[carpediem]

Not a target gun. Something that would be useful for shooting practice, maybe more along the lines of "practical than 50yd tack driver." Good for developing shooting skills for when I'm old enough for a CCW. Reliable, good practical accuracy, and not-too-expensive are some of the things I'm looking for.

[sfhogman]

Ruger 22/45
Ruger Single-Six

[DRMMR02]

If you're looking for a .22 pistol, check out the Walther P22. First gun I ever bought, and it's still on of the most fun to shoot.

[P95Carry]

To amplify sfhogman's recommendation - some pics :)


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

[carpediem]

Some other things I forgot to mention:

- Has to be on the CA-approved list (unless I buy it in a PPT)
- Has a good rep for working reliably with most ammo

Have to look into to the Rugers. Any other suggestions?

[wally]

Ruger MkII, MkIII, 22/45.
Beretta Neos
S&W M22A
Browning Buckmark
Walter P22

Got them all, love them all. But I shoot the Rugers the most because I have this slick mag loading machine for them: www.mcfaden.com, look for Ultimate clip loader. Says it should work for Buckmark mags too, I'll have to give it a try next time, that's what I get for not RTFM :) noticed it when I looked up the website.

Of my collection, the Neos is the most reliable with the cheapest ammo, but all are usable rarely stovepiping more than once or twice a brick. The Rugers seem to have the most failures to fire by a factor of two or so, most rounds seem to go if I try them a second time with a hit on a different part of the rim.

--wally.

[10-Ring]

I got mine several years ago, but it has been a great learning tool for several people - including yours truly :D
I would go w/ a DA wheelgun like the 4" Taurus 94

[ugaarguy]

In a revolver, a S&W 617 new, or S&W K-22/Model17/Model 18 used. Checking out a used revolver shouldn't be too hard, just go to the "Jim March's Used Revolver Checkout" thread stickied at the top of the revolvers forum.

In an auto the Ruger MKI/II/III and 22/45, and the Browning Buckmark. THR member Matthew Vanitas runs the shooting range at the University of Texas, and from reading his posts he likes the S&W 22A. I'm sure he'll be along with his thoughts too.

Of course, make sure it fits. For more info on gun fit see this article; http://www.corneredcat.com/FirstGun/TryOnGun.htm. The rest of the website is full of good info too.

Please let us know how we can further help you.

[greener]

Try out several and pick the one you like. I'd add the Ruger Single Six to Wally's recommendations. Loads of fun to shoot, and you'll be shooting it when you are a codger as ancient as I.

Hard to go wrong with the 22A or one of the Rugers. All about $200-$300.

[jakk55]

It seems the ruger 22/45 seems to be the best of both accuracy and shooting principles and is probably what I'm going to buy.

You havn't mentioned whether you want a revolver or semi-automatic either.

I'm looking for the same kind of idea: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=230964

lots of helpful info from people on a lot of different 22s.

[RyanM]

Buy a regular pistol. Buy a .22 conversion. Then you'll have your carry gun all set up already and many hours of trigger time on it by the time the state decides to recognize your fundamental rights.

[carpediem]

I'd have to know what my preferred carry gun is before I could get a conversion kit :o

Don't really have a definitive preference for either revolver or pistols yet.

[borrowedtime69]

my recommendations are as follows:

Ruger MK II (not the MK III) any configuration. may be banned if demacrats get back in control. however its the best gun for the price out there!

Single Six .22/22mag convertable. nearly completely ban proof being a single action revolver. will last forever, tough as anything else.

Taurus 970 Tracker .22 LR 6 1/2" full underlug/vented rib barrel, blued or stainless. mine is a solid shooter and is a truely awesome gun to shoot with Velocitors.

i would stay away from :Walther P22, Ruger MK III, Sig Misquito (heard that Sig isnt making them anymore? or not servicing them?), and the S&W 22A. ive seen a few, even just dislay models, and they cant stand much abuse from what ive seen of them. good luck

[chris in va]

You're gonna get a dozen different answers on this one.

