22lr choices

22LR Choices

  • SR22

    Votes: 6 14.6%
  • Ruger 10/45 type Mk3

    Votes: 15 36.6%
  • Browning Buckmark

    Votes: 14 34.1%
  • S&W Victory

    Votes: 6 14.6%

  • Total voters
    41
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JO JO

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Well after all the good feedback from my SR22 post I went to the LGS to pick one up today and they had many new 22lr in the same $340 to $375 price range and with my additive firearm issue I like them all so possibly you all can help me out on some more opinions I am listing a poll of the ones that want to come home with me
 
I've been in your shoes and I picked Rugers mk III. 22/45 not "10/45" as you posted... I've tried the S&W but really didn't care for it. The rest on the list I have zero experience with. I love my Ruger. I put a Bushnell trs-25 red dot on it and can hit the eye of a fly on horses ass. Its a pain to disassemble but there's plenty of Youtube videos out there. Good luck!
 
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Also if you go the Ruger route, get the 22/45 that has the interchangeable grips.
 
It totally depends on your use.

Personally, I don't entirely understand what the SR22 is for, except competing with the Sig Mosquito which I don't really understand the purpose of either. I could see the appeal of a 17oz .22 pistol if it was accurate enough to pot squirrels while hiking or something, but from what I've read the SR22 isn't a good choice for that. Maybe the reviews I've read are wrong.

This would be an easy choice for me: flip a coin on the 22/45 or Buckmark.
 
Here are my 2 cents, this is a hard one. I think the MK IV is probably the most awesome .22 ever created. It is at the top of my list but is more expensive than what you are looking at. I have owned the SR 22 and loved it and will buy another one someday but of the guns you listed, I think the Victory is the best. It has easier take-down than the MK III 22/45. You can change barrels more easily too which is nice.

The victory has easier take down than the MK III, and easier barrel changes. More accurate and useful than the SR-22 and easier take-down than the Buckmark, which I am not sure you can change barrels on.

Or, save more money and go for the MK IV. Though it may need some time to see about reliability since it is so new.
 
I sure do love my Buck Mark! My friend shot it and liked it so much that he bought one of his own.

My other shooting buddy has a fabulous Ruger Mark II target model.

I don't think you can go wrong with a Buck Mark or a Ruger Mark-whatever.
 
I don't understand why the SR22 is grouped together with these guns. As Ed Ames said, flip a coin between the Buckmark and the Ruger. You'll win every time. The new mk IV target is above and beyond all other offerings on your list. In my opinion of course..
 
I, too, was concerned over what I had heard about the difficulty of takedown and reassembly of the Mark III 22/45. I bought one anyway, and was pleasantly surprised at the relative ease of takedown and reassembly. The only difficult part is remembering that when putting it back together, you must re-insert the magazine, point upward, and pull the trigger before closing the locking mechanism.

When I first got mine, I watched a video on cleaning the 22/45. The very first time it took me about 10 minutes to figure everything out. Now it takes about 20 seconds to break down, and about 30 seconds to reassemble.
 
Having been spoiled by a SIG Trailside that I owned some years ago, it is hard to recommend anything else, since I've never shot anything other 22 LR that fit my hand as well, shot as accurately, or functioned as reliably. It's a great gun to carry around the farm for varmints, squirrels, or rabbits that may pop up as targets of opportunity.

A family member has it now, and the recent reports are that it is still going strong. I expect it will be doing its thing for several generations. Too bad we only had one when SIG stopped making them. Otherwise, I could picture a bunch of happy grandchildren. Hopefully, something else will come along just as nice.
 
I have a couple Buckmarks and a SR22. The Buckmarks are by far the higher quality, more accurate, have a wonderfull trigger and are heirloom worthy. The SR22 is fun. Target match worthy or fun... which do you want?
 
Your decision should be driven by the intended purpose of the gun.

The SR-22 is a completely different type of handgun than the other three you mention,,,
I have always felt that it's purpose is to act as an inexpensive to shoot trainer for a centerfire duty gun.

The other three are essentially the same guns,,,
They are all single-action target/small game guns,,,
Those three pistols are more precise shooters than the SR-22.

