in 4" barrel (I have two of these) and I am still trying to figure the other differences (if any?) in the Models 17 and 18 Smith's?
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Model 17 at 6", is the Target Masterpiece. The Model 18 at 4", is the Combat Masterpiece.

Have both and that's all the difference I can find.

Good stuff!

g


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Note m18's have a ramp front sight. M17's have a patridge front sight. Pre 17's have a smaller diameter barrel than model 17's. They all shoot nice that they do share in common. Mb

Last edited by Magnum_Bob; 12/27/20.

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My M18 is an invaluable teacher; it comes along on nearly every range trip, I shoot it two-handed, strong-handed, weak-handed, single, and double action. I do ball and dummy drills, shoot one, open the cylinder, rotate and close without looking, repeat once, then finish the cylinder. Consistent practice with a M18 shooting will do a lot to improve anyone’s sight acquisition, and alignment, trigger control, and follow-through.

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Thanks for the excellent information and history gents! I believe I’d like a 4 inch model for carry in a shoulder rig in the woods. But am going to check out the 6 inch as well.

I’ll start looking shortly.

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I really like my 18.


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