Standard answer, Ruger of some sort for durability and reliability. I had two, they were decent. But boring. Bull barrels are HEAVY.

Want more fun? Walther. Slick little thing for plinking, and you can add a supressor if you so desire. But quality is dubious.

Me? I bought a CZ 75 for carry purposes. When it became unreliable I bought the 22 conversion and left it for range use. Pretty fun, damn accurate...on par with the Ruger. Typically I can hit a hanging bowling pin at 75 yards with it, most of the time.:scrutiny:

[Seancass]

P95Carry: i can always count on you to (re)talk me into buying a Single Six. I'll own one in 15 days!

i guess thats my recommendation. Single Sixes are a blast!

[51Cards]

Ruger Mk III. I seem to have lucked out --- after about 2000 rds or so, only 3 FTEs. Yes, a bit nose-heavy --- but very, very accurate. An interesting project to fully clean, at first; but it gets easier with some practice. So far, my preference on (non-iron) sights is the ATN compact. The reticule really doesn't shift zero (my Bushnell did), and no clicks.

[Shawnee]

I'm another vote for the Ruger single-action and the D/A from Smith & Wesson and the Buckmark from Browning. :)

[Jackal]

I'm gonna get strung up for this, but I suggest Phoenix Arms HP22. I have one. Its accurate enough for soda cans, It's the most reliable .22 pistol I've ever owned as well. I am well into my second brick of ammo (about 700 rds) without even 1 single malfunction. Plus, I love its size and balance. For a pistol in the $100 range, this one is hands down the best. I actually sold my Buckmark and kept this. Just as a note: Yes, I did remove *all* the safeties on mine, It made it much more reliable and shooter friendly.

[New_geezer]

I own each of these guns. They have all been reliable and pretty much trouble free over thousands of rounds. None have been fussy about ammo. I can recommend either of the first two. While I personally have had few problems with my particular Trailside so far, I would not buy another one mainly because early models had some problems and later editions are reporting some long term use issues. Who needs the potential hassle.

BuckMark, but avoid the Camper model unless you plan to buy a scope and rail. This specific model comes with a plastic sight base prone to cracking.

The Beretta Neos w/ 6 inch barrel. The 4 inch barrel is rreportedly not as accurate

The Sig Trailside, made by Hammerli no longer sold by Sig (the Sig Mosquito replaced this line)

There are simply too many generations of satisfied Ruger shooters to seriously argue against any of their offerings. Personally I prefer BuckMarks, but if a Ruger design appeals to you, if it fits your hand, and you shoot it well there's little reason to look further. Other makes may be more fun or more refined but none offer better dependability or value. Especially for a casual shooter who mainly goes plinking.

[tinygnat219]

The Walther P22. This is an overrated pile of crap not worth spending good money on. 22s in semi-auto pistols tend to be finicky, and this one was like a Diva with an eating disorder.

Consider the Taurus line of pistols. They have more options for .22 LR than just about anything else. Their model 94 is classic and great for target plinking. For more pocket use, the PT22 is pretty good. As for self-defense, I wouldn't use anything under the .380, or .38 SPL.

[Vern Humphrey]

Go to www.gunsamerica.com and browse -- there are some great .22s there at very good prices (I got a Colt Woodsman for $225 not long ago, and that gun shoots 1 3/4" groups at 25 yards -- from a modified Weaver, not a rest.)

Make friend with your local pawnbroker and ask him, "What do you charge to handle a firearms transfer, $20?" (Mine charges $15.)

Order the gun on the internet, then send the seller a money order and a copy of your pawnbroker's signed FFL. The gun will be shipped to the pawnbroker, who will do the paperwork for you.

[Shear_stress]

I've had good luck with the following:

Beretta Model 21 Bobcat
High Standard Sharpshooter
High Standard Supermatic Citation
Ruger Mark I
Ruger Mark II
Ruger SP101 in .22LR
S&W 422
S&W pre-18/18
S&W pre-17/17
S&W 34
S&W 63

I've had marginal luck with the following:

Iver Johnson TP22 (great in theory, but prone to light strikes in reality)
Walther P22 (didn't fit my hand, I tended to slice off the palm off my hand when inserted the magazine, I also tended to brush the mag release when firing)

In a couple of weeks, I'll be able to report on the Beretta Model 71 Jaguar I rescued off of Gunbroker.

