{"id":114632,"date":"2019-09-21T19:34:02","date_gmt":"2019-09-21T23:34:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/?p=114632"},"modified":"2026-10-18T15:14:11","modified_gmt":"2026-10-18T20:14:11","slug":"full-review-of-s333-thunderstruck","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/full-review-of-s333-thunderstruck\/","title":{"rendered":"S333 Thunderstruck Review: Thunderstruck vs Thunderstruck 2"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Standard Manufacturing S333 Thunderstruck fires two .22 Magnum rounds with every pull of its heavy two finger trigger. In our test it put eight rounds out in 1.3 seconds, but groups opened up badly past 5 yards and it shot about 3 inches high at 3 yards.<\/strong> It is a 3 yard gun, which is exactly what Standard says it was built for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We tested the original. The Thunderstruck 2 (Gen II) has longer barrels and a smoother trigger. The comparison is first, then Jordan Michaels’ review.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Double-Barreled<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The concealed carry market is crowded. Pocket guns are one of the fastest-growing segments of the firearms industry, and there\u2019s no sign of slowing down. (Even Mossberg, Mossberg!, offers a subcompact 9mm<\/a>, for crying out loud.) In such a dense environment, Standard Manufacturing\u2019s new S333 Thunderstruck stands out. For better or worse, the Thunderstruck isn\u2019t a gun you\u2019re likely to see every day, and I\u2019ve had a blast putting it through its paces. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first things you\u2019ll notice about this double-action-only revolver are the dual barrels chambered in 22 Magnum. But unlike a double-barreled shotgun, the Thunderstruck fires both cartridges simultaneously with a single pull of the trigger. This, according to the company, allows for quicker, more effective shooting in a self-defense situation. Four trigger pulls should be faster than eight, no matter which gun you\u2019re using. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Double-Barreled
Dual barrels combined with the eight-cartridge cylinder lets shooters fire off eight rounds with only four trigger pulls. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I tested that theory and, as you can see in the video below, found that it depends on the gun and your proficiency with it (probably more the latter than the former). The Thunderstruck isn\u2019t far and away<\/em> faster, but it is faster, and those milliseconds might end up saving your life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Discounting the draw, here’s how the Thunderstruck stacks up against a Springfield Armory XDS and a Taurus TX22:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  • Thunderstruck (8 shots): 1.3 seconds<\/li>
  • XDS (8 shots): 1.5 seconds<\/li>
  • Taurus TX22 (8 shots): 1.25<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    I\u2019m not the fastest shooter, but my results should be\nrelatively true for you. In other words, if you\u2019re a fast shooter, you\u2019ll shoot\nboth guns faster, but their relative speeds should be about the same. If you shoot eight rounds from an XDS in a given time, with practice you should be able to shoot the Thunderstruck a little faster. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The second thing you\u2019ll notice about the Thunderstruck is the trigger. The dual finger grooves are designed to pull the ultra-heavy firing mechanism, and the lack of an under-guard (bottom guard?) might look like a safety concern. I found that the weight of the trigger combined with the articulating trigger safety makes accidental discharge unlikely. Still, it\u2019s not something I would want to pocket carry without some kind of trigger holster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"Double-Barreled
    The heavy, two-finger trigger is the Thunderstruck’s most distinctive feature. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    \"Double-Barreled
    The line on the cylinder is a normal result of the gun’s design. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    The heavy trigger is one of the gun\u2019s most important safety features, but it also slows down quick follow-up shots. The trigger pull is also extremely long. The need to fully reset the trigger in order to properly cycle\/rotate the cylinder adds even more time to the firing process. This is a concern with any double-action-only revolver, but the Thunderstruck\u2019s trigger is especially challenging. I included some footage of me running into this problem in the video below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I want to be clear: my struggle speed shooting wasn\u2019t due to\na failure of the firearm. The Thunderstruck performed exactly as designed. You\nmight question that design, but, as I say in the video, practice will\nundoubtedly increase speed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The Thunderstruck\u2019s accuracy is about what you\u2019d expect from\na gun with a 1.25\u201d barrel shooting a cartridge designed for rifles. Mine shot\nabout three inches high at three yards, and the fixed sights mean that I\u2019m stuck\nusing Kentucky windage (or, in this case, elevation). Many of the rounds\ntumble, and beyond five yards the groups open up so much that I wouldn\u2019t be\ncomfortable using it anywhere except a shooting range. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"Double-Barreled<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    \"Double-Barreled
    The sights are functional but not the gun’s best feature. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    \"Double-Barreled
    The best performer was definitely the Hornady 30g V-Max. This is the group from 3 yards standing. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Still, the Thunderstruck shoots a perfectly acceptable group at the distance it\u2019s designed for: namely, three yards or less. Standard Manufacturing named the Thunderstruck the S333 because they wanted to build a gun around the theory that most self-defense situations take place in three shots or less, in three seconds or less, and from three yards or less. The Thunderstruck is tailor-made for that type of scenario. Firing eight rounds in under three seconds isn\u2019t difficult, and it\u2019ll hit what you\u2019re aiming at within three yards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    You might question whether the 22 Magnum is a suitable self-defense cartridge. I can\u2019t say I\u2019m 100% sold myself. But it\u2019s certainly better than nothing, and if you put the rounds in the right place, I can\u2019t see any type of threat sticking around to find out how many more rounds the Thunderstruck holds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Check out my full review in the video below. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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