Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Rimfires Itching for a smallish 22 revolver.......

Thinking along the lines of a S&W M63 w/ 3" bbl. Not sure I want to go superlight like the M317 but just dreaming a little anyway. Anybody have experience with either of other options along the same lines?

A vintage Kit gun would be hard to beat. (May be hard to find at a decent price).

This one dates back to the '60's and is a keeper.

DF

It's been a lot of years since I did much with a Model 63.... nice gun, without a doubt. My "Kit gun" these days is a 3" 317 and it doesn't have the panache of a 63, but it's probably a lot more practical choice for the purpose. It weighs almost nothing and I sometimes carry it in the bib pocket of my bib overalls. It's pretty handy.

Check out the S&W model 34 kit gun....

317 by light years. Go 3" and bank the adjustable sights. S/S for THE Win and 8-shots. Hint.





The CT grip only speeds things up,for when things go "BUMP!" in the night. Hint.................

A second hand S&W 63-3 2” would make an excellent choice, though they’re getting pretty pricey these days:



Got this one new way back when. Put a zillion rounds through it (by actual count) since then. Still performs well.

For light weight, look at a new S&W 43C, currently marketed:

Love my 3” 63 8-shot, and it’s big brother M60 Pro (or whatever) with the night sights and laser. Wouldn’t mind one of the light ones too, but currently a Ruger LCP2 fills that niche, and is surprisingly easy to hit with.

Need to look at that 43C…..

I like Elsie Pitu, as well:



It’s extraordinarily reliable and shoots tightly to the sights at three yards (Copperhead distance). But, beyond that, it starts shooting high to the point where it’s nearly off the paper at 15 yards. Not sure yet what I want to do about that, if anything.



For hitting stuff a bit farther away with a lightweight, I certainly recommend the 43C:



Target at 50 feet. I did install a Baughman ramp front sight in place of the original big dot.

SW 317 is a spot on. I love it.. Only problem is my wife likes and wants her own. Neighbors are a half mile away, she carries outside . Also keeps handy inside.

Not a lot of choices in this category these days - one of the Smith J-frames, either new or older, a Ruger SP101 or a Ruger LCRx which is a wee bit larger but not enough to matter. Any of those is going to set you back $500 or more, mostly lots more for the Smiths or the SP101, unless you can luck into a real bargain.

In the long run you're probably better off to just buy once, cry once and get a good S&W of your choice. They will give excellent service and keep their value.


You could go older school and get an H&R 926. They can be had in very good condition for $400 or a bit under. They weigh about the same as a Ruger SP101 and would probably have good to excellent accuracy with a so-so trigger based on my sample of one H&R Model 939 some 57 years ago.

smallish 22lr double action revolver? ruger lcr.

taurus 94 has an atrociously hard trigger pull. s&w 317’s aluminum cylinder heat binds by 50 range rounds. anything charter arms is roughly made. i had all of these turds and still have the ruger lcr.

My wife loves her 317. She shot a 6" blued 17 but didn't like the weight. I bought her the 317 and she really
enjoys shooting it.

Centershot: I have been shooting with and Hunting with Smith & Wesson Model 34's for 55+ years now and shooting with and Hunting with Smith & Wesson Model 63's for 45 years now - and both in different barrel lengths!
My extensive experience leads me to recommend (highly recommend!) the 4" barrel length for your uses.
Accuracy and balance are the motivations here.
I also greatly enjoy my Smith & Wesson Model 651 (22 Magnum, stainless "J" frame) with the 4" barrel.
YOU will shoot better with the 4" barrel versus a 3" barrel and the minute difference in weight between the 3" and 4" models will be forgotten instantly with the increased accuracy and balance (feel)!
First choice then is the Smith & Wesson Model 63 with the 4" barrel.
Second choice is the Smith & Wesson Model 34 with the 4" barrel.
FORGET anything with the "hillary hole"! Thank me later.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

I bought a S&W 317 because the price was too low to pass on, but after shooting it a little, I found that I didn't care for it. I have big hands and putting stocks that fit my hand on a J-frame makes a K-frame just as handy and better balanced.

Same/same sort of thing on the 422/622 vs. 2206. The alloy guns are lighter to carry, but I shoot the heavier stainless guns better.

There are often compromises and only you know which attributes are the most important to you.,

Despite having S&W 17s, 18s, 48s, ans a 617, the rimfire revolvers that I carry and shoot the most are old Rossi 511/515/518 series.

My S&W 17 6" K-frame morphed into a 4" 34 J-frame with a larger grip set. I thought about a 63 stainless, but the ones that I tried were rough compared to my blued 34. I had that one Armaloy plated, which is a non shiny nickel as I understand it, so it looks like stainless buy kept the blued steel smoothness. S&W did make an alloy J-frame version, but the 34 was light enough for me and probably most people.

My wife really likes shooting my S&W 34. I like my S&W 63 with a 5” barrel. I also have a S&W model 35 with a 6” barrel but I don’t have much trigger time with it yet.
For general purposes I would go with a 4” mod 63 because they’re fairly available and being stainless, pretty indestructible.

Nice to pin the CT of a 3" 317 on an Intruder,even if'n you gotta Woof 'em away and drop the camera. Hint.



Fhuqking LAUGHING!................

Ha, might have not brought enough gun. Good thing for the Woof!

22LR ain't never been more than wayyyyyy enough,as EVERYTHING leads with it's head. Hint.

Been schlepping a Pistole chambered same for 36yrs non stop,only including Admirality,Baranoff,Chichagoff,Kodiak,Afognak and The Mainland from Annette to Yakutat...with "only" lotsa stops between. Hint..................

