Premium rimfire revolver test: Spohr L562 .22 LR with 4- and 6-inch barrel 

Anyone who appreciates both the classic revolver and rimfire calibers will find a combination of both in the premium segment in the .22 LR  Spohr L562 Standard. The model is available with a 6-, 5-, 4- or 3-inch barrels. We tested the variants with 6" (152 mm) and 4" (102 mm) barrels. Rimfire revolvers compete alongside pistols in many shooting disciplines and do not have it easy there, especially in dynamic disciplines. This makes a high-quality rimfire revolver that sets its own standards all the more appealing. But first to the gun from Spohr.

Technical details: Spohr L562 in .22 LR

The design of the L562 is based on the tried-and-tested .357 frame of the Spohr revolver family. The manufacturer makes full use of the generous external dimensions, equipping the revolver with a cylinder that holds eight rounds. This increased capacity proves advantageous when shooting at a fast pace or in time-critical disciplines where the number of shots per series is crucial. As with its centerfire counterparts, the cylinder is precisely guided, the side play is minimal and the cylinder gap is 0.15 mm. This not only increases the perceived value of the gun, but also has a favorable effect on gas leakage and shooting behaviour.

A safety-relevant detail is the circumferential rim on the rear face of the cylinder. In the event of the rimfire cartridge blowing through, it is designed to prevent gases or particles from escaping in an uncontrolled manner towards the shooter. Even if such an event is rare, this design emphasises the high priority that Spohr attaches to operational safety. Equally practical are the numbered cartridge chambers. These make it easier to document series of shots and accuracy tests with different types of cartridges and also make cleaning easier, as no chamber is accidentally overlooked or treated twice.

Spohr relies on tried and tested components for the barrel. The L562 uses Lothar Walther barrels with conventional rifling. They have the typical .22 LR 1:16" (1:406 mm) twist rate and are thus clearly designed for precise shooting with standard and match ammunition. In combination with the solid frame and a balanced, well machined barrel contour, the result is a revolver that does not feel like a "rimfire compromise" in the hand, but like a fully-fledged piece of sport equipment.

Trigger characteristics and operation of the Spohr L562

The trigger also shows that the L562 is designed as a fully-fledged sporting revolver and not merely as a cost-effective training solution. In double-action mode, the trigger pull weight is around 5,000 grams. This is high enough to prevent unintentional firing, but is easy to control thanks to the smooth pull. In single-action mode, the trigger breaks crisply and consistently after overcoming around 1,400 grams. This puts the L562 in a range that is useful for both classic precision disciplines and faster-paced shooting disciplines, without the shooter having the feeling of having to fight against a spongy trigger.

Operation follows the classic revolver pattern. Depending on barrel length, the gun weight is noticeable but not excessive. The 6" barrel balance in particular is slightly front-heavy, which reduces the muzzle flip and promotes a steady sight picture. The eight cartridges can be loaded into the cylinder without any problems, and loading and unloading is quick and easy thanks to the precisely guided cylinder and the smoothly operating ejector. The fact that rimfire cartridges are somewhat more sensitive than stable centerfire cartridges due to their design is only evident in one small detail when shooting – more on this in the following section.

With the Spohr L562 rimfire revolver on the shooting range

The Spohr L562 was extensively tested on the shooting range in both test barrel lengths. As is typical for rimfire revolvers, it quickly became apparent that the achievable accuracy depends to a large extent on the loads used. The selection of rimfire cartridges was correspondingly broad in order to explore the performance spectrum of the revolver.

The 6" revolver achieved its best results with the SK Standard. Eight shots formed a group of just 13 mm, a value that meets even high sporting standards. The L562 also proved that it is not only "optimized" for a specific load, but also achieves a very good level of precision with several common ammo types.

The 4" revolver was hardly inferior to the larger model. It also showed a clear preference for SK ammunition: groups of 18 mm each were achieved with SK Standard and SK HV cartridges. Across all ten loads tested, the average group size of the 6-inch model was just two millimeters more favorable. In practical sporting use, it is therefore not so much this small difference that is decisive, but above all the longer sight radius and the somewhat smoother shooting behavior, which speak in favor of the 6" barrel.

The L562 performed very well in terms of functional reliability. No malfunctions such as misfires or jams occurred during testing. Only the GECO Semi Auto cases occasionally proved somewhat stubborn during ejection and required a light tap on the ejector rod to fully release them from the chambers. For a rimfire revolver that is loaded with a wide variety of loads, this is a very positive result overall – especially since it is more a matter of convenience than safety.

Intended uses, target group and price of the Spohr rimfire revolver

The question of who would benefit from such a high-quality rimfire revolver is relatively easy to answer. On the one hand, the Spohr L562 is an excellent training tool for shooters who otherwise use .357 or .44 Magnum revolvers and want to intensively practice trigger control, sight picture, and aiming intensively without having to pay for a box of large-caliber ammunition for every training session. The operating logic and basic layout of the frame correspond to the centerfire Spohr models, making it intuitive to switch between training and competition revolvers.

On the other hand, the L562 offers a serious option for all those who want to compete specifically in the remaining rimfire revolver disciplines. Here, the L562 can fully demonstrate its strengths – eight-round capacity, solid precision, easily controllable trigger characteristics and reliable function – and give the shooter the opportunity to stand out from the pistol field .

In terms of price, the Spohr L562 is clearly positioned in the upper segment of sporting revolvers. The version in .22 LR with a 6" barrel is priced at €2,899, the variant with a 4" barrel at €2,799. In view of the "Made in Germany" high-quality manufacturing, the meticulous attention to detail and the shooting performance demonstrated, however, this price is within the range that seems appropriate for a specialized, durable sporting revolver.

Spohr L562 Standard technical specifications and prices

Conclusion on the L562 revolver in .22 LR from Spohr

The rimfire Spohr L562 Standard is much more than a "slimmed-down" offshoot of a centerfire revolver. It presents itself as an independent piece of sport equipment that combines the advantages of the rimfire cartridge – lower recoil and lower ammunition costs – with the feel, durability and accuracy of a high-quality all-steel revolver. Eight rounds in the cylinder, a clean finish, practical trigger pull weights and impressive groupings with the right load make the L562 a serious companion on the shooting range. Anyone who appreciates the classic revolver feel, wants to keep an eye on running costs or is looking for a dedicated gun for rimfire disciplines will find the Spohr L562 to be a modern representative of a revolver class that has now become rare.

Text: Tino Schmidt and Stefan Perey