WANTED: Decent-but-cheap .22 LR Revolver

[Vic]

I'm thinking about getting a .22 LR handgun.

In the time between when I first embarked on the journey to get my CHL and now, I've managed to convince two other people to get their CHL (well, take the class at least) and have interested a few other people in the shooting sports.

I've had several of these people express an interest in going to the range with me. I don't believe any of them have fired a handgun before, maybe not any type of firearm. Rather than just having them use whatever I have, I thought it would be nice to buy a cheap .22 LR pistol that they can learn with, then move up to the other pistols and rifles from there.

What to get? I'd rather get a revolver because I think a revolver is easier to learn. It is also probably more durable, but I doubt that will have any real bearing in this case. I don't foresee any real abuse, maybe just lots and lots of range time spread between the several people.

I don't know much about revolvers in general, but here are my thoughts about this application: I want a revolver chambered in .22 LR. If the revolver comes with other cylinders, that is fine, even though I doubt anything but .22 LR will ever be used. I'd strongly prefer SA/DA over SA-only. This is a training gun, so the more the training can be applicable to another gun used later, once the trainee has moved on to more powerful weapons, the better. I do not care what it looks like, what it is made out of (stainless or not), or what style it is (cowboy-style shape or more of a S&W styling).

Since I'm paying for it, I deserve at least one personal touch: I've always wanted a long-barrel revolver. Anything between 6" and comically-long would be considered (assuming it is not so outrageous that an older woman could not hold the gun steady).

I do need it to be fairly inexpensive, no heirlooms, safe-queens, or showpieces. I'd rather not spend more than about $250 on it. A used revolver would be great, and a used, ugly revolver (that is reliable) would be even better.

I doubt I could afford anything with the word "Colt" on it, or "S&W" for that matter. The only Heritage revolvers I remember seeing were all SA-only. Trolling the pawn shops is an idea, even though there aren't that many pawn shops around here, and they all seem to think a used gun is worth only a tiny fraction less than a new gun regardless of condition. I'm not knowledgeable about judging the condition of a used revolver, so I'm uncertain about whether I could look one over and determine what shape it is in.

What do you recommend for an inexpensive DA/SA revolver with a long barrel in .22 LR?

[TexasTony]

For under $250 your options are severely limited in the new DA/SA area. I think you may have to go used. You can definitely find a used Taurus .22lr small framed revolver for that price. They have a lifetime transferrable warranty so you can get it fixed if it is broken. They do make them with long barrels.

[Embalmo]

It's surprisingly difficult to find a plinker. I've always wanted a snubby revolver like the G-Men with their fedoras had in the '50s so I bought a Taurus Model 94 with a 2" barrel new for about $350. I don't know if they go to 6", but I know they go to 4".

Embalmo

[WildBill]

I don't know much about revolvers in general, but here are my thoughts about this application: I want a revolver chambered in .22 LR. If the revolver comes with other cylinders, that is fine, even though I doubt anything but .22 LR will ever be used. I'd strongly prefer SA/DA over SA-only.

As Embalmo implied, there aren't many .22LR revolvers that meet your criteria.

Most older .22LR double action revolvers were pretty junky. These days, a good quality gun, such as a S&W or Colt are not cheap.

I don't know of any SA/DA with exchangeable cylinders. Some of the single action Rugers had them. If you want a "cowboy style" revolver, they would be a good choice . IMO and experience, the S/A Rugers are excellent quality.

[Toadstone]

I think for your price range your best bet would be hitting a gun show and looking for a used gun. Probably something along the lines of a Taurus 94, although that gun certainly has mixed reviews.

My dad used to have a little Rossi .22LR revolver. Even as a pre-teen I remember thinking that, cosmetically at least, the quality was a joke compared to my moms S&W. However, it shot fine, and was dirt cheap. They stopped making them years ago, though, so I don't really know why I'm still talking.

http://highcalibergunshow.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[wheelgun1958]

Hinterland Outfitters has 5 inch Taurus 94s for just over $300. Brand new. I think they are located in Spring.

here

[eddieconcarne]

I can't make a specific gun recommendation, but I do want to commend you on starting your friends with a .22LR revolver. I see so many people initiate new shooters with big booms because they want to impress them, or they give in to the new shooter's desire to shoot some semi-auto they've seen in movies. In my humble opinion, every shooter should start out with a .22LR revolver and not progress to anything bigger or more complicated until they've mastered that weapon. It is the perfect weapon for a beginner, especially one who has gone all the way to adulthood without shooting before - and the benefits of learning to shoot that firearm well will extend into every gun they learn to shoot afterwards. Congrats to you for doing it the right way.