I've been woofed by a bear at about the same distance hunting with Silver Bullet, but never thought to woof back at him... may have to try it sometime... LOL

I've been looking at the new, 3" model 63s. I don't need one, but it sure looks like a handy revolver to carry in a pancake holster when meandering at the farm.

Bob,

I've only applied same in the first hand to Black,Brown,Grizzly and Polar Bears...in no particular fhuqking order. Hint..................(grin)

Damn Stick I need an interpreter to read your posts. That AK Ebonics? Hint.

Anyway I have a 686 357Mag and 637 Airweight for when a bigger handgun is in order. Also have some bigger longer 22 pistols for their purpose. Just looking for a lightweight easy to carry, fairly accurate 22 for............well for the heck of it mainly. lol.

Again, a S&W 43C would appear to fit your criteria:



This one is stock, except for the replacement front sight, thumb latch, Hogue Bantam grips and a Wolff eleven pound trigger return spring.

centertwat,

Be sure to cite any/all words that are "too big" or "too Technical" for you and I'll use lesser versions to satiate your gross inabilities...you "lucky" kchunt. HInt. Congratulations?!?




Cubs above,which I obviously didn't see or hear. Hint.



Fhuqking LAUGHING!.............









Sexdummy,

Fixed fhuqking "sights" and a shroud...you "lucky" kchunt. Hint. Congratulations?!?

You Pavement Pounding Pretenders are a fhuqking hoot! Hint.

Fhuqking LAUGHING!..............

No problem with English. I just have remember to check my intellect at the door to decipher your grade school babbling and pseudo swearing.

centertwat,

I get it that you are not "faking" your Fhuqking STUPIDITY...you "lucky" kchunt. Hint. Congratulations?!?

If only again,be sure to cite any/all words that are "too big" or "too Technical" for you and I'll use lesser versions to satiate your gross inabilities. Hint.

Fhuqking LAUGHING!..............

It's hard to not like a handy little .22lr, whether it's a revolver or a pistole...

The little 317 goes with me quite often, but I also carry 422s and 622s frequently...they're not quite as handy with the suppressor on them, but they're still lightweight and accurate.

I carry the little Ruger LCP II a lot and have to say that with Stingers, it serves the purpose...

Have to admit that I never thought about adding a CT to the 317.

I appreciate that notion Stick...I can see that being about as helpful as the trigger job I'm having done to it.

'tide,

The 3" 317 so equipped,is exceedingly versatile and an absolute Mind Fhuqk in relative accuracy/precision. I need to poke a Holosun aboard it,to connect all dots. Hint...................

I have one of their mounts on an L-frame. Excellent setup.

I'd seen their site before,but never ordered as the descriptors were less than clear. Flung John an email and will act upon his suggestion(s). Curious to see if I'll need to D&T the 317 to wear a Holosun. Hint................

'Nother smallish 22 revolver is the Ruger Wrangler Birdshead single action.

3-3/4" barrel and auminum frame. Nice lightweight little "take along" revolver,

Had one of the S&W lite weights I let slip away, but am pretty happy with this new Birdshead.

Virgil B.

Alas. Hint.............

Get yourself a 317 (3" barrel) and you will be happy to have the lightest (useful) pocket revolver ever made.

Bought mine 20 years ago! Shot so many rounds that I wore out the cylinder. S&W replaced it, no charge. Didn't even pay for shipping. I am a customer for life.

the 317s sure are pricey these days, I remember when you could get them 525ish before covid hit. I sure want one though, but I have a 34 and old school 43 right now.

Ruger bearcats sure are fun, but pricey now too.

A S&W Airweight .22/32 Kit Gun will work. Light and handy with the 3 1/2" barrel.

Do you trust to shoot a bear in a sticky situation with a .22 pistol? I always read stuff about 22's just bouncing off bear skulls and whatnot. Don't know if there's any truth to that but people like to repeat it.

I don't know about bear skulls, but back in my packing house days, if cattle came back into consciousness after the pneumatic knocker didn't knock them out, the guy used a .22 LR handgun to the brain and it was one and done.

Mines a Kit Gun from the 60's . Wanted one for years but when I finally got one the grips felt too small for a field gun so I found some oversized wood grips on ebay that solved that problem.

Since bears were mentioned in the last couple of posts , in that situation my .22 would be replaced by a .44 Special with either Elmer loads or Sheeter loads with the Keith bullet hard cast and at least two rolls of toilet paper.

Itch scratched. I'm now the proud owner of this S&W 317 Kit Gun pre-lock 22LR. Thanks to a fellow Campfire member. Picked it up from my FFL guy and got out a little last night to try it out. Great little revolver, amazingly lightweight, great trigger and overall workmanship as to be expected from a Smith and Wesson. Wind was howling so a little tough to do a real accuracy assessment but it was easily pop can accurate at 10-15 yards. Which is about all I'm good for anymore. Would like to put the red dot off my 686 on it just for kicks and see what it will really do. Overall impressive little revolver and a lot of fun. Will definitely be in my kit on a regular basis.

Nice one, I'm jealous!

I just picked this guy up this today, put about 60 rounds through it while fixing fence this afternoon.


New model 63 with the lame lock. Nice little gun, fun to shoot!

Ordered some subsonic ammo for it but it's still a little too loud without ear plugs.

I call dibs if you decide to sell it, I really like it. I have a 63 I really enjoy already.

Stick,

What knife is that in your picture?

Thanks,

Jerry

The model 34 is hard to beat. Pricey now if you can find one!



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Blade in question is a Hiroaki Ohta and plum handy. Hint...............