Looking for a fun, inexpensive .22 handgun

[Mulliga]

I already have a great full-size .22 plinker/practice gun (CZ Kadet). Given the rising price of ammunition, though, I'm looking for more "fun" .22 handguns to add to the stable, preferably under $300. Not really interested in Ruger/Browning .22s.

Currently looking at:

North American Arms .22 mini revolver of some kind

Firestorm .22 pistol

Any options I'm missing?

[tank mechanic]

Phoenix Arms makes a snazzy little 22 pistol. It holds ten rounds and is a lot of fun to shoot. They are usually around $130 bucks and they beat the pants off similiarly priced Jennings pistols. They are very reliable and come in a two inch barrel(?) and you can get the extended three inch(?) barrel version. I am very happy with mine and they are well worth the money.

[wooderson]

The Walther P22 has a bad rap, but mine has been problem free and reasonably accurate (for the short barrel) - and it is neat looking. Like a baby P99.

[ArchAngelCD]

I own a S&W 22A and think it's a great pistol. It's well ballanced, accurate and fun to shoot too.

[Headless]

Why not interested in the Browning? It's a really nice pistol (i've owned an S&W 22A, and the Browning Buckmark makes the 22a feel like a toy...i really liked my 22a but the buckmark is more accurate (for me), doesn't have near as many ftf/fte as the 22a i owned, has a nicer grip, easier to rack slide, easier to clean, much nicer trigger, thumb mag release...just...nicer :D) Combine the buckmark with an "Ultimate Cliploader" and it's obscenely fun. My friend and i went out to the range a couple of weeks ago with 2 mags and the cliploader -- i fired, he loaded. Firing as fast as i could while still aiming enough to hit a 1gal jug @ 50yards (not hard!) he was loading the mag considerably faster than i could empty them. Even firing as quickly as i could while hitting targets at only 10 yards away i never had to wait for a mag. Got the bucky nice and warm :D It's a ton of fun. Shotgun shells @ 20-25 yards w/ iron sites are not too difficult to hit with a little practice. Juggle a tennis ball while it's rolling @ 35 yards. I picked up mine on clearance at sports authority for 196$ and it was absolutely the best purchase in my collection; i put more than 3500 rounds through it the first month i owned it! Last time i went out i put 750 through it in a row with only about 10 issues (ftf, bad primer accounted for about 4 of those..had a few fte's at the end as she was getting a bit dirty :D)...that's a ton of shooting for a grand total of 15$ of rounds out of a gun i paid <200$ for :D You could even put a site rail on her and add a red dot or optical scope, though i enjoy the iron sights

[iostorm]

baretta neo 22

[kb2iaw]

www.vpc.org/studies/deadpho.htm

see this

[hceptj]

2nd vote for beretta neo...have one and love it..:)

[Clipper]

Another vote for the Phoenix. I bought one for the wife, and it came with 2 10-round magazines, 3" & 5" barrels, cleaning kit & some other goodies, a locking magazine, locking blow-molded case, all for under $200.00. Took it to the range and when she finished shooting some very tiny groups at the 7-yard range, I actually was able to shoot (offhand with the 5" barrel) the three thumb tacks out of the targets to drop them off the fence! I used two mags, but those tacks wouldn't push through with a glancing hit, they'd just rock from side to side...You gotta hit 'em square. But I bet out of 20 shots, I hit them 12 times, at least.

[Ditchtiger]

When someone compairs a gun to a Jennings to make it look good that's one to pass on. I know 3 people with a Phoenix and I've had to work on 2 of them.

[Clipper]

Wouldn't surprise me to hear they'd been shooting Stingers or some other hypervelocity rounds in them. Lots of people don't read the instructions...

[ArchAngelCD]

For those why are "talking down" the S&W 22A, there are many different variations of 22A. On the S&W site right now there are EIGHT variations listed. The one I bought isn't even on the site for some reason. My 22A is a 107438 and has a 7" fluted Bull Barrel. It is extremely accurate out to 50 yards and probably even more. It is probably a better gun than I am capable of shooting.

BTW, does anyone know why my Product # wouldn't be listed on the S&W site and not even in the SCSW 3?

