22lr pistol advice sought

[mfer]

Ok, so I just got my first pistol the other day. CZ 75 SP-01 Tactical.

I wanted it for feel in the hand, and overall weight. I have shot pistols before, but they were all super light conceal carriers that were painful for me to shoot. I would miss the target at 9 yards. Think it was a kel tec 380. I thought I was the worst shooter after that. Found it hard to believe as I'm a decent shotgunner with clays. Anyway, after my first day with the CZ, I'm not horrible. I was all in the red of the target at 12 yards, when taking my time. I was all within the target when shooting fast. I'm consistently hitting high left (right handed) so I guess I'm flinching a bit, which is odd as the CZ doesn't recoil much. I shot 115 and 147 grain.

So, that is my pistol experience and I'm in love. So, I need a cheaper shooter and something to get better. Leads you to 22lr ammo.

So I have some options
CZ Kadet (one of the best conversion kits but $$$)
Ruger (seems to be most popular)
Walther (looks cool, not as accurate I hear)
other?

Anyone have any thoughts for me? I mean the Kadet is $430. For that price I can get a 22lr dedicated gun. At this point, I'm not looking to compete in shooting, just have fun, which is making me lean to a dedicated 22lr gun. I guess I could always do both! ;-)

Appreciate any thoughts from some more seasoned pistol veterans.

 

[jmorris]

I have a 5.5" Ruger Mark II that with a 1.5x optic will put 10 shots into 3.5 " at 100 yards. The P22 wont come close to this.

I have a few conversions too. I use my old Colt ACE or advantage arms conversions the most but again neither is as accurate as the Rugers I have.

 

[bannockburn]

mfer

Like jmorris one of my favorite .22s is a Ruger Mk.II with a 5 1/2" bull barrel. It has a great trigger, adjustable sights, is very accurate (if I do my part), and is extremely reliable with just about any .22 ammo.

I also have the CZ Kadet .22 conversion for my P01. When I was buying my P01 the sales clerk made me such a great offer on the Kadet kit that I couldn't turn it down. Required a little bit of fitting but turned out fine and works great.

I would also recommend the Browning Buckmark as a quality .22 pistol, available in a variety of configurations, at a decent price.

 

[9 fingers]

Same here, Ruger Mk II or Buckmark, and they are on sale at CDNN sports right now. Good choice on the CZ75b as your first pistol. My first were the Mk II, a Browning Challenger (Belgian) and then the CZ 75b......I started with 22lr and moved up. Pic of my Mk2 before I sold it. Still have the grips if anyone is interested.
9 fingers

 

[mfer]

Seems like Ruger MKII are more popular than MKIII. Is it b/c all the new features of the MKIII get in the way and make it harder to clean?

Also, is the only difference between the Ruger MK's the barrel? I mean the standard (tapered), target (bull), hunter (fluted bull), competition (flat bull). I mean, does the bull just add weight? So the target is heaviest, the competition is medium, hunter is least? Do they all have the same trigger?

Thanks

 

[RX-79G]

I've had all sorts of .22 pistols, and conversion units or pistols that look like centerfire guns never perform as satisfactorily as designs like the Ruger or Buckmark. The Beretta Neos may be worth looking at if you want to save a little money.


Of all the .22s I've had, if I wanted a fun screw-around .22, a little Beretta 21 was reliable and accurate, with a DA/SA trigger. I would skip everything between that and a target style gun like a Buckmark.

 

[FL-NC]

I have an older ruger MK1 and a 22-45. Love them both, never need to shop for a 22 pistol again.

 

[I6turbo]

22LR handgun wise, I have an AMT Lightning (essentially a Mk II Ruger Target with Clark adjustable trigger), a Browning Buck Mark UDX Plus, a 1951 model Smith K-22, and a CZ Kadet Kit that fits on 4 of my CZ 75/85 family of guns. The revolver is of course the most reliable, but the Kadet is close behind, the Buck Mark is close behind the Kadet. The Kadet Kit on the 75 B or 85 Combat frame is as accurate as any of them, if not more so. Previously had a Kimber Custom II with 22LR conversion and it was pretty decent but more ammo-picky and not as accurate as the Kadet Kit.

I like the AMT Lightning (like the Ruger Mk II, which I've also owned in the past) but if I had to choose between it and the Buck Mark, I'd take the Buck Mark by a small margin because it fits my hand better. I'm not sure which is more accurate as it seems to depend upon the day and ammo.

I'm sure you've seen the Kadet Kit, but here's a photo of it on the stainless 75 B frame.


Another showing the scale of the 75/85 platform compared to the Buck Mark and AMT/Ruger.

 

[CobraJunkie]

Love the new SW22 Victory. Much easier to take down and clean than my Ruger mkII and shoots just as well.

 

[mfer]

Well, I just went to the "gun store". Got to see a few pieces.

They had.
ruger 22/45
ruger target blued 5.5"
ruger target blued with target grip 5.5"
ruger target ss 5.5"
ruger hunter ss 6.88"
ruger SR22 3.5", 4.5" and 3.5" with supressor barrel
s&w victory
beretta neos

If I was buying on looks.....HUNTER. That thing is bad ass looking if I may say so. It was long though. I could see myself owning this just for aesthetics! Beautiful.
I can't tell what grip I like more now. The 1911 style 22/45 or the traditional MK III. 1911 style feels to big in one hand, but when I use two hands, it feels better. It feels a little more balanced when I pick it up also, than the MKIII style, but I'm no expert.

