Let' Talk Rimfire Handguns

Status
Not open for further replies.
D.B. Cooper

D.B. Cooper

Member
Joined
Oct 2, 2016
Messages
4,396
I jut finished my second club-level pistol league. I've been my shooting my Redhawk with 44 Spl handloads. I've had a lot of fun and made a lot of gains in competency with the gun. The 9 mil and rimfire semi-auto guys are killing me. I swore off all rimfires "never again" I said during the ammo shortage (which still exist to some extent in my area.) But I'm considering buying a rimfire handgun for the summer league.

What's my best option?

I can go with a Ruger GP100 in 22LR. Pros: I think this will be the closest thing to my Redhawk. HKS even makes speed loaders for it. This would help me un-train the flinch I've acquired. Cons: MSRP is $829 (nearly as much as my Redhawk 44.) I'm reloading at 15¢/rd so, at the rate I'm going, I could shoot 44 for two years on the same money.

The only other option is some sort of autoloader. Browning Buckmark and S&W Victory seem the most popular. I once owned both a Ruger Marksman (I forget which "MarK" it was, but it was in the late 80's) and a S&W 22S (the olympic-looking one with 5" bull barrel and the massive wood grip.) Both were supremely accurate. The S&W had a POS plastic recoil buffer that broke like every month. I regret selling both of them. Pros: Cheaper to buy. A Victory is like $400, the Ruger is around $700. 10 rd mags = less reloading. (I'm losing 10 seconds every time I reload, and I have to reload a LOT more than the other guys.) Much easier to shoot accurately in rapid fire or weak-handed. The other "con" I can think of, is that most of the rimfire guns (and a few of the centerfire autoloaders) I've seen on the range turn in to jam-o-matic POS when then the temp drops down below about 20˚F.

So I'm kind of at a loss here. None of these options are a slam dunk for me. What are your thoughts?
 
D.B. Cooper

Typically I would recommend something along the lines of a Browning Buckmark, Ruger Mk.IV, or a Beretta Neos for someone looking for a decent .22 autoloader. My own personal choice would also include my Beretta Model 70S. Perfectly sized for a .22, all steel construction makes this one durable and long lasting gun, an adjustable rear sight and a sweet SAO trigger does wonders for accuracy. Drawbacks include hard to find parts (though I have yet to need any after 40 years of use), and spare magazines. Other than that one great reliable and fun to shoot .22!

Cqr6BsX.jpg
 
I'm sure there are plenty of perfectly fine .22 revolvers out there. Unfortunately, I don't know diddly about them, so I'll leave those discussions to folks who know what they're talking about. In the .22 autoloader realm, the "usual suspects" are the Browning Buckmark, S&W Victory, and Rugers of various sorts.

For years, I had a Ruger Standard. Great little pistol, but I eventually upgraded to a Mark IV 22/45 Lite for myself, and a Mark IV 22/45 for my wife. I really like both of them and have been having a ball shooting them. The major, and perhaps only, advantage to the Mark IV over prior generations is takedown & reassembly. On the first trip out, my Lite was a bit more finicky than I'd have liked, but a few hundred rounds and a mag cleaning appears to have cleared that up. My wife's 22/45 (which wasn't fired until after the mag cleaning) never did suffer that problem. I'm not a competition shooter or a bullseye shooter, but have no complaints about accuracy in either of them. I have also not fired either one of them in temps <20*, so I don't really have any info on that.

Good luck on your search.
 
Last edited:
My two most accurate handguns are my S&W K22 Masterpiece and my Browning Buck Mark. They are the only handguns that go with me on virtually every range trip. I lucked into the K22 (from the early 50's) for a little over $400 because the finish is imperfect and it has incorrect grips. I got the Buck Mark for a little over $300, barely used, and I don't think that would be a difficult deal to find. My FiL has a Ruger Mk II that is comparably accurate. My daughter is so spoiled by the three mentioned above (and my Single Six), that she's called all of the other 22 handguns that she's tried "junk".

Personally, I would be looking at the Buck Mark, as far as "bang for the Buck" (pun intended) goes.
 
Any quality made rimfire revolver is going to have a pretty sizeable upfront cost. That's the biggest reason I have an old H&R 999 and not a S&W. I have to suffer with the heavy trigger of the H&R, which is a major reason the H&R is a good plinker instead of a competition revolver.

On the other hand, my simple Browning Buckmark Camper (with the older rubber grips that have the small thumb rests) fits my hand like a glove and can out shoot any other pistol I have*. I can imagine what a higher end Buckmark with trigger work could do? :)

* I have no target grade guns, so take that into consideration.
 
Any Ruger Mark series, the Buckmark, or the S&W Victory should be perfectly adequate to suit your needs and are the most economical options. I love my Mark I and Buckmark. I haven’t shot much in temps below 30F, but as long as I keep them clean they run good. Any issues at lower temps I’d think is a lube problem, and I’m sure there’s lubes out there that could help. The Ruger has the biggest aftermarket by far if you plan on upgrading parts.

