22 caliber rimfire revolvers with
interchangeable cylinders have been popular for decades. Most of
these are and historically have been single-action revolvers of
the Colt Single Action Army lineage. The most popular is the Ruger
Single-Six (and their new Single-Ten),
with companies such as Cimarron,
Uberti and Heritage offering such revolvers as well. However,
double-action switch-cylinder revolvers are pretty scarce, with
only a few manufactured since the introduction of the 22 Magnum
cartridge in 1959. Switching the cylinders in a double-action
design usually requires the use of a screwdriver, but still only
takes a couple of minutes. It would be nice if more
switch-cylinder rimfire double-action revolvers were available,
and using a screwdriver to switch them out is not bothersome,
but still few have been offered on the market. Now, featured
here, is the new Taurus Tracker Model 992, which comes with both
22 Long Rifle and 22 Magnum cylinders. The Long Rifle cylinder
can also fire 22 Short and 22 Long ammo, as well as 22 shotshell
ammunition for snake and small pest control.
The Tracker 992 is built on the medium-frame
Taurus double-action revolver. It wears a heavy-profile barrel,
and carries nine cartridges in either of its cylinders. Taurus
has designed a push-button release for the cylinder crane,
eliminating the need for any tools to switch from 22 Long Rifle
to 22 Magnum, or back again. As can be seen in the chart below,
the 22 Magnum cartridge offers significant velocity increase
compared to the 22 Long Rifle, offering greater power and a
flatter trajectory.
The Tracker 992 is relatively heavy for a
rimfire revolver, but balances very well, and would make for a
dandy hunting revolver. Taurus shows a weight of fifty-five
ounces on the Taurus website, but the 992 shown here weighed
just under forty-six ounces, with only one cylinder. It has a
capacity of nine cartridges with either cylinder, and the
Tracker 992 is more accurate than I can hold it. The sights are
very good for a hunting or target revolver, offering a large and
sharp sight picture. The front sight has an orange insert for
visibility in low-light conditions, or against a dark
background. The 992 shown here is built primarily of stainless
steel, but a blued carbon steel version is also available.
Specifications are listed in the chart below.
Weight is listed in ounces. Trigger pull is listed as pounds of
resistance, as measured using my Lyman digital scale. Linear
measurements are listed in inches. The cylinder length does not
include the ratchet star. The external cylinder dimensions are
the same for both cylinders. Height includes the sights, with
the rear set at its medium adjustment. DA is the double-action
trigger pull. SA is the single-action trigger pull. The
barrel/cylinder gap was consistent for both cylinders, and is
ideal. A tight barrel/cylinder gap contributes greatly to higher
velocities from a revolver, compared to a wider gap. Sadly, some
major manufacturers allow a gap as wide as .01 (ten
one-thousandths of an inch) to be within specifications, which
is grossly oversized. The tight gap on this Taurus is perfect
for high velocities, but still allows the weapon to function
without binding.
| Overall Length |
11.625" |
| Overall Height |
5.3" |
| Weight Unloaded |
45.6 oz. |
| Barrel Length |
6.51" |
| Cylinder Length |
1.575" |
| Cylinder Diameter |
1.528" |
| Barrel/Cylinder Gap |
0.002" |
| Trigger Pull DA |
8 lbs., 8.1 oz. |
| Trigger Pull SA |
4 lbs., 7.6 oz. |
| Cylinder Capacity |
9 cartridges |
I tested the Tracker 992 with several brands
of 22 Long Rifle ammunition and four types of 22 Magnum for
velocity and function. The results with each brand and type of
ammunition are listed in the chart below. HP is a lead
hollowpoint bullet. Solid is a lead roundnose bullet. Velocity
readings were taken at an elevation of 541 feet above sea level,
with an air temperature of 46 degrees Fahrenheit, with humidity
in the fifty-seven percent range. Velocities are listed in
feet-per-second (FPS), and were recorded ten feet from the
muzzle of the revolver. Bullet weights are listed in grains.
| Ammunition |
Bullet Weight |
Velocity |
22 Long Rifle
|
|
|
| Federal Bulk HP |
36 |
976 |
| Winchester DynaPoint HP |
40 |
1010 |
| PMC Match Solid |
40 |
911 |
| Wolf Match Solid |
40 |
1024 |
| CCI Mini-Mag HP |
36 |
1071 |
| CCI Mini-Mag Solid |
40 |
1009 |
| CCI Velocitor HP |
40 |
1137 |
| Remington Yellow Jacket
HP |
33 |
1192 |
| Remington Hi-Speed
Solid |
40 |
1143 |
| American Eagle HP |
36 |
1012 |
| PMC Zapper HP |
38 |
1090 |
| Olin Solid |
40 |
1032 |
| Winchester XPert HP |
36 |
1071 |
| Hansen Solid |
40 |
1041 |
| Remington Bulk Solid |
37 |
1029 |
| |
|
|
22 Magnum Rimfire
|
|
|
| CCI Maxi-Mag HP |
40 |
1501 |
| PMC Predator HP |
40 |
1385 |
| Winchester HP |
30 |
1762 |
| Winchester HP |
34 |
1702 |
There were no malfunctions of any kind. Two
types of ammunition exhibited sticky extraction, and ejecting a
cylinder-full of them required a tap on the ejector rod with a
block of wood. These were the 22 Long Rifle Wolf ammo and the 22
Magnum Winchester 34 grain load. All other ammunition ejected
easily from the cylinders of the 992 with just a push on the
ejector rod. The trigger pulls were very good, especially for a
rimfire revolver. The double-action pull was smooth, and the
single-action released crisply and cleanly, with both being near
perfect for a hunting revolver. The Taurus Ribber grip is
hand-filling, and very comfortable to hold.
Accuracy was superb! I tested for accuracy
with all nineteen types of both Long Rifle and Magnum ammo
listed above. Accuracy testing was done at twenty-five yards,
with the Tracker 992 secured into my Ransom
Rest. The worst group fired measured an even two inches
across, with the best groups cutting that group size in half or
less.
The Taurus Tracker 992 is a very well-built
revolver. The satin finish is well done, with the nickeled
hammer, cylinder release, and trigger closely matching the
stainless finish. The push-button release for the cylinder crane
makes switching cylinders the easiest system on any production
revolver of which I am aware. I hope that Taurus will offer this
same system on their smaller-framed rimfire revolvers as well.
Check out the Tracker 992 and other Taurus
firearms and accessories online at www.taurususa.com.
For the location of a Taurus dealer near you,
click on the DEALER LOCATOR at www.lipseys.com.
To order the 992 online, go to www.galleryofguns.com.
To order quality 22 rimfire ammunition, go to
www.luckygunner.com.
Jeff Quinn
