Hand gun for cheap .22lr ammo.

[Torghn]

I'm looking for a handgun that can reliably cycle the cheap .22lr ammo from walmart. I really like the feel of the Neos, but reliability is my number one concern. I'm thinking a double action revolver may be the best way to go. The Taurus M94 seems like a good choice.

[kingpin008]

My Ruger MK III has cycled everything I've fed it, with the exception of Winchester X-Perts, but they're known for being pretty crappy. I've personally had no other problems with everything from Wal-Mart bulk packs (all brands) to random 50-count boxes of the cheap stuff at my local range.

[arizona98tj]

I'm thinking a double action revolver may be the best way to go.
A revolver, single or double action, would negate the possibility of having FTF and most likely FTE as well. Years ago, I had a single action Ruger and finally replaced it with a Ruger Mark I. The semi-auto Ruger rimfires are fun to shoot and I feed mine Walmart bulk ammo without issues.

[wally]

I've the Walther P22, S&W M22A, Browning Buckmark, Ruger MI, MII, 22/45, 22/45 MKIII, and a Neos.

The Neos is the most reliable with the various cheap Walmart bulk packed ammo. They all work fine with the Federal bulk pack so that's what I buy.

CDNN has spare mags for the Neos at $10 each. Downside is the McFadden "Ultimate Clip Loader" only works for Ruger and Buckmarrk mags.

Most of my Rugers have needed Volguartson extractors to function with the cheap ammo.

The Neos with a Red Dot really rocks!

--wally.

[owlhoot]

Get the revolver.

[John Wayne]

I fired a Taurus M94 at an indoor range not long ago. It's a great pistol, very accurate and the capacity is only one round less than most semi-autos.

I'd say it's the perfect beginner's .22 LR revolver. The DA pull is heavy, but in SA it's quite nice.

[mainmech48]

The main advantage of a revolver is that it's amenable to use with the whole range of .22 RF loadings regardless of case length or relative power. CB cap, Short, or LR - "gallery" level, SV or HV- it can at least be expected to fire and extract it with about as high a degree of reliability as it's possible to obtain with that brand.

Most .22 RF semiautos are designed to function within much narrower limits. There are several factors inherent in "blow back" actions which dictate this and most designs reflect engineering compromises based on the range of parameters commonly found within a specific ammo type.

With the HS/HV .22 LR being the load most preferred by consumers for the majority of their uses, those numbers are usually the base set for functional calculations. There's always some amount of leeway built into a design to allow for variables, but that must be subordinate to other practical criteria like durability and safety.

FWIW, my Neos functions very nicely with most bulk pack .22 ammo.

[Steven Proshop]

id get a Ruger MKIII.

[Arrogant Bastard]

I just bought a Ruger mk III Hunter and have fed about 1000 rounds through it.

It likes the Remington Golden and Federal plated ammo.

Jammed once in 500 rounds with the Federal, and not at all in about 500 rounds with the Remington.

[lee n. field]

Ruger Mark II. Mine reliably feeds all that cheap bulk pack stuff.

[KBintheSLC]

My Ruger MK III has cycled everything I've fed it,

I second that. My MKIII eats it up like a garbage disposal.

[eatont9999]

I shot a Ruger MKI and liked it. I am going to get one soon. Makes for good cheap practice.

[SimpleIsGood229]

My Browning Buckmark eats anything I feed it.

If you like the Neos, go for it. It's a good gun. It's reliable and the disassembly is really simple; it has no screws.

[jackstinson]

I use a lot of Walmart Federal 550 bulk .22LR ammo. I have no reliability issues at all using it in these semi-auto hand guns: Browning Buckmark, Ruger MkI, Beretta 21A, Iver Johnson TP-22, Unique Corsair D6, Phoenix HP-22, and even three different Jennings J-22's. Of course, all of my .22 revolvers handle the cheap stuff nicely. I plink a lot with cheap .22 rounds.
I do have several other .22 semi-auto hand guns which simply will not cycle the bulk stuff reliably. My Taurus PT-22 only cycles CCI Mini-Mags reliably.
Jack

[PO2Hammer]

How about a Ruger Single Six?

[DMZ]

The Taurus M94 seems like a good choice.


I think you are right.

