[Jmurman]

I am currently looking for a .22 pistol.

My goals are 1. accuracy 2. reliability I will use this for plinking and just general screwing around, maybe some squirrel hunting.

I am considering the Ruger MK2 w/target barrel, what else should I look at?

[Old Fud]

Buckmark Field or Target.

You are definitely on the right track.
Get one that is relatively heavy, has at least a 5" barrel, and a really good trigger.

You will be rewarded with outstanding results, both in the field and on the range.

The little guns -- the P22 and others like it -- are fun plinkers, but will never come close in precision results.

Fud

[Jmurman]

Excellent News!

I started to look around last year for a .22. Now, because I live in Maryland, new .22's have to have a type os lock that just wasn;t available...so I put this search on hold. I called a local shop and they have made provisions for .22's!

Now I can shop and don;t have to worry about locks or any of that crap.

By the way, he told me they have a Ruger 6" fluted barrel, $475...any feel for this price? They didn't have any of the Brownings, which is a good looking pistol.

[CajunBass]

I'm sort of partial to Ruger Single Six's myself, but I like cowboy guns.

[Chipperman]

Here's mine:
Benelli Atlanta. Quite a bit higher in cost than a Ruger, but it's nice. Another big advatage for me is that it's got an ambidextrous grip and safety.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y164/Chipperman/BenelliAtlanta.jpg

[Surefire]

I am happy with the Ruger Mk IIs.

Accuracy is good for the price.

Reliability is top notch, out of the thousands of rounds I've fired I've had ZERO malfunctions caused by the gun (i.e. 0 FTEs and 0 FTFs). Occasionally, I'll get a situation where the bullet doesn't fire--which in every case was caused by bad bullet (i.e. firing pin hits solidly, but the primer doesn't ignite). This is common with rimfires--the key is to shoot the bullets within one years time--when I've done this all bullets always fire.

If the .22 LR wasn't such a peashooter, and didn't have primer issues, this is the only .22 I'd consider reliable enough for defense....that is how well mine function.

The other big plus is durability--the only part I've had to change so far is the recoil spring. Everything else looks like tip-top shape.

[45Badger]

S&W K-22 :d

[absolute0]

So many good ones out there too......

Buckmark, Ruger Mark I & II. Single Six, Diamondback just to name a few good ones.

[lwsimon]

I have a Single Six, its dead accurate out as far as you can see your target. Shoots much better than I do. Reloading at the range is a pain, but you get faster at it. I can reload my sngle six much faster than I can load a magazine and insert it. You jsut can't do the hard work beforehand like you can with a semi-auto.

Also, be aware semi-auto .22s don't like all ammunition. In a revolver, any ammo will work as long as it goes boom. I know the Mk.II i've fired didn't like Remington Subsonics.

[Surefire]

Thats right, I forgot about the single-six. I really like mine, I have the special edition Stainless Bisley Single-Six .22 LR. If one likes revolvers (which I do), I can really recommend this model too.

[ulflyer]

You said "My goals are 1. accuracy 2. reliability I will use this for plinking and just general screwing around, maybe some squirrel hunting"

Unless you are already an expert pistol shooter, and need/want a high dollar gun capable of match accuracy, then consider the Browning Buckmarks. Under $300...much less if you buy used. Mine functions reliably, and has a good trigger pull.

[P95Carry]

For revo's then certainly Single Six is a great option - and if cash available it's nice to pick up a K-22 (heard ya Dawson LOL).

Re the MkII Rugers - in case you find the grip angle undesirable - consider the 22/45 - for me a better grip feel and angle plus - more ''1911'' like controls.


http://www.acbsystems.com/boards/thr/cb_gun2/22-45_dot_s.jpg



http://www.acbsystems.com/boards/thr/cb_gun2/single_six_s.jpg



http://www.acbsystems.com/boards/thr/cb_gun2/pre_k22_02_s.jpg

[JCM298]

I've had a Buckmark for about 20 years and it's served me very well,

John

[spalit]

I have a S&W 617 10-shot, and it's extremely accurate, and a solid gun built on the L frame - not that a .22 really needs that much strength :rolleyes:

Only downside is cleaning the extractor and the cylinder. .22LR is a dirty round, and it tends to build up..

[Standing Wolf]

I bought a Ruger Mark II a couple years ago. It was a complete waste of money.

I have a S&W 617 10-shot, and it's extremely accurate, and a solid gun built on the L frame...

Nope. It's built on the K frame.

[spalit]

I stand corrected :) the 617 is on the medium frame, I forgot that the K & L are both mediums.. doh! It is a hefty little gun though, what with the full underlug 6" barrel and all.