[Okiecruffler]

One of the guns I miss most is my little Phoenix HP22. When I bought mine it was $79, got the extended barrel and mag for another $29. Shot thousands of rounds thru it sitting on the banks of ponds when the fish weren't biting, and they usually weren't. Never had a problem with it. Only real gripe I had with it was that it was more accurate than the sights would let it be.
Also had a S&W 22A that was reliable and accurate, but I really hated the feel of the grip.

[canon6]

Plus several for th Walther P22,my wife stole mine and I have to get another,also one of the used guns you might consider is the S&W model 422,love the darn thing Doug

[tuckerdog1]

If a fun plinker is what you're looking for, I'd count out the NAA mini. PITA to reload. And you better be real close, if you like actually hitting the target.
I'm not knocking them. Have one, and it's a well built little gun. Great little pocket bug. But not what i'd consider a fun plinker.

Tuckerdog1

[tuckerdog1]

Have you thought about the Taurus 94? Nine shot revolver. Trigger on mine is not all that great. But overall a fun shooter. New is under $300.

Tuckerdog1

[MCgunner]

I have a HP22 and it's amazingly accurate. They have very good customer service and a lifetime warranty. Heck, mine's eaten a diet of stingers without a lot of problems and I also have the 5" barrel. It's strictly a cheap plinker, but I have used it to dispatch snakes. It's a pretty neat gun for the money, snob appeal aside. :rolleyes:

North American Arms .22 mini revolver of some kind

I've often though a mini master would be a way cool fun plinker. I have a standard 1 and whatever inch .22LR in a folding "holster grip". It's not a tack driver, but at close range I've taken a few rabbits and a few snakes with it. 20 yards is LONG range with the thing, though, but it's very well made and only needs a longer sight radius (as with the mini master) to be a lot more accurate and a lot more fun. Mine's okay, but ain't like I'm going to mow the coke cans down at 25 yards with it. The HP22 is a lot more accurate even if not nearly as well made. I carry that NAA everywhere, though, it's so danged easy to stash in a pocket.

Taurus makes a tip up .22 I know little about. I've read not so great things about it in the past, though.

My favorite gun that fits this category, though, is my Rossi M511 Sportsman, a little stainless "Kit Gun". Think is amazingly accurate and the SA trigger is fantastic if the DA is a pretty rough. It's a good lookin' gun, too, 4" barrel, adjustable sights. It's no longer offered, so you'd have to stumble into one at a gun show. They are not expensive.

[hqmhqm]

Browning Buckmark

Ruger Single Six (shoots 22 win mag with other cylinder)

[tank mechanic]

When someone compairs a gun to a Jennings to make it look good that's one to pass on
Yes I do realize that comparing a Phoenix arms pistol to a Jenning was a poor choice of words, but I could not think of anything else that shot rimfire and was in the same price range. The phoenix arms guns are very cheap but they are a blast to shoot and they are reliable.

[aaronrkelly]

Another vote for P22.....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v67/aaronrkelly/All%20Guns/waltherp22.jpg

[Mulliga]

Thanks, guys. Ended up scoring a well-used 1-1/8" NAA revolver off of a friend for $100. Looks like it's going to be a lot of fun (though I'm completely lost as to why the pocket holster has space for 5 extra rounds - as if you can reload the thing in the middle of a fight :rolleyes: ).

[aaronrkelly]

I had one of those little guys once....it was a hoot to shoot. Just make sure you now where all your fingers are before you pull the trigger. It seemed easy to me to forget and have your fingers out waving in front of the gun.

Man they are tiny.

Well built little pocket guns though....mine was a .22mag and had quite a bit of pop to it.

[____hoot____]

Got a used H&R 922 DA 4" barrel 9 shot about 15 years ago for $60. A nice solid all steel 19 ounce gun. Kinda ugly comparded to a Smith, but it is accurrate.

[MartinBrody]

For your next purchase keep a P22 in mind, they rock, I see cult following coming on. The NAA's are really cool, I don't know how much of a range gun they are, but everyone will want to try it.

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w199/martinbrody/Waltherreddotthreads.jpg

[Jdoc]

ever says anything about the Rough Rider

http://www.heritagemfg.com/site/department.cfm?id=187

Its a fun little gun.

[doc2rn]

I like the colt (target) cadet. I bought mine for $250, but I also like my Model 1 Ruger even though I only paid $199 for it.:banghead: I have had both for over 10 years without a hiccup. As for stamped guns like Jennings and Phoenix after X number of rounds dont be suprised if the slide gives you a black eye.

