Colt Match Target Woodsman .22

That's almost like cheating lol. It's probably better than the S&W M41.

Amazing pistol. I regularly shoot Bullseye pistol and can say I have never seen a Colt Woodsman, they must be super rare. If I had one suggestion, find and buy magazines. Triple K has new production magazines, and I would stock up. I have had discussions with shooters who have rare target 22's and the cost of replacement magazines. Once the things go out of production, you can pay hundreds for a magazine.

As a general rule, don't dry fire the thing. Firing pins can break with repeated dry firing. I will pull the trigger to let the hammer down and ease the mainspring and that is about it for dry firing . Find a replacement recoil spring, the original is worn and taken a set. I guarantee it. Wolff has new springs.

This was almost new in the box. Almost, the second owner barely shot it.This is a 60's M46 S&W, the M41 is from the 1970's. Its recoil spring was weak.

Not sure about the newer model Woodsman/Huntsman, but my pre-war Woodsman strongly suggests standard velocity ammo. Apparently it is not recommended for high velocity and hyper velocity is a definite no-no.

I have a Targetsman that feels great but my Ruger Standard .22 outshoots it. Maybe it's the thumb shelf that throws me off?

I've got 3 myself, a 1935 6" barrel, a 1939 Match Target, and a third series from 1966. The guns haven't been made for a while so the biggest thing to look for is general wear and tear like any other firearm. The earliest models were limited to regular velocity ammo and had checkered mainspring housing in the web where your thumb rest. Other than that there's not any weaknesses in the gun design. It's a 22 they'll last a long time and you can still buy replacement mainsprings if needed.

They aren't common guns by any means but they also aren't too hard to find in good condition. I bought mine online as finding then locally doesn't happen very often. If you search long enough finding one in good condition for $500 to $600 is possible. You can get them for cheaper but they'll usually have more wear. The Match Targets usually run for $1,000 to $1,500. The one pictured above is a 3rd series Match Target and I'd expect that to sell for $1,250+ easily. The fixed sight guns are also really good guns and should shoot just as well assuming the ammo you are using is regulated for the fixed sights.

If you are looking for one make sure it is the eject the mag with the finger button, not the heel clip release IMHO and the early 50s ones are probably the best and have that button release feature which is handy and classy. There are more accurate pistols out there , but they are near top of the heep .

The very first pistol I ever bought was a Colt Woodsman Match Target, as pictured above, in 1968. It proved to be a flawless work of gun maker's art. Through many thousands of rounds it never faltered. I've had scores of other guns but never one as well made and perfect as the Woodsman. Never had to replace any parts. If you can shoot well it will consistently deliver results.

I bought a new Colt Woodsman sport 3rd series years ago. It was also the first firearm I purchased as an adult, on my own. I thought at the time also it was a work of art. Well put together, pretty walnut grips and the blue finish was mirror like. No other firearms manufacturer can blue one like Colt. Through being poor and just starting a family, I had to sell the little Colt. I had to part with other firearms during this time in my life also. I regretted loosing the Colt Woodsman sport more than any firearm that I have ever owned. A while back I found a new in the box with all the paperwork, made in 1976. I bought it and it was shipped to my ffl dealer. It seemed like it took forever for it to get to me, even though it was here inside a week. Before I received it, I had planned on using, carry and shoot this gun, but after I got it I decided to keep this little Colt in pristine condition, put in in a presentation case and just display it in in my home office/gun room. I ordered a leather covered case off eBay from awallfisherman. He makes the reproduction cases for the Browning Medalist, Hi powers, 1911’s and others. I special order a case covered in brown leather, with blue velvet interior. His cases are very responsible priced, others sell for $1000+ but his are 200 or less, and he does excellent work. I also ordered some Colt lapel pins and a Colt trade label to dress it up some. All put together and cased the little Colt is a thing of beauty to look at. It reminds me of when I was young and gives me a sense of regaining something I had to part with for the greater good of my family. Firearms like these are gone forever. No company can produce something made and machined like this that can sell at reasonable price. The ruger.22 was the downfall of the colt woodsman and now the stamped out metal, aluminum, pot metal and plastic is taking over. They work but that’s about all. There is no real craftsmanship in them. They don’t have a sole like a Colt Woodsman. It is not the same holding a plastic pistol or a rifle with a synthetic stock, as it is holding walnut and steel. Old well made guns, in new condition are going to be priced out of reach of most people pretty soon. The young generation will never know what they have missed from the past. We have gained affordable firearms but we have lost a lot better than what we grained. There won’t be too many walnut and steel firearms in time. Sad guns like these are gone forever.

Gordon said:

If you are looking for one make sure it is the eject the mag with the finger button, not the heel clip release

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I'm not sure why you'd prioritize the location of the magazine release on a pistol meant for serious (i.e., Bullseye) target shooting. When trying to put my bullet inside the ten-ring on a target, the very last thing that might concern me is where the mag release button is.

I think they are classiest, and my Dad bought one new to shoot bullseye around1952-53. In 62 he bought a Ruger Mark one Target model and had it a little modified and said his score went up alibis down.

SwampWolf said:

I'm not sure why you'd prioritize the location of the magazine release on a pistol meant for serious (i.e., Bullseye) target shooting. When trying to put my bullet inside the ten-ring on a target, the very last thing that might concern me is where the mag release button is.

