Looking for a new Plinker

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gendoikari87

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Okay after years of shooting with my old Ruger .22lr Rifle I want to get a semi-auto handgun and was wondering what would be some of yall's recommendations? So far I have shot a walther P22 at the local range, and I liked the ergonomics to it, but it had such little kick it was like a BB gun (long barrel version) and it was still innaccurate, and jammed. Granted the gun range had shotty guns all around. (dirty, poorly maintained). Granted I liked the feel/look (absolutely beautiful gun) of the gun but it was a bit too small.

Basically I want a gun that:
- Uses cheap ammunition (around that of .22LR, if there is another plinking round, I don't know about it and that's unlikely, .17 hmr/hm2 autoloader would be amazing but I don't think they make those in handguns)
- Looks cool and ergonomic
-Under $350 bucks (preferably under $250 so I can get a good laser or reflex/Holographic sight to go with it)
- Is relatively accurate, not competition grade or anything but good enough.
- has a big enough grip for me, I'm 6'2" with big hands, and Ideally I'd like to still have some grip after the end of my palm.
 
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Look at the Browning Buckmark or Ruger Mark III. Both are accurate and reliable pistols. Not so easy to field strip, but that is really the only criticism I hear.

I have the P22 and have come to the conclusion that .22lr pistols with fully reciprocating slides (like the P22 and Sig Mosquito) simply will not function reliably. While individual guns very, my gun is very picky on ammo and pretty much needs CCI minimags to work without any FTE's. Minimags aren't that cheap. I also think the stock P22 sights are a joke.
 
+1 on the Ruger Mark III.... I have both it and the Walther P22, and the difference is night and day. The Ruger is a vastly superior gun when compared to the Walther.
 
The ruger looks like a nice gun but I have two problems with it. The first is that it's ugly, to me at least, and the second, my .22 Rifle is already a ruger, and I was hoping to branch out. The Kel-tec PMR-30 looked interesting for about 30 seconds till I saw how epensive it was (mostly from using .22 WMR, Great Comp but not a cheap plinking round). I like the look of the mosquito but I've heard stories about it almost as bad as the p22.

I have heard good things about the U22 but it's dirt cheap, theres no way a gun that's less than $250 could be a reliable weapon is there?
 
The Walther P22 is a super gun - just use high power .22 ammo like Stingers. No big deal. That's still WAY cheaper than centerfire ammo.

My only other recommendation would be to save a couple more pennies and get yourself a Beretta Cheetah 87. Incredibly hard to find, VERY expensive, and worth every dime. After shooting one of these the Beretta Bobcat ( the other .22) feels like a toy.
 
As much of a legend and Browning was, and as much as I would love to imitate him some day (I too am trying to be a weapons designer) I would fear the fiancee if I spent $500 on a gun.

but I'll have to check out the tokarev, I love russian guns, but surplus kinda scares me.
 
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gendoikari87 said:
The ruger looks like a nice gun but I have two problems with it. The first is that it's ugly

how about the Ruger Mark III Hunter 22/45:
10121.jpg
 
I could deal with that, how much is it? What is the trigger action like, I noticed it's single action only. I like a very light trigger pull.

oh and though I normally like a hi tech look I believe I love the look of this one

10126.jpg
 
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The buckmark is a good, reliable 22 pistol. Saying it isn't easy to field strip is an understatement. I feel nothing short of a laboratory will do if you want to take that thing apart. But I usually don't take it apart to clean it until a thousand or two have been put through it so it's not a problem.
 
...it's ugly
The Ruger MK's are sorta like a rifle action with a handle stuck on the side. Everything was designed foremost for accuracy and durability. The barrel and receiver are milled from a single, solid block of steel. The sites are dovetailed into that block. The grip frame is then wedged tightly onto the receiver with a solid mechanical steel-to-steel (mk series, at least) friction fit before finally being affixed with an over-sized pin. For an accurate shooting platform, it doesn't get much better. With the Ruger, form follows function. To some, that's the very definition of beauty.

