U.S.A. –-(AmmoLand.com)- The S333 Thunderstruck by Standard Manufacturing is an 8-shot revolver chambered in 22 Magnum with two barrels that fires two rounds with each pull of the trigger. The design seemed unconventional at first, but intriguing. We reached out to the company for a sample to review.
When it comes to firearms, I have always loved the unique ones. In particular, I love multiple barreled guns whether it is a Drillings, Derringer, or even a side by side shotgun. One of my grail pieces that I will probably never find is a triple-barreled revolver made in the early 19th century that fired three volleys of three black powder loads with each pull of the trigger.
It made the cover of a Flayderman’s Guide to Antique American Firearms published about 25 years ago. Sadly, only a dozen or so of those revolvers were ever made.
Yet there is hope if you are into that sort of thing and it is as viable a self-defense piece now as it was about 200 years ago.
Who is Standard Manufacturing?
Originally, I might have confused them with High Standard, but I would have been completely wrong. Standard Manufacturing is a subsidiary of Connecticut Shotgun and if you don’t wade in the pool of $15-$100 k shotguns, more than likely you haven’t heard of them.
Standard Manufacturing came about in 2012 and they make beautiful renditions of the Colt Single Action Army, 1911 and Woodsman type pistols. They are also known for the DP-12 double barrel pump shotgun and like everyone else who makes firearms these days: A line of ARs.
The S333 Thunderstruck is one of their latest designs and we think it is a winner of a self-defense handgun.
It looks like a typical modern double-action revolver from 10 feet away. Then you notice there is not much of a trigger guard and that it has two barrels. The trigger is particularly long and resembles a Glock or Iver Johnson type trigger with an inset safety and an extension below the shoe. This extension is for your middle finger in order to acquire enough leverage to fire the gun.
The grip is rubber and as you could imagine the trigger is double action only. It’s chambered in 22 Magnum and as we mentioned earlier, it has two barrels and fires two rounds simultaneously. The eight-round cylinder gives you four volleys of two shots each.
How is that legal?
We were curious about that ourselves actually and it goes back to that triple-barreled revolver we mentioned. The concept is known as a Volley Gun. These differ from machine guns in that they lack automatic loading and automatic fire and are limited by the number of barrels.
The S333 Thunderstruck fires two rounds at a time and four pulls of the trigger put eight shots on target in three seconds or under.
That was how this revolver got its name. It is based on the old anecdote that most gunfights are 3 shots in 3 seconds at 3 feet.
How does it shoot?
Touching off 2 rounds of 22 Magnum at once is not that big of a deal and no “22 Mag + 22 Mag does not equal a 44 Mag”. Truth be told, the mass of the 2 bullets and their velocity is more like a single round of 380 ACP or 9mm. You are creating two wound channels with every shot and the sound alone is intimidating enough.
The short barrels make this only effective at close range. If your assailant is more than 30 feet away, this is not what you want in your hand. Yet, if an assailant is that far away without a firearm, in today’s litigious society, will you be able to make that life-threatening argument in a court of law?
Make no mistake, this is not a match grade target or hunting revolver. If you load it up with 22 Mag snake shot it might be a good snake or rat gun for walks in the country, but the S333 was designed with personal defense in mind.
We fired a number of different loads through it including Hornady Critical Defense, CCI Shot loads, and CCI Maxi Mags.
It’s probably not what you want if you’re a SWAT Officer in need of an entry gun or a backup gun fir hunting. However, if you or someone you know has a disability where you can’t manipulate the slide of a semiautomatic pistol or handle the recoil of anything harsher than a 380 ACP this might be what you’re looking for.
We found recoil to be inconsequential. The trigger on the other hand takes a lot of getting used to. Double action is heavy, and it requires two fingers to move it properly. The length of the trigger iis such that it will not give you a proper two-hand hold on the pistol, so think of this as a revolver intended to be fired with one hand only.
As we said, it is not for everyone.
The bottom line on the Thunderstruck S333 is that we recommend it wholeheartedly for people with a physical condition that prevents them from being able to use a more traditional handgun for self-defense. If you are into guns that are a little outside the mainstream, you’ll like it a lot, too.
Because it is just damn fun to shoot!
