Looking for a .22lr revolver (first purchase)
- Thread starter macpowa
- Start date
too much for me.
- Location
- West Quebec
Smith 617 a real top notch revolver you'll be proud to own
Alfa Proj make some .22 LR revolvers that cost a lot less than a Smith or a Ruger. Plus they have them in alloy or steel configurations ranging from $400-530 I believe. Check them out as I've been hearing good things about the current batches.
Consider that you can hand this down to future generations and it will likely hold its value better than any other 22lr revolver...
Not to say other manufacturers make lousy 22lr revolvers but just holding the 617 makes you appreciate S&W's workmanship and I would rather have one S&W 617 over any two "less expensive" firearms.
A 617 is definitely on my "to get" list
S&W Model 17. My favourite.
Perfect match for shooting 22lr and not as heavy as the 617.
I see nice ones come up on the EE in the $600 range.
You're better off to buy once and cry once.
A good revolver will last you a lifetime.
Perfect match for shooting 22lr and not as heavy as the 617.
I see nice ones come up on the EE in the $600 range.
You're better off to buy once and cry once.
A good revolver will last you a lifetime.
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Rhino, when you get a chance to shoot it please report on how it handles and performs for you.
I've got a 17 but the lure of a decent 9 shot revolver at the price of an Alpha is tempting.
Also you might want to check out the lighter mainspring available from Rusty Wood Trading. It's made my 9mm Alpha a dream to shoot. And it's supposed to work in the .22's as well.
Macpowa, there's a few older options that you'll find used with a little patience. But having owned a few of them for a time and still having a couple I can say that they tend to be a fair bit less accurate than the S&W rimfire revolvers and also the trigger tends towards being ridiculously heavy in DA mode. I'm keeping them for the time being as I want to see if I can make them more acceptable. To me they are project guns to tinker with. Otherwise I would have sold them off already.
So there really is only a few options that are worth while. First up and with the highest certainty of a long and well known reputation is a K frame gun from S&W. These would be the K22, Model 17 or Model 617. In used condition they are going for between $550 and $650 depending on condition and which model. And you know the new price on the 617 already. The only other option would be the Alpha Project along with the Rusty Wood spring to make the DA trigger pull reasonable. I make this recommendation based on how well fitted my AP 9mm revolver is and how well it shoots. If the rimfire Alphas shoot as well then the performance and feel will be pretty close to that of the S&W.
The other cheap DA/SA revolvers I've had or have are at least 4 or 5 rungs down the ladder for accuracy and trigger feel. The major players in this lower level being Harrington and Richardson and Iver Johnson. Both will only be found in used condition as neither have made rimfire revolvers for years now.
The only other option would be a Colt rimfire. But while they are one rung or maybe two rungs better then the S&W they command the price of a new S&W or even more despite being long out of production.
I've got a 17 but the lure of a decent 9 shot revolver at the price of an Alpha is tempting.
Also you might want to check out the lighter mainspring available from Rusty Wood Trading. It's made my 9mm Alpha a dream to shoot. And it's supposed to work in the .22's as well.
Macpowa, there's a few older options that you'll find used with a little patience. But having owned a few of them for a time and still having a couple I can say that they tend to be a fair bit less accurate than the S&W rimfire revolvers and also the trigger tends towards being ridiculously heavy in DA mode. I'm keeping them for the time being as I want to see if I can make them more acceptable. To me they are project guns to tinker with. Otherwise I would have sold them off already.
So there really is only a few options that are worth while. First up and with the highest certainty of a long and well known reputation is a K frame gun from S&W. These would be the K22, Model 17 or Model 617. In used condition they are going for between $550 and $650 depending on condition and which model. And you know the new price on the 617 already. The only other option would be the Alpha Project along with the Rusty Wood spring to make the DA trigger pull reasonable. I make this recommendation based on how well fitted my AP 9mm revolver is and how well it shoots. If the rimfire Alphas shoot as well then the performance and feel will be pretty close to that of the S&W.
The other cheap DA/SA revolvers I've had or have are at least 4 or 5 rungs down the ladder for accuracy and trigger feel. The major players in this lower level being Harrington and Richardson and Iver Johnson. Both will only be found in used condition as neither have made rimfire revolvers for years now.
The only other option would be a Colt rimfire. But while they are one rung or maybe two rungs better then the S&W they command the price of a new S&W or even more despite being long out of production.
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Please post up a range report when you give 'er a run.
Very interested to read a comparison between it & the S&W Model 17.
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NAA.
Cocked&Locked
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- S. Ontario
you won't go wrong if you go with a smith, but Taurus had some nice 22 revolvers that you can often find in great shape used in the 400$ range. But save up and buy a 617...you won't regret it. If you just shoot single action the rugers are ok too
I just went trough the same process. I wanted a new one in DA/SA. I hesitated between the Alfa and the Smith 617. I finally decided to spend the extra $ and bought the 617. I can tell you the quality is there. Fit and finish is fantastic and it is so accurate. I think one might regret buying cheaper but one very rarely regrets buying best quality. Personally I don't find it heavy.
Gilbert
Gilbert
Good move.
It will be a revolver that will be ready for you as your shooting improves.
There's a K22 S&W for sale on the EE for $650.
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Apples and Oranges
The all steel Alpha Projects 22lr that I purchased has a 4.5" barrel and weights 40.95 ozs and it has a full length under barrel lug. These revolvers are also available with a 6" barrel and in the latter it is possible to get convertible models with two cylinders, one in 22lr with nine shots and the second in 22 WRM with eight shots. I specifically wanted the 4.5" barrel since I may in the future buy the same all steel Alpha Projects 357 magnum model with a 4.5" barrel. At one time I had both a Smith Wesson Model 17 and a Model 19 which complemented each other. I have been quite pleased with the quality of the gun so far, however I have only shot it once very briefly since I only got it last week. In regards to the Smith and Wesson model 617 I believe it is only available with a 6" barrel and it is nearly double the cost of the Alpha Projects.
The all steel Alpha Projects 22lr that I purchased has a 4.5" barrel and weights 40.95 ozs and it has a full length under barrel lug. These revolvers are also available with a 6" barrel and in the latter it is possible to get convertible models with two cylinders, one in 22lr with nine shots and the second in 22 WRM with eight shots. I specifically wanted the 4.5" barrel since I may in the future buy the same all steel Alpha Projects 357 magnum model with a 4.5" barrel. At one time I had both a Smith Wesson Model 17 and a Model 19 which complemented each other. I have been quite pleased with the quality of the gun so far, however I have only shot it once very briefly since I only got it last week. In regards to the Smith and Wesson model 617 I believe it is only available with a 6" barrel and it is nearly double the cost of the Alpha Projects.
Keep in mind the S&W's, especially the 617, have plenty of parts and other goodies available as well as being time-tested. Different sights, grips, springs, replacement parts, etc are all out there. I have a 617 and my only complaints are the basic sights are 'meh' and the trigger, because it was nearly NIB when I got it, needed a little smoothing out. A few minutes with an emery cloth and a couple drops of oil and I was good to go. Now I'm just looking around at different options for sights, some wooden grips, and lighter springs.