It's the fact that they have a longer sight radius which makes them easier to aim,,,
And their single-action only triggers are more suited to precision shooting.

If you want a gun with which to train for self defense, get the SR-22,,,
If you want a gun to shoot targets and/or hunt small game with, get any of the other three.

I own a SR-22 and it's my best pistol for introducing newbies to shooting,,,
The DA/SA trigger, external hammer, and de-cocker allow me to teach almost all aspects of handgun shooting and safety.

But when I want to punch holes in paper and hit the bulls-eye,,,
I always grab my 22/45, my MK-III, or my Buckmark.

Aarond

.
 
The Ruger Mark IV, while a definite improvement over the previous Marks, still needs some modifications (more $$$) to make it a serious target gun. The main problem is the heavy and rough trigger pull. For starters, you need to remove the magazine disconnect mechanism, and that involves either a hammer bushing kit or a replacement Mark II hammer. Then, the trigger has a spur that engages a notch in the magazine, supposedly lifting the magazine as the trigger is pulled. That arrangement is unnecessary, and the trigger needs to be replaced. And the redesigned Mark IV sear needs to be replaced with a Volquartsen target sear. All these things start to add up.
 
I have owned a MK III and a Bukmark from your list and the Buckmark was more accurate and easier to clean. It did not like the cheaper Federal range ammo though. The Sig 1911 22 is another great shooter and it was not picky with ammo. I currently have a Ruger revolver for my 22lr plinking, but the Buckmark was the best.
 
I know this is against the grain being in the auto loader section, but no semi has come close to my H&R 999 sportsman when dinner is up a tree.
 
A year ago I would have said the Ruger or the buckmark, with a nod to the Ruger because I grew up with one, but I think Ruger has lost their minds on the pricing of the mk4. Get a buckmark. Or find a used mk2 or even a 3.

I can't make myself love the victory, and I don't get the point of the sr22.
 
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The Ruger Mark IV, while a definite improvement over the previous Marks, still needs some modifications (more $$$) to make it a serious target gun. The main problem is the heavy and rough trigger pull. For starters, you need to remove the magazine disconnect mechanism, and that involves either a hammer bushing kit or a replacement Mark II hammer.
The kit is cheap and the 25 cent trigger job will help big time, mine is a clean break at about 2.5lbs. All said and done $10.25.
 
Post 14 and 15.

IMO, the SR22 is a fun around the camp plinker that could be slipped into a fanny pack (if anyone wears those) or cargo short pockets (not recommending... just say'n)

The others are a lot bigger and heavier as well as a lot more capable of shooting at further distance with accuracy due to better sights, longer sight radius, better trigger, longer barrel.


I sold by SR22 and kept my Bersa Firestorm 22 lr even though my Bersa needs HV ammo and the SR ate anything and everything. The Bersa spoke to me more but Id generally recommend the SR22 over the Bersa if I was taking personal taste out of it.


I do have a Buckmark also... so Id pick that over the Mk?? or the Victory. The Mk?? is just as good as a Buckmark but different. The Victory is probably right there too but I don't know much about it to comment.
 
I'd have initially said the 22/45, but after looking at the S&W Victory, that seems like a real interesting piece. Though I'm sure the aftermarket etc is going to be lacking...
 
...
I own a SR-22 and it's my best pistol for introducing newbies to shooting,,,
The DA/SA trigger, external hammer, and de-cocker allow me to teach almost all aspects of handgun shooting and safety.

But when I want to punch holes in paper and hit the bulls-eye,,,
I always grab my 22/45, my MK-III, or my Buckmark.

Aarond

.

Nailed it, IMHO. We have a couple of SR-22's and a Mark II, which we use for the purposes described. The Mark II doesn't seem as difficult to take apart as the 22/45 we used to have; if we didn't have the Mark II we'd be seriously looking at some variant of the Mark IV.
 
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Consider the Phoenix Arms HP-22. It's a nice, traditional single-action pistol with an external hammer. From some of the styling cues, it seems to be attempting to emulate a "baby" 1911. Not an EDC piece, but certainly something that you can blaze away at the range using and not have to worry too much about your wallet.

This is why I say that user-submitted polls should always have an "Other" or "None of the Above" option.
 
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