.22 rimfire target gun

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Ken C

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I'm ready to buy a .22 pistol but not quite sure about which one. Looked at the S & W Model 41 but it's just too much money. What's next in line ? The S & W Model 22A/S, Browning Buckmark, Ruger Mark III. Ruger Single Six, S & W 617 ... Is there a ranking somewhere ? :confused:

I also plan on a .22 rifle to go with it, probably a Henry, but that's another story. :)

Ken C
 
I looked at the various target pistols for over a year. I narrowed it down to the Ruger Mark 3 and the Browning Buckmark. However, the Ruger is harder to disassemble.

I got a chance to rent a Buckmark, and I knew I wanted it after shooting it. The grip is more comfortable than on the RUger (I found the grip on the S&W 22A to be too fat).

I got a Buckmark Camper for $248 and then put my own Fiber Optic front sight on it.

22-9copy.gif
 
I was in the same boat a few months ago. I also narrowed it down to the ruger and the buckmark. I went for the ruger and put a set of hogue rubber grips on it. My buddy has a buckmark, they both shoot well. The ruger is heavier and built like a tank. Most the rugers are already tapped and come with a scope mount if you plan to go that route. Some buckmarks are, but they are a little more expensive. The rugers are NOT hard to disassemble/reassemble. You just have to have an understanding of what needs to be where (easy to figure out, and I have very limited experience). For me it came down to the design of the rugers that I liked so much. The fact that the entire reciever is one peice of steel with no bolts and fasteners.

Sorry if this doesnt help, it all really comes down to personal taste.
 
I have a S&W Model 41, 617, Ruger MK II 678GC, MK III 512. I feel the Rugers are the most cost effective. My MK II is super accurate and the MK III is still breaking in, but quite good. Is the M41 better? Perhaps. You get what you pay for, but the Rugers are really a pretty good deal.
 
They are all nice guns and I don't believe you can go wrong with any of them but:
The ruger mk II and mk III are prettier especially in stainless. I've never cared for the grip angle but I just got a Hogue grip and that helps alot. The magazines are the hardest for me to load and the magazine release is worst of the three in my experience.
The buckmark has the best grip of the three. It has a nice feel with a metal frame that is similar to my 1911s plus the magazine release is much more like my big bore autos. It also has the best magazines. They are so well made that they look like they belong to a more expensive gun.
The smith 22A or 22S is a different animal. The grip is OK. Downside is no one makes a replacement grip so you are stuck with factory. The mag release is unusual but once I've gotten used to it, its the fastest and the one I use for speed events. The smith's stong points are ease of disassembly, which takes seconds and no tools and the ease of mounting optics to the rib on the top of the gun without affecting the sights.

It really comes down to what you want to use it for and how do you like the feel and controls. I like each in its own way and thats why I have 2 of each. :D
 
Take a look at the middle level High Standards as a possibility (Victor, Supermatic). Many swear by them. I have a Victor that shoots real well. Doesn't like Remington Golden Bullets, but functions and shoots well with the copper plated stuff (CCI, and Federal). My other is a Ruger Mark II that I'm pleased with, but the Victor puts it to shame because of the trigger. I don't do any competition shooting.

I need to get a Buckmark. I've picked them up and looked at them many times. They feel real good. Haven't mostly because I primarily am a revolver guy and that is where my $ get spent.
 
You pretty well summed up what is available in decent .22 pistols right now.
22A Smith and Wessons are another choice but the Browning, Ruger, and Smith pretty well dominate what I see going out the door.

I own a Smith 41
I favor the Browning design over the Ruger for a number of reasons in an affordable target type pistol.

If you are wanting a fixed sight general purpose .22 semi-auto handgun I still lean to the Ruger RST-4 or RST-6 in blue over anything else that is new in the box.
 
Looked at the S & W Model 41 but it's just too much money.
Click to expand...

