Looking for a cheap .22LR - any suggestions?

[whatever]

I want to pick up an inexpensive .22LR to introduce my wife to handguns. I'm pretty firm on the .22lr for now as it's cheap to shoot and the kick won't hurt her hand too bad.

auto or revolver suggestions are fine. I'd really like to keep it around the $200 or so.

[bensdad]

Smith & Wesson 22A.

[BhmBill]

Sig Sauer Mosquito. My sis in law got one of them, pretty neat lil pistol. It's a lil over $200 though. Maybe a Beretta? Idk what you can find for about $200 that will last 100 rounds and won't blow up in your hands. Heritage Rough Ryder, Ruger Standard, Taurus PT-22.

[Armed 24/7]

I own a Sig Sauer Mosquito, and I like it. But it only runs like a top on the factory reccomended CCI Mini Mags. It runs ok with Federal bulk packs from Wallyworld, and dosen't run with anything else that I have found. In your situation I would recommend a plane jane Ruger Mk II, buy you will probably have to buy used in your price range. It is very very accurate, and will function with anything you feed it...just my two cents

[Thingster]

For a good introductory .22, I'd go with the Ruger Standard. It's only about $250, is more accurate than you are, is smooth, and shoots great. I have a Mark III with adjustable sights that I just picked up and absolutely love. At 25 yards I can keep 20 rounds in 2" without trying- it just points and balances that naturally.

I wouldn't go with any of the cheaper .22 autos as they tend to be (from experience) jam-o-matics and are just frustrating to shoot as they are often simple blowback (no ejector, the shell just tosses itself out; supposedly).

Frustrating is not what you want a first gun experience to be.

There's also the mentioned Heritage arms rough rider .22, it comes with a .22LR and a .22 mag cylinder and runs about $250 as well. I've never shot one, but I've heard good stuff about them.

[foghornl]

.2LR autoloader around $200? "Previously Owned" Ruger MK II

.22LR/.22Mag revolver? Ruger Single-Six, again previously owned in the $200 category. The Heritage Rough Rider gets a lot of mentions, but I have never even seen one.

Slightly smaller .22 Single-action revolver? Ruger Bearcat

[Ruodo]

The Heritage revolvers are pretty good if she isn't going to shoot it a ton. Some can wear out, but I doubt she would do that unless she really got into shooting.

[woad_yurt]

If you want something inexpensive, dependable and built well, get on Gunbroker and find yourself an used H&R revolver. I find 'em for $100 regularly. You can get them with either 6 or 9 round cylinders and they're all double action. They also made a lot of .22 LR/.22 WMR convertibles, the only DA ones around that us regular folks can afford. If she really gets into shooting, then go for something a little slicker.

[007BondJamesBond007]

For learning I would recommend a Ruger Single Six. It is real accurate and you can shoot 22 short 22 long 22 long rifle and 22 MAG with the extra cylinder. Autos is finicky in what ammo you use.

[RyanM]

.2LR autoloader around $200? "Previously Owned" Ruger MK II

Unfortunately, they don't seem to be around that price anymore, not unless you're one of the lucky ones that finds stuff like $500 Lugers and $1000 H&H doubles in pawn shops.

Used Mk.IIs, even the standard 4" models, seem to rival brand new Mk.IIIs in price, now. I guess people have started to figure out why mag disconnect safeties suck so much, in a design that needs to be dry-fired 2 or 3 times to field strip. Or the early LCI thing spooked people.

Why is it that Ruger's last 3 or 4 handguns have had a problem with firing when dropped? What are their engineers smoking? Place your bets, place your bets, 10 gets you 10 and a dime, that the LCR will also fire when dropped.

[ScareyH22A]

I've heard nothing but good things about it so I picked up a bare bones 5.5" Ruger P512MKIII for $289 at one of the highest priced stores around. I've heard some folks have found these for $250 new around here. Doesn't sound like much of a savings but if you consider how many .22LR's that extra $39 would get you... 1500rds... makes me cringe haha.

[jad0110]

Quote:
.2LR autoloader around $200? "Previously Owned" Ruger MK II

Unfortunately, they don't seem to be around that price anymore, not unless you're one of the lucky ones that finds stuff like $500 Lugers and $1000 H&H doubles in pawn shops.

My sister is one those. In Dec '07 she got a sweet S&W 681-3 4" 357 Mag for $350. Then in Nov '08 she got a blued ?5.5-6.5"? heavy barrel Ruger Mk II with adjustable sights for $199, very lightly used. Its enough to drive me nuts!

The H&R is a good suggestion, one I had forgotten about. They are a very good value in a DA 22 revolver. A guy at work as a 922, 6" barrel and loves it. Is it a Colt Diamondback or S&W K22? No, but for the money, you really can't beat the H&R. I'd take the H&R hands down over a Taurus 94.

