Nine shot, 22lr/22magnum, SA/DA revolver?

[Prof Young]

So after looking at a Diamondback SideKick 22lr/22magnum, SA/DA revolver, which, according to Diamondback's website is Illegal to buy or sale in IL, because of the zinc alloy frame, I found myself with a hankering for a gun with the same features only legal. (See post in "legal" part of this forum)

Who makes a 22lr/22magnum, nine shot, SA/DA revolver that is legal in IL?

Life is good.
Prof Young

[FrankenMauser]

S&W 617, if .22 LR-only is acceptable.

Heritage is expected to release a .22 LR / .22 WMR version of the Roscoe at SHOT show, but that isn't here yet.

[cecILL]

Harrington & Richardson made some nice 9 shot 22s.

[Aguila Blanca]

Ruger Single-Nine (but no DA)

[disseminator]

Smith and Wesson has the 10 shot L frame in a 4 or 6" variety and 22 LR or 22 WMR as you prefer.

Colt also has the King Cobra 10 shot in 4 and 6" models.....

None of them are convertibles...

[44caliberkid]

Taurus 992 Tracker, comes with 22 and 22 mag cylinders. I don’t think these are a currently cataloged item but new ones are still available.

[mk70ss]

Taurus 942M is a 9 shot .22 magnum.

[John D]

You didn't miss much with that Diamondback....DA trigger is incredibly heavy.

[Pumpkin]

Why is the zinc alloy frame illegal in Illinois?

[44 AMP]

Why is the zinc alloy frame illegal in Illinois?

apparently because Illinois has a law that says so.

Several states have similar laws, banning/restricting gun sale using arbitrary criteria, such as the frame material, or its melting point. The big push for this was in the late 60s and early 70s when assault weapons were virtually unheard of, and the "bad" guns they were trying to eliminate were "Saturday Night Specials" and their definition was small, cheaply made handguns.

You can find import restrictions/bans in the fed GCA 68, based on size, frame material and melting point, and several states put their own state versions into effect around that time.

[Buck Smith]

I've bought three Diamondbacks in Illinois without a problem. Ordered online to my local FFL.

[wild cat mccane]

It's literally the reason for the name of "Saturday night special."

Melting levels are deter cheap throw away guns that reasonable gun owners would not actively want and therefore the only people who would want a known crap lethal weapon would be a criminal.

Logic ain't terribly off...

[Bill DeShivs]

Except that Walther, Heritage, and quite a few other manufacturers are using zinc slides and frames. I don't like it, either, but on some guns, zinc holds up.

[44 AMP]

Melting levels are deter cheap throw away guns that reasonable gun owners would not actively want and therefore the only people who would want a known crap lethal weapon would be a criminal.

Logic ain't terribly off...

Perhaps not terribly off, but it is "off".

The primary flaw is that they think that by banning/restricting "cheap" guns, then the criminals will have fewer or no guns, and sadly that's not how the real world works.

What happens in the real world is not that criminals are disarmed because they can't get the cheap guns, they just "upgrade" their tools to better made, and more reliable guns. And that isn't a good thing in the long run.

The other result is that the honest poor often now have self defense priced out of their reach.

And those people are frequently the prey of criminals, where even a cheap POS of a gun might make the difference between being able to defend oneself or family and being essentially helpless.

[bamaranger]

Charter (I think) makes a 2" snubnose style DA revolver in .22 mag with aluminum frame, called the Pathfinder Lite . A couple of color variations.

I just became aware of the little revolver today. I intend to check the Charter product list. There may be other barrel lengths and possibly a steel frame. Supposedly the gun retails around $400.

[bamaranger]

The Pathfinder family is 8 shot, in both steel and aluminum, some models with longer tubes and adjustable sights.

I've not paid attention to Charter Arms in a long time, but one of those snubby lites seems interesting......if priced right.

[Shadow9mm]

Ruger gp100, 10 shot 22lr
Ruger sp101 8 shot 22lr

Granted they are steel, heavy and in a bit higher price bracket, but they should fit the bill.

[ocharry]

im waiting for colt to make a King Cobra in 22 mag....to go along with the other magnums..lol

prolly gona have a long wait but you never know...i did hear a rumor..lol

a GP100 in 22 mag would be nice

Rock Island Aromory has the 942M which dont look to bad....all in a 4" of course...

[Ricklin]

I handled the Colt King Cobra .22 yesterday at the fun store. My what a marvelous trigger. I liked that ten shooter a lot. But I already own a Taurus 9 shooter in .22.
I'd not purchase a convertible. I mostly shoot LR and the convertibles are less accurate with LR in my experience. 223 bore size for magnum.
Be very aware of frame size with .22 revolvers. The healthy whack required for rimfire ignition is not conducive to a reasonable trigger pull. A larger frame size improves the geometry to permit a lighter DA trigger. The fun store has a Taurus in .22 magnum used, I may go have a look 2day. The quality of the trigger will make the call. Since it is the same frame as the Taurus I have now I am not hopeful, but will have a look.

[wild cat mccane]

Unfortunately, you have broken the law in IL. It's also printed on the DB website as such.

You were able to because IL doesn't have a master list for the FFL transfer to determine it illegal, but you and your FFL did break the law on the transfer.

[44 AMP]

Unfortunately, you have broken the law in IL. It's also printed on the DB website as such.

You were able to because IL doesn't have a master list for the FFL transfer to determine it illegal, but you and your FFL did break the law on the transfer.

To whom are you speaking? The OP didn't purchase the gun, no transfer was made. As far as the information given, the OP broke no law, but the FFL apparently has by offering the gun for sale.

[Shadow9mm]

44 AMP Probably post #11, Buck Smith

[44 AMP]

OK, thanks for clarifying, I missed that one. Going back and looking at it, I can see your point.

However, it is a slightly different situation than the OP.
In post #11 he ordered online (3 times) and had the gun shipped to his local dealer. The gun in the original post was on display at a dealer's store.

This is a small, but possibly important distinction, depending on the specific wording of the IL law. I don't know the exact wording of that law, (and don't have a dog in this fight) but its possible that the transfer of the online ordered gun MIGHT not be a "sale" in IL.

This is a point for IL lawyers to argue, not me.

Thanks for correcting me, and clearing up just what and to whom you were talking about.

[zippyfusenet]

I handled a Taurus 942 (which is a smaller, 8 round revolver) and a Taurus 992 Tracker at a gun store about a week ago. The trigger on the 942 was very heavy and the sights were small. I didn't like that gun. The Tracker is a full size revolver, it had a much lighter trigger and the sights were good. I haven't shot either one, but I'm sorely tempted by the Tracker.