recs for a 22 target pistol

I really dig the ruger mk4 but the trigger leaves a lot to be desired. However you can grab a mk4 and a volquartsen trigger kit and (probably) be within your 600$ budget.

Hi folks!
I'm new to this forum so I hope to not step on any toes here too soon.

Might not be an (easy to get) option at your place but IMHO the best bang for the money would be a Hämmerli 208 or 215.
At my place they usually go for about €400 which would be US$450 at the moment.
The Ruger MkIV is a great gun but many people don't like the grip angle.
If you are a 1911 guy, like I am you'll luv the Hämmerli.
I also prefer older guns to newer and if it's Swiss Made like the 208/215 there's no chance I'd get me something like a MkIV.

You do not have to shell out extra money for an acceptable trigger coz the original one in the Hämmerli is already superb.

so many excellent suggestions here already. i’m a bigtime 22 fan but a lousy shot. that said i’m most accurate with a 5.5” ruger single six shooting 22wmr, a 6.5” barrel could only be more accurate. i have the most fun with a 3.5” ruger sr22, if i wanted more accuracy i would choose the later-introduced 4.5” barrel model. the beretta neos is also accurate, but is really sized for smaller hands. if you decide on a pre gen4 ruger mark or 22/45 get the $80 majestic speed strip kit, which makes takedown and reassembly a breeze.

If you like the buck mark and your not in a hurry, there have been some unbelievable deals the last couple years for Black Friday. Yeah that’s a long way away but if your budget minded then that’s the route to go. Personally I am a ruger single six fan, but I’m interested in another 22 for target work. If I went semiauto it would either be browning or ruger, but I would buy a newer ruger as they are supposedly easier to strip and reassemble. The old ones are a nightmare.

Call 1911,

the problem with the Hammerli International/ 215 is that they are not importable into the U.S. in the way it is pictured in your photo. Having them retrofitted with a safety, using an export agent and a licensed and registered importer, paying import duty and laser engraving the gun, will add substantially more to the European used gun purchase price than any trigger job would cost on a Ruger Mk, or even a Volquartsen does set you back. On top of that, they should be shot with standard velocity ammo only and that would make the Hammerli a poor choice for falling plates and bowling pins.

However, the quality, reliability and sturdiness of the old Hammerli International is well worth the price for anybody who can pay it and can make use of the accuracy.

By the way, you have the wrong mag release in your gun... and below is not a Hammerli 208 but a 211.

Look for a late 1970's "A" series S&W Model 41, 5.5" heavy barrel

I've got a MKIV and have had a couple of buckmarks that I've liked and a couple that I didn't. At the moment along with the MKIV I have a
Buck Mark - Medallion Rosewood that I absolutely love, the first buckmark that I've owned that beats the MK series in every way.

.38 Special said:

Collectors really have driven the price of used S&W revolvers beyond their value as shooters, in my opinion. $700 gets you within a couple of hundred dollars of a good used Model 41, which a significantly better gun (in most ways) than a .22 Masterpiece.

The good news is that the semi-autos mentioned on this thread are pretty decent guns. Considering the OPs requirements, one of them seems like the obvious answer.

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Comparing a semi to a revolver is apples to oranges. Compare a used 41 to a Woodsman or High Standard Victory

George P said:

Comparing a semi to a revolver is apples to oranges.

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Oh, I don't think so. Especially when it comes to rimfire plinking and informal target guns, both revolvers and semi-autos do about the same thing. It really just comes down to personal preference.

Of the semi-autos you mention, as far as I know they are all decent guns and all out of the O.P.s price range.

I guess my opinion at this point is that the O.P. probably needs a Ruger. Those seem to be the answer to most .22-related questions these days.

DDDWho said:

I ordered one of these 2 weeks ago. Because of all the gun buying frenzy caused by the virus it shipped yesterday. It cost just a few bucks shy of $600 shipped. It will be my first decent .22 handgun of many I’ve owned over the years

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Wow! Have prices gone up that much? I bought the Mark III Competition 6-7 years ago and paid half that price for a new gun.

mdauben said:

Wow! Have prices gone up that much? I bought the Mark III Competition 6-7 years ago and paid half that price for a new gun.

