Smith Wesson Model 648 22 WMR 6 Inch – Superb Rimfire Revolver

Description

The Smith Wesson Model 648 22 WMR 6 Inch is The Smith Wesson Model 648 22 WMR 6 Inch is a full-size stainless revolver chambered for a cartridge most people associate with small guns, and that combination is exactly what makes it useful. Twenty-two Magnum out of a six inch barrel is a genuinely capable small game and varmint round, considerably faster and flatter shooting than 22 Long Rifle, and putting it in a medium K-frame with a full underlug barrel gives you the weight and the sight radius to actually use that potential.

Eight rounds in the cylinder, fully adjustable sights and a heavy front end make this a revolver you shoot deliberately rather than one you carry.

Smith Wesson Model 648 22 WMR 6 Inch Smith Wesson Model 648 22 WMR 6 Inch Barrel Weight And Adjustable Sights

Chambering 22 WMR in a K-frame looks like overkill until you shoot it. The Smith Wesson Model 648 22 WMR 6 Inch weighs enough that the muzzle simply does not move, and a rimfire cartridge in a gun this heavy produces essentially no recoil at all. That means you can watch the front sight through the entire shot, which is how you learn trigger control and how you hit small targets at distance.

The six inch full underlug barrel is the reason for that weight, and it is placed exactly where it does the most good. The long sight radius is the other half. Stretching the distance between the front and rear sight makes your own wobble visible, which sounds like a drawback and is actually the only way to correct it.

The rear sight adjusts fully for windage and elevation, which matters more with rimfire than with centerfire because different 22 WMR loads can print quite differently. Being able to zero for the ammunition you can actually buy is worth a great deal.

Eight rounds is two or three more than most revolvers this size hold, a benefit of the small case head. It is a meaningful advantage when you are working a fence line or a barn.

Smith Wesson Model 648 22 WMR 6 Inch Rimfire Realities And Honest Limits

Rimfire ignition is not as dependable as centerfire, and 22 WMR is no exception. Expect the occasional dud rim, and expect the Smith Wesson Model 648 22 WMR 6 Inch to shoot some brands noticeably better than others. A revolver handles a dud gracefully, since the next trigger pull brings up a fresh round instead of requiring you to clear a malfunction, but this is still a reason not to treat any rimfire as a defensive tool.

Twenty-two Magnum ammunition costs several times what 22 Long Rifle costs, and availability has been inconsistent for years. This revolver does not fire 22 Long Rifle, so there is no cheap practice option. Budget for that before you buy.

Cleaning matters. Rimfire ammunition is dirty, and carbon builds on the front of the cylinder and around the forcing cone faster than most people expect. Left long enough it makes the cylinder hard to close and extraction sticky. Solvent and a bronze brush handle it, but it needs doing regularly.

The double action pull is heavy, partly because rimfire priming compound needs a firm hammer strike. Shoot single action for precise work and do not have the mainspring lightened, which is the fastest way to create ignition failures.

Smith Wesson Model 648 22 WMR 6 Inch Specifications

• Manufacturer part number: 12460
• UPC: 022188877724
• Caliber: 22 WMR, also known as 22 Magnum
• Capacity: 8 rounds
• Barrel: 6 inches, full underlug
• Frame: stainless steel K-frame
• Sights: fully adjustable rear, ramp front
• Action: double action and single action
• Grips: synthetic
• Finish: satin stainless

Buyers comparing the Smith Wesson 648 Revolver against small-frame rimfires are choosing between portability and precision. As a 22 Magnum K Frame Revolver this one commits entirely to precision, with the weight and sight radius of a full-size handgun. As a Stainless Rimfire Revolver it also shrugs off the barn dust, damp and hard use that farm guns collect, which matters more over a decade than any specification on paper.

Why Buyers Choose the Smith Wesson Model 648 22 WMR 6 Inch

Buy the Smith Wesson Model 648 22 WMR 6 Inch if you want a serious rimfire revolver for small game, varmints and precise range work. The weight and the sight radius make it far easier to shoot accurately than any small-frame rimfire, and 22 WMR gives you real reach on animals out to a hundred yards or so in capable hands. Stainless steel means it survives being carried around a farm in bad weather.

Skip it if you want cheap practice, because 22 WMR costs several times what 22 Long Rifle does and this revolver will not fire the cheaper round. Skip it if you want something to carry concealed, since this is a full-size gun with a heavy six inch barrel. And skip it if you will not clean a rimfire regularly.

Who Should Buy The Smith Wesson Model 648 22 WMR 6 Inch

The Smith Wesson Model 648 22 WMR 6 Inch suits This revolver suits small game hunters, farmers and ranchers dealing with pests, target shooters who want a low-recoil practice gun with real sights, and anyone building a rimfire counterpart to a centerfire K-frame. It is a poor choice for concealed carry, for shooters on a tight ammunition budget, and for anyone expecting rimfire reliability to match centerfire. All firearm sales ship to a licensed FFL dealer for transfer, and handgun rules vary by state, so confirm your local law before ordering.

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Every firearm we list ships to your chosen FFL and is transferred there after a background check.