Specifications:
- Caliber: 22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire
- Capacity: 8 Rounds
- Barrel Length: 1 ¼”
- Action type: Double-action revolver
- Cylinder Material: 4140 Steel
- Frame Material: 7075 Aircraft Grade Aluminum with Anodized Finish
- Barrel Material: 4140 Steel
- Grip: Polymer
- Weight: 18 oz
- Url: https://stdgun.com/s333-thunderstruck/
- MSRP: $429
About Mike Searson
Mike Searson’s career as a shooter began as a Marine Rifleman at age 17. He has worked in the firearms industry his entire adult life as a Gunsmith, Ballistician, Consultant, Salesman, Author, and was first certified to teach firearms safety in 1989.
Mike has written over 2000 articles for several magazines, websites, and newsletters, including Blade, RECOIL, OFF-GRID, Tactical Officer, SWAT, Tactical World, Gun Digest, Examiner.com and the US Concealed Carry Association as well as AmmoLand Shooting Sports News.
- Home page: www.mikesearson.com
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Good review… however, one should buy a Bond derringer or Judge before wasting money on this toy.
It’s a toy, as a practical matter. I wouldn’t carry it for self-defense on a dare.
+1
I think I might like it, but for the trigger.
I would not like the trigger it has, period!
The trigger pull is HORRENDOUS! The “accuracy” is a joke and the rounds tumble at 5 yards, every single time. Don’t sugar coat this abortion of a handgun. Stay away from this gun. Far, far away.
What is the overall length and width? How is it for pocket carry?
“We were curious about that ourselves actually and it goes back to that triple-barreled revolver we mentioned. The concept is known as a Volley Gun. These differ from machine guns in that they lack automatic loading and automatic fire and are limited by the number of barrels.”
Ok, I guess if you say so.
Kool to own as a novelty, but for an EDC pocket pistol in 22 WMR I’d go with the Ruger LCR.
https://ruger.com/products/lcr/specSheets/5414.html
That thing is a joke, as is your review of it. It is not, in any sense, a serious defensive firearm, and should never be recommended as one. It has a trigger like a staple gun, and its accuracy is atrocious. There are plenty of better options for less money. The S333 Thunderstruck is a perfect waste of resources.
But, if it said Sig Sauer on the side, you would love it.
“Because it is just damn fun to shoot!”
Call me old-fashioned, but language like this in a written article is highly unprofessional.
Foul language is offensive to many, and creates negative connotations. Clean language may offend some, but not many.
Words are words thus ours to use, all of them. To get bent out of shape over a “foul” word, used in this case for emphasis, is asinine.
I’m not bent out of shape, just making an observation.
It does concern me that what we used to consider decency in the USA has been tossed into the trash can. Even Hannity now uses foul language on the radio. Every little bit hurts.
There are but two ways to gain knowledge: 1) mistakes and 2) mentors.
Sales 101.
Wrong! You can also gain knowledge by investigating things yourself using the scientific method. Of course that is harder for those who are slow of wit and lack resources. Fortunately I have been able to acquire what I needed/wanted in my endeavors over my lifetime and my mental faculties have been up to the tasks I undertook. The bad part, in regard to firearms/ammunition, is that many things I have proven are far enough outside accepted norms that it is considered in the same realm as “Black Magic.” I got tossed off “CastBoolits.com” years ago because of my knowledge. Their… Read more »
“scientific method” You learned that, and most of the knowledge to capitalize on it, from someone-else. In other words, a mentor.
Ok, whatever. You do your thing, it is after all what you do. I won’t stand in your way. LOL!
Fair enough, and a fair argument.
One might argue that expression of thought or emotion by what ever means is a natural right. Censoring those words even in the name of “decency” could be construed as suppression of a natual right.
It just depends on perspective.
Ah but you forgot a method: ruthless self guided study. Just look at the history of autodidacts.
The definitions of autodidact that I read are pretty loose. I suspect anyone calling themselves an autodidact has mentors somewhere in their past – a mother, father, babysitter – on-one could ever be 100% self taught.
I meant: no-one could ever be 100% self-taught.
If only your mentors had taught you better you might not have made that error. Hey, “stuff” happens. Did you catch that?
Indeed it is a very loose definition. I would suspect you would be right only in so far as they had to be taught to read. There are however cases where lay men have walked up to a trade and went to it as if they were masters. As though God had built their hands just for that task. One can certainly be self taught, look at many musicians. They cant tell you about the Circle of Fifths or what a D Major sus9 looks like, but damn if they cant create something beautiful, without books or a lick of… Read more »