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. I guess so. I can’t think of anything that hasn’t gone up in price in the last 6-7 years (save gasoline these days). However my nephew says he paid around $6C for a Mark 2 Competition 25 years ago. I paid $3C for a 22/45 Mark lll target 7 years ago. It was the cheapest Ruger standard I could find at the time. I’d say you got one hell of a good deal

I guess my MKII bought new for $169 was a good buy.............

It’s all about prospective. I paid $2,200 for a brand new Ford PU in 1972 and $1,700 for a new VW that same year. I bought a new car 2 years old, I paid almost exactly 2X what I paid for my first house. We can inject historical pricing until they shut this thread down, it won’t change anything. I did pay nearly $600 for a new gun, I’m happy, so what?

mdauben said:

Wow! Have prices gone up that much? I bought the Mark III Competition 6-7 years ago and paid half that price for a new gun.

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Yeah, my single six was $400 otd in 2012. Same gun is $700 now. Not worth $700 though.

I have large hands as well. I own and have owned quite a few 22’s.

If you’re looking for a revolver, although not normally associated with target shooting, a Ruger Single Six or Single Ten would do the trick and new would fall in your price range. I’ve owned a stainless 5-1/2” stainless convertible for decades and really enjoy shooting it. They’re every bit as accurate as my other 22’s and the one I have has a 22 magnum cylinder too. Buds has the blue convertible in a variety of barrel lengths for under $540. They’re very reliable and you never have to worry about FTE or FTF’s or it being fussy about ammo.

I’ve owned several Mark I , II target models and currently a standard 4” Mark IV. All have been great guns although I never fell in love with them until I bought my Mark IV. I think the Mark IV trigger is better than any of the others I’ve owned and it’s the easiest pistol to clean that I’ve ever owned. I just cleaned it an hour ago. It’s very reliable but last range trip I fed it some bulk Winchester and some didn’t eject fully and had a jam about every third shot. Federal bulk, any CCI and Remington have all functioned 100%. I think it’s just that the Winchester is a little under powered for the gun. Accuracy is excellent out of all of them and they’re very well made.

I inherited my uncles Browning Challenger II. It’s similar to the Buckmark and was accurate, reliable, good trigger and well built but I never warmed up to it and sold it.

I bought a S&W Victory performance center pistol with the red dot, carbon fiber barrel and compensator. I had a few problems with FTC and ftf’s and found the fix on the web. I contacted Smith and they sent the parts I requested of which I installed. I also very slightly bent the ejector and it’s been 100% through a couple thousand rounds. The Victory is super easy to clean and even swap barrels. accuracy is stellar!

Both the Victory and Ruger MK’s can be seriously customized. They’re the Jeeps of the 22 world. You could spend a bunch of money customizing them.

My brother owns an older model 41 he used to shoot silhouette with. It’s a great pistol as others have said but more than double your price. Not owning one, I’m not sure the model 41 is worth the price vs other pistols.

WestKentucky said:

Yeah, my single six was $400 otd in 2012. Same gun is $700 now. Not worth $700 though.

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Yeah, I love my Mk III Competition and think I got a good deal on it. Knowing what I do now, I'm not sure I'd pay $600 for one, when I could buy a S&W Model 617 for a hundred dollars more. For that matter, I'd probably rather save a little more money and get a S&W M41.

It's a wonderful world of .22 handguns out there and I could probably learn to love just about all of them. I have a dozen or so and the most accurate I would say is the Ruger MKII with the 6 7/8 inch barrel. A close second would be the Kadet Kit on a CZ 75 frame, but that doesn't fit your criteria. Whatever you pick is going to give you a lot of pleasure. (My name is Terry and I'm a .22 addict.)

Mark IV's Hunter or Competition.

I got a mark IV 22/45 lite and love it. Can't wait to shoot it suppressed but even without its currently my favorite pistol to shoot.

Keep your eyes open for a used 617 4” Smith. I bought mine used at a local dealer in near new condition for $500 a year ago.

