Having had this particular wheelgun for about eight or nine years now, I decided to give my impression of it.
Here is a stock picture of it from the IMFDb:
Mine differs only in the presence of plainclothes Magna stocks and a T-grip adapter.
It is an N-frame S&W in 45 Auto with a 4" barrel and loads with either moonclips or with the 45 Auto Rim (AR) cartridges. 45 AR is ballistically identical to the 45 Auto rounds but instead of being rimless, it has an ultra-thick rim allowing for proper headspacing. Personally, I use the moonclips. They are quite fast to reload with and also prevent the cases from scattering all over the place.
A fair description of it could be that it is a 4" version of the M1917 wheelgun from WWI. I have the 'new' 5 1/2" (Model of 1917) version of it as well. Both this handgun and the new '1917' version are +P-rated. Unfortunately, S&W dropped their new Model 22 from the production line several years back. I forget the exact date I acquired them but it was after 2005 and before 2008.
The other day, I took it out to my range and gave it a workout. About 70-80 rounds went downrange and the gun handled well. Most, in fact, almost all of them were close range hip shots and the paper man was killed as dead as could be. The DA pull on this gun was quite good coming from the factory which is unusual, as many, if not most of this particular model as well as the M-1917 already referred to, had totally crappy triggers. Mine is good in that regard but the M-1917 produced around the same time, was not and my gunsmith had to do quite a bit of work on it before it was good.
I had an interesting encounter on my way to the range. I stopped and looked at some construction work and one of the local police chiefs happened by. I took the opportunity to show him my setup and he seemed to be favorably impressed with what he saw but suggested that I add some height to the berm, saying that if someone shot there who did not shoot well, it could be a problem. He also showed me the method of close-range hip or point shooting that the police are being taught here. It is basically a version of what refer to as the old speed-rock where the gun is held quite close to the body. It is no doubt familiar to many of you.
Anyway, back to the Model 22--if someone likes wheelguns and wants to carry a 45 ACP, this would be a good selection. It is rugged, and shoots a good combat-proven cartridge. I love mine.
Here is a stock picture of it from the IMFDb:
Mine differs only in the presence of plainclothes Magna stocks and a T-grip adapter.
It is an N-frame S&W in 45 Auto with a 4" barrel and loads with either moonclips or with the 45 Auto Rim (AR) cartridges. 45 AR is ballistically identical to the 45 Auto rounds but instead of being rimless, it has an ultra-thick rim allowing for proper headspacing. Personally, I use the moonclips. They are quite fast to reload with and also prevent the cases from scattering all over the place.
A fair description of it could be that it is a 4" version of the M1917 wheelgun from WWI. I have the 'new' 5 1/2" (Model of 1917) version of it as well. Both this handgun and the new '1917' version are +P-rated. Unfortunately, S&W dropped their new Model 22 from the production line several years back. I forget the exact date I acquired them but it was after 2005 and before 2008.
The other day, I took it out to my range and gave it a workout. About 70-80 rounds went downrange and the gun handled well. Most, in fact, almost all of them were close range hip shots and the paper man was killed as dead as could be. The DA pull on this gun was quite good coming from the factory which is unusual, as many, if not most of this particular model as well as the M-1917 already referred to, had totally crappy triggers. Mine is good in that regard but the M-1917 produced around the same time, was not and my gunsmith had to do quite a bit of work on it before it was good.
I had an interesting encounter on my way to the range. I stopped and looked at some construction work and one of the local police chiefs happened by. I took the opportunity to show him my setup and he seemed to be favorably impressed with what he saw but suggested that I add some height to the berm, saying that if someone shot there who did not shoot well, it could be a problem. He also showed me the method of close-range hip or point shooting that the police are being taught here. It is basically a version of what refer to as the old speed-rock where the gun is held quite close to the body. It is no doubt familiar to many of you.
Anyway, back to the Model 22--if someone likes wheelguns and wants to carry a 45 ACP, this would be a good selection. It is rugged, and shoots a good combat-proven cartridge. I love mine.