If you want to stick with revolvers, the S&W 17/617 is probably the best out there, but you’re going to pay for it. I think the M17 is limited to 6 rounds, so you’d probably want to find a 617 in 10 rounds for competition. And like you mentioned, the GP100 is an option but I think the 617 is a little nicer with a better trigger.
 
The Ruger MK IV Target is a very good choice when you add the Volquartson trigger kit. I have one and it has digested any and all ammo I've fed it, standard or high velocity. It can't solve the problem of dud 22 rounds of course but other than that it's been flawless. I'm not tough enough to shoot in 20 degree weather anymore so I can't speak to those conditions. I would think that a light coat of ATF for lube would work though.
 
Buckmark for me.

IMG_2555.jpg

I like them better than the ruger MK pistols because the grip angle, size, and general ergonomics are just like a 1911. They also have a much nicer factory trigger than the ruger and are simpler to take apart and clean. They also come with excellent sights.

The ruger has alot of aftermarket support so its good if you want to build something up but the Buckmark is a better gun out of the box. The S&W victory also looks nice but I can't see anything on it I like more than a buckmark.

I wish I could use a rimfire in the two pistol leagues I started shooting. I would shut everyone down lol. I don't know what type of league you shoot but one that I shoot requires only 5 rounds in the gun and is a stationary shoot for accuracy. Each round is 15 shots so you have to reload twice. I have shot it both with a revolver and a semi auto and I can't even come close to my semi auto times when I shoot the revolver. The time to reload just makes it noncompetitive. There are also two other guys that shoot revolvers and there times are way off just due to the reload times and time to cock the hammer to shoot single action. So revolvers are fun but if you want to win get a semi auto.
 
Last edited:
Buckmark for sure. They largely replicate the controls and shape of a 1911, and are far easier to work on. I have 2, including the first pistol I ever bought, a Buckmark Standard in 1987. Bucks need to be clean and oiled properly, however, for consistent feeding and function. Ammo choice can be critical, too, particularly if you are shooting in the cold. When I was in Colorado, and the temps got colder, the really 'greasy' .22 ammo would start to slow the bolt down and then jam it. At the time, the cleanest ammo I found was Winchester Super-X... that stuff never jammed, but that was also 30 years ago.

I have nothing against the Ruger or other .22 autos, I'm just not familiar with them and probably won't ever be... I love my Bucks!

.22 revolvers are sort of a mixed bag... if you get a bigger revolver, you also get a lot of extra weight. I had a J-Frame Smith 63 for a while, it was a great little pistol but I found I could not shoot it well in fast DA shooting because of it's small size.
 
Because of its design, the Ruger Mark series is the hands-down most-accurate long-lived semi in existence. Some of the German semi's (like Walther) are more accurate, but they don't stay that way, forever, because of their design. My Mark I from 1972 will still outshoot anything (accuracy-wise) costing up to four times as much. But, that is the old model (with about 50,000 rounds thru it). The newer Mark IV has basically the same design, the mags hold 10 instead of 9, and they are supremely easily to disassemble. I have no idea how well the new take-down design will last over the long term. But I do know that they still have the enclosed non-rotating bolt, and that the sights never move during operation. If I wanted (not at all likely, since my Mark I is still drop-dead accurate) to get a modern semi which did not have a moving slide, I would get a Mark IV. By the way, I achieved NRA Distinguished Expert with that Ruger, beaten during competition by a guy with a Walther, which cost four times as much. No idea how his pistol is doing today.
By the way, I bought a Beretta model 72 a little before I got the Ruger, and it steadily lost accuracy over a couple thousand rounds, due to its aluminum frame being ridden by a steel slide.
 
It's a question of how serious you are.

If you're seriously interested in rimfire bullseye matches, but don't want to spend a lot of money upfront, I'd go with a Ruger Mk(n).

They're accurate, reliable, reasonably priced, and there are a lot of target parts for them (Volquartsen, etc.).

I made High Master in the Cuyahoga County Pistol League (rimfire only leaue) shooting a Ruger MkII. The Rugers were far and away the most popular beginners' guns in the League.

I've never fired or even handled a MkIV, but they're much easier to reassemble than my old MkII.
 
There is always a reason to own a good .22 LR. Rifle or pistol, any action type. There are a nearly infinite number to choose from.

You can work on your flinch without buying another gun. One of the big advantages to hand loading for revolvers is that you don't have to worry about enough energy to operate the action. As long as the bullet gets all the way out of the barrel, you're fine. Light bullets and light loads result in light recoil and muzzle blast. Rainier makes 200 grain plated bullets for .44 caliber. The Hodgdon Reloading web site has recommended starting loads for several powders.
 
Ruger mk 4
Buckmark
Victory

Any of those would work very well for what you describe.

Ruger has more flavors and accessories if that matters.

I have an mkii tapered and a mk 3 target. I used to have another mkii. I bought an mk3 for my father's birthday a couple years ago as well. All have proved very accurate. A friend has a buckmark and it too is very accurate. Better trigger out of the box also.
 
