Which .22 Revolver

[graywolf]

I'm thinking about getting a .22 revolver for edc. Has to be small and light. My two choices are Ruger LCRx .22 or S&W Model 317 kit gun. Both are 3" barrels. What do y'all think? Between them two, which would you recommend, or any other models. Just .22

[BigAl52]

I have the LCRX in 38 special and think its very good for carry. I carry mine every day in my front pocket.

[John E Davies]

A double action rimfire revolver needs heavy springs to reliably set off the primers… this means the pull will be heavy and there is little you can do about it on a self defense gun. Do not expect a similar center fire trigger to feel anything like the .22 version. If I had to pick a .22 for carry it would be a semi auto.

Or consider an LCR in .327 Federal Magnum and shoot lighter recoil ammo such as .32 H&R Mag.

Full power .327 Federal Mag ammo is not very pleasant to shoot, but the beauty of the caliber is that you can easily download the power to your comfort level. I shoot Trail Boss hand loads out of my SP101 and it is quiet and delightful. You can shoot .32 ACP ammo for practice, but that isn’t a proper choice for self defense since it can be unreliable in a .327 revolver...

https://www.shootingillustrated.com/con ... f-defense/

John Davies
Spokane WA

[Steve51]

I also have the Ruger LCRx in .38spl + P with the short barrel. I really like it and have seriously considered the 3" LCRx in .22 magnum for my wife to carry. I have no experience with the S & W 317.

[daytime dave]

I'd look at the model 63 from Smith and Wesson. I think it is just the same now as the 317 except all stainless steel.

[Hatchdog]

I’m in the LCRX club as I too carry one in 327. Nice feature of the 327 is that it is a six shot cylinder rather that a five shot like the bigger calibers. I carry a Federal Hydro-Shock low recoil round and it’s not a problem in that little guy. As John said, full power 327’s is a very bad idea. 32 H&R’s is a good idea.

In center fire guns the trigger on the Ruger is much better than the S&W’s and Taurus. But as John stated above than might not be accurate in a rimfire. No experience with any rimfire pocket revolver.

[John E Davies]

Are you dead set on a .22 revolver, and is the issue hand strength? If so this would be a better choice, twice as many rounds, easy to rack, easier to reload, way WAY easier to conceal.

https://ruger.com/products/lcpII/models.html

I carried an LCP .380 daily for many years, you literally forget it is in your pocket….

John Davies
Spokane WA

[North Country Gal]

I owned the Smith 317 and have to say that being so light (11 plus ounces), it is hard to shoot with even self-defense kind of accuracy, let alone small game accuracy and, believe me, I know how to shoot small revolvers. Was not impressed with the build quality, either. Had an aluminum cylinder, not steel. It's a design taken to the extreme, all for the sake of saving weight. Great for carry, but that's about it. I do not recommend it.

If you want to use a J frame 22, go to the Model 63 as Dave suggests. It's the all stainless version and as easy to shoot as the 317 is not. The long shot option is to find the original Kit gun in the Model 34 blued version, but one of those won't come cheap. Both the 63 and the 34 are as good as it gets in a compact 22 revolver, though.

Of course, no one these days would ever recommend a single action as a self-defense revolver, but I do sometimes carry my Ruger Bearcat as a woods gun. Build quality is excellent, but they are pricey.

FYI, if you're going small and light under 20 ounces, I've found that micro semi-autos are easier to shoot with accuracy. The Sig P938 in 9mm is awesome, but since you want to stay 22 LR, plenty of micro semi-auto 22s around. Yeah, I prefer revolvers, too, but I do shoot autoloaders better. No denying that.

[Mags]

...
I carried an LCP .380 daily for many years, you literally forget it is in your pocket….

John Davies
Spokane WA

Me too.

[The Happy Kaboomer]

[Before I retired I stocked up on these........Good for my lifetime and beyond.