Sunday GunDay: Rimfire Revolvers — 8 Great .22 LR Wheelguns
In recent years, the ranks of first-time gun buyers have grown dramatically. Millions of Americans have purchased their first-ever handgun. With so many handgun options (from derringers to Desert Eagles) many first-time buyers have trouble making a choice. What should those millions of new gun buyers have acquired first? Perhaps it should have been a rimfire revolver. Here is why…
The .22 LR revolver remains one of the most fun, affordable, and versatile firearms you can own, and in 2026, manufacturers are offering excellent wheelguns for plinking, training, target shooting, small-game hunting, and collecting. From classic cowboy-style six-shooters to high-capacity double-action revolvers, today’s rimfire revolvers deliver reliability, accuracy, and the ability to last a lifetime.
This video covers ten popular .22 LR revolvers. It features rimfire wheelguns from Smith & Wesson, Colt, Ruger and other respected manufacturers.
The Argument for a Rimfire Revolver
Some years back, a close relative contacted this Editor. Wanting to get started in handgunning, he sought my advice on purchasing his very first handgun. “Should I get a Glock?”, he asked. “No” was my response. “Well how about an M&P?” he inquired. “Better ergos” I said, “but ‘No’ is still my reply.” “OK, how about a KelTec, they’re cheap…” “Absolutely not”, I replied.I could tell he was getting annoyed, when he said “OK, Mr. know-it-all, so what handgun should I get?” Calmly, I replied: “Get a .22-caliber rimfire revolver. You will never out-grow it. You will learn sight alignment and trigger control. You can practice with inexpensive ammunition. A good .22 revolver will be considerably more accurate than 90% of the self-loading pistols you could buy. If you get a Smith & Wesson, you will keep the gun for the rest of your life and pass it on to your kids. If you or your heirs ever wear out the barrel or cylinder, Smith & Wesson will replace the parts for free, forever.”
Don’t own a quality .22 LR wheelgun yet? Well start saving those pennies. Every serious gun aficionado should have a quality rimfire revolver. A rimfire wheelgun is also very good choice for a first handgun. Indeed, a strong argument could be made that a .22 LR revolver is THE best choice for a new shooter’s first handgun. A .22 LR revolver is easy to shoot, easy to maintain, and will last a lifetime. Once you have mastered the basics of shooting with a .22 LR, you can move on to larger caliber handguns.
TOP FIVE Reasons to Own a Rimfire Revolver:
1. Smith & Wesson Model 617, 6″ or 4″ BBL, $1019.00 MSRP
10-Shot, Stainless Steel, 44.1 Oz. (6″ barrel), 39 Oz. (4″ barrel)
First Handgun Choice — Consider a .22 LR Wheelgun
A very good choice for a first handgun is a Smith & Wesson .22 LR revolver, such as the S&W Model 617. The model 617 is extremely accurate, with a crisp trigger and good sights. Choose either a 4″ or 6″ barrel. The current model has a handy, 10-round cylinder.
This Editor’s first really accurate handgun was a .22 LR Smith & Wesson Model 617 that could easily stack ten shots in a dime at 10 yards. It remains my favorite and most-used handgun. What can we say about the Model 617? The single-action trigger pull is superb, and the accuracy surpasses most any semi-auto rimfire pistol, except for a few, very expensive target pistols. We like the 6″ version for the longer sight radius, but the 4″-barrel 617 is also very accurate, and it balances better.
Smith & Wesson’s Model 617, offered with either 6″ or 4″ barrels, is extremely accurate, with a very crisp trigger, and good sights. Accuracy is better than most shooter can hold. You can learn all the fundamentals with this ultra-reliable K-Frame handgun, shooting inexpensive .22 LR ammo. The 6″ version has a longer sight radius, so it’s superior for bullseye work. But the 4″ version balances much better. There is also a Mountain Gun version with a stepped barrel and wood grip (see below). The choice is yours.
617 Mountain Gun Variant
The Model 617 is rugged, durable, and can give you a lifetime of shooting fun. Your Editor has owned a 4″ ten-shot Model 617 for over 25 years, and it’s still going strong. Here is a video showing the 4″-barrel version of Smith & Wesson’s popular model 617.