Last edited:
I a Ruger Mark II man, myself and I have the Competition Target Model. I expect it will be the last handgun I shoot and the last I would sell. After the Mark IV came out I read all the articles whining about how hard the previous marks were to strip for cleaning. It just isn't a big deal, once you understand how it works. I see a lot of the bullseye shooters here shooting Smith Model 41s, which are nice guns, but much more money than the Ruger.

RugerMarkII.jpg
 
The other "con" I can think of, is that most of the rimfire guns (and a few of the centerfire autoloaders) I've seen on the range turn in to jam-o-matic POS when then the temp drops down below about 20˚F.
Click to expand...
I believe that part of the problem, as mentioned and in the other active .22LR thread, is the bullet lube - it just builds up in the pistol and solidifies at that low temperature. I remember that couple of years ago me and a bunch of friends visited quite regularly a small valley near my town throughout the whole winter season - the temperatures were sometimes about 14F. In addition to the centerfire guns we brought there was a Hämmerli 215 fed with nothing but copper washed Federal bulk .22LR. That cartridge has no bullet lube as I remember and we rarely if ever had a malfunction with it. And we did shoot that sweet gun a lot! So I believe that regular cleaning, light oil and unwaxed ammo should do you good in the winter season.
 
beag_nut said:
Because of its design, the Ruger Mark series is the hands-down most-accurate long-lived semi in existence. Some of the German semi's (like Walther) are more accurate, but they don't stay that way, forever, because of their design. My Mark I from 1972 will still outshoot anything (accuracy-wise) costing up to four times as much. But, that is the old model (with about 50,000 rounds thru it). The newer Mark IV has basically the same design, the mags hold 10 instead of 9, and they are supremely easily to disassemble. I have no idea how well the new take-down design will last over the long term. But I do know that they still have the enclosed non-rotating bolt, and that the sights never move during operation. If I wanted (not at all likely, since my Mark I is still drop-dead accurate) to get a modern semi which did not have a moving slide, I would get a Mark IV. By the way, I achieved NRA Distinguished Expert with that Ruger, beaten during competition by a guy with a Walther, which cost four times as much. No idea how his pistol is doing today.
By the way, I bought a Beretta model 72 a little before I got the Ruger, and it steadily lost accuracy over a couple thousand rounds, due to its aluminum frame being ridden by a steel slide.
Click to expand...
I tend to agree with beag_nut as I have a Ruger MKII tapered barrel that produced a five shot group at 25 yards off a rest with standard sight under one inch. I also have a Buckmark that has a really sweet trigger and it may be as accurate as the MK but IMO not more accurate.
 
Accuracy wise I think is a toss up between the two. It comes down to the other features like ergonomics and trigger and custamizability between them. They are both great so whichever feels best to you is the right one.
 
D.B. Cooper said:
The only other option is some sort of autoloader. Browning Buckmark and S&W Victory seem the most popular. I once owned both a Ruger Marksman (I forget which "MarK" it was, but it was in the late 80's) and a S&W 22S (the olympic-looking one with 5" bull barrel and the massive wood grip.) Both were supremely accurate. The S&W had a POS plastic recoil buffer that broke like every month. I regret selling both of them. Pros: Cheaper to buy. A Victory is like $400, the Ruger is around $700. 10 rd mags = less reloading. (I'm losing 10 seconds every time I reload, and I have to reload a LOT more than the other guys.) Much easier to shoot accurately in rapid fire or weak-handed. The other "con" I can think of, is that most of the rimfire guns (and a few of the centerfire autoloaders) I've seen on the range turn in to jam-o-matic POS when then the temp drops down below about 20˚F.
Click to expand...

D.B., I have both the Ruger Mark IV, and the SW Victory. The trigger on the Ruger is horrible, the Victory is very good. Of course there are aftermarket triggers available at around $125 and up. The Ruger is built like a tank. The Victory cost me $317 shipped! I would go with the Victory. I don't live where the temperature gets that low, so I can't comment on that.
 
I think I’ve decided to go with an SR 22 for my next 22 pistol purchase. I hear they aren’t picky about brand of bullet and they feel fine in my hand. My only 22 revolver was a single six I picked up cheap and never should have sold.
 
I love my Victory especially with the Volquartsen carbon fiber wrapped barrel and compensator.

What about a Ruger SR22 striker-fired pistol?
 
I shot one and thought the trigger was horrific. I can’t fathom it being as accurate as the buckmark or mk2
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

84B20
  • Locked
Hardcast ammo comparison
Replies
2
Views
493
SgtGunner
S
J
  • Locked
rimfire pistol questions/suggestions
Replies
8
Views
655
machinisttx
M
PlayTheAces
  • Locked
Handgun scopes.
Replies
11
Views
3K
Marshall
M
amprecon
  • Locked
Handgun Collection Morpherage
Replies
0
Views
408
amprecon
amprecon
I
  • Locked
  • Poll
I'm purchasing my first .22 handgun. I'd like your input.
2 3 4
Replies
81
Views
3K
billymarr
B
Back
Top