I used to think that also. Went for years not being able to justify spending almost $800 on "just" a .22

However... if I were to have kept track of all the money I spent buying/trading "plinkers" and all the "do dads" I hung on them, I could have bought several model 41's. When all I really wanted all those years was a model 41.

You'll never be really satisfied until you get one.

41_t.jpg

Save a little longer. You'll be happy you did.

Good Luck...

Joe
 
S & W 41 the best!

As Joe said, the best of the ones you mention is the S&W model 41. I have one for more than 25 years, with two barrels one heavy and one slim. It´s very accurate, has the best triger of the batch. The triger is one of the most important things for shooting a pistol with accuracy.
It will last you a lifetime and more.
I also own a Ruger Mk I and a Browning Medallist, but for competition the S&W is always the one I choose.
 
Opinions differ on which is best, S&W 41's or High Standards.
Here are some classic HS's. American craftsmanship at its finest!
spacegun.jpg
hscollection1.jpg
 
You're Getting a Henry, why not get a Single Action .22 to go with it?
This is a '60s Frontier Scout, made by Colt.
Equivalent guns are Ruger Single Six, Uberti Stallion, Cimmaron "Model P Junior" and Lightning, EAA Bounty Hunter, and Heritage Rough Rider
http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=59255&d=1181658711
http://www.uberti.com/firearms/Cattleman.tpl
http://www.cimarron-firearms.com/Sp...cimarron-firearms.com/Specialty/Lightning.htm
http://www.ruger-firearms.com/Firea...ation=Blued Convertible&bct=Yes&type=Revolver
http://eaacorp.com/handguns-witness-revolvers.html
http://www.heritagemfg.com/site/
 
If you are serious about target shooting, dont waste your time on buckmarks, Rugers, Neo's, or anything else. Get a S&W 41 or a High Standard. I went the Hi standard route, and couldent be happier. I'm not a great pistol shot, but I know a guy who is, and he shot a clean, one ragged hole in the 10ring 10 shot group at 50feet on a 50'NRA Bullseye target.

Its a 1963 Hamden High Standard Olympic .22short

hamden1.gif

Cap0033.gif
 
Yes, a 41 or HS would be nice, maybe later. Right now I think it's between the Browning Buckmark and the Ruger Mark III.

So, if these were the only two choices, the Ruger Mark III Hunter and the Buckmark Bullseye Target, which to go with ? I plan on 'scoping' the pistol as well.

Ken C
 
As Joe said, the best of the ones you mention is the S&W model 41. I have one for more than 25 years, with two barrels one heavy and one slim. It´s very accurate, has the best triger of the batch. The triger is one of the most important things for shooting a pistol with accuracy.
It will last you a lifetime and more
Click to expand...

This is one of the best features of th M-41. Remove magazine, lock slide back, rotate trigger guard down , lift off barrel and rear sight(one piece) and place new barrel and sight on, rotate trigger guard up to lock in place, insert magazine and it's ready to go. You can go from a long barrel target model to a short barrel field model that mimics the feel of a 1911. S&W used to offer several extra barrel options, other's such as Clark's in Shreveport, La offer speciality barrels, scope mount barrels ect.
 
I'd suggest that you hold out for a good used Ruger MK-II in either the 5 1/2" bull barrel or the Government Target model. Though it is not drilled/tapped for scope mounting there are several mounts that do not require drilling/tapping, with the Wiegand coming to mind first.

The MK-III "advantages" are a loaded chamber indicator, a magazine disconnect, a push button release for the magazine, and "contoured" bolt ears for easier bolt manipulation. None of these is an advantage for target shooting, and the first two make disassembly/reassembly more complicated and make gunsmithing more difficult.

I shoot Rugers exclusively in competition and am not intimidated by Smith 41s, Pardinis, Hammerlis, Benellis, Steyrs, etc. It's much more a matter of how well you shoot the gun you have than what gun you shoot.

Tigerseye
 
I am fond of Rugers. I have a couple of Mark IIs. I also have an S