.22 MAG Snubbys

[lcpiper]

I am working on the pros and cons trying to decide between the S&W 351PD 7 shot vs the Taurus 941 2" 8 shot.

You guys have any insight on these two and do you know of a comparable alternative I should consider?

I am not interested in the LCR.

[ThomasT]

I had a Taurus 94 with a 4" barrel in 22 mag and had a lot of trouble with the cases sticking in the cylinder making it hard to eject the empties.

I am a great fan of 32 caliber revolvers and bought a used S&W 431PD in 32 mag. I really like this little gun. Light weight and light recoil. I also have S&W model 30s, one with a 2" barrel and the second with a 3" barrel. These are modern guns with better steels and I load them to about 850fps.

I like the 32s better than any rimfire.

[mk70ss]

I had that exact Taurus.....was not a very positive experience.

[lcpiper]

TY Guys.

[Obambulate]

Biggest difference is the weight. The S&W is 11-oz, the Taurus is 18.5-oz. The triggers will be stiff on both of them. A good solid hammer whack is needed for reliable rimfire ignition.

I have the DAO S&W 351c and it has taken me some time to develop good accuracy with it. The light weight and heavy trigger make it hard to hold steady through the long trigger pull. But the gun is quite accurate when I do my part.

The Taurus, being steel, should be easier to shoot well out of the box. Cheaper, too. Only concern is the quality control, but both companies have lifetime warranties.

[Hiker 1]

My dad has the S&W 351PD. The trigger was a little stout, but overall I liked shooting it. The recoil is so minimal, you could shoot it all day.

I never fired the Taurus, but I certainly wouldn't hesitate to get the S&W.

[lcpiper]

Thanx to you guys and your very relevant comments I am starting to lean in two directions.

The first is to get a .22mag in a larger format shooter, maybe a 6".

The second is the look really hard at going centerfire for the snub and the S&W 431PD in 32 mag would be a contender.

[PetahW]

Originally Posted by lcpiper

I am working on the pros and cons trying to decide between the S&W 351PD 7 shot vs the Taurus 941 2" 8 shot.

You guys have any insight on these two and do you know of a comparable alternative I should consider ?

I've owned/shot both, bought new.

I bought the S&W when it was 1st introduced (I'm an early aquirer), which cost 50% more than the Taurus, but shot nicely.
I only sold it when the model became in such short supply a while after intro, that I made a 50% profit on it.

The Taurus 941 had a side-spitting quality issue that indicated it was badly out of time - so I returned it to my FFL for a credit, and bought a blued 3" Charter Arms .22 Mag Pathfinder, which I've been entirely happy with.

[weblance]

I was going to mention the Charter Arms Pathfinder, but was beat by PetahW. If money is no object, the Smith & Wesson is the way to go, no doubt. If there is a budget, skip that Taurus, and look for a Charter. Much better built gun, better trigger by far, and made in the USA. Lifetime warranty also. I have a Taurus 94, and a Charter Arms Pathfinder, both 22 LR snubs. The Charter is much better.

[bikerbill]

I had a Taurus .22mag for many years and it ran perfectly .. finally sold it, missed it badly and recently replaced it with an LCR ... a better gun in every way. You never mentioned why it was off your list. I considered the Smith but was not willing to spend the substantial extra money ...

[LE-28]

The second is the look really hard at going centerfire for the snub and the S&W 431PD in 32 mag would be a contender.

That's what I would do, I can't stand that ear piercing, obnoxious crack of the 22 mag from a snub.

I have a 327 fed mag and it is actually much worse than the 22 mag for noice. The 32 H&R mag would be fine, but if I had to set that 327fed magnum off indoors, I think I would sooner be robbed. That's why I carry a 9mm.

But that's just me.

[ceh47]

I heard .32 H&R Mag can be fired from .327 Fed. Mag. guns. Is this accurate?

[BOPLEO]

Get the Taurus.

[kilimanjaro]

My Taurus 941 would occasionally stick a case at first, after 500 rounds, no issues at all.

If I need more than six rounds, my Colt 1911 and spare magazines is what I should have been carrying. The Taurus is plenty of rounds to allow me to get out of the situation. If not, I've made some poor choices getting to where I was.

A good S&W is best, if you can afford it. Being an accumulator, I'll probably get one someday, but not because I have the Taurus.

[Obambulate]

I was all hot for the LCR in .22 Magnum, but then was disappointed to see it issued as a 6-shooter. The lighter weight, extra round, and slightly smaller size of the Smiths kept pulling me in that direction. I also liked the vast array of grip choices available for the J-frame. For me, the S&W was worth the extra bucks. I do think the LCR-22M makes a dandy self defense gun for the recoil sensitive. I'm sure it's also easier to shoot well than the lighter Smiths.

[BOBA FETT]

i have the taurus 941 snubbie and i like it alot...its built like a tank...the smith and wesson version is alot lighter but severly overpriced.....it is normal for 22 mag casings to stick in the cylinders because the gun gets real dirty after shooting it a bit especially 22 mag is really for rifle purposes..

[prm]

Although, it probably would not be a true snub - I recently bought an NAA Black Widow in .22 mag/.22 LR. So far I have been really impressed with the quality and function. The two inch barrel and enhanced sights along with the over sized grips make this little gun easy to shoot, conceal, and carry, along with being very accurate. My first trip to the range with it, I got 2-3 inch groups at 15 yards. With a Concealment Specialties pocket holster, it carries well and is so light, you really forget it's in your pocket.

Since we are on the .22. I grew up in the rural South. My first rifle and handgun were both .22s. Every farmer I knew had either a .22 rifle or handgun in their pick-up. We shot every thing that needed shooting with them. Rabbits and squirrels were a given, so were coyotes and feral dogs that bothered livestock. At hog killing time, they put more than their share of bacon, sausage, and ham, up for the winter. The .22 has been a staple for most of my life. Some folks say they are unreliable? I've had just about as many bad primers as I have had bad rim fires. Internet legends are hard too die, and a lot of folks spend more time on the keyboard than they do on the range or in the field. Personally, I'm just as comfortable with a .22 as any other caliber within their design. Now, having said that, if I knew I was going to be in a gunfight, I bring my big bore rifle.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVHlRwZYXvs

[PetahW]

Originally Posted by ceh47

I heard .32 H&R Mag can be fired from .327 Fed. Mag. guns. Is this accurate?

The H&R can be safely fired in the Fed chamber, much like a .38 Special in a .357's or a .22 Short in a .22LR's.



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[lcpiper]

replaced it with an LCR ... a better gun in every way. You never mentioned why it was off your list.

BikerBill, because the other two are either 7 or 8 shot cylinders, the LCR comes in what, 5 and 6 shot?

[Waspinator]

I wonder if Charter is changing over the 22 mag pathfinders as well... This poster got a 22LR with 8-shot and was told that the new pathfinders will all be 8-shot? worth looking into before you make a decission is what I say (and I'm doing, lol)

http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=529657

[Obambulate]

I agree that the S&W .22 Mag snubs are overpriced...but decided since it was for primary carry the weight difference was key. The light weight of the 351c is a perfect match for the mild recoil of the .22 Magnum. I can practice a lot without pain.

prm, I have the Black Widow too and have used it for carry the past few years. It still gets carried occasionally as I transition to the 351c. Neither of these small, light guns are easy to shoot at longer distances, but I'm doing better with the 351c. The NAA and I were capable of reasonable groups out to 7 yards, but I'm getting bullseyes at that distance with the S&W.

[gav1230]

What's the accuracy like on the pathfinder?

[PetahW]

I shot my targets @ 25' - IDK the distance the factory test target was shot.



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