Author Topic: .22 Double Action Revolvers (Read 4125 times)

dickttx · « **on:** September 13, 2010, 12:08:56 PM »

Got a yen for a 22 handgun awhile back. Started looking at semi-autos.
Visited a shop and the owner showed me a new Taurus 94, 5" at a nice price. I really liked the feel but the double action pull was undoable. In fact it also took both hands to cock the hammer for single action, but the single action trigger was nice. Have looked at a lot of comments on that gun since then, and it appears that you have about a 50/50 chance of getting a good one.
I did realize that a double action revolver would probably suit my needs better than a semi.
Started looking at other things and realized that there are very few new double actions, and the prices of those available are breath taking.
Started checking the pawn shops and gun shops for something, but haven't found anything worth haggling over.
Went online and at Gunbroker.com, found that there were some there, but the prices were again out of this world.
Finally found a Trooper MkIII that looked in decent shape and put in a bid. Will be a week before the bidding closes.
I have a Trooper MkIII in .357 that I have had for years and it is a nice gun.
However, I got it by trading an almost new Diamondback .38. Think I may have traded even, after Gibson's threw in a box of cartridges. Now I see the Diamondbacks on Gunbroker are selling for 3 to 5 times what I gave new in 1967.
The only other gun I have traded was mint Colt Mark IV, Series 70 45acp for an S&W 6906 9mm.
If anyone wants a good deal on a gun just follow me around.
By the way, I still don't know why but I got the 45 at a gunshop in Oklahoma City, about 1970, used for $88.50.

Crow Juice · « **Reply #1 on:** September 14, 2010, 06:37:16 AM »

Hey I have a Taurus 941 22mag and a Charter Arms 22lr . I have had good luck with both. You might want to look at both. I hear all the bad press about the Taurus's but I haven't seen it and my 22 mag is getting a lot of milage on it at this point.

Rangr44 · « **Reply #2 on:** September 14, 2010, 07:44:16 AM »

When buying a second quality revolver, i.e. not a S&W/Colt/etc, what you get can be a crap shoot, and much depends upon how each product is supported - because the chances are fairly high that a buyer'll need that support at one time or another.

I also have new Charter & Taurus revolvi -
The first (new/ordered) Charter .22Mag 4" Pathfinder went back 2x for hard extraction before it was replaced with a trouble-free Dual-Cylinder Pathfinder.
The new/ordered .22MAG 5" Taurus 941 I later bought, started side spitting (out of time) - but I traded it back to the FFL for another firearm rather than go through the Chinese Water Torture of the Taurus Warranty Program.

I replaced the Taurus 941 with a NIB/used 1970's-era Charter 3" Pathfinder that's been trouble-free.

FWIW, The Smith's/Colt's, I've owned in the past (5 or 6 different ones), never gave issue one - for as long as I owned them.

.

CajunBass · « **Reply #3 on:** September 14, 2010, 08:06:52 AM »

I've got both a Smith & Wesson 17, and a Dan Wesson 22. Of the two I like the S&W a little better, but not by much. Mostly it comes down to the S&W being smaller, and having better sights. I've got a Colt 22 also, but it's a single action. Good gun, but not what you're looking for.

I had a Harrington & Richardson 650 I believe it was. It's a double action that looks and loads like a single action. It wasn't a BAD gun, but it certainly wasn't in the same class as the other two. I've owned both Taurus and Charter Arms revolvers, but not 22's. Of the two, I think I'd look for a Charter in 22, especially an older one. I did look at a Taurus one time, and passed on it for a Ruger Bearcat.

The Smith & Wessons are top rated for a reason. I tried to tell myself that wasn't true for a long time. Until I got one.

dickttx · « **Reply #4 on:** September 14, 2010, 01:44:52 PM »

Still have bid in on Trooper MK III .22, 6" barrel, and I think I would like it, as I do my .357.
Still another week before auction ends.
Went to some gun shops yesterday and handled a Ruger Super Single Six. Was suprised how good it felt. Hadn't really considered a single action.
If I don't get the Trooper I may look into the Ruger in Stainless.
Started out wanting a stainless, so if I forgot and left it in the Mule for a few days it wouldn't be a bucket of rust.
Looked at the Smiths and still haven't caught my breath over the price.

petepaaz · « **Reply #5 on:** September 15, 2010, 04:41:39 AM »

