.22LR revolver + nice trigger (does it exist)

[skunkbad]

I purchased a Ruger 22 pistol about a year ago, and it's just too finicky with ammo. So I thought I'd either sell it or trade it in and purchase a 22 revolver. The problem with that is that I have yet to find a 22 revolver that has a decent trigger. By decent I mean under 4 pounds and smooth. I know I'm asking for a lot, but I've spent hundreds of dollars on triggers, so I'm just spoiled.

I've been training my 11 year old son to shoot for the past 2 years. He needs to be able to pull the trigger, and the revolvers I'm seeing at gun shops have a trigger pull that is just way too heavy. Some of them seem in the 10 pound range, or maybe I'm just imagining that because I'm used to Glocks and ARs with Geiselle triggers.

So what should I try to find? Will I need to make a purchase knowing that trigger work will need to be done? Are there makes/models that have great aftermarket trigger components that make it really easy to do myself?

[dotfortune]

It sounds like you've been sticking exclusively to revolvers that are DA/SA, but regardless, this is a common problem you'll find with .22's - the springs have to be pretty stout to reliably set off the primer in this particular cartridge's rim.

Have you looked into revolvers that were single action only? This type of revolver will give you the trigger you seem to be looking for. It sounds like your son is past this point already, being a couple of years in, but a single action revolver will really slow you down, and make you think about your fundamentals, getting the most out of every shot instead of just plinking away (which there is nothing wrong with).

Ruger makes excellent SA revolvers in their Bearcat and Single-____ series, and while they may be frowned upon, I can personally vouch for my SA revolver made by Heritage Mfg. For such a cheap gun, its trigger is amazingly crisp and light, and rivals my 1911 which has had work done on it.

EDIT: The specific model I have from Heritage is their Small Bore Rough Rider.

[skunkbad]

I'm not opposed to single action. I have a super old Ruger Blackhawk .357 that is single action, and don't consider it less of a gun for it. The thing is, even though I own and have owned many Ruger guns, their quality seems to have taken a nosedive, and I don't have a lot of confidence in their guns anymore. Last year I purchased 2 Rugers, and both were kind of lemons. I've never seen the Heritage guns.

[C&Rcollector]

2 options:

S&W 17 prelock
S&W 617 prelock

[Jeff213]

I have a smith and wesson model 63 pre lock. The double action trigger is heavy as hell, but the single action rivals a match 1911 single action trigger.

[trigger945]

Based on what I have seen and based on my limited experience thus far, .22cal revolvers have somewhat of a stiffer trigger than their centerfire counterparts. As @dotfortune has mentioned above, I think it is designed to be that way to set off the rimfire cartridges more reliably.

On DA/SA models, shooting in single action does not seem too bad, but shooting in double action can be challenging and can take a lot more force to pull the trigger completely.

S&W Model 34 has a nice trigger, just like many S&W revolvers. The single action is really nice, but double action can still be a bit stiff. Try looking for one (used) although it might not be very common to find. Model 63 is the stainless version of the Model 34.

Good luck! Hope this helps.

[bwhited]

2 Rugers that were kind of lemons?
Not really lemons or did Ruger take care of them?
If they do not operate properly then Ruger will take care of them for you.

I'm not opposed to single action. I have a super old Ruger Blackhawk .357 that is single action, and don't consider it less of a gun for it. The thing is, even though I own and have owned many Ruger guns, their quality seems to have taken a nosedive, and I don't have a lot of confidence in their guns anymore. Last year I purchased 2 Rugers, and both were kind of lemons. I've never seen the Heritage guns.

[dotfortune]

I'm not opposed to single action. I have a super old Ruger Blackhawk .357 that is single action, and don't consider it less of a gun for it. The thing is, even though I own and have owned many Ruger guns, their quality seems to have taken a nosedive, and I don't have a lot of confidence in their guns anymore. Last year I purchased 2 Rugers, and both were kind of lemons. I've never seen the Heritage guns.

Heritage Mfg, aka Heritage Arms, is an American firearms manufacturer that specializes in making revolvers aimed at the Cowboy Action Shooting crowd, based, if only aesthetically, on classic revolvers (i.e, the Rough Rider is based on the Colt SAA).

Its pros are that it is cheap, easy to shoot, is cheap, stone cold reliable, is cheap, mimics the manual-of-arms for a real Colt SAA almost perfectly, and has a .22mag drop-in cylinder available.

Its cons are that there have been knocks on its finish lacking durability (which I can confirm), along with some not being zeroed properly with the sights (which is a serious problem, given that there are no methods for adjustment on its fixed blade and trench sights), but I don't recall ever reading about any mechanical problems. The reason I said it ALMOST mimics the Colt's mode of operation is that it also has a hammer-block safety that may, or may not annoy you.

Some Heritage RR reviews:

http://www.wideopenspaces.com/review-heritage-rough-rider-22-22mag-6-5-combo/

http://hunting.about.com/u/reviews/reviews/Handgun-User-Reviews-Shooters-Favorite-And-Least-Favorite-Handguns/Handgun-Reviews---Heritage-Rough-Rider-Revolver-Review.htm

For the record, mine shot wonderfully out of the box, and have no problems knocking down the odd can or bottle at ~25 yards.

As an aside, this is the second time just today I've heard about supposed QC problems for Ruger. Is there a verifiable source, or documentation of these issues anywhere?

[Black Majik]

Smith and Wesson K22, Model 17 or Model 18.

[redcliff]

Smith and Wesson K22, Model 17 or Model 18.

My choice too.

[MCM]

k22

[rogervzv]

The Ruger SP101 8-shooter is a very good choice and once you add the Wolf Spring Kit it has a very acceptable trigger at least for me.

[The Soup Nazi]

Smith and Wesson Model 17.

[MrElectric03]

I agree a single action would be your best bet. My son is learning on a heritage rough rider. Trigger is pretty good, only issue he has is with the ejector hurting his finger as it takes a little bit of pressure to eject the cases but he's gotten used to it.mi picked it up for $120 with the 22lr and 22 mag cylinders so can't beat that as a teaching pistol.

[highpower]

I have a Ruger Single Six that dates to 1975 and while it has a pretty nice trigger, hands down the two .22's with the best triggers in my modest collection are these.....

1930 Colt Officers Model Target:


1948 S&W K22 Masterpiece:


While nice early Colt .22 Target revolvers have become a hard to find, The Smith K22/Model17's are around. If you are patient and keep looking, you can find them fairly easy.