Help me pick a .22LR plinker for fun

Status
Not open for further replies.
B

BlisteringSilence

Member
Joined
Nov 30, 2005
Messages
307
Location
USA
I have recently come into an earmark that will allow me to purchase a new .22lr plinker. So, I come to you knowlegdeable folks, hat in hand, for advice. I have the following weapons in my price range:
  • Smith and Wesson 22A
    107412_large.jpg
  • Browning Buckmark Camper
    051379m.jpg
  • Beretta U22 Neos Inox
    JU2S60X_S_maxi.jpg
  • Ruger Mark II or III
    93L.gif

    or
    260L.gif
  • Walther P22
    P22_N_3_sm.jpg
  • Sig Mosquito (though this is a little high in the price range)
    mosquito_03.jpg

In addition to these, I am open to any other suggestions you may or may not have. Ceiling is hard at about $350, so give me what you've got. And no, I'm not buying a 1911 or a glock, so don't even go there. I have one of each, and have no desire to acquire more of either. :neener:
 
In all honesty, as a plinker any of those will probably make you happy. Some will feed and eject more reliably, but on the range this is nothing more than a nicety.

That said, I've owned a Buckmark, which I sold only because a friend had gotten into shooting and needed a .22 to cure a nasty flinch his 1911 had caused. I had a Buckmark Plus Nickel, which IIRC cost me a couple dollars more than you are willing to spend. It was nickel-plated, obviously, and came with rosewood grips and a fiber-optic front sight. Nice trigger, though it wasn't adjustable, and it fed reliably after I broke it in with a couple hundred CCI Mini-Mags. The front sight was honestly a bit too thin for my tastes, but it sure was visible!

You can get aftermarket barrels for the Ruger and the Buckmark in the interests of improving accuracy or having a gun with a bright red barrel. Actually, aftermarket for the Ruger is fairly extensive. Volquartsen makes a bunch of replacement parts for it, and I believe Marvel makes a different trigger. There's a ton of different grips and grip styles, and some interesting things you can do on your own to it. I really can't speak to its function since I don't own one, but I will say I'm going to Gander Mtn after work to buy a MkII. I miss having a .22 and figured I'd try and see how the other half lives. ;)
 
I had a MarkII Ruger for years, it was a good gun. I want a Buckmark now, something different.

The world seems to be split 50/50 on Ruger/Browning pistol question. :)
 
What do you guys think of the NRA/JMB commemorative Buckmark?

Some guy has one for sale for $469. Seems a bit high, but it is a neat little gun.
 
Of the guns you listed I'd go with the Buckmark. Then the Ruger. What I did choose for myself was a Ruger 22/45 like this one:

88L.gif
 
Have you considered a used gun for a plinker? You can get a High Standard Sport King or similar model in very good condition for about $150. They are excellent shooters and have very good ergonomics. Just an alternative suggestion. Colt Woodsman is also a desirable used gun but pricier.


In addition to a Sport King, I have a Walther P22 with the 3.4" and 5" barrels and it performs well for me, especially with the long barrel.

Bill
 
I love my Buckmark....but those Mosquito's seem cool. The Buckmark may make a better target pistol....but the Mosquito looks like it would holster better for hikes etc.

IMO the Beretta Neo is very awkward. Hold one and try to manipulate the safey....it is weird.

Ruger would be fine too. I have no experience with the S&W.
 
Ruger. I really like the 22/45, though it's ugly. Adjustable sights and a heavy barrel are my preference. Dry firing doesn't hurt it, and you can go a few bricks between cleanings if you wipe the heavy gunk out.

I'd avoid the S&W. Dry firing does hurt it, and dry-fires do happen while plinking, especially with neophytes. Also less tolerant of fouling.

Walther P22s need to be tightened up with a screwdriver occasionally, AFAIK. Otherwise, people like 'em.

Buckmark Camper is a nice gun.

I have a Ruger 22/45 with a 6 5/8" slab bull barrel and adjustable sights. Love it for me, and as a training gun. That long barrel helps me to diagnose and correct shooting problems.
 
My Walther P22 is great fun, but picky with ammo. I can fire Remington Golden Bullets and CCI Blazer and not much else. Also, on ammo, stay away from Remington Thunderbolt. They tend to lead up your barrel.
 
I have the standard Ruger with fixed sites and I love it. I've had it for about 12 years and it's the pistol I always line up anything new I get against. I can outshoot a lot of people with a lot more expensive pieces with it. Mine was origionally $200 even, I don't know what they go for today.
 
Since you already have a 1911, have you considered a Marvel conversion kit? Yeah, they are pretty expensive (around $325 last I knew) but the one I have is EXTREMELY accurate. Gives you practice with the 1911 to boot.