- has a big enough grip for me, I'm 6'2" with big hands, and Ideally I'd like to still have some grip after the end of my palm.
Well, the 22/45 might not be for you. I think the grip is less than an inch wide. There's a version of the 22/45 that is thicker and has removable grips, but it's more expensive. The standard mk series have a thicker grip, and there are additional aftermarket options.

Trigger pull is about 4 lbs. Aftermarket parts can bring it under 2 lbs.
 
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Browning Buck Mark. Unless you're a girly man, you don't need a fluted barrel. The weight will make it more fun to shoot anyway

buckmarktarget82110.jpg

Stupid fliers
 
Quote:
...it's ugly
The Ruger MK's are sorta like a rifle action with a handle stuck on the side. Everything was designed foremost for accuracy and durability. The barrel and receiver are milled from a single, solid block of steel. The sites are dovetailed into that block. The grip frame is then wedged tightly onto the receiver with a solid mechanical steel-to-steel (mk series, at least) friction fit before finally being affixed with an over-sized pin. For an accurate shooting platform, it doesn't get much better. With the Ruger, form follows function. To some, that's the very definition of beauty.

Quote:
- has a big enough grip for me, I'm 6'2" with big hands, and Ideally I'd like to still have some grip after the end of my palm.
Well, the 22/45 might not be for you. I think the grip is less than an inch wide. There's a version of the 22/45 that is thicker and has removable grips, but it's more expensive. The standard mk series have a thicker grip, and there are additional aftermarket options.

Trigger pull is about 4 lbs. Aftermarket parts can bring it under 2 lbs.

well I think you have sufficiently talked me into the ruger, at least the 22/45, The mark III's are a bit too high for my blood, and I don't mind complex field stripping procedures, I am going into design afterall, and with a mod that can bring the trigger pull to 2 lbs, It sounds like the one I want.

Browning forgive me, I'm getting a ruger.
 
I don't want to turn you off from the Ruger (I love my MARK III 22/45) but it's going to feel as much as a BB gun as the Walther. If you want "pop" on the cheap I would go with a 9mm.
 
gendoikari87 said:
What exact model is that in the photo with the grouping? The grip looks nice.

The label reads:

Browning
Buck Mark .22 LR
xxxxxxxxx Practical URX F/O NS MS
ULTRAGRIP RX PRO TGT 5 1/2" CAMPER

It feels awesome in hand. I held it and a Ruger 22/45 back to back, it wasn't even a contest for me
 
www.theboxotruth.com/docs/edu59.htm

http://www.surplusrifle.com/pistoltt33/index.asp

They are great for plinking, you can find ammo for about $0.09 a round, compare 9mm on sale for $13 / box of 50, = .26 a round, as for surplus, well like all used guns you need to inspect them before firing, and know what you are buying, the main thing is to check the bore and breech face for corrosion and pitting as the ammo used was corrosive. That said, most are packaged in cosmoline so thick some post here wondering what is wrong, like the slide in slomo, just well preserved. You can pick one up and a spam can of ammo for the price of a rugar MK or browning buckmark
 
I'm a 22 semi fan. I own the Ruger 22/45, Browning Buckmark, Beretta Neos, and the P22. The Buckmark and the 22/45 are both great little guns. While I like the 1911 platform, the 22/45 grip is just too narrow for me to get a comfortable grip. The buckmark feels great in the hand.

When you go to buy the Ruger, hold the Buckmark too. You might surprise yourself and change your mind.
 
Aside from actually preferring the 25 degree grip angle of a MK, one little concern I have with the Buckmark is the external slide. I often use a high thumbs hold, where both thumbs are contacting the slide. I imagine that would cause jams on most .22's? My HP22 certainly doesn't tolerate it.
 
how reliable/expensive is the SP22? Cause after looking at the ruger, all others seem obsolete if you can get that 4lb trigger pull down.
 
About a week ago, I bought a Beretta Neos. It can't touch my MKIIs for accuracy. But I was surprised how much fun it was to shoot. Break down for cleaning is super easy. Especially compared to the Rugers. Mine has the 4.5" barrel. A longer barrel is available ( and a breeze to swap out if you want to have both ), and that may improve accuracy. Although it's plenty accurate for plinking. The price is within your budget.

Tuckerdog1
 
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