Need suggestions for .22 pistol

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Sniper66

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I'm looking to buy a plinker .22 semi-auto pistol. I've owned several and for one reason or another, I sold them. So let's rule out the ones I got rid of.......GSG 1911, an OK shooter, but didn't like the grip safety. Walther PPK/S...don't recall why I sold it. Browning Buckmark, a good shooter, but jammed often regardless of ammo or tinkering. Browning 1911 which I bought for my wife as a gift but she never warmed up to it and she wanted something else. After selling all these I bought a Ruger Mark III 22/45 Lite for my wife and she loves it. Now I want one for general tin-can plinking. Here's the somewhat unusual circumstance. I have a tremor that creates some special challenges for shooting a pistol. Longer barrels give me fits which is one of the reasons I grew to dislike the Buckmark. I shoot my Kimber Micro .380 reasonably well and my Sig P320 M17 9mm. Have learned that I shoot short barrel pistols better. I've considered the Glock 44, so please make suggestions comparable to the Glock 44.
 
The SR22 is a great little gun but you are dealing with a very short sight radius. The MK IV 22/45 lite weights a little more than the SR22 and might work for you plus it has a longer sight radius. In answer to Armored Farmer Ruger's website show all the lites having the same barrel length. I believer the regular 22/45 has the same length barrel. Perhaps a dealer would let you compare the two and see which one is works best for you. You didn't ask for tremor advise but I am going to give some. I have tremors and without medical help I wouldn't be able to shoot a pistol except off a rest. If you haven't done so go see a doctor, preferably a neurologist.
 
I'm looking to buy a plinker .22 semi-auto pistol. I've owned several and for one reason or another, I sold them. So let's rule out the ones I got rid of.......GSG 1911, an OK shooter, but didn't like the grip safety. Walther PPK/S...don't recall why I sold it. Browning Buckmark, a good shooter, but jammed often regardless of ammo or tinkering. Browning 1911 which I bought for my wife as a gift but she never warmed up to it and she wanted something else. After selling all these I bought a Ruger Mark III 22/45 Lite for my wife and she loves it. Now I want one for general tin-can plinking. Here's the somewhat unusual circumstance. I have a tremor that creates some special challenges for shooting a pistol. Longer barrels give me fits which is one of the reasons I grew to dislike the Buckmark. I shoot my Kimber Micro .380 reasonably well and my Sig P320 M17 9mm. Have learned that I shoot short barrel pistols better. I've considered the Glock 44, so please make suggestions comparable to the Glock 44.
Smith and Wesson model 41.
 
I had an SR22 and couldn't shoot it worth squat. The trigger was terrible.

My favorite shorter-barreled 22 pistol is my Ruger "Standard" from the early 1980's with a 4" barrel. I got it used for a little over $200. It's a great shooter.

Some of the posters on here have recommended the Raven HP22A as a fun little 22 plinker. When I found one used for $80-something I went ahead and bought it. It needed a new mainspring, and has shot just fine after I replaced it.

The Ruger has a better trigger, but the Raven is certainly an adequate plinker.


 
Couple of options:
1.If you have a Sig 226 or 220 there are conversion slides and mags to change 'em over to a .22 (I have one for my .45 220). Gives you a chance to practice with a platform you own. Also look for other brand conversion slides/mags, maybe for a .45.
2. Consider a .22 revolver. A couple of less bullets, but S&W makes some classics and Taurus has a few for the more economy minded. Ruger and others also make decent 4" guns.
3. The S&W semi-autos are the way I would go if I were doing a pistol. A couple of choices in that line.
 
I'd recommend one of these, namely, a Ruger MK IV pistol with a 5.5'' barrel...

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I've got nerve damage in one of my hands from an accident long ago that makes maintaining a steady sight picture difficult. The weight of this pistol tends to 'dampen' the effect. Might be an option worth looking into.
 
I have an old standard model Ruger that is an excellent shooter. I also have a M&P that is my training pistol (it is "Glockish") as well as my suppressor host. I shoot it quite a bit, but if my weak hand thumb is touching the aluminum slide the least bit, it will malfunction.
 
Glad that I don't have problems with my Browning Buckmark! Took it yesterday when I had a range session with the last of the Grands..they were busily emptying 25 round magazines with their 10/22's, and when I had time between loading Mags, I banged away with my Buckmark..only had one squib...fun gun, and I like it
 
Holy Bankruptcy Batman!!! OP here. I started looking into cost of 3 of these recommended pistols, Glock 44, Ruger SR22, and Taurus TX22. It is amazing. Nearly every one of them listed on GunBroker with no reserve had a dozen bids. Obviously, they are in demand. The ones with a set price were close to $500. Once you add CC fees, shipping, local FFL and taxes, you're at $600+. The Taurus a bit less, but not much. I am surprised the prices have gotten that high for a simple plinker. That being the case, I think I'm going to do a bit more shopping to see if I can find another option for plinking. Thanks for all your helpful suggestions.
 
Only things I haven’t seen advised were a Neos or a conversion kit. Since you have the tremors and they seem to be amplified by the longer guns, I would be looking squarely at a conversion kit for one of the guns I already own. Pick one that you shoot well and find the conversion. You mentioned the micro 380 as a gun that works for you, I’m curious as to why the browning 1911-22 was so off putting as they are very similar in form and controls. I would be looking at that option very heavily, and on that note I would also be looking at Llama pistols as well. I know they made small bore micro 1911s and I believe some of them were 22lr.
 
For what the OP describes, here's another vote for the Ruger Standard. Had a couple, they're built like tanks and the sight radius on the four inches isn't excessive.
 
I’ve got a TX22 with a green dot on it and it is a phenomenal pistol. It will shoot the center out of a 4 inch splatter burst target at 25yds with ease. I’ve probably put 2000 rounds through it with zero problems. It is without question the best bang for the buck of any of my pistols - and I’m talking $1000+ pistols. Don’t wait, buy this gun, you will not be sorry!
 
Tallball mentioned the Raven and I owned on for a time. I had the kit with two barrels and I couldn't shoot the short barrel for sour apples but did pretty good with the longer barrel. I couldn't really tell any difference in weight or making any difference with my tremor problem. It was dead reliable with the SV ammo I shot in it like is recommended and it fits in the inexpensive catagory. I am not exactly a great shot with the SR22 along with my wife's Walther PPK/s 22 either. Those little short barrels really magnify my mistakes.
 
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