Reliability has been very good. Feeds, fires and ejects the cheap stuff just as well as the expensive stuff. I have thousands of rounds through mine and it still looks/shoots like new.

Only down side is that you can develop a blister reloading the magazines to full 10 round capacity - the spring is pretty stiff and you only have the small button to push on.
 
For $325, you can get a Ruger 22/45 Mark III that has the same grip angle and balance as the 1911, though.

It's something to consider.

If you have two guns, you will have a better time shooting with a friend. You can switch between guns while at the range. You can teach someone else to shoot, while getting a little target practice yourself.

On the other hand, a .22LR 1911 is a nice gun to shoot.
 
Buckmark or Ruger if you want a stand-alone .22 for that price. That S&W is one ugly pistol, and the Beretta Neos looks like something my 6 year old would play with. The Neos also doesn't have a very good rep. Both the Ruger and the Buckmark are time-tested classics.

Another option is a .22 conversion kit for a 1911, if you already have one in .45ACP. I have a Kimber Rimfire Super, which is a blast, but is a bit pricey.
 
I recommend the Ruger. I had a MK II years ago and sold it, then bought a MK III last year. I like the MK III's mag release (in the "normal" place on the grip) much better than the one on the MK II (It's a Euro style mag release on the bottom of the grip).

It shoots great and like That One Guy posted, I use mine as the "standard by which all other handguns are judged." Standing, with a one hand grip and the stock sights, I can put all ten shots into an area about the size of a silver dollar at 25' without trying hard.

Some will say that they're difficult to take apart for cleaning. They're not difficult, just different. Once you get the hang of it they come apart and go back together pretty easily. Not that I take mine apart than often. I usually just go at it with brake cleaner and a old toothbrush without stripping it. I'll take it apart and give it a real good cleaning after 1000-2000 rounds.

It has been totally reliable as well. The only time it ever failed to feed was when one of my friends (a new shooter) had her thumb behind the bolt, preventing it from fully cycling.

They're cheap too. Get one and you won't be disappointed.
 
EddieCoyle said:
I recommend the Ruger. I had a MK II years ago and sold it, then bought a MK III last year. I like the MK III's mag release (in the "normal" place on the grip) much better than the one on the MK II (It's a Euro style mag release on the bottom of the grip).

It shoots great and like That One Guy posted, I use mine as the "standard by which all other handguns are judged." Standing, with a one hand grip and the stock sights, I can put all ten shots into an area about the size of a silver dollar at 25' without trying hard.

Some will say that they're difficult to take apart for cleaning. They're not difficult, just different. Once you get the hang of it they come apart and go back together pretty easily. Not that I take mine apart than often. I usually just go at it with brake cleaner and a old toothbrush without stripping it. I'll take it apart and give it a real good cleaning after 1000-2000 rounds.

It has been totally reliable as well. The only time it ever failed to feed was when one of my friends (a new shooter) had her thumb behind the bolt, preventing it from fully cycling.

They're cheap too. Get one and you won't be dissapointed.
Click to expand...

The 22/45 is not hard to assemble, as long as you follow the instructions, which are not complex. Sequence is important, as is the angle you hold the thing. If you don't follow instructions, you are in for some frustration. But I wouldn't call the process at all difficult.
 
I love the Hi Standard Supermatic my dad left me. Everyone who has used it has become fond of it, it's easy to be good with it right from the start. They are pricey (used). There are a few like the flight king, sport king and some of the earlier models will fit into your budget. Check Guns America to compare prices.

I found this on G.A. too:
976460697-1.jpg


Buckmark Pro Target $389. Also saw some sweet used Buckmark Challengers in the $ range.
 
my advice

my advise is to go with a Ruger MK II, either in the standard form or in the 22/45 configuration. i own 3 MK II 22/45 and love them all. its easy to find spare parts, if they were ever to break, lots of aftermarket stuff to get for them. they are built like a tank and last forever. if you get a 22/45 MK II, you can improve the grips by putting some 3M grip tape on the front of the grip.

344483.jpg


Good luck. -Eric
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

A
  • Locked
What's the best modern .22LR semi-auto Pistol Plinker?
2 3
Replies
56
Views
5K
Archer1945
A
M
  • Locked
Browning Buckmark .22lr
Replies
14
Views
861
gb0399
G
M
  • Locked
looking for a .22LR pistol
Replies
9
Views
671
twolf811
T
K
  • Locked
  • Poll
Which .22lr Plinker
2 3
Replies
66
Views
3K
The_Shootist
The_Shootist
S
  • Locked
Beretta NEOS 22LR for plinking??
Replies
13
Views
2K
Skylerbone
Skylerbone
Back
Top