The other affordable 22 is the Heritage Rough Rider. I owned a 6.5" "combo" model with 22LR and 22 Mag cylinders. I bought it for $150 NIB about 3 years ago, and stupidly sold it. Yeah, the finish was downright cheesy - like cheap black spray paint. And the ejector rod housing screw had to be tightened every 500 rounds - blue locktite would probably do the trick. But it was 100% reliable, very accurate and quite a lot of fun to shoot.

I regretted selling it so much that I just ordered a rare 5.5" example from Bud's Gun Shop the other day for about $170, including shipping and FFL fee. Some people do get bad ones, but for the money it is worth a try.

[maksim]

S&W 22a, after 1k rounds or so, runs like a champ with cci blazers.

[rogertc1]

You can find a H&R revolver barely used in the $200 range. 9 shot and indestructable in all size barrels. Unlike a semi-auto pistol it will shoot ANY .22 lr round out there.

[kludge]

Let her pick.

The S&W 22A is a tack driver for about $230.

My favorite is a Ruger Single Six, probably out of the price range, but you'll never regret it.

A lot of ladies like the Walther P22 (again, a bit more $$).

A couple other to look for in the price range not already mentioned are the High Standard 9-shot DA or the equivalent "JC Higgins" brand from Sears, and the Bersa Firestorm (equal to the P22 in the "fun" category).

[KevininPa]

A lot of those on Gunbroker. New England Firearms are the same firearms, just a later name when then they bought out H&R. I have two and love them. One NEF and one H&R. I've also seen a lot of Ruger Marks in blue for around your price range. I've been looking in my area for a used Ruger Single-Six in that price range-yeah, right! You'd think they were made of gold. Not much on Gunbroker in that dep't either. I'll try a Heritage but it will be awhile, making another purchase right now. I know the owners of them on Rimfire.com love them. And of course the gun-snobs who don't own them drive them down endlessly. Good luck in your search.

[Deltaboy]

H&R almost all the ones I have seen are solid and have not been shot much.

[FN5.7shooter]

S&W 22A close to your price point, switchable barrels, rail to mount optics, good adjustable sights, easy to clean, mags are cheap. Get some recoil buffers from Brownells and your in business. :)

[gidaeon]

cheapest? a heritage rough rider .22lr revolver (most people tend to either like or hate them though.. lower quality) Definitely in your price range even new. Uh a Phoenix .22 semiauto for under $100 (again pot metal level gun, but I have one stored away and it works)

4 real semiauto options: 1) used Ruger mkII or III (22/45 models are cheaper and poly fr.) but harder to find for 200. 2) basic model S&W 22a (not as popular as the others here 3) a basic used Browning Buckmark camper 4) Berreta Neos that is priced super cheap.

The ruger target and buckmarks are something you won't regret or think cheap down the road. Good long term guns :)

[possum]

i am a huge fan of the ruger mark III series myself i am sure you could find one used at that price. don't even waste your time with a walther p22.

[Damon555]

For just over 2 bills you could get a Neos....Underrated and easy to find....

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y234/edlafond/DSC_0663.jpg

[chris in va]

I think probably the most fun 22 pistol I've tried is the Walther P22. My friend bought a new one and it worked great. We couldn't load the mags fast enough.

Just watch the plastic bits on the gun, they're rather fragile. He tested this by dropping it in the dirt.:rolleyes:

The Rugers and all that jazz are alright, but rather large. I just couldn't warm up to them.

[searcher451]

Cheap as in inexpensive, or cheap as in quality? It makes a heck of a big difference.

If you want to buy an inexpensive .22, check the stores in your area that handle used guns and look for a nice Ruger or Browning. For that matter, I just picked up a Browning Buck Mark Hunter with the 7.25-inch bull barrel and wood grips for $349, NIB (actually, new in case). It's hard to beat that for price and quality and reliability and longevity, especially when you consider some of the plastic/pot-metal pistols on the market.

[xstuntman]

My wife got a Neos and absolutely loves it. After being away from shooting for 16 years she shot a silver dollar group with the first mag at 12 yards. It also came with a hardshell case and two of the best designed magazines I've seen. X

[scythefwd]

Foghornl,
I have a couple of bricks through my Heritage Rough Rider. The gearing (teeth, er... whatever you want to call it) are a little chewed up, and the finish is wearing. I will be replacing the cylinder and getting a mag cylinder for 60 dollars. It will still let me hit a quarter at 7 - 10 ft every time. The gearing is chewed because I thought I had the cyl in straight when I re-installed the cyl. I went to cock it and the pawl that turns the cyl chewed up the gears. It still locks nice in tight when cocked, fires every time, and the timing is perfect. It quite possibly might be the most accurate handgun I own. Scratch that, it is the most accurate.

