Considering a 22 revolver

[BattleRifleG3]

I've tended to think my first 22 handgun would be a semi-auto. But after hearing about problems with practically every one I wanted, and remembering what a pain 22 rimfire magazines generally are to load, and that they're not cheap either, I'm considering a 22 revolver. I just realized too that it would be hunting legal in PA, which semi-autos are not.

I suspect I'd prefer double action with approx 4-6" barrel. One thing that would be nice is to have dual cylinders, one for 22LR/long/short and one for 22 WMR. GunGeek has such a revolver, but I don't remember the name.

I'd really like to keep it inexpensive, but I'd rather get one that works and has decent accuracy than one that doesn't work or can't hit crap. Not sure whether I'd want one where the cylinder pops out, or one where you open a latch that exposes one space in the cylinder at a time (like a Blackhawk.)

[pmspinnerb8]

I love the Ruger Single Six. Check on the .22 Mag, I think you can get interchangeable cylinders in it and shoot .22 LR with it also. If I ever had a need or a use for a .22 pistol , that is what I would get.

[Snakebite]

I had the Ruger Single Six with the extra .22 mag cylinder and the really long barrel. Nice gun but it shot absolutely horrible. This revolver was by far the least accurate of any pistol I have ever owned. It would throw the lead in a different direction everytime the trigger was pulled. 8" groups at 25 feet was good if it could be done.
Thats the only bad experience I have ever had with a Ruger. I still think they are some of the best guns there are. Just had one that didnt shoot worth a darn.
I would still buy another though.

[Big Dog]

Basically it breaks down to two choices for single-actions - the Ruger Singlesix or the Heritage Roughrider. The Heritage is an okay gun, inexpensive but decently functional. The frame-mounted safety is an oddity on an SA revolver, but not a bad idea really.
The Heritage comes in a variety of styles, finishes, barrel lengths and grips - even adjustable sights as an option. Frame can be either alloy or steel.
A longer barrel, steel frame and adjustable sights puts it up near the Ruger in price.

I've shot both guns, and my experience showed about the same level of accuracy. Both were good tincan plinkers, and great fun shooting the steel swingers.

http://www.heritagemfg.com/

if you want the versatility of the switch cylinders you have to go with a Heritage "Rough Rider" or a Ruger Single Six..I believe that you will find that given their druthers everybody here would rather have the Ruger :target:

[jerry]

If you want a revolver get one because you want one.

I even hate to admit there is not a great amount of velocity advantage of the 22mag when fired from shorter barrels. A novelty really, like my 9mm/357 Blackhawk. 22 LR has come a long way on performance.

Those 6 or more holes in the cylinder are a bear to clean.

Reliability. Only after a VERY dirty Ruget did I get an occasional FTF or FTE. I gues I'm lucky because i don't have any of the horror stories.

Mags hard to load?

[Mark]

If you want one "where the cylinder pops out", it'll be a double action.

I can highly recommend the Taurus Tracker. I have one and am completely satisfied with it. Stainless, 6.5" barrel, good sights, 7 shots. I paid $290 for mine. Has a vented rib along the top, and a scope adapter is available that mounts thru the rib vents.

Anyone who tries to convince you that a Taurus is poor quality has never had their hands on a Tracker!

Mark

BTW.....I've had a Ruger 22/45 since they came out (over 10 years ago) and have NEVER had a problem with it. Check these out if you decide on an auto.

[PAPA G]

J framed kitgun, stainless, adjustible sights, nice.

[FEG]

Whatever you do, do not buy a Single action, gate-loading .22 revolver. You spend twice as much time loading/unloading the gun as you do shooting. I've been stuck with one for twenty years...

[PAPA G]

Originally posted by FEG
Whatever you do, do not buy a Single action, gate-loading .22 revolver. You spend twice as much time loading/unloading the gun as you do shooting. I've been stuck with one for twenty years...

wanna sell it???

[FEG]

It's a Jana Bison (West German manufacture) made in the late 1950s. My father bought it when he was overseas, and it has been in the family for longer than I have been alive. Believe me, I would sell it if I could...

Edit: I am not opposed to the SAA in general, just in a rimfire caliber! They make .22 plinking a real chore, in my mind.

