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What are the options for a double action .22 revolver?
Thankss for your comments.

stumpy

Smith & Wesson
Ruger...If you can find one
Colt...Same as Ruger
Taurus
H & R
High Standard

There are only 2 tiers of DA 22 revolvers worth owning:

Tier 1 = Colt Diamondbacks & S&W 17s/18s

Tier 2 = All brands that you would own

Tier 3 = All brands that you wouldn't own on a bet

Jeff

Hard to go wrong with a used S&W Model 17 K22 (6" barrel)or a Model 18 K22 Combat Masterpiece (4" tapered barrel). Depending on condition and accessories they will run $450-600.00...but they are the best of the best...

Bob

I picked a new S&W 617 6" barrel. It is smooth and very acurate. I bought for plinking, woods bumming and carrying during deer season to pot grouse and other small game I happen to come accross. I have been shooting a mixture of CB shorts, regular shorts and longs. I don't think you can go wrong with the smith. New these are going for $600-650 in my neck of the woods. a used K22 would be a good choice as well.

I agree with all the above. I really like the new 5" version of the S&W model 63 though. Unless I was into organized competition, I would go with that instead of the heavier K22.

I have a .17 HMR Taurus Tracker small frame DA revolver that
fits my hand perfectly. This revolver shoots extremely accurate and is 100% dependable. This is one handgun that works so well for me that I can only best describe it as FUN.

I would think a Taurus Tracker in .22 LR would also serve as well.

I have a very much "prized" Colt Officer's Model Match .22 LR - but "I" cannot shoot it off-hand as well as I can my Taurus ... not even close.

For me, the perfect DA 22 revolver would be a K-frame S&W in stainless with a 4" barrel and an ejector shroud, IOW, a clone of the S&W 66. Better yet, make it a convertable with 2 cylinder assemblies, 1 in 22 LR and 1 in 22 MRF. I'd trade my current 6" S&W 617 6-shot for that configuration tomorrow, as I don't like the full length ejector shroud on the 617 and I prefer a K-frame to a J-frame, despite the weight difference.

Jeff

Thanks for the great replies. I am a rifle guy, but love to have a .22 pistol around at the ranch.

stumpy

If you are not in a hurry and have a pretty well padded wallet, Smith&Wesson is re-introducing its model 17 and 14, both K-frames.
I gotta agree with just about everyone...S&W or Colt on the top rung of the .22 DA ladder.
Ingwe

IMO the best would be either the K-22 model 17 Smith or one of its variants or the model 63, same make. Which would be dependent upon usage. If you want a pure trail gun for knocking around the woods with space and weight at a premium, then the 63 kit gun is for you. For all other uses, the 17 would be best. Of the 17's, probably the 6" stainless 617 is the very best where it doesn't matter about size or weight.

I wouldn't consider any other double action .22 unless cost is an issue. If cost is a factor, an old H&R would probably work. I had a 949 for my first pistola and it was sweet at the time. It's not in the league of the aforementioned Smith's though.

Great practice for a double action centerfire revolver. I have two. Both old style Smith & Wessons. One's a four inch K-Frame and the other's a two inch J-Frame.

There is one not yet mentioned top contender that are very hard to find...the Dan Wesson... I have one with 4 and 6" interchangeable barrels and it has a great DA pull...

Looked for one reasonably priced for years until last fall when a dealer that should have known better had this one out priced at $275.00. When I looked at the tag and it said "with extra barrel" I couldn't get the wallet out fast enough...

Bob

I carry the K-22 Mod 17 S&W I bought back in high school. It is, however, not quite as small as some of the others.

Mine is a S&W K22 17-2. Bought it many years ago from a guy I knew who decided his Ruger Mark I "held more bullets," so it was better. The K22 is still running perfectly. Taught my wife to shoot with it. Probably 1,500 .22 rounds before moving her to the .38 Spec. She still loves to shoot it. So do I.

Don't know exactly when it was made, but before 1970, I think. Serial # is K642xxx.

Taurus used to make a Model 96 that was a knock-off of a Smith K-22. It has an adjustable trigger, and is of better build quality than concurrent production.

Thanks again. I will let you know what we find.

stumpy

+1...
I have the older 4" version and love the thing.

I suppose it really depends on "what kind of shooting" you have planned for the gun. My 63 is a packing tool for woods strolling. So I don't really want the size or weight of the full size guns. It's also the perfect size to teach newbies with.

I confess I really like 5" barreled revolvers. I have a 5" Model 63-4, and it is a great gun. I have a 5" 617-5 that started life as a 6". It weighed about 49.3 oz. with Pachmayr Presentation grips. I felt it was too muzzle heavy and had it cut to 5". It now weighs 46.6 oz. and is a very close match to my 5" 627PC. The 63-4 weighs 30.2 oz., a great carry gun, but not quite as good as the 617.