Author Topic: anyone shoot a S&W K22 (Read 10466 times)

pastorp · « **on:** March 24, 2009, 05:18:55 AM »

Over the years I've owned about every type of handgun made. It's been fun, but I've finelly settled on my favorite. For me it's the S&W K22, or it's predicessor the K22 outdoorsman. I have 3 pre-war outdoorsman that I shoot, and 1 post war K22. As well as 2 S&W model 48's. The same gun in 22mag.

Ya just got to love the K22's. Argueably the finest 22 ever produced.

Whats your favorite 22.

Dand · « **Reply #1 on:** March 25, 2009, 07:33:37 PM »

A nice K22 was the first .22 handgun I ever shot and it was wonderfully accurate. I begged my dad to buy me one but he thought $115 was an outrageous price and that it was too easy for a 15 yr old to get it pointed the wrong direction. He was right on the second count. Never have got around to getting one - was getting the bug earlier this winter but some big expenses have popped up and I have to leave the K22 on the ever growing wish list. Cool that you have so many to enjoy. If you get tired of one send it my way!

Tom C. · « **Reply #2 on:** March 26, 2009, 07:36:08 AM »

My first handgun 35 yrs. ago was a Model 27-2. It took me over 30 yrs. to get around to getting a Model 17. I finally found a good one and it shoots very well. I also have a couple of 617s. I shoot them more because I prefer stainless and the collector status of the 17.

OLDHandgunner · « **Reply #3 on:** March 27, 2009, 01:49:19 AM »

I bought my first S&W K-22 with a 6" barrel almost 40 years ago. It's still one of my best go to guns for target shooting, plinking and hunting small game. The K-22 is a real jewel.

Hank08 · « **Reply #4 on:** March 27, 2009, 04:57:14 AM »

It probably is the best .22 . Mine was made in 1957 and although I've shot it thousands of times it's still as tight and accurate as when new. Recently there was another thread where we posted pics of our K22s.
H08

CannonKrazy · « **Reply #5 on:** March 27, 2009, 11:10:10 AM »

OK go ahead and brag all you want to. I have wanted a K-22 for years and I'm always a day late or a dollar short when I find one. I have been looking at the newer model 617s but that 800 dollar price tag is tough to handle right now.
A good friend of mine owns a K-22 that belonged to his father. Over the years they have fired thousands of rounds through it. The blueing has been rubbed off along time ago and the checkering on the grips is worn but it still shoots as good as a new one. Smith an Wesson sure got it right when they designed the K-22 revolver.

Brett · « **Reply #6 on:** March 27, 2009, 02:59:32 PM »

My brother Barry, who is 13 years my senior, had one years ago that he foolishly traded for a 1911 .45. That K-22, a Colt Woodsman and a High Standard Match Target (?) were the first handguns I had ever shot. I don't think I was yet in my teens when he started taking me shooting at the gravel pits near our home.

I can remember shooting at empty beer bottles and clay pigeons set up against the dirt bank that served as a back stop. I had a steady hand and was a natural shot. I would start out by shooting the necks off the bottles, then shoot the bodies, then finally I would prop the bottoms of the bottles up on the bank and shoot them. Barry would tease me calling me "Dead Eye" because I would leave him nothing to shoot at if I went first. So I guess the K-22 is part of the reason I'm a gun junkie.

By the way, my brother got rid of that old .45 after a while also and has recently picked up another k-22. Unfortunately we live 900 miles apart now so we don't get a chance to shoot together very often. Barry just celebrated his 60th birthday last month. Here's to you bro' and to that old K-22.

Autorim · « **Reply #7 on:** March 27, 2009, 04:31:01 PM »

The K22 is hard to beat and is certainly a classic. I wish S&W still made a no lug barrel. I gifted one of my friends today with a 5 screw K22. I have owned and shot them since the mid 50's. I will say though,that the double action pull is better on my 617's than the K22. Both models are very accurate and I have shot many thousands of rounds through them.

Blackhawk44 · « **Reply #8 on:** March 27, 2009, 06:07:53 PM »

In the late 1970's, I bought a new K22 and took it to a local master gunsmith, famous for his PPC pieces. I had this gentleman install a crane lock, trigger stop, round and smooth the trigger face while doing his magic on the action. With HKS speed loaders, I had a cheap-to-shoot substitute for my PPC competition piece. It remains one of my two grab-first .22's. On jackrabbits, it seems to have radar out to silly ranges. It will be in my estate.