I have been wanting to add another .22LR handgun to my battery (current budget challenges holding this up for now). I currently own a very accurate Ruger Super Single Six Hunter with a 7 & 1/2" barrel in Stainless Steel. I have it scoped (comes with scope rings) but the iron sights are the best I've seen on a Ruger too. This gun shoots into less than 1 & 1/2" at 50yds with Fed Hi Vel HP.
I've been seriously considering a S&W 617 4" SS 10 shot .22LR for a more compact yet rugged trail gun. I've read forums where many really like the accuracy of these. The smaller j-frame 63 SS while considered good for the size has more mediocre ratings. My experience with a j-frame predecessor Model 43 with 4" barrel was accurate with 4 out of 6 shots...always had 2 fliers with that revolver no matter what ammo I used. So the larger k-frame 617 has my eye for now.
Pete

LocnLod · « **Reply #6 on:** September 15, 2010, 09:15:29 AM »

I've had a 4" 617 for a few years now. Fun to shoot, the action smooths up after a while but fellow shooters that try it and don't know how to pull a trigger properly bawk at the double action. Single action is light and crisp but most of my shooting is DA. With a dot sight on it I got 1.5" 10 shot group @25 yds with Remington Golden Bullet. With a fobus holster and the DS-10 speedloaders I used it as a training gun for IDPA matches.

CajunBass · « **Reply #7 on:** October 12, 2010, 02:14:44 AM »

I picked up another option a couple of days ago. They're out of production these days, so you'll have to look used, but they're well worth the look, my initial observations say.

Harrington & Richardson 999 Sportsman.

Nine shots, break action, made in 1955, H&R made them for years so there are a lot of them out there. Some are in LNIB condition, others aren't fit to use for trotline weights. Prices seem to run the gammet. This one I got for $130.00, but most seem to be in the $250.00 and UP range. One thing to look for. The rear sight apparently is famous for falling off. It had on this one too, but it got me a few more bucks off the price I had negotiated. You can get them online for 5-10 bucks, but I think I'll just make one out of flat steel.

I took it down the hill yesterday behind the house and was able to keep a can dancing without a rear sight.

dickttx · « **Reply #8 on:** October 12, 2010, 04:24:02 AM »

I posted the following in the Gun Shows" thread last Sunday:

"Despite my previous post (#33 above) I did go to a Fort Worth gun show yesterday.
I was looking for primers and brass. $30 for primers, $20/100 for brass. I didn't buy any.
I had been looking for a .22 handgun for some time, first a semi-auto, then changed my mind to DA revolver. Couldn't find one of those. Finally settled on SS single six but had not bought yet.
On the last row of the show yesterday, 30 minutes before closing, a DA caught my eye. I picked it up and it was a S&W 617, 4 inch barrel. The price was too much so I walked on a few steps, came back and asked the guy if could handle it, and try the trigger. He unclipped the zip tie, I cocked it and pulled the trigger once and bought it.
Got 60 shots in before the Cowboys game started.
Beyond a doubt the finest gun I have ever fired."

Have shot about 200 rounds so far. Federal and Remington hollow points in the bulk pack.
It shoots MUCH better than I can. I love the size of it. I have short fingers, and I believe this is the first handgun I have been able to get the base of the first joint of my trigger finger on the trigger. The trigger is an absolute dream.

bert49 · « **Reply #9 on:** October 12, 2010, 04:11:01 PM »

Good purchase. Those k frames will spoil you. Wish I had one now.

oldandslow · « **Reply #10 on:** October 13, 2010, 02:49:21 PM »

I took my single six and my wife's mod. 17 to the range yesterday. That old 3 screw Ruger is sweet but the Smith is sweeter.

gunpilot · « **Reply #11 on:** November 20, 2010, 12:30:43 PM »

Picked up a new Taurus 94 today. It lasted 27 rounds. Third Taurus I have owned that was junk.

dickttx · « **Reply #12 on:** November 20, 2010, 02:01:53 PM »

gunpilot,
Sorry about your Tarus. Since I bought the 617 I have fired about 500 rounds per week thru it. Haven't once thought of the cost.

canon6 · « **Reply #13 on:** November 20, 2010, 02:49:13 PM »

I have a Charter ARms 3inch, a S&W 317 and a Taurus. I have not had any problems with any of them.I do like the S&W best, then the Charter Arms and lastly the Taurus. Doug