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There is nothing wrong with the heel magazine release. The second series Woodsman is just said to be the best series made. The short comings of the pre and 1st series were just corrected and the 3rd series Woodsmans was scaled down somewhat to better compete with the ruger .22 auto. The rugers eventually brought an end to the Woodsman. Even the huntsman, targetsman, and the 2nd series challenger could not be made at a price point that would compete with the ruger .22 auto. The Colt Woodsman was made with forged steel parts and well fitted and finished. The ruger was made with stamped and cast parts. Colt just could not compete and as a result was losing money on them and just stopped making them. The Woodsman was just to well made and could not be scaled back enough to sell close to the ruger. It was just too well made. That is it.

Too bad being well made is not all ways the most reliable or accurate. The old High Standards were better than them all IMHO in those departments (tho the Match Target Colts were outstanding especially series 2) , but when gunsmiths learned how to accurize Ruger Targets their days were over. My dad actually held out till 63 or 64 but he was impressed with the results in the previous year or so of guys with the Ruger Targets and tired of the Colt Woodsman not feeding often enough I had a High Standard Citation during same period and it was a jamomatic but extremely accurate. I heard the S&W Autos were very good but never had one. I had a Browning Medalist and it fed well and was very accurate but sold it years back when I needed money and didn't want to wear it and lose value .
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Gordon said:

Too bad being well made is not all ways the most reliable or accurate. The old High Standards were better than them all IMHO in those departments (tho the Match Target Colts were outstanding especially series 2) , but when gunsmiths learned how to accurize Ruger Targets their days were over. My dad actually held out till 63 or 64 but he was impressed with the results in the previous year or so of guys with the Ruger Targets and tired of the Colt Woodsman not feeding often enough I had a High Standard Citation during same period and it was a jamomatic but extremely accurate. I heard the S&W Autos were very good but never had one. I had a Browning Medalist and it fed well and was very accurate but sold it years back when I needed money and didn't want to wear it and lose value .
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I have a High Standard 104 Citation, HD military and a SH series citation. Also a Browning medalists, Smith model 41, Colt Targetsman and a Woodsman Sport and a Ruger mkii target. The High Standards are very accurate and feed well if good magazines are used and are adjusted correctly. High Standards do not have a feed ramp, so the magazine condition and adjustment is critical. They are picky on ammo and CCI standard velocity seems to do better in mine. I have not shot the medalist much but the CCI standard velocity works well in it also. Never had any problems with the model 41 with anything shot through it. The same with the Colt Targetsman. My Woodsman Sport has not been shot and will remain that way. These .22 autos all work well with good ammo, good magazines and good, and cleaning. The Ruger mkii is my field gun and has never gave me any trouble. I can't remember it ever jamming. It is a good gun just not as refined as the others but refined is not what sends bullets out the end of the barrel. Right now the Ruger mk series are the best .22 autos on the market. Ruger got there by making a .22 that works well, producing them at a price point that could sell cheaper than what the compation could sell their .22 autos for. Ruger brought in innovations that changed the game for all gun manufacturers. They used investment cast and stamped parts, where Colt, High Standard, Browning, Smith and Wesson and others were using forged steel and a lot of hand fitted forged parts. Smith and Wesson is still making the model 41 but it is nitch, High end .22 auto and I guarantee they are not sell as many as Ruger is. The Ruger mk series are good guns and they work but they are not made with the same level of craftsmanship as the others, that are gone. The best way I can explain what I meant is this way. Now you can go in any gun shop or even Wailmart and buy a good bolt action rifle, with a synthetic stock, rough\dull finish and a rough action, working the bolt. Will it do the job. Sure it will but it is just a tool. About like a hammer or screwdriver. You can also get a bolt action rifle with a very nice deep finish. Nice walnut stock and a very slick actin. It will do the same as the other rifle. It just has a higher level of craftsmanship and will be something the owner takes great pride in and will see as more than just a tool. That is still possible to get in a rifle but it is not possible to get that in .22 auto pistol anymore. The Ruger mk series are a bit more than just a tool. You can slick them up, change the grips to some pretty wood and do all kinds of custom work on them. Ruger just changed the .22 auto market because a lot of people just see the .22 auto as a plinking or maybe a truck gun. There are no a lot of people willing to pay top money for a .22 auto pistol. They are just not seen the same as other firearms. So Ruger brought about the end of the high end .22 auto pistols. Much the same as the Remington 870 killed the Winchester Model 12 or the Remington model 700 killed the pre 64 Winchester Model 70. It was just new manufacturing methods, brought good cheaper firearms to the market and everyone had to change their ways of manufacturing firearms to stay in business. The Ruger mk .22 autos are good firearms and they work well but they are not what the Colt Woodsman was. They were never meant to be.

Lionking if you are itching for one get it. Folks are proud of themthough. I have a match target 2nd series built in 1948. Its a great shooter and very well made. However the fellas are right. My Mk 1 Ruger and S&W 41 will wear out the X ring. My Colt likes to dance around in the 10 ring with an occasional X. I do like it and it will be passed on, I dont think I could sell it, too cool.

I inherited a first series (c. 1929) from my grandfather. It was carried a lot from the wear on it, and I’m sure it was shot plenty, too. Came with two original mags, also! I haven’t shot it a ton, but it is a blast. Not sure how “accurate” it is - I’m certainly not the best with a pistol, yet - but it’s “minute-of-soda-can” and that’s enough for now. Hoping I can get practiced and take it squirrel hunting. To me, it just screams class.

Fair enough. The Match Target models are definitely, especially desirable. Cool pistol with a very interesting history/legacy.

Referring to your initial post, 6” barrel and adjustable sights - the match target is not the only model which meets this criteria. The standard 6” target model from at least the first series (like the one I shared) also has adjustable sights. The bull barrel sets the MT model apart.