I asked the guy helping me, what else I should consider. He asked "What else you shoot?" and I said "The CZ75 sp-01 I just bought from you guys on Friday". He said "If you want transferable skills, consider the SR22." I have to admit, that gun felt good in the hand and I see some of his points. It is very similar to the CZ75. I think it would be harder to hit with it longer distances (shorter barrel and no optics attachments available). I love metal guns and the polymer just feels odd to me. If it would have been all steel, I would have been pressed to buy it there on the spot.

The S&W and Beretta Neo did nothing for me. The Beretta felt decent in the hand, but it just didn't look like a gun to me. I literally reminded me of "laser tag" if you guys remember that fad. S&W just didn't feel right.

I think I have decided I want the Kadet attachment for the CZ75 I have. I put myself on cz-usa's notification list when it comes available.

I really want a 22 pistol so I can shoot in the meantime. I'm probable rushing to much, but really want to get one.
So, MKIII Hunter, SR22, 22/45....
No easy decision here.
:banghead:

 

[mfer]

Also, big thanks to everyone who replied. Really helping me out here!

 

[I6turbo]

I think I have decided I want the Kadet attachment for the CZ75 I have. I put myself on cz-usa's notification list when it comes available.

I think you'll like it.

You might want to contact this seller and see if they have a notification list if he offers that service. He's been selling at the lowest sales price and shipping charge of anyone who has been offering the Kadet Kits for the past couple of years.
http://www.gunbroker.com/item/560244238

 

[jhb]

I have a lot of the .22 pistol there are including a cz kadet. The browning 1911-22 i like to shoot the most. Its closer to a combat pistol in shape and design and still accurate enough to enjoy plinking at 10 yards.

 

[bannockburn]

mfer

Between the three you have listed I probably would go with the 22/45 model. The Hunter model doesn't balance and handle well to me, mainly because it's a bit too long and heavy out front. The SR22 is primarily a plinker which is fine if that's all you want it for but I prefer something that has more accuracy potential to it. That leaves the 22/45 and 22/45 Lite which are essentially Mk.IIIs but have a 1911 style grip frame. Many of these models come with adjustable target sights and the 22/45 Lite offers an aluminum receiver and a Zytel polymer grip frame bringing their weight down to around 23 ounces. They also offer threaded barrels and an optics rail on the upper receiver.

 

[mfer]

I think you'll like it.

You might want to contact this seller and see if they have a notification list if he offers that service. He's been selling at the lowest sales price and shipping charge of anyone who has been offering the Kadet Kits for the past couple of years.
http://www.gunbroker.com/item/560244238

Thanks for the seller ref. I'll reach out to him. I'm liking the CZ 75 a lot so figure I just need to get it.

Still need to get me a 22 in the meantime. Thanks.

 

[mfer]

mfer

Between the three you have listed I probably would go with the 22/45 model. The Hunter model doesn't balance and handle well to me, mainly because it's a bit too long and heavy out front. The SR22 is primarily a plinker which is fine if that's all you want it for but I prefer something that has more accuracy potential to it. That leaves the 22/45 and 22/45 Lite which are essentially Mk.IIIs but have a 1911 style grip frame. Many of these models come with adjustable target sights and the 22/45 Lite offers an aluminum receiver and a Zytel polymer grip frame bringing their weight down to around 23 ounces. They also offer threaded barrels and an optics rail on the upper receiver.

I hear you. The 24/45 felt good in two hands, just not one handed. That is how the MK3 felt better, but two handed, not as well! Weird, but likely means the 24/45 will fit me better. Also nice that it is a "bargain" at ~$330.

 

[buckmark13]

Check out the Browning Buckmark before you make a purchase. Not many who have actually had one will have anything negative at all to say about them. Of course, I'm a bit biased.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[au_prospector]

I am eyeing the Victory myself. I like the idea of interchangeable barrels. One local gun store has a threaded barrel one for $379 and another has a standard barrel one for $369. which one, which one?

 

[mfer]

Check out the Browning Buckmark before you make a purchase. Not many who have actually had one will have anything negative at all to say about them. Of course, I'm a bit biased.

I hear you. The dealer I was at didn't have any. I should look.

Thanks.

 

[gunfighter48]

I just bought a S&W Victory 22 pistol about 3 weeks ago. Extremely nice pistol, very accurate, nice weight and balance, over 450 rds thru it with no problems of any type! And it's very affordable. I love the ergonomics!!

 

[FL-NC]

The worst thing about buying a Ruger 22 pistol is picking the one you want- so many choices.

 

[Tallball]

Browning Buck Mark, Ruger Mark II, Ruger Mark III, everything else.

I like my Buck Mark, My FiL likes his Mark II. The Mark III's are okay. Nothing else we have shot is in the same ballpark. There may be a few that we've missed.

 

[Vernon1]

Smith&Wesson .22 Revolver

My vote is for the ten shot .22 revolver.


Buy once-cry once-enjoy for many years.


Smith & Wesson

Ruger Single Six .22 revolver

Great Customer Service -not as many tears upon purchase.

Beat the bushes-there are many used for sale.

 

[Bo]

The Ruger 22/45 with a threaded barrel is a good option. You might want to go suppressed later on.



The target 6 7/8 barrel is nice. I put grips with the thumb rest on it.

 

[Everready73]

If your looking into the Ruger sr22 I would also look into the s&w mp22 compact (not the full-size). It tends to get better feedback than the Ruger from what I have researched.