[frez]

Thanks, guys. Ended up scoring a well-used 1-1/8" NAA revolver off of a friend for $100. Looks like it's going to be a lot of fun (though I'm completely lost as to why the pocket holster has space for 5 extra rounds - as if you can reload the thing in the middle of a fight).

As if a .22 will do any good in a fight. It can't kill if it's not a headshot, right?

[aaronrkelly]

Forgot about the Rough Rider....I got one of those. Paid $125 with both a .22lr and .22mag cylinder - never had a minutes trouble with it.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v67/aaronrkelly/All%20Guns/Image00022.jpg

[Headless]

That roughrider looks really enticing, especially at that price point and with the .22mag cylinder! I've always wanted a .22mag revolver.

[MCgunner]

I am sorry, know it's probably a decent gun, but I just cannot STAND that Wather....tacticool fugly to the max...:barf: I'm a traditionalist, give me a Buckmark or a Ruger or something, maybe an old Colt Woodsman. That thing is an abomination to my eyes. But, of course, anyone 30 and under love Picante rails, or what ever they are.

Yes I do realize that comparing a Phoenix arms pistol to a Jenning was a poor choice of words, but I could not think of anything else that shot rimfire and was in the same price range. The phoenix arms guns are very cheap but they are a blast to shoot and they are reliable.

Well, I had a .22 short Beretta I gave a hundred bucks for and it was a complete piece of crap, wouldn't feed, wouldn't fire on less than three hammer strikes, junk. The up side was I sold it to a dealer at a gun show for $135 on the name, alone. :rolleyes: I'll keep my HP22 over any TEN Beretta's after that experience. :rolleyes: When I got it, I thought I'd found a cool little fun gun, but it ain't no fun when you're cussin' it.

My little NAA mini is fantastic and goes everywhere with me! I've used it to take rabbits and close range, shoot the heads off snakes, even made a head shot on a feral wild dog once at about 25 yards. It ain't too accurate as a plinker, but it's amazing what you can do with it. It'll keep 'em all inside 5 inches or so at 25 yards if you REALLY concentrate off sandbags. The tiny sight radius is a pain, but that's part of the appeal of the thing. I've carried and shot mine for 20 years and never get tired of the little thing. It's always one of two or three guns that I carry 24/7. Right now, I have it in the watch pocket of my carpenter's jeans with my Kel Tec P11 in the front pocket below it. That's how easy it is to carry.

Now, to make that thing shootable, I had to put a folding "grip holster" on it (a neat attachment) so I could get a grip on it. With that tiny bird's head, well, I just simply couldn't shoot the thing. My mitts ain't THAT big, but they sure ain't THAT small!:what:

http://imageigloo.com/images/8394PICT0078.JPG

[gazpacho]

My current stable of 22lr handguns:

HK4 (also 32acp and 380acp barrels)
Walther P22
Firestorm FS22
Taurus 94 2"

The HK4 is neat, but its also a safe queen. The Taurus actually goes to the range the most. But the best of the bunch is the Firestorm. Everything about it is right. Plus, for some reason, Aguila Super Maximum ammo in combination with this gun shoots .38 holes in target paper! The cut is so perfect, it looks like it was done with a hole puncher.

[Brad Johnson]

I know you said you weren't interested in the Ruger 22's, but I have to put in my vote for them. I have a 22/45 4" bull barrel, blued. 25,000+ rounds (so far) without a single mechanical failure. It has a distinct dislike for the flat-nosed Winchester Wildcat ammo but cycles everything else I've fed it with 100% reliability. Available for around $240 locally.

Brad

[bdutton]

If you own a 1911 you should think about getting a .22 conversion. The great thing about a .22 conversion is that there is no background check since it is not a firearm ( no frame).

I love my marvel but there are much cheaper conversions out there.

[obxned]

Yeah, what about the Rough Rider??? I've been looking at prices and it seems like a good gun for the money, but I on't know anything about the company or the gun. Anybody use this one??

[msgttbar]

Here is mine.
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa251/msgttbar/DSCF01821.jpg

[weisse52]

You will enjoy the NAA. I carry one daily. And yes, they are fun to shoot. I think people sometimes lose sight that guns can be used to have fun with. They can be that way for lots of reasons. The NAA mini's are just that way. I always laugh everytime I shoot mine!