Posted: 8/9/2026 5:47:40 PM EDT
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I have owned my model 43C over a year now and fired 0ver 5,000 rounds through it. I wanted a light weight .22LR snubbie and the 43C fit the bill. I checked reviews on-line and found a lot of negative experiences as well as some positive. I decided to get one and take a chance. Common complaints that I saw on-line included: Out of time resulting in spitting lead Canted sights resulting in poor accuracy Improper cylinder gap resulting in excessive fouling and jamming the cylinder rotation after less than 50 rounds Rough chambers resulting in fired cases sticking MIM parts breakage within the first 200 rounds fired Light hammer strikes resulting in a high number of misfires Attached File The first trip to the range I fired 464 rounds through it. I used Federal bulk pack 36 grn jacketed bullets. I had 5 rounds needing a second strike to fire and 3 complete duds. The box of ammo was at least 12 years old. No lead spitting, good accuracy and easy extraction. Attached File This group was at 3 yards. The second trip to the range I put 304 rounds through it with no problems at all. Attached File This was a 10 yard group. I continued taking it when I made a trip to the range, putting a minimum of a 120 rounds through it any time I shot it. I found an 800 round box box of federal lead nose. I think I bought it during covid and then never shot it. Anyway, that box accounted for most of the duds and restrikes that I encountered. But even with newer Federal Bulk Pack jacket ammo I get some rounds needing a 2nd strike as well as the occasional dud. Attached File I also had some CCI mini mags that I ran through it. They fired great, but sometimes were difficult to extract. Never any extraction issues with the standard velocity Federal, but the mini mags were definitely tougher extracting. |
Si vis pacem, para bellum
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The total round count now is up to 5,162. I have a total of 30 rounds that needed a second hammer strike to fire. There has been a total of 10 complete dud rounds. The sights are straight, cylinder is correctly timed. Decent trigger pull. No parts breakage. Easy extraction with the Federal 36 grain jacketed bulk pack ammo. (That stuff shoots well in all of my .22s.) I am very happy with it and it is a lot of fun to shoot. it is also a nice counterpart to my J frame .38s. Attached File |
Si vis pacem, para bellum
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The federal ammo is plated a superficial copper wash not jacketed. No cheap bulk pack ammo is standard velocity. Better performance with CCI is no surprise as the rest of the domestic makers quality and consistency is abysmal- if you are going to shoot domestic ammo, CCI is the only way to go NEVER judge a 22 by how it performs with bulk pack junk or especially Winchester or Remington ammo both of which are trying to tie for dead last in 22 ammo quality. |
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Originally Posted By captain127: The federal ammo is plated a superficial copper wash not jacketed. No cheap bulk pack ammo is standard velocity. Better performance with CCI is no surprise as the rest of the domestic makers quality and consistency is abysmal- if you are going to shoot domestic ammo, CCI is the only way to go NEVER judge a 22 by how it performs with bulk pack junk or especially Winchester or Remington ammo both of which are trying to tie for dead last in 22 ammo quality. Yup, I have had enough problems with Winchester and Remington ammo that I haven't purchased any of it in years. Definitely like CCI. |
Si vis pacem, para bellum
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Sounds like you got lucky with the gun. While I agree the legitimate complaints with S&W quality control are abundant today ( with a lot of them regarding this model) I also appreciate that satisfied customers rarely talk as frequently or loudly. Still enough negative reports ( on a gun pretty expensive for what it is) that make me hesitate. I love J frames, and they are one of my primary carry guns. The 8 shot 22 ( or 7 shot magnum) would be handy ! My current 22 J is an early 80’s 34-1 that is likely my most fired handgun in my collection |
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I love my 43c! Super easy to dump all of the rounds in a fist sized group at 10 yards. Doesn’t leave you with a sore hand after a hundred rounds. OP, a question: Did you purchase your gun new? The reason I ask is because of the light strikes. It’s not unusual for people to put .38 caliber hammer springs in the .22 caliber guns to get an easier trigger pull. Of course that can give light strikes. If your gun is new, then the old ammo is probably the answer. I did find an invoice from S&W that I had forgotten about. My 43c was purchased used from Gunbroker and apparently had the lead spitting issue. Smith sent a paid shipping label and replaced the barrel. It’s been perfect ever since. And I’m pretty sure mine has the weaker .38 spring in it. Here’s my .43c with the 351PD:Attached File |