I'm coming into some money shortly so I want to buy a 22 RF for hunting. The S&W 617, Ruger MKII, Ruger Single Six all look good.

What are the good and bad points of each? I mean, cost is obvious. Any other considerations; trigger, accuracy, longevity, ease of use, etc?

I'll also use it to teach basic handgun classes to kids, teens and even adults.

taurus 94ss4 was my choice, after shooting the 617, the single six, and "american" 22/22mag, several ruger auto loaders....
and then I sent it off to be rebarreled to 1:10 twist

Here's a thought, with the ability to obtain, or lack thereof, 22 LR ammo and the lack of sm pistol primers, I wonder which would be better to buy, 38 special or 22 LR?

I'm eyeballing some nice 4" Diamondbacks in 38 Spl on GB.

Alan

buy both!
but the taurus 94ss4 is a fine pistol .. change the trigger return spring, and you are in good shape

Smith & Wesson, of course.......

Ahhh, the infamous Chipmunk slaying machine!

I got to handle one of those 617's yesterday @ Sportsman Warehouse. Nice!!!!

I'll take a look at the Taurus too.

This would depend on which pistol design you like the best and your pocket book.

Here are some recommendations, first listed money no object, second best value for the dollar.

Semi auto:
S&W Model 41, nothing compares.
Ruger semi auto.

Double action revolver;
What ever S&W model you like the best.

Single action Revolver.
Freedom Arms
Ruger single action.

quote:

Originally posted by GSSP:
Ahhh, the infamous Chipmunk slaying machine!

I got to handle one of those 617's yesterday @ Sportsman Warehouse. Nice!!!!

I'll take a look at the Taurus too.

Yes, and 'tis almost the season......

Whitworth

Once upon a time, many years ago [@1969/1970] when I was a young Bullseye Pistol shooter, an old head and I tested some 22 lr's at 50 yards.

In a Ransom rest, his factory 6" K 22 fired 6 shot groups at 50 yards that could be covered by a quarter, with several different types of 22 LR ammo.

We were both imppressed.

quote:

Originally posted by N E 450 No2:
Whitworth

Once upon a time, many years ago [@1969/1970] when I was a young Bullseye Pistol shooter, an old head and I tested some 22 lr's at 50 yards.

In a Ransom rest, his factory 6" K 22 fired 6 shot groups at 50 yards that could be covered by a quarter, with several different types of 22 LR ammo.

We were both imppressed.

Can't argue with that accuracy!! Wow!

You propose to own only one 22 pistol?!! What an interesting notion... These days I can choose from ready storage a Contender, PPK/S, M41, or a Bisley Single-Six. I've done the most hunting with the Contender I suppose. I've owned other 22s and regret letting most of them go. Hope to add a stainless Bearcat to the line-up one of these next purchases, and maybe one of the little Taurus bellyguns too.

I have the Ruger Mark III Target and I simply love it. The heavy barrel and the ergonomic grips can make you waste some terrible amounts of .22. I don't imaging the S&W Mod 41 is in most peoples budget since I could buy sevaral good guns for that price.

I topped mine with a stainless Bushnell High Contrast 3-6 scope for good light conditions and matched it up with Crimson Trace grips for that late evening hours in the woods. With tree rats, the Crimson Trace is just a blast regardless of the hour.

quote:

Originally posted by george roof:
I have the Ruger Mark III Target and I simply love it. The heavy barrel and the ergonomic grips can make you waste some terrible amounts of .22. I don't imaging the S&W Mod 41 is in most peoples budget since I could buy sevaral good guns for that price.

I topped mine with a stainless Bushnell High Contrast 3-6 scope for good light conditions and matched it up with Crimson Trace grips for that late evening hours in the woods. With tree rats, the Crimson Trace is just a blast regardless of the hour.

Welcome back, George! You've been scarce as of late.......

I have a Ruger Mark II with a Pentex 2 x scope also with Crimson Trace, and a Ruger Single Six.
My wife is using a Sig Mosquito.
All are great shooters.

I'm with nordesta; only one .22 RF handgun?? Any of the Rugers or the S&Ws listed would make great shooters. For teaching purposes, it is hard to beat a double action revolver. What larger bore handguns do you own? Might be that you would be well off with a smaller "understudy" of your larger handgun.

FYI, if you buy the Ruger or any other semi-auto, you won't be legal to hunt in Pennsylvania or other states that prohibit them; if that at all matters to you. Also, any caliber larger than .23 is illegal in PA for hunting small game; so your .38 is out of the question.

4" barrel on a hunting handgun? Seems pretty short, from a site radius prospective.

My S&W matte black model 617 10 shooter is legal and accurate, just not as fancy as the stainless revolvers. Plus, those S&W triggers are legendary.

There's no flies on any of the above but the all-time finest 22lr revolver for anything less that the price of a new truck is the Colt Diamondback. A four inch sight radius is plenty as long as you don't talk yourself into a different opinion. Mine (when I had the eyes and the time to shoot a brick a week) would knock five out of six 12 ga hulls over at 60 yds almost every time and for every time it only hit four, an equal number of times it got all six. In fact, it outshot every 22 rifle brought to a busy deer camp the entire season plus a couple months of squirrel hunting except for an Anchutz sporter the cook owned.

Ammo selection is a trial and error thing; once you find what a good revolver likes, buy a bunch of it. A decent used Diamond back will run $800 $950 and a like-new but fired one probably $1200 $1400. While that seems an astounding price for a 22, the good news is they go up every year so it really is an investment grade weapon, not just a shooter.

The only other 22 handgun I owned anywhere near that capability was an early Thompson Contender with the slim octagonal barrel. That was a fine shooter too, and a good choice today if you want the discipline that a single-shot encourages.

I checked prices after I posted and they're up $200 across the board over last year.

I have had a love affair with my S&W mod. 63 for the last 15 or more years. It is compact easy to carry and shoots great. I have taken 100's of Rabbits with it and see no reason to tote around an 8" revolver.