[woad_yurt]

A 6" H&R 949 or something. $150 for a beautiful one, holds 9 rounds and is double action. They're always on Gunbroker.

[mainmech48]

John, there's a quick and inexpensive DIY for the DA pull on the Taurus 94. Brownell's has a "Shooter's Pak" spring kit for "small frame Taurus revolvers" for about $10-12.

It has a reduced power hammer (main) spring and two rebound (trigger) springs. FWIW, the bulk of the extra pull weight comes from the rebound spring which is almost as strong as the mainspring in stock form.

It might take a bit of experimenting to find the best combo in a particular revolver before you get both 100% reliable ignition and trigger return. I got my best compromise with the stock main and the heavier of the two rebound units. The DA pull was reduced remarkably and the SA improved some too.

After a couple of thousand more rounds went through it I was able to go to the lighter rebound spring and still have positive trigger return. That knocked a couple more lbs. off the DA pull which is now very sweet indeed.

IMO, a 4" SS M-94 makes a terrific low-maintenance kit/tackle box/utility RF revolver. Mine's almost 20 yrs old and still runs like a top.

[Ergosphere]

How about a Ruger Single Six?

The Ruger Single Six is by far the sweetest .22 handgun I've ever fired. With .22 mag, it's like a laser... it felt like I could hit a fly at a hundred yards with that thing. ;)

[CZ.22]

One option is finding an old Hi Standard, Iver Johnson, Harrington & Richardson, etc, revolver.

[2075 RAMI]

If you are looking for something to reliably shoot the cheap stuff, then don't go with a Walther P-22. :cuss: My P-22 moaned, griped, and complained with everything except CCI Mini Mags and Stingers. I no longer have it. :D

[RioShooter]

I've had a Neos for 3 years and with over 10.000 rounds through it have never had one problem.

I highly recommend the gun. PM me if you want to know more about it.

[wnycollector]

I have the blue version of this pistol (NEF R92). http://gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=108264627 NEF, like its predessor H&R, make no frills DA revolvers that last forever! I have put ~5000 rounds through mine w/o a problem. It's real virtue was that the heavy (but smooth) DA trigger pull made my groups smaller on my other guns!

[Lucky Strike]

I bought a Ruger Single Six earlier this year and love the thing...the ability to swap out the cylinders and be able to shoot .22lr or .22mag is nice

[MCgunner]

My Mk 2 Ruger eats about anything. I get an occasional misfire out of the Federal Lightening stuff, but it's cheap and accurate and I don't care. Revolvers are great, too, just all in what ya want, but I think you will get more gun for less money with a good auto like the Ruger or a Buckmark. I have a little Rossi revolver I really like, but the Mk 2 is more gun IMHO and didn't cost that much used, not much more than I gave for the Rossi used. They both have a solid place in my collection.

[Vonderek]

The Taurus 94 is a good cheap gun for practice, especially if you normally carry a DA revolver in a bigger caliber for SD. If I haven't been to the range in a while I usually take the Taurus and run a box or two of .22 through it just to knock the rust off my trigger control before I move on to the .38 & .357 J-Frames and Rugers. It makes practice more cost effective.

[Loomis]

I have an older s&W k frame revolver that holds 6 rounds of 22lr. It is dead reliable in every way except one...

Cheap dirty ammo clogs up the mechanicals fast and the cylinder locks up. It's a very tight fitting revolver and very accurate. But if you are going to shoot cheap crappy ammo, you have to clean it thoroughly every 25 rounds or so or it wont work. As long as you keep cleaning it, no problems.

A ruger or colt woodsman doesn't seem to clog up as fast.

Maybe if you had a revolve that wasn't so tight fitting, the problem wouldn't happen.

[camsdaddy]

I have a smith 22a and it eats anything. The only thing it wont eject is ratshot which is no suprise. I have been very happy

[tomh1426]

Sometimes cheap ammo dosent go bang, it cant be blamed on the gun.
All my rimfires have been 100% reliable but my ammo hasnt, I dont think any rimfire can "reliably" shoot cheap ammo.
It might only be 1 or 2 out of a brick but it happens.

[Pilot]

My Ruger MK II likes most of the cheap stuff including teh Federal and Remington bulk stuff.