[TimboKhan]

With the possible exception of the Walther P22, which does have a reputation for being finicky, you would be hard pressed to find a bad choice among the autoloaders and revolvers of today, at least provided that you stick with the large manufactuers. Once you figure out what you like best, start looking for used guns. Unless you live in some wierd area, there should be no shortage of .22 handguns for you to pick through, and generally they are quite a bit cheaper used than new.

[aaronrkelly]

For me it was a Ruger 22/45 - my carry piece at the time as a Kimber and the 22/45 shares the same grip angle as your standard 1911. Seemed it would be the wisest choice for the training to carry over to my carry gun.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v67/aaronrkelly/All%20Guns/Picture024.jpg

[scurtis_34471]

I just got a Walther P22 and put 200 rounds through it the first day out without a single malfunction. I'll be able to tell you more after a few more 200 round trips, but I really like the gun so far.

[TX1911fan]

The P22 is a great gun, and if you are getting something so you can practice for eventual CCW, then I recommend it. It is just like a larger semi-automatic, with the same sorts of controls, etc. Many of the .22 pistols are not, and hence would not fulfil your goal. Don't be swayed by opinions of naysayers. The P22 is a great gun. It may take a while to find the right ammo, but once you do, you'll have a very fun gun. BTW, mine loves Remington Golden Bullets.

[albanian]

For the money the Ruger MKII and 22/45 are really hard to beat. They are tack drivers even though you said that was not needed. They have good reps for reliability. They are priced from $199 up to about $400-500 for some models but most are between $200-300 depending on finish, sights, model, ect.

The only downsides to them is that they are a little large and heavy if you just want a trail type pistol. They are not hard to clean but there is a learning curve. Once you have done it a few times, it get easier. They are SA only so you will not get any DA trigger practice with them.

Other than those downsides, they are real winners. I think they are hands down better than the Browning Buckmarks.

If you want a smaller gun with a DA/SA trigger the Bersa 22 is a hoot. I have a few of them and I love them. I get DA/SA transition training for cheap. I think they have really helped my centerfire DA/SA trigger shooting. I hear the Beretta Cheetahs are nice but I have never shot one and they are expensive.

One other route is to get a conversion kit for a gun you already own. This is the best practice to learn your centerfire pistol. I have a Beretta made .22lr kit on my Beretta 92 and it has helped my shooting more than anything else has. Each gun is different so getting a kit makes sense. I can shoot a Ruger MKII great but that doesn't mean I will be as accurate with my centerfire DA pistol. I am as good with my Beretta kit as with my Beretta in 9mm so there is no difference.

[lawboy]

practical practice,
get a sig mosquito or a ruger 22/45, or marvel 1911 conversion unit.
I have the marvel. it if fabulous.

[22-rimfire]

I'll pretty much echo what has been said as being good choices. Get a regular 22 handgun. Worry about conversion units when you get older or 1911's that fit conversions units. They are too big to CCW anyway for most.

My personal favorite is the Ruger Mark II or Mark III with 5.5" Bull barrel; blue or stainless > your choice. It is a handgun that shoots accurately, is reliable, and is a great training handgun for the future. Even it you like revolvers, no reason not to have a 22 auto. The price is right.

If you want a revolver, I'd look at Smith Model 617. I prefer 6-round cylinder, but it is your choice. I feel that it is safer in 6-round, although Smith would not make a 10-round cylinder that is not safe.

With used 22 revolvers, stick with Smith (Model 17 or 18) or Colt (Officers Model Match, Trooper Mark III, Diamondback). Ruger's single actions are good, if you like single actions. So are Colt's. Ruger SP101 might be a consideration if you can find one in 22. It will never be a Colt or Smith, but lots of people like them.

