Smith Wesson 351C 22 Magnum – Superb Lightweight Carry Revolver

Description

The Smith Wesson 351C 22 Magnum is the Centennial AirWeight in 22 WMR: seven rounds of rimfire magnum in a hammerless J-frame light enough to forget you are carrying. It is the version of the small revolver formula aimed at shooters who want more than 22 LR without centerfire recoil.

Smith Wesson 351C 22 Magnum Hammerless and Very Light

The Centennial pattern has no external hammer spur. Nothing protrudes to catch on a pocket lining, a coat hem or the inside of a bag when you need the gun in a hurry, and that single design choice is why this pattern has outlasted a great many more modern designs.

It is also double action only. There is no cocking the hammer for a lighter single-action shot, which removes an entire category of handling error under stress. Every trigger press is the same long, deliberate pull.

The frame and cylinder are aluminum alloy with a stainless steel barrel, which is what makes the Smith Wesson 351C 22 Magnum so light. Weight is the single biggest reason people leave a gun at home, and a revolver this light simply does not present that problem.

Why 22 Magnum

Twenty two WMR sits between 22 LR and the small centerfires. It produces meaningfully more velocity and energy than 22 LR from a handgun barrel, and because the case is small the cylinder holds seven rounds rather than the five a 38 Special J-frame manages.

For shooters who cannot manage centerfire recoil, that combination is genuinely important. A revolver you can shoot accurately and repeatedly beats a more powerful one you cannot control, and seven rounds is a meaningful number.

Sights are an XS white dot front against a fixed U-notch rear. That is an unusually good sighting system for a small revolver: a bright white dot is far easier to find quickly than a plain milled ramp, and a U-notch rear frames it cleanly without competing for attention.

A word on rimfire reliability: 22 WMR produces the occasional failure to fire from a dud rim. That is a property of rimfire priming rather than a fault in the revolver, and a revolver handles it far better than a semi-automatic does. Pull the trigger again and the next round comes up.

Carrying and Shooting the Smith Wesson 351C 22 Magnum

If you carry the Smith Wesson 351C 22 Magnum in a pocket, use a pocket holster. It keeps the revolver oriented consistently, covers the trigger, and keeps lint out of the action, which matters more on a rimfire than most people expect because residue and pocket debris combine into something that will eventually cause trouble.

On the range, the light frame and the mild cartridge make an unusual combination. There is very little recoil to manage, but a gun this light gives you almost nothing to steady, so the trigger stroke matters even more than usual. Dry fire is the most valuable practice available, though rimfire firearms should generally be dry fired with snap caps to protect the firing pin and chamber mouth.

Expect to experiment with ammunition. A short 22 WMR barrel will show real differences between brands, and the cartridge loses more velocity in a handgun than most people expect since it was designed around rifle barrels. Find what your revolver shoots best and buy it in quantity.

Maintenance Notes

Rimfire runs dirtier than centerfire. Twenty two WMR leaves unburned powder and residue everywhere, so plan on cleaning more often than you would with a centerfire revolver, particularly around the cylinder face and the forcing cone where build-up can eventually bind the cylinder.

Check that the ejector rod stays tight. It can back out over time and lock the cylinder closed at exactly the wrong moment, and it is a thirty second check that saves a frustrating afternoon.

The aluminum alloy frame and cylinder are what make the revolver so light, and they are also softer than steel. Treat the gun as the light-duty tool it is rather than something to abuse, keep it clean, and it will last indefinitely.

Smith Wesson 351C 22 Magnum Specifications

• Manufacturer part number: 103351
• UPC: 022188033519
• Caliber: 22 WMR
• Capacity: 7 rounds
• Barrel: 1.875 inches, stainless steel
• Frame: aluminum alloy Centennial AirWeight J-frame
• Cylinder: aluminum alloy
• Sights: XS white dot front, fixed U-notch rear
• Hammer: snag-free internal
• Action: double action only

Why Buyers Choose the Smith Wesson 351C 22 Magnum

Weight and low recoil together are the argument. This is a revolver that gets carried and that a wide range of shooters can actually operate and shoot well.

Twenty two WMR is louder and sharper than 22 LR, and from a barrel under two inches it produces a genuinely impressive muzzle blast with a significant loss of velocity compared with a rifle. Hearing protection matters at the range more than the mild recoil would suggest.

Rimfire is inherently less reliable than centerfire, and that matters if this is your only defensive firearm. Many owners buy it because recoil or hand strength rules out the alternatives, which is a perfectly sound reason, but it is worth understanding the trade.

Who Should Buy It

The Smith Wesson 351C 22 Magnum suits shooters who need a very light revolver with minimal recoil: anyone who cannot manage centerfire, deep concealment and backup carriers, and trail users who want seven rounds of rimfire magnum that weighs almost nothing.

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