Hickok 45 Demos 4″ Model 617 “Wonderful revolver”. See also Hickok 45 M617 Part 2:
2. Colt .22 LR King Cobra Target, $1119.00 MSRP
A handsome, very accurate wheelgun with a superb trigger, the Colt .22 LR King Cobra Target is offered with five (5) barrel sizes: 8″, 6″, 4.25″, 3″, and 2″. For general slow-pace target work, we recommend the 6″ barrel, which offers the longer site radius. The 4.25″ version is also good for ladies and juniors as it is lighter. And if you prefer dark-tone handguns, Colt also offers a Blued version of the King Cobra target in all five barrel lengths for $1149.00 MSRP.
3. Ruger GP100 .22 LR, 5.5″ or 4″ BBL, $1109.00 MSRP
10-Shot, Stainless Steel, 42 Oz., 5.5″ Barrel
Ruger introduced the .22 LR GP100 two years ago. Since then, it has become a good seller. This 10-shot revolver with 5.5″ barrel has a comfortable grip and triple-locking cylinder (locked into the frame at the front, rear and bottom). Many shooters like the fact that the 5.5″-barrel GP100 carries its heft more to the rear than S&W’s 6″ 617. However, we’d give the edge to the 617’s trigger. NOTE: Davidson’s also has a limited edition GP100 with shorter 4″ barrel. This Davidson’s exclusive edition 4″ GP100 is handier to carry and balances better.
4. Smith & Wesson Model 17 Masterpiece, $1169.00 MSRP
6-Shot, Carbon (Blued) Steel, 39.9 Oz., 6″ Barrel
Smith & Wesson re-introduced its Model 17 Masterpiece revolver a few years back. This blued 6-shot classic was “re-released” with a retro-style grip. It still offers outstanding accuracy and a sweet trigger pull. For those who like the look of the original K-22 revolvers this can fill the bill. With a non-underlug 6″ barrel, this is 4.2 ounces lighter than the 6″ Model 617. The price, $1169.00 MSRP, is pretty steep. This is currently out of production but available at some vendors. And if you look around you may be able to find an original K-22 for a few hundred dollars less. We’ve seen some decent examples on Gunbroker in the $800 range, but pristine K-22s are selling for over $1000 now.
5. Smith & Wesson Model 63, 3″ BBL, $909.00 MSRP
8-Shot, Stainless Steel, 25.8 Oz., 3″ barrel
The 8-Shot Smith & Wesson Model 63 may be one of the most versatile revolvers on the market. With a 3″ barrel, it balances well and is easy to hold. This makes this a great training pistol for a new shooter, even a junior or a lady with small hands. The latest 8-shot version offers nice big sights with fiber-optic front insert. While we consider this a great training and plinking handgun, it can also do double-duty for concealed carry or as a camping trip option.
6. Taurus 942 Ultra-Light, $399.99 Retail, $497.99 MSRP
The Taurus 942 Ultra-Lite is a small-frame, double-action/single-action rimfire revolver featuring an 8-shot capacity, stainless barrel and aluminum alloy frame. It is offered with either a 3″ barrel or a 2″ barrel. With its ultra-compact size and light 17.8-oz. weight, this is a decent choice for CCW use. The Taurus 942 Ultra-Lite is offered in both .22 LR and .22 WMR chamberings with either a silver (as shown) or flat black finish. We’d get the .22 WMR version for CCW use.
7. Smith & Wesson Model 317 AirLite Kit Gun, $889.00 MSRP
The Smith & Wesson Model 317 AirLite Kit Gun look similar to its S&W Model 63 brother, but it is considerably lighter in weight. With aluminum alloy frame and cylinder components, the 3″-barrel Model 317 weighs just 11.8 oz. unloaded. That makes this a 8-shot wheelgun a very suitable pistol to take on a backwoods hike or camping trip, hence the name “Kit Gun”.
8. Ruger LCRx, 3″ BBL, $759.00 MSRP
8-Shot, Steel/Aluminum/Polymer, 17.3 Oz., 3″ barrel
The Ruger LCRx Revolver combines traditional wheelgun features with modern composite construction. The 3″ barrel and cylinder are steel. The “frame” housing the barrel and cylinder are aerospace-grade aluminum. The rear/lower section of the pistol, what Ruger calls the “fire control housing”, is made of polymer. This cuts weight. That fire control housing holds the hammer/trigger assemblies and provides a mount for the interchangeable grips. Thanks to its weight-saving features, Ruger’s LCRx is 8.5 ounces lighter than S&W’s Model 63, though both have 3″-long barrels. The LCRx is currently out of production, but still available.