Hello PzGren,

that's why I wrote

"Might not be an (easy to get) option at your place but IMHO the best bang for the money would be a Hämmerli 208 or 215"

I have no clue what your state requires to be done with guns from abroad.
But what you write sounds pretty similar to what has to be done to US weapons that are imported to Europe (Austria).
All foreign weapons are tested by a federal organisation to get their engraving/proof marks (CIPed). The import duty is to be paid, the dealer wants some money for his job and on and on.
That's why a naked MkIV goes for about 800.- here at my place.
A Volquartsen starts at about 1800.-

My manual does not mention anything about "only use standard ammo". It just says "hunting ammunition is to be avoided" but only in the german part of the manual. This is not mentioned in the english translation.
My 215 shoots dead center with many ammo types but runs almost perfect with CCI Standard Velocity. Which is fine by me coz the are among the cheapest here. Some special type (Biathlon ammo) are even better but very expensive.

I always wanted a S&W Model 41 but couldn't find one in good condition7decent shooter for under 1000.-
So I am perfectly happy with the Hämmerli for less then half.

PzGren said:

Call 1911,

the problem with the Hammerli International/ 215 is that they are not importable into the U.S. in the way it is pictured in your photo. Having them retrofitted with a safety, using an export agent and a licensed and registered importer, paying import duty and laser engraving the gun, will add substantially more to the European used gun purchase price than any trigger job would cost on a Ruger Mk, or even a Volquartsen does set you back. On top of that, they should be shot with standard velocity ammo only and that would make the Hammerli a poor choice for falling plates and bowling pins.

However, the quality, reliability and sturdiness of the old Hammerli International is well worth the price for anybody who can pay it and can make use of the accuracy.

By the way, you have the wrong mag release in your gun... and below is not a Hammerli 208 but a 211.

View attachment 914323

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mainecoon said:

I've never owned a handgun but am thinking of getting a 22 target pistol. I have big hands and you know what that means: big gloves. I am looking for something with some style to it, not just a boring black gun. Would like to keep it under $600. Any suggestions?

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Ok, so here are your requirements:
- Reasonably accurate target pistol.
- Under $600
- Needs to fit someone with big hands
- First handgun


So even within those constraints you've got a lot of options open to you. The aforementioned Ruger Mk. II/III/IVs would be fine. As would a Browning Buckmark. If you have large hands and think you will need to install larger grips, those should be fine, or you could look at one of the newer versions of the Ruger 22/45 which allows you to install after market grips (some versions of this gun, the frame is all plastic with no way to easily install custom grips.)

At a price point of $600 or less, you can pretty easily afford to pick out anything from any of the big manufacturers, or you could save a few bucks and find a used one at your local gun store or pawn shop if you're not too picky about wanting a specific configuration.

Since this is your first handgun, I'd recommend against going for any of the older or more exotic designs like the Trailside or High Standards. They're fine pistols, but you might have to pay through the nose for accessories, magazines, or gun smithing in case you ever have problems or want to get something like a trigger job done.


I would also mention that you should probably think about if there's a chance you'll ever want to put a scope or a suppressor on this gun. If so, you'll probably want to get one with a picatinny rail, or get one with a threaded barrel.

If that stuff isn't important, I'd suggest just perusing the various models of .22 pistols from Browning, Ruger, or Smith, and picking out the one that strikes your interest.

call1911 said:

Hi folks!
I'm new to this forum so I hope to not step on any toes here too soon.

Might not be an (easy to get) option at your place but IMHO the best bang for the money would be a Hämmerli 208 or 215.
At my place they usually go for about €400 which would be US$450 at the momen
The Ruger MkIV is a great gun but many people don't like the grip angle.
If you are a 1911 guy, like I am you'll luv the Hämmerli.
I also prefer older guns to newer and if it's Swiss Made like the 208/215 there's no chance I'd get me something like a MkIV.

You do not have to shell out extra money for an acceptable trigger coz the original one in the Hämmerli is already superb.
View attachment 909306

Click to expand...

If I could get a Hämmerli 208 stateside for $450, I'd snap it up immediately. Over here, last time I looked, those things were around $2,000 and rare as hen's teeth; ever only seen in very select .22 competition circles.

I have a S&W 22a target pistol which I like a lot. Dead on at 25 yds with a red dot sight. That model is discontinued now but i'm sure they are still around.