There are a numbe of current autos on the market. I mention Ruger, but go with one that you like the best and then shoot shoot shoot. Great training and lots of fun especially if you have a group of friends who have 22 pistols and rifles to go plinking with out in the woods etc. Remember to be safe and insist your friends are safe too.

[greener]

Find the one you like to shoot, most will do quite well. Some are better than others. So almost all advice above is pretty good. Exceptions:

"Rugers are boring." Ruger MK's are boring only if an essentially problem-free, accurate pistol with a great aftermarket for tinkering is boring. Take reasonable care of a Ruger MK and you will be shooting it when you have reached my advanced years.

"22A's can't stand abuse" Not sure what is meant by abuse. You probably can't beat on it with a hammer, shoot it full of sand or use it for a hammer and keep it working. I'm not good enough to distinguish between the accuracy of my Ruger and 22A freehand at 25 yards. One day I shoot the MKIII better and one day the 22A is tops. It's a bit more finicky about ammo, but does fine with most of the cheaper varieties. Mine was $175, which could make it one of the "best" on a cost-performance basis.

[oldskag]

BUY A RUGER 22/45..STURDY AND ACCURATE

[P95Carry]

oldskag - a polite request.

Please post lower case with cap's - we regard all caps as ''shouting'' and it is not relished by most.

Thank you.

[sako_75]

An S&W model 18 is hard to beat. You can usally find a use one in good condition for $275 to $300.

[MajorPowerchord]

I have a buckmark camper with a truglo sight. This is my favorite because...well, I dont know why. I also hava S&W 22S with target grips. It has a better trigger, is easier to clean, and costs less. I think you can get them now with truglo sights as well.

Whatever you get, I recommend a bull barrel. It makes shooting so effortless. If you want fun and small, get a buckmark micro. Both mine are 5.5 inch and for plinking, you cant beat them.

[shaggycat]

My Browning Buckmark Camper has yet to fail in any way, shape, or form. I love it, it fits my hand and really isn't that difficult to clean after the first time.

Saying that, my brother has a Ruger 22/45 and my dad has a Mk III Hunter. Both have been great guns as well. The hunter in particular has been a tack-driver. It was also about 70% more than my Camper.

My advice to you is this: Hold them both, as well as maybe the Neos, and pick the gun that fits you and that you find the best deal on.

[cbears]

My Walther P22 has been a great little pistol for myself and my wife and daughter. Don't use the Wally World cheap ammo with it though, but some good ammo or it'll FTE on you.

[115grfmj]

with a ruger single six in stainless. Tough as nails accurate, and comes with two cylinders (22lr, 22wmr) like geting two guns for one price.

[Pilot]

I like the Ruger MK II's and 22/45 also. The little, standard MK II with the four inch tapered barrel is great for plinking. If you want more of a target gun, get one with a longer barrel and adjustable sights.

[Cousin Mike]

...the Ruger MKII in any form. IMHO, I don't think you'll find a better .22 out there for a beginner.

Here's mine. :)


http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/2250/mkiibk0.jpg

[DRMMR02]

My Walther P22 has been a great little pistol for myself and my wife and daughter. Don't use the Wally World cheap ammo with it though, but some good ammo or it'll FTE on you.

I've put about 1,600 rds of the 550rd bulk ammo from Wal-Mart, and it's failed probably 5 times total.

[Socrates]

"Not a target gun. Something that would be useful for shooting practice, maybe more along the lines of "practical than 50yd tack driver." Good for developing shooting skills for when I'm old enough for a CCW. Reliable, good practical accuracy, and not-too-expensive are some of the things I'm looking for."

First, you need to get to the range, and decide what sort of gun you might want to use for CCW. Once you figure that out, then look for a 22lr in a similar configuration.

For instance, if you like 1911's, there are a number of conversions around for 22lr. Same with Walther, CZ, Sig, etc.

S

[Zerstoerer]

Walther P22 is perfect for your purpose.
The only modern (Plastic Frame) semi with all the usual features a larger semi has.

The magazine release makes it the perfect trainer gun for the HK USP series.
Only cost $300 - you can't go wrong.