OLDHandgunner · « **Reply #9 on:** March 28, 2009, 01:12:22 AM »

For thoses who don't own a K-22. I've seen them at most gun shows I've been too. From the old Outdoorsman, the 5 screw & the newer ones. Still at a not too bad price.
Also for those folks that want a brand new one S&W has come out with a Limited run of S&W Classics in 14 different Models and the K-22 is one of them. These are real beauties. Just read the review of the Classic Model 27 in Shooting Times. The new Classic Model 27 out shot the older Model 27. It looks like Smith can still make a quality gun when they need too.

pastorp · « **Reply #10 on:** May 23, 2009, 05:12:28 AM »

I went shooting yesterday. Took along a ruger sp101, a S&W model 17-2, and a K22 outdoorsman. They were all fun but the outdoorsmans trigger is just soo smooth. No comparison.

Just makes me smile everytime I shoot it. Regards

Smokepole cowboy · « **Reply #11 on:** May 23, 2009, 03:05:33 PM »

I went into a gun shop looking for a .44 mag and ended up buying a K 22 masterpiece. Man is that one sweet shooting little gun.

SD Handgunner · « **Reply #12 on:** May 26, 2009, 04:11:33 AM »

Back in the late '70's, early '80's I had a S&W Model 17 6" that I foolishly traded. Man did that gun have a smooth action. It was quite ammo sensative (like most .22's) but when fed what it preferred I could shoot bottle caps off of pop bottles at 20 yards.

In the mid to late '90's I decided to rectify my foolishness and acquired a 6" S&W Model 617. At the same time I had a 5" S&W Model 629 Classic and had a gunsmith shorten the Barrel on the 617 to 5 3/8" so the overall length of the two S&W's was the same. I actually used the 617 for indoor bullseye competition for a couple years. The action wasn't nearly as smooth as the earlier Model 17, but smooth none the less.

Well unfortunately that one was foolishly traded off also. If I ever buy another one I have always had my heart set on a 8 3/8" S&W Model 17 (without the full underlug). Maybe some day I will have the funds in hand when I actually find one.

Yes they are indeed great revolvers.

Larry

Wyo. Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #13 on:** May 26, 2009, 03:19:23 PM »

:)At present I have 3 K's two five screw, and one newer model. Have quite a few pistols, but these three are my favorite rimfires, and maybe my favorite pistols.

Old Griz · « **Reply #14 on:** May 26, 2009, 04:23:53 PM »

I have a scoped 617 I have used for tree rats for years now. However, I picked up a 6" 17 last year, but haven't had a chance to shoot but a couple of times at the range. Both shoot mighty fine.

However, the best .22 I have ever held was a 6" Colt Diamondback. Beautiful gun, slick action . . . Just didn't have the $500 at the time.

Bigdog57 · « **Reply #15 on:** May 31, 2009, 11:35:11 AM »

Mine is a Model 17-3, six inch blued with black plastic Pachmayer "Bill Jordan" signature grip. Feels mighty good in my big paw.
Shoots tight! If I had to have only one .22 handgun, this is the one I keep! I found it in a local "Gun&Pawn" for $250.
I love the classic S&W design, without the later heavy underlug.

pastorp · « **Reply #16 on:** June 04, 2009, 08:02:02 AM »

Bigdog, The pre-war guns have even less under the barrels and the barrels are lighter too.

Regards,

Old Griz · « **Reply #17 on:** July 03, 2009, 01:43:12 PM »

Looking at the S&W website they have a 17 Masterpiece and an 18 Masterpiece. The only difference that I can see is the 17 has a 6" barrel and the 18 a 4". Is there any other difference (aside from the price)?

pastorp · « **Reply #18 on:** July 05, 2009, 05:45:15 AM »

Griz, The 17 has a target front sight. The 18 has a combat front sight. You can get different triggers and hammers too.

Regards,

Old Griz · « **Reply #19 on:** July 05, 2009, 11:46:55 AM »

OK, ignorant question time:
What is the difference between the target sights and the combat sights? They look the same in the pictures.

pastorp · « **Reply #20 on:** July 05, 2009, 01:42:43 PM »

The target sight is undercut or flat faced toward the shooter. The combat sight is ramped toward the target so as not to hang up in your holster or clothing.