[Sunray]

"...be aware semi-auto .22s don't like all ammunition..." That's one of the many things about .22 pistols that rarely gets mentioned and is immensely true. My Smith M41 is extremely picky about the ammo it will feed and function with, never mind shoot well.
However, before you get that far, you need to decide how much money you want to spend and which one fits your hand best. As much as I personally dislike the Ruger, it's very hard to beat for the money. A Smith M41 it ain't, but it won't cost you a thousand bucks either and there are lots of aftermarket grips available for it.

[Jmurman]

I think I've narrowed my choices to the Ruger MKll and the Buckmark.

I bought a Ruger Mark II a couple years ago. It was a complete waste of money.

Why?

I've heard some horror stories about cleaning the Rugers, but nothing about problems with reliability or accuracy.

How would you compare the Buckmark, let's say with a 5-6" barrel to the Ruger in terms of accuracy? I know that can be a subjective question, dependant on the shooter.

[Brian Williams]

PM me if you are interested in a Ruger MKII Slabside or do a search in the classifieds. Only selling because I need to fund other projects, otherwise one of my favorites.

[JCM298]

Jmurman,

I had a Ruger and traded it for my Buckmark because the Ruger was such a pain to re-assemble after cleaning. The last time I cleaned it, I had to take it to our armorer for re-assembly. On the same day, a local store had a sale on Browning products so I did some trading.

The Buckmark is as accurate as the Ruger was and easier to clean. Just be careful when taking off the grips. They hold parts in place and care must be taken when the grips are removed. The parts don't fly to another planet when the grips are removed. They just drop out and re-assembly is very easy. You don't need three hands to do it,

John

[Justin]

Ruger's pistols make for fine plinkers; the 22/45 is great for a laid-back day at the range, hunting the elusive and wily tin can, or introducing newbies.


[gun snob mode]

Having said that, I find that they have uniformly godawful triggers, and the requirement to do the hokey-pokey in order to put one back together is quite annoying.

[/gun snob mode]

[rudolf]

Ruger 22/45. Needs cleaning every 1200 rounds, and shoots, and shoots, ....

[Jmurman]

I saw an ad for a MK3 Hunter in a gun mag yesterday, nice looking piece.

I am concerned about the comments regarding the Ruger though. It's not that I rip my weapons apart frequently, but I do like to keep them clean.

I'll have to check out the Browning for sure before I make my decision.

[22luvr]

Its a love/hate relationship with this one for a lot of shooters.

I got the base model with the 6" barrel. I put a BSA red dot scope on it and it will pretty much hit whatever I can put that red dot on.

They can be had for cheap but I don't consider them "cheap."
They're easy to field strip and clean and break into 3 basic pieces. The Weaver rail that holds the components together has proven to be a great feature.

It is a striker fired pistol and some "purists" do not like the trigger on striker fired models. I don't find too much fault in the trigger.

Ergonomics are not for everyone as the pistol has a radical grip angle but I like the way the hand that grips the pistol tucks up tightly underneath and stabilizes the aim.

At least check one out before you decide.

[Frandy]

I posted this on the Beretta forum this weekend:

Before I bought my entry level, 4.5 inch, black Neos, I read plenty of criticism of them, from rear sights coming loose to poor accuracy being a built in function.

Well, all I can report is how my own Neos performs. The first trip to the range was a bit disheartening as I experienced a dozen or so jams and three misfires during the 100-round shooting session. The misfires I attributed to the ammo. I was hoping the jams were due to the pistol being new and tight. I spent more time sighting in my Bushnell red/green dot than worrying about the "problems." Oh, and the accuracy was pretty good, though i admit I'm only plinking at paper at around 21-25 feet.

The second session was far better. I used the same mix of ammo, milk carton Remingtons, CCI mini mags, maxi mags, standard velocity, and pistol match, a total of another 100-110 rounds. I had no misfires and still a few (fewer!) jams, this time all with the CCI standard velocity or pistol match. I again shot only with the red dot and at the same distance.

Yesterday, I shot the same distance but with the iron sights. After I sighted it in (the sight is nice and tight - no problems), I was getting such nice, tight groups that I decided it's more fun w/o the red dot. As for functioning, I shot 250 rounds of that same mix (using up the remaining CCI standard and pistol match . I had zero misfires and only three jams. Yup, all three were with the CCI standard velocity.

Shooting in the next lane was a fella with a new Sig Mosquito. It might be him, it might be the gun, but his accuracy was, well, not that good at all. And, he was pretty frustrated with the jams he's been getting. Lots.

The moral of this tale? When folks praise or bad mouth a gun manufacturer or specific model, take it with a bag of salt. I'm sure there are problematic Neos out there. Hey, maybe I have the only good one , but consider that there are good Mosquitos and bad, good Neos and bad. Of course, this time of year in NC, I don't think there's anything good about mosquitos.

One man's limited opinion.

Of course, I also own a Trailside and really, really, like it. Accurate...great in the hand...and after an initial problem with jams, now eats everything and shoots straight!