[bensdad]

It quite possibly might be the most accurate handgun I own. Scratch that, it is the most accurate.

My experience with the Heritage is quite the opposite. I'm not happy with it. The S&W 22A, OTOH, is a fabulous bargain. I also like my Browning Buckmark. It's just a matter of taste.

[scythefwd]

bensdad,
Well, there could be two explinations for this...

Either I have a bunch of cheap guns that don't shoot well (my guns are cheap, but most shoot well enough)
or
Even a broken clock is right twice a day. May be I just got lucky :)

[trader vic]

Another vote for the S&W 22A, lots of fun & very accurate. Buy your ammo by the brick because it will be that much fun to shoot. It makes a good training tool for the new shooter. I never go to the range without it. NRA PATRON LIFE MEMBER

[moooose102]

+1 ! it is pretty hard to beat either of these rugers for toughness / reliability. i also own a walther p22, which i love. for some reason, some folks think they are junk. but mine has worked very well for me. i can only guess how much ammo it has devoured, but i would say in the neighborhood of 2k rounds (erring on the light side).

[CajunBass]

Don't buy a "cheap" gun. An "inexpensive" one is ok, but that's different.

To tell you the truth I haven't seen a "bad" 22 handgun in a while. I'm a "Ruger guy" so I'll tell you to get a Ruger. Don't worry about the Mk II or the MK III (or even a MK I if you happen to find one). For all intents and purposes there isn't a dimes worth of difference. They both shoot just fine. Get the one you can find the best price on.

A 22 is the gun you will most likely shoot the most. You want to get as good a one as you can afford. Ruger, Smith & Wesson, Browning, Beretta all make good guns. Do a little hunting and you can find one. Buy one of those in your price range.

[jad0110]

It quite possibly might be the most accurate handgun I own. Scratch that, it is the most accurate.

My Heritage was a tack driver as well. In fact, I let a Single Six nut try it at the range and he was shocked to find that it was at least as accurate as his Rugers.

From what I gather, a good Heritage is capable of pretty surprising accuracy.

[xstuntman]

I carry a Heritage in 22lr daily. It's used, cheap and ugly, yet accurate and just feels natural. Plus if it ever does get used in a defense situation and taken into custody, I.E. never see it again, i'm not out a Glock. X

[punkndisorderly]

Take the wife to the gun store and let her pick whatever .22 she likes. My wife tends to gravitate towards the old SAA style single actions. She like the Ruger MKIII Competition Target I have but likes the lighter weight and more involved process of her Single Six. She also prefers my single shot bolt action .22 rifle to the Remington 597 we have.

She says she finds the loading, cocking, firing, unloading, reloading process relaxing. She also likes the way the grip feels in the hand and classic good looks.

Also, have her go through the process if she hasn't ever purchased one before. It's a valuable experience. My wife just bought her first firearm all by herself this weekend. Well, I was there but told her to get whatever she wants and that I'd answer any questions but wouldn't offer any opinions. She ended up with a Single Six in .32 H&R.

[Mr. Bojangles]

Walther P22. Mine eats cheap bulk ammo just fine, with an FTF rate of about 1:200 (probably common with cheap ammo regardless of the firearm.) It "looks" similar to most semiauto revolvers, which can help an inexperienced shooter build confidence. And she may let you shoot it :D

[Mak92fs]

Heritage arms .22 lr .22 mag single action revolver...lol they are cheap but i loved mine! the guy i sold it to even dremeled a scope mount into it and it was pretty decent at 50 yards + with a tru glo red dot...lol

[Mak92fs]

Heritage arms .22 lr .22 mag single action revolver...lol they are cheap but i loved mine! the guy i sold it to even dremeled a scope mount into it and it was pretty decent at 50 yards + with a tru glo red dot...lol

[Taurus_9mm]

Another vote for the Beretta NEOS. :)

www.gunnerforum.com

[LoneCoon]

Check your pawn shops. You can occasionally find a good deal on a .22 revolver.

[rbernie]

When I went to buy some 22LR handguns for my wife and children to learn on, I wanted them to have a gun that mimicked the grip angle of the larger handguns that they were likely to start using as they got more comfortable with shooting.

For that reason, I got a Buckmark ($250) and a Single Six ($250). I also recently found a High Standard 'Sentinel' DA revolver ($175) that I think they'll like.

[Furncliff]

My Dad left me a HiStandard (Supermatic). The ladies in the family really like the slender angled grip and they were happy to shoot very well right from the start. A used Sport King (one made in Ct.) would be ideal At the last show I visited there was a nice one for $250. Used of course. Well made guns and quite accurate. All steel.