.22LR revolver

[COLT45SA]

Outrageous but true"
My older son has incredible eye hand coordination. When he was about 11 and had been shooting for a couple of years, I took him out for a day at the dump. One of the pistols I took was a S&W Model 17 that I think had had a fantastic action job performed. Not sure because I had bought it used from a LGS. Anyway, I had shot a Coke can which was laying about 30 yds away. My son picked up the freshly loaded 17 and shot the can sending it flying up in the air. His next 5 shots all hit that flying can. I was amazed at what I had just seen because I certainly couldn't duplicate that feat myself.
To this day he is still a firearm enthusiast and holds an FFL. HE owns a gun store in Cave Creek, AZ.

 

[COLT45SA]

I don't think that Colt was ever really serious about .22 revolvers. They never offered a TT or TH option and allowed S&W to dominate that segment of the market. Agreed that the Cobra had a pretty smooth action, but even so it wasn't on par with the S&W Model 17. JMHO~!!

 

[COLT45SA]

Most of the time the most accurate hand guns are not even discussed. So why are you buying one in the first place? For instance, how often do you read about the Hi-Standard semi-autos~? Do you want accuracy? The Hi-Standard Citation will out shoot a Colt Match Target any day all day and cost about 1/2 the going price of the Colt. I know it's not a revolver so My apologies to all who find this comment out of place~!

 

[jimmb]

17 hands down. don't bother with the others..... not even close....

 

[COLT45SA]

IMO, you can never go wrong with a S&W revolver. I have a 4 & 6 inch 22(both classic), 6” 686, 8” 29 and my wife has a Lady Smith in 38 Special. The triggers are unbelievably smooth/clean/crisp and all the same. The LS may not be quite as nice but I don’t remember.

The 6” 17 is my favorite to shoot. All are more accurate than I am…

The 8-3/8" barreled S&W Model 17-4 in SA only with TT and TH is beyond adequate description. Accuracy, supurb~! Trigger, supurb~! Overall just the best shooting .22 handgun I've ever fired.

 

[25ring]

The 8-3/8" barreled S&W Model 17-4 in SA only with TT and TH is beyond adequate description. Accuracy, supurb~! Trigger, supurb~! Overall just the best shooting .22 handgun I've ever fired.

I've yet to find a revolver that will out shoot my Freedom Arms 10" 252 silhouette.

 

[Rick in Oregon]

The 8-3/8" barreled S&W Model 17-4 in SA only with TT and TH is beyond adequate description. Accuracy, supurb~! Trigger, supurb~! Overall just the best shooting .22 handgun I've ever fired.

Agreed, and it's one of the revolvers I sold that I dearly regret doing so. Classic, elegant and pure Smith & Wesson.

 

[COLT45SA]

Agreed, and it's one of the revolvers I sold that I dearly regret doing so. Classic, elegant and pure Smith & Wesson.

Stupid me. I also had and sold a Model 14 in the same configuration a few years back. And now I find myselk shooting .38 Special again~!!!
I do like my 6" 17-3 in DA with all the T's, but it just ain't the same

 

[Rick in Oregon]

Stupid me. I also had and sold a Model 14 in the same configuration a few years back. And now I find myselk shooting .38 Special again~!!!
I do like my 6" 17-3 in DA with all the T's, but it just ain't the same

Yup, just ain't the same.

My M617 4" gets much use in the rat patch when I'm shooting CF rifles. It's great for those sneakers that pop up within 25 yards of the bench with complete insolence.



Works well, but as you said, 'just ain't the same'.

 

[450BM]

Agreed, and it's one of the revolvers I sold that I dearly regret doing so. Classic, elegant and pure Smith & Wesson.

I really regret selling a blued 4” S&W 29. Still not sure what I was thinking at the time…

 

[Knotwild]

I had and liked a S&W Model 18, because of the 4" barrel and the Model 34-1 with a 4" barrel is easy to carry and accurate enough for bottle caps.

 

[tjtjwdad]

Yup, just ain't the same.

My M617 4" gets much use in the rat patch when I'm shooting CF rifles. It's great for those sneakers that pop up within 25 yards of the bench with complete insolence.



Works well, but as you said, 'just ain't the same'.

Rick...you may or may-not remembered that on our rat-patch outings a few years back that I brought along a S&W Model 41 to use on those little critters. I could hit them pretty regularly at 100 yards. Because I was using target ammo it didn't always kill them instantly but it rarely missed.

I still have it and it's one I'm not likely to depart with anytime soon; if ever!

 

[Hoser]

I've yet to find a revolver that will out shoot my Freedom Arms 10" 252 silhouette.

My 97 wont outshoot my my 252, but it looks better.

 

[jps2486]

I have a 617 with a 4 inch barrel which I prefer over the longer 6 inch. Also, a model 63, an 8 shot gun on a J frame. More compact if you want to carry. Both are excellent guns. They have been on the market for many years and I believe are better quality than the Cold and especially the Ruger.

 

[ronsunni]

SMITH

 

[davidjoe]

I know that CZ now makes the Colt snake guns, but that knowledge comes from literature, not from examination of the piece. They look impeccable and I put a new one away this year, so I can’t yet comment otherwise, but what a revolver.

 

[proud American]

I carry my 5.5” Ruger Super Wrangler in the woods most of the time. It doesn’t compare to the revolvers here, but it’s cheap and cerakoted. I worry about it less when it’s getting rained on, dragged through briars, and when I sweating during summertime workdays at lease. Fun to shoot!

Now you're a practical guy. I like that. There's nothing wrong with buying a really nice vintage revolver and hiding it away in the safe for the next 25 years. I've done that. If that's your thing, the Colt is probably a better buy only because the run of the mill Smith just doesn't bring the Colt knd of money.
If you're a target shooter the Smith is hands down the better of the two.
If I were looking today for a great all-around revolver I'd try to find a clean early K22 with 3Ts. My preference is a 14-3 with those 3-Ts. Hopefully you have or can find a competent gunsmith who can check it out to see if some previous "DIY" gunsmith hasn't buggered up the action. Replacement parts are getting getting a bit difficult to find. I see K22s all the time selling at decent prices.
As far as new Colts go, there isn't any one out there that interests me in the least. I see ads on GB by a guy in Vero Beach who has older Smiths for sale regularly, and I'd chat with him before making a commitment. The earlier Smith 17s are great all-around revolvers for accuracy, quality, and shoot-ability. If an extra $100 for the right gun is too much for you, you're stuck in a problem place~!!