Frandy

[Father Knows Best]

I have a weakness for .22 pistols. I learned to shoot with a Ruger .22 that belonged to my dad, and the very first pistol I ever purchased was a Ruger Mk II. My collection now includes those two pistols, plus a Ruger Single Six, a Colt Peacemaker 22, a Colt New Frontier 22 and a Kimber Rimfire Super.

My favorite of the bunch is the Kimber. It was expensive (about $900), but it's a work of art, is very accurate, and is an absolute joy to shoot. The Rimfire Supers are all assembled and test-fired by the Kimber Custom Shop. They are the exact same size as a .45 ACP 1911, but a fraction of the weight and with negligible recoil. The trigger on mine is as good as I've seen on an out-of-the-box autopistol. It breaks at just over 3 pounds, with only the slightest amount of creep. I've had pistols with professional trigger jobs that weren't as good. I don't know if Kimber still catalogues it, but the two-tone pistol pictured at the top of this page is a Rimfire Super: http://www.kimberamerica.com/rimfire.php

My Ruger autos are great, too. The Rugers are inexpensive, plenty accurate and as reliable as they come. The don't field strip very easily, however, and the triggers aren't the best. The Ruger is a highly developed platform, though, and you can turn a Ruger into anything your heart desires. The Mk II (and new Mk III) Rugers can be highly competitive in target competitions with a little tuning and the right aftermarket parts, if you decide to go that way.

In the revolvers, my favorite is the Colt New Frontier 22. It isn't made anymore, but they're a great value if you find a used one. They tend to be cheaper than the similar Peacemaker models. The only difference is that the New Frontiers have flat-topped frames with target-style adjustable sights (the Peacemakers have traditional thin blade fronts and a groove in the top strap for a rear sight). Both models are extremely well built. They are also quite a bit smaller and lighter than the Ruger Single Six, which makes them balance better, and they are easier for small hands to handle. My wife and kids love them, and so do I.

[45crittergitter]

My Ruger MKII Govt. Competition is the second most accurate firearm I have ever owned, right behind a Tikka T3. Also, I don't recall ever having a malfunction with it.

[JOE MACK]

I like the Ruger MkII also. I have a 5.5 inch bull barrel and a SS slabside target model. Both are accurate and reliable to a fault if I clean them every ten bricks or so. I also have a Ruger OM single six that I had one chamber reamed for a .22 Magnum. This is usually my empty chamber that the hammer is lowered on. I need a little more umph, I load that chamber. I used to have a Colt Match Target I really liked, too. For just a plinker, I'd go with any of the Ruger semi-auto .22LRs. :)

[Eskimo Jim]

Here's what I know/think about 22lr revolvers and pistols:

1) Ruger Single Six with 22lr and 22WMR cylinders 5-1/2" barrel -accurate, flexible ammunition types, small/easy to carry, cowboy type single action. Cons -small loading gate can be tough to load

2) Ruger Mk II series -accurate, cheap to shoot. Con tough to clean at first.

3) S&W model 17-3 (K-22) 6" barrel -fun to shoot, accurate, single or double action revolver Con: No longer made so could be pricey. S&W's current production is the 617 haven't tried it, it is pricey

4) S&W J frames/small frames -less expensive than the 617 I believe. Haven't tried them.

That Ruger Mk III (nre replacement to the Mk II series) with fluted barrels sounds like a good price for this area because it is the Hunter model. www.gunblast.com reviewed it several months ago and they liked it. You can probably find a MK II series for $225 on up for used to $275 or so for new.

-Jim

[.40-.45]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y201/pd1616/P1190183.jpg

my 1911 and a 22lr kit

[lyricsdad]

heh heh get a taurus raging hornet looks like it would be fun

http://www.gunsamerica.com/guns/976597671.htm

[R.H. Lee]

I've got a Ruger MKII Target in stainless with a 6 7/8" bbl with I don't know how many thousands of rounds through it. It functions flawlessly, as long as the chamber, boltface and breechface are kept clean (with a Hoppe's soaked q-tip, takes about 5 minutes). I regularly pop golfballs @ 25yds which for me is very good accuracy. IF you decide on a Ruger, get the target model, for the trigger alone. It makes a BIG difference.

[TimboKhan]

not to sound like a jerk, but had you simply read your manual on how to properly put the MkII back together, I suspect the trip to the armory would have been unnecessary. That said, they aren't the most intuitive gun to dis/reassemble, and I suppose there is something to be said about that. I have am on my second MkII, the first was sold to my buddy so that I could buy a stainless version from my dad, and I will not be parting with this gun. I had a Browning Buckmark that I traded sometime ago, and to be fair, it was a very accurate, very good gun. It just comes down to the fact that I like my bull barrel Ruger better. What about the Beretta NEOS? I have held one, and I like it, and it has the added benefit of being versatility in that you can buy a carbine conversion kit from it. That said, I have never shot one and for all I know they are craptacular....