[PAPA G]

don't sell it, its an heirloom, keep it, if just for memory sake

[stevinator]

Any of the trackers in 22-22 mag and 17 would be good.I have one in 357 and am very happy with it.

[Jay A.]

I have a Ruger single-six, but I do not have the magnum cylinder. It was lost at some point, not by me. Actually I found the pistol. You can have a new cylinder made by Ruger, they tell me. As to accuracy, someone said theirs was terrible. I use mine to shoot those pesky black birds that take over the habitat from the pretty birds. I can hit one from about 20 yards if I'm real steady. Get the right ammo, I use Federal.

[MAX7.62]

Seems like the American Rifleman mag had an article sometime over the last year about a Taurus .22 wheel gun that looked like a mini Raging Bull? As I recall it had a goodly amount of barrel and shouldn't have much recoil which would equate to accurate follow up shots?

[dave375hh]

If most of your shooting will be with .22LR don't buy a convertible. The bore dia. on a .22LR averages .218 the .22 MAG is .222. That's why most of the convertibles shoot better with the mag's and crappy with the LR's. The mfg. builds them with a mag dia. bbl because of the mag's higher pressures.

I have a S&W mod 17 (new style in blue) and a mod 63. The mod 17 in a Ransom Rest put 12 rnds of CCI green tags into .8" @ 20yds. A friend of mine just bought a Taurus stainless the model smaller than the Tracker. I'm not sure what the model is but it handles and shoots very well for the price(around $230 I think). It compaires to the mod. 63 in size and has adj sights and a 4" bbl.

Dave375

[Gyrene]

Grand Papa G - You are correct about the S&W Model 63. It is a Double/Single, and it can be had with a .22 Long Rifle Cylinder, and a .22 Magnum Cylinder. It can't be changed quickly though because you have to change the barrel. There is a .22 Long Rifle Barrel and a .22 Magnum Barrel, they are different according to S&W. Mine has a slightly different barrel forcing cone for the .22 Magnum barrel.

I also have a Ruger Single Six with both the .22 Long Rifle and .22 Magnum barrels. They are quite simple to change out, just pull one cylinder out and put the other cylinder in, and should be considered seriously for what you plan to do.

My experience with .22 Magnums, is that they are not necessarily that accurate, as compared to the .22 Long Rifle. Don't get me wrong, I still have them, and am hoping that I can figure out what it takes to gain the accuracy.

I prefer my S&W Model 17-4 or my S&W K-22 Masterpiece, for accurate shooting with a .22 revolver. For the most accurate shooting with a .22 Semi Auto, (while it is expensive) I really like my S&W .22 Model 41 Target with 7 inch and 5 1/2 inch barrels. It makes me believe that I really know how to shoot, because even at 25 yards all of my shots seem to still hit in the 10 or "X" Rings.

[ScottD]

I have 2 Single Six's. One is an old one from '57 with black rubber grips and the other is Super Single Six made in '69. The Super has the interchangable cylinder in 22WMR and adjustable sights. Both are tack drivers and I hunt small game with them every fall.

I have 8 Rugers and they are all excellent firearms for the price. Now that's not to say that they needed to be tweeked to get the most out them.

Get a Ruger! You won't look back.

[whirlwind]

i have to disagree with ya big dog...heritages suck! i had one for a total of one half a day! bought the gun,drove straight out to my range way out in da woods, shot like 12 rounds and the hand broke and jammed the cylinder to the point i couldnt even unload the rest of the cylinder! so i throw it in a box and head back to town to the gunshop...after a few miles one of oklahomas finest pulled me over ,he asked if i had any weapons i said yup and he asked to see it so i told him id rather he not touch it because of the malfunction and i told him what happened and where i was headed. well he said he stopped me to check my insurance since that was ok he couldnt get me for anything else (and it was the end of the month) he ,even after knowing my troubles, still gave me a ticket for transporting a loaded fire arm and took the gun. so i was out the cost of the gun and the cost of a ticket thanks to a cop trying to fill his quota! and the judge was also unsympathetic to the troubles so i had to pay the fine and he informed me of their policy not to return any hand guns to their owner after they take it! so i guess that explains my lack of warm fuzzy feelings about heritage revolvers and cops.

[BattleRifleG3]

That's rotten!