which would ya'll get? 22lr

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old fart

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my local shop has a few 22lr guns on sale, the more expensive more so than the cheaper ones. i have a ruger lcr9mm for a carry gun and have wanted a 22lr for a while. i never could save enough but a few friends got together and put enough money together to give me and with the rule i have to get a 22lr with it. i guess i have worried them sick talking about one, so i went to my local store and they have these to chose from. a heritage rough rider 6 inch barrel $159, a north american arms black widow 2 inch $275, north american arms mini master 4 inch $285, a ruger lcr $349. all guns come with a free 400rd box of browning 22lr solid lead. they only have one of each and i plan on going tomorrow morning. i am leaning toward the ruger because my 9mm lcr has been great. the gun will mostly be used for plinking and maybe rabbit or squirrel if they sit still, my wife is recoil shy and has said she may try it as well. so which would ya'll choose and why?, thanks for any help.
 
Of the ones you've listed I definitely opt for the Ruger LCR. As a semi-auto option you can't beat the Ruger Mk III's. One of those with the 4" bull barrel would be my choice. It'll last a lifetime and is extremely accurate.
 
Ruger MK series goes back far enough to be considered old school.

22/45 is a great pistol.

Look at Ruger single six or single ten also.
 
Absolutely the Ruger. The North American Arms mini-guns are cute and kind of cool for a "deep, deep cover" gun, but at the range the novelty wears off quick -- they just aren't much fun to shoot. The Heritage is cool if you want a cowboy gun, but again, at the range you'll get tired of poking the empties out one-by-one, and it's not a gun you'd ever want to carry. I think the Ruger wins hands-down.
 
if it weren't so close to Christmas i would see what could be ordered but i have to get whats at the shop as none will guarentee anything coming in by Christmas. the other two shops near me have no 22 at all.
 
Funny that you would post this. I just returned from the range this afternoon, where I spent a frustrating session with my Ruger LCR .22. It wouldn't hit anywhere close to where I was aiming it. I don't think you can blame operator error, as the other gun I took to the range, a Smith 686 .357/.38, went EXACTLY where I wanted shots to go. I told my wife afterward that I'm going to sell the LCR. It has never been particularly accurate. I have friends who have the LCR in .38 and they rave about it. But as a plinker pistol, for me, it's not a keeper. I've never been disappointed in a Ruger gun until now.
 
Old fart, what is your goal for the new gun? If it's further practice for drawing and getting a first shot off the LCR is clearly the ideal choice for you as it matches your other LCR. But if this one would be intended more for fun plinking and some casual bullseye shooting then I'd strongly suggest that "D)None of the Above" is the right answer.

The Heritage has a mixed reputation for accuracy. Some rave about it but a pretty good number rave at it. I know from the time I shot one that belonged to a buddy that it was about on par with a couple of old H&R revolvers I have. Namely pretty poor accuracy that even on a bad day for me make me look worse than I really am.

The NAA stuff is just what toivo suggested too. Great fun but really more of a novelty. I've got one and I love it and even 5 years on it still keeps me smiling. But it's not a serious use or serious accuracy gun. So that leaves you with the LCR. Or perhaps up the game a hair and go for the SP101-22? The longer barrel would give you a little more sight line to work with for better plinking accuracy. Or a Ruger Single Six or Single Ten if you want something that'll last forever and let you contact your inner cowboy? Along that line Uberti and Pietta have also introduced 6 and 10 shot versions of the old Colt 1873 guns with fixed sights that look that much more proper. Or if you can swing the cost shop for a used good condition S&W Model 17 or K22. They are pricey but WOW! DO THEY SHOOT WELL!

There are Charter and Taurus options as well. But you'll have to make up your own mind on their quality. I've read enough about them that they would not be my first choice... but then I already have an old three screw Single Six and a S&W 17 in the safe. So I'm good.

Keep in mind that accuracy with a .22 is fairly reliant on the trigger feel. And when you pay more for a gun a good part of the extra cost is ensuring a good feeling trigger.
 
Do yourself a favor and stay away from all of your mentioned choices except the Ruger lcr. I had a heritage and though it technically functioned it wasn't meant to be used much and their use is limited as is their accuracy.

I would seriously consider a buckmark or a Ruger mkiii. Both can be had for around $300.

The lcr has a heavy trigger compared to your 9mm version if that matters to you.
 
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I've heard the 22 LCRs need a bit more of a practiced trigger due to them having to smack that rim pretty hard to be reliable.

Of the ones listed, I would probably go with the LCR. I'd like to see them do a .22 or .22 mag with a 3" barrel as an ultra light hiking gun.
 