[41 Rem Mag]

I love my Mark III Hunter, shoots great and looks are awsom, I also have a Neos with Red Dot I like it but the trigger isn't where I want it even after tuning it up.

[Jmurman]

I love my Mark III Hunter, shoots great and looks are awsom,

What kind of holster do you use for this? Also, is it finiky with different types of ammo?

[McQ]

I have a Colt Frontier Scout for use with Super Colibris and a Colt Woodsman (First Series) that is very accurate out to about 20 yards.

[Hotlight]

I have a Ruger Mark III, have put thousands of rounds through it in the last year or so with no problems. Field stripping is easy, if you take the time to read the owners manual (and understand it) before starting.

Mike

[sako_75]

I shoot a S&W 617 with a 8-3/8" full lug barrel. It shoots like a rifle, then again it should it weighs as much as one.

[TimboKhan]

Jmurman,

Hey, I wanted to chime in again, since I have really become nothing but a Ruger apologist as of late, and tell you that with the exception of a faulty aftermarket plastic "ram-line" magazine (that actually worked really well for about 500 rounds), I feed everything through my MkII, and it generally works fine. With my old blued MkII, I went about 1500 rounds without cleaning anything but fingerprints off the metal, and I had maybe 3 FtE and no FtF. I personally can live with that. Now, keep in mind that I am talking about the older MkII models, NOT the MkIII models that are now about a year old or so. the MkII has a "heel-latch" magazine release. Some people, like my buddy Rockstar.Esq absolutly HATE this feature, whereas it doesn't bother me in the least. The new MkIII, in addition to having a loaded chamber indicator and, I think, a magazine disconnect, have a pushbutton style mag release. the 22/45 also has a pushbutton mag release. I would assume that the MkIII's work every bit as well as the MkII's did, but I can neither confirm nor deny this. Anyway man, you know, the thing is that even though I am defending Rugers pretty staunchly, I would say that its sort of hard to make a bad call buying a .22 autoloader from any of the big manufacturers, as in my experience they all work pretty well, and they all do about the same thing.

Timbo

(P. S.: Buy a Ruger....)

[TimboKhan]

Oh, and incidentally guys, I have to say that I also shoot a H&R Sportsman 999, which is a break top revolver with a 9 shot cylinder, and I am shocked to not see more people talking about this revolver. I ended up selling my single-six off because this revolver is just a delight to shoot.

[Selfdfenz]

I had a 999 several years ago and foolishly traded it off on a deal.

I would gladly pick up another but they are pretty uncommon and I don't think they've been manufactured for many years.

Excellent product but not much use recommending a model the original poster is likely never to see other than used and possibly well used.

S-

[Jmurman]

OK so here is an update on the pistol situation.

I purchased a Ruger MK3 Hunter form JeepDriver at the ranger where I shoot.

Chad showed me how to field strip the pistol and I ran a couple of boxes of CCI Standard through it...definately a keeper! I should be able to pick it up on Sunday.

Now to find a holster and the cleaning stuff and.....you know that list goes on.

[TimboKhan]

Seldfenz,

Your right that they are no longer made, and I think that sucks, as I would LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to have one of these revolvers in stainless. Maybe its just a regional thing, but I have never got the sense that they are scarce. I have seen oh, three or four in the last year, and all were in reasonable condition and all were under $200.00. Anyway, scarce or not, if you happen to run across one of these revolvers, I highly recommend them. By the way Seldfenz, if you regret that trade, I traded a Ruger No.1 in .270 straight across for my P90. I love my P90, but that was still a really, really stupid trade on my part. Ah, the follies of youth.

Timbo

[Selfdfenz]

one of these revolvers in stainless

Now you're talking. I'd have to have one of each.
S-

[PaladinX13]

Anyone have a link to some H&R Sportsman 999 pictures?

[bigmike45]

I have a Browning Buck Mark Target that I love and would not give up for the world........but the guns P95Carry (alias Chris) has.....well I am truly jealous. :p Man those are some fine shootin irons buddy boy!!! Specially that S&W.

Chris, you also have a great technique of photographing them. :D

[P95Carry]

Mike - thank you Sir! :)

I cannot quite aspire to the heights of Don Hart or Oleg but - as long as pics please that's all that matters.

One of my shooting buds (caseydog here) got himself (and his wife) a Buckmark last year - they perform very well indeed and I daresay if I had not already got the 22/45, I'd have given one serious consideration.

[Eskimo Jim]

JMurman,
Congratulations!! I hope that you enjoy your Mark III Hunter!! I bet that thing can't be beat. I'm sure that you'll have a lot of fun with it.

-Jim