[drjoker]

If you really want double action 22lr, then a used Charter Arms would be your choice, but really, why double action? Single action would be better for a beginner. Excited beginners have very poor muzzle control. For example, they'll fire one shot and then turn around with the gun turning with their body and say, "Hey, I hit the target!" As they're saying this, the gun is pointed at the instructor. Not good.

Single action Heritage Arms would be best IMHO.

[Vic]

I just think a double-action revolver for training translates better to guns the trainee would learn to use later. Starting with a .22 LR revolver and then stepping up to something like a .38 revolver would be less intimidating if the user can be told that it works exactly the same way as the .22 did.

It is not a deal killer, though. It looks like a SA/DA .22 LR revolver will be a very tough find with a price limit of $250. I see a few on some of the auction sites, but I've never bought a gun from an auction site and I don't really embrace the idea. I've been burned on plain old eBay for much less expensive items, and I don't eBay anymore, either.

I like to think I could sidestep the muzzle control issue at the outset by loading only one cartridge for the first few attempts.

a Heritage SA revolver does look attractive. I may end up going that route if I can find a used one with a long barrel, or a reasonably priced new one.

[Rex B]

Fathers Day I took my 30 YO daughter to the range. She said that would be fun. I knew one of her BFs had taken her shooting years ago, but I never had (I know, I know). So I loaded up a bunch of pistols that needed exercise. From memory, those included a .22 Auto Ruger Mk3, a Seecamp .32, a Sig P238, a Star 9mm, and a Colt .45 ACP. I was going to let her start with the .22, but it was hopelessly jammed (assembly error), so I handed her the .32. She fired 2 rounds and gave it back with a grimace. I let her try the star, which is about as soft-shooting a 9mm as there is. No thank you.
Then a friend showed up with a couple of guns I was interested in buying. One was a well-worn High Standard Double 9, which is a .22 revolver, western style, 9-shot, and is DA/SA. She ran a cylinder full from that and was OK with it. She later said she liked that one. So, I was kicking myself for not bringing some .22s (that worked!)
Having said all that, if you find a nice Double 9 under $200 it might be a good choice.
I would also suggest H&R 949 (blued) or 950 (nickled). Those are all steel, DA/SA. They were made in the last few years of H&R, so mint examples are still available for around $200. 9-round cylinders, swing-out reloads, adjustable sights. Nice revolvers.

As for an inexpensive used Taurus 94, the last time I saw one of those a Yeti was carrying it
People just don't seem to sell those. But I've also heard of 94s with timing issues.

[Embalmo]

If you really want double action 22lr, then a used Charter Arms would be your choice, but really, why double action? Single action would be better for a beginner. Excited beginners have very poor muzzle control. For example, they'll fire one shot and then turn around with the gun turning with their body and say, "Hey, I hit the target!" As they're saying this, the gun is pointed at the instructor. Not good.

Single action Heritage Arms would be best IMHO.

I could be wrong, but doesn't double action (with an exposed hammer) always mean both double action and single action when referring to a revolver, while a single action revolver is limited to only single action? My Taurus 94 is double action, but I generally pull the hammer back to shoot it single action at the range. I like to carry my little snubby for back-up and I like it to go bang without having to pull the hammer back first in a SD situation. Personally I wouldn't feel any safer with a single action gun pointed at me by some moron at the range.

Embalmo

[WildBill]

I could be wrong, but doesn't double action (with an exposed hammer) always mean both double action and single action when referring to a revolver, while a single action revolver is limited to only single action? My Taurus 94 is double action, but I generally pull the hammer back to shoot it single action at the range. I like to carry my little snubby for back-up and I like it to go bang without having to pull the hammer back first in a SD situation. Embalmo

I believe this is true. I don't like revolvers without an exposed hammer. They just don't look right to me - like something was amputated. I know that double action will be used for most defensive situations, but I still like the SA option.

What I would like is a nine shot .22 Magnum snub nose revolver. A S&W would be terrific. A Colt would be heavenly.

[Rex B]

What I would like is a nine shot .22 Magnum snub nose revolver. A S&W would be terrific. A Colt would be heavenly.

Me too. S&W makes one, but not sure about the 9-shot part

[G26ster]

What I would like is a nine shot .22 Magnum snub nose revolver. A S&W would be terrific. A Colt would be heavenly.

Me too. S&W makes one, but not sure about the 9-shot part

The S&W Model 317 is a snubbie w/hammer in .22lr, but 8 shots. Taurus makes several 9 shot .22lr snubbies with hammers.

[Mike1951]

If you decide on a single action, the Heritage Rough Rider can be found at reasonable prices.

At a Academy Thanksgiving sale, I bought one for $99.

In stock here for $156.

http://www.hinterlandoutfitters.com/her ... 21863.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

ETA: Academy has with the magnum cylinder for $176.

http://www.academy.com/index.php?page=c ... 01160-0001" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;