Jim n Iowa · « **Reply #14 on:** November 21, 2010, 01:12:09 PM »

I have a S&W 6" 10 shot 617, I believe its the finest .22 pistol on the market. I also have a Ruger MK1 tapered target and a Ruger MK2 5" bull barrel, both are great shooters but the 617 is a class act.
Jim

Tom C. · « **Reply #15 on:** December 01, 2010, 07:37:49 AM »

I have a couple of double action .22s. They are all S&Ws. I don’t trust Taurus or Charter. You might want to look for a S&W Model 17. It is the 6” half lug blued 6 shot classic. Mine is super accurate. I also have a couple of 617s and 63. As a point of reference, the 17 and 617 are S&W K frames while the 63s are J frames.

chefjeff · « **Reply #16 on:** December 01, 2010, 12:22:25 PM »

Have enjoyed several over the last 30 years,but my fav is the S&W 651. That little gun is slick,accurate and easy to carry.

gcrank1 · « **Reply #17 on:** January 05, 2011, 01:31:33 PM »

Colt's Officer's Model Special, 22LR has been my dbl. action for quite some years now. It is heavier (bull barrel) than the Officer's Model, O.M. Match or Official Police/Tropper models but is built like the proverbial bank vault.
Ive had S&Ws too, but finally took good advice to stick with one brand. They operate and feel a bit different.
The Colt's are still out there on the used market and, like everything used, you need to know what to watch out for, but good metal and sound design mean they hold up better over the long haul, especially in .22.
I just like classy old revolvers, but if I 'lost' everything I think I would seriously consider Ruger.

dickttx · « **Reply #18 on:** January 06, 2011, 02:56:58 AM »

Update
Couple of months ago I found a High Standard Sport King with 2 barrels in a pawn shop. Made 1951/53.
Between the 617 and this one, which ever one I am shooting at the time, I like the best.
The long barrel shoots Federal bulk very well. Occasional failure to fire. Sometimes that cartridge will fire if refed. If it won't, sometimes it will fire in the 617. So about 50/50 the cartridge's fault.
The trigger is great and I love the looks and feel of that solid hunk of steel.

Old Griz · « **Reply #19 on:** January 10, 2011, 06:29:36 PM »

I have a scoped 617 that has taken more tree rats than any other gun I own. My 17 is pretty new and I haven't put a lot of rounds through it, but it's been very accurate so far. I also have a Ruger SP101 in .22, but it may be for sale soon. I hardly ever shoot it these days.

Waldo Pepper · « **Reply #20 on:** March 12, 2011, 09:13:21 AM »

I have two Dan Wessons, a stainless steel with a 4" & 8" barrel and a blued with 4" & 6" barrels. The interchangable barrels and able to out shoot any K/L series S&W I ever owned or shot. The DW 22 and 357 are same size and weight, about same size as N frame Smith.

4" Blue

4" stainless

1911crazy · « **Reply #21 on:** April 05, 2011, 01:56:39 PM »

I been browsing for one too for my misses to shoot for her first revolver and for my grandson to shoot too. The prices are so high on the newer revolvers in 22cal. I may look for an older one or two. Bill

Waldo Pepper · « **Reply #22 on:** April 05, 2011, 03:17:20 PM »

Used gun that brought $250 three years ago is bringing $450 range these day's or more. The 722 4" above with the 8" sold with it would bring $750 to $800 range, a new S&W M-41 with 5.5" barrel runs about $1000 to $1100 OTD and nice used ones are averaging $850 to $1000 plus depending on age, grips and barrel and area of country.

The exception to that in this area is used Taurus auto or revo's, Charter Arms and other low quality or cost guns. Here you buy a $400 Taurus and never fire it and try to trade it back in on a new Smith for example the dealer will not put more then $150 to $200 in the gun.

Drilling Man · « **Reply #23 on:** April 05, 2011, 04:09:51 PM »

The best by far, 22lr revolver i've ever owned/handled/fired is the S&W M-18, and i've went through a pile of 22 revolvers since i bought my first one in the 70's.

DM

olafhardtB · « **Reply #24 on:** May 06, 2011, 07:07:49 PM »

Am l the only one with a model 34 kit gun? l have had it for years, shot the firee out of it. lt stood by me in a few situations. l love it and l like my 317 featherweight almost as much.