Regards,

Drilling Man · « **Reply #21 on:** July 06, 2009, 04:05:05 AM »

Over the years, i've owned numerous M-17's, a couple 48's and one M-18 that i bought in 1975. Of them all, i only kept the 18, and i doubt i'll ever get rid of it. It's a reliable, accurate workhorse of a revolver, that's put a lot of meat on my table. Personally, i always liked the 18 best, as i liked the 4" bbl, when i'd carry it on those extended hunts in the Alaskan bush.

DM

Buck-Ridge · « **Reply #22 on:** July 31, 2009, 07:11:05 AM »

The first accurate 22 I ever shot was someone elses K-22. I got my own in the early 80s from an old gunstore that was going out of business. It is my favorite gun that I own.

CajunBass · « **Reply #23 on:** August 01, 2009, 02:01:49 AM »

I went to the range last week with my wife. I carried a H&R 650 that I hadn't had a chance to shoot, and my Model 17-3. I shot the 650 first, and thought I was having a pretty bad day. It didn't shoot "bad" but I sure wasn't impressed with it. I didn't expect much anyway, I figure I'm a lousey pistol shot so what difference did it make?

Then I picked up the Model 17. Same range, same targets, same ammo. I shot the 10X ring right out of the target. That gun will make even me look good.

I got rid of the 650. Nothing wrong with it. I just figured I didn't need it really.

Although I do have a 6" Dan Wesson that will hang right with it.

saltydog · « **Reply #24 on:** September 28, 2009, 04:09:29 AM »

The S&W 17 is one of my favorites as are the S&W M41 and orginal Browning Challenger for punch'in paper and plink'in.

Arizona Jake · « **Reply #25 on:** September 29, 2009, 06:29:38 AM »

I got my 17-3 K22 in 1974, after working and saving all summer for it. It has a 6" barrel and oversize grips for my large, skinny hands. With it, I won my first slow fire small bore pistol event. I've also sent more than 1000 bunnies and jack rabbits to that great pasture in the sky with it. Haven't shot it in the last 4 years... time to take some more bunnies out with it!

Old Fart · « **Reply #26 on:** October 07, 2009, 08:38:53 AM »

I'll have a almost new 617 coming this evening.

Trading a used Marlin 1895 guide gun in 45-70 for it.

I've been wanting another s&w wheelie 22lr for a while.
It's getting to where almost all I shoot anymore is 22lr.

I've got a pistol range set up in the back yard for the grandkids.
Well at least that's what I told my wife when I was plowing up the berms for back stops.

I've found that after a long day of putting up with my students a little plinking goes a long way to making things right.

Sometimes a nice cool drink afterwards helps also.

P.A. Myers · « **Reply #27 on:** November 03, 2009, 03:22:23 PM »

I have had a 617 for about a year now, very accurate with most ammo. Index problem required return to S&W.
I have a H&R 999, fun gun but the smith outshoots it any day.

Questor · « **Reply #28 on:** November 05, 2009, 03:17:58 AM »

Pastorp:

I have a 617 successor to the K-22, which I like as a field gun and just for fun shooting. It's an excellent revolver and is a joy to shoot. Although I shoot a semi auto for most of my shooting, which is bullseye target shooting, I vastly prefer the revolver for all other purposes. I do have a K-38, which is an excellent revolver also, and I also carry it as a field gun. For a field gun, I still prefer the 22, however, because the 38 is a lot louder.

One of my favorite things to do with these guns is to set up some clay shotgun targets at 100 yards and shoot at them offhand. This reminds me that now that the annual deer sight-in is over at my gun club, I can go do that again now.

I have had occasion to send S&W revolvers back to the company for work, and they have always been prompt and correct. S&W has been a fine company in my experience and I have a brand preference for them.

I also have a model 41 semi auto target pistol. This is a very good gun. I wish I had bought a hundred of them before the prices skyrocketed.

Old Griz · « **Reply #29 on:** November 05, 2009, 10:52:56 AM »

Quote from: Questor on November 05, 2009, 03:17:58 AM

Pastorp:I also have a model 41 semi auto target pistol. This is a very good gun. I wish I had bought a hundred of them before the prices skyrocketed.

I'd have settled for just one!