I have an NNA and they are more of a gun you get just so you have one of everything. Personally I wouldn't have much use for a DAO .22 either, so I guess I would go for the 6" single action. I would rather add a little money and get a Ruger single six though.
 
a heritage rough rider 6 inch barrel $159, a north american arms black widow 2 inch $275, north american arms mini master 4 inch $285, a ruger lcr $349. all guns come with a free 400rd box of browning 22lr solid lead. they only have one of each and i plan on going tomorrow morning..

Out of those, the Ruger LCR hands down. Too bad the LCR doesn't have an exposed and cockable hammer. I think .22 LR revolvers really need the option of single action fire.
 
I am a very pleased owner of three LCR 22 lr revolvers, one in 22 mag, and one 38. That should give you some idea which I would suggest of those on your list!

BOARHUNTER
 
If I were in the market for a 22 revolver, the Ruger 10-shot D.A. or the S.A. would be my only two choices. I like things that work & work well.
 
I tried a Heritage, Sights were way off with no way to adjust, so I sold it. Everything else was fine. I also prefer 22 revolvers. Even though I have a Mark II which I love, I still wanted a revolver, preferably a SA/DA small frame steel revolver.

My choices were down to a Charter Pathfinder, Taurus 94, and Rossi Plinker (also made by Taurus.) I found a blued Rossi for $280, and very happy with it. Of the three you posted, I would go for the Ruger, but I would hold out for a hammer.
 
Of the ones you listed, the LCR.

The NAA's are quality but are also as described above based on my 1st hand experience.

The Heritage is a little hit and miss quality wise based on what I've read. I think it's a load 5 out if 6 fir carry and/or has a funky safety set up but I'm not sure on that.

Moving away from the 4 you listed I'd try for a ruger single action single 6 or single 10 or the bearcat if the money is there and if not or you want DA, then the charter and taurus.
 
The LCR in 22LR is a great little revolver. The only thing that I like better is the S&W M63 (2.5") which is a lot more expensive (like double). I really like my LCR in 22LR. I recommend it over the others you mentioned.
 
I'll have to be another vote for none of the above.

The Ruger LCR .22 is good trainer for double action snub-nose work, but with the short barrel and DAO trigger it is not very satisfactory as a plinking gun. And I definitely would not recommend it for rabbits or squirrels.

I would suggest holding out for a used Ruger single action if you want a good plinker.

I know you don't want a semi-auto, but .22 caliber revolvers have a disadvantage in terms of cost. A very good semi-auto .22, like a Ruger MK III, costs a lot less to manufacture than a good centerfire. The .22 costs less to make because it can use a blowback action. Any centerfire semi-auto larger than 380 ACP needs to use a locked breach action, and that costs more to manufacture. And because blow-back actions use a fixed barrel, they can be very accurate even with moderate manufacturing costs.

To make a high quality and accurate .22 revolver costs about as much as making a centerfire revolver. A good revolver needs tight tolerances in the action and in the cylinder to bore alignment. And those tight tolerances cost just as much with a .22 as with a larger caliber.
 
I have a .22LR LCR; the heaviest DA trigger pull I've ever experienced, hands down.

I bought it as a training pistol, and it works great for that; after shooting it, everything else feels like it's had a custom trigger job done.

That said, I believe it's just the necessary evil of any DA .22 revolver; a mainspring with enough force to fire any rimfire cartridge it's fed.
 
As an understudy for your LCR - the LCR in 22lr
For plinking / squirrel hunting - a Ruger Single Six or Single Ten
 
Since you already have the 9mm LCR, the .22 LCR makes sense.
I really like mine, it fits my hand perfect, doesn't need aftermarket grips.

I actually think the LCR trigger on mine was pretty good out the box, no reduced springs required like all my S&W's. But I have been a DA revolver shooter for 40 years so I have a strong trigger finger.

Model 63 S&W 8 shot and NAA mini also, the mini is fun but hard to hit anything, laser helps.
The 63 is nice but heavier and more expensive than the LCR.

small22s.jpg
 
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The LCR among your choices, but like almost everyone else... I'd recommend something else. I'd see if they might have a good used SW or Ruger revolver with at least a 4" barrel.
 
Unabashed Ruger fan here but my last two rimfire revolvers, SP101, LCR, were both disappointments. Trigger pulls off the charts and our great gunsmith could do little about them. I love my Single Six, my MKI, II and the rest of my small collection, but the best thing I can say about the LCR is that I bought it cheap and got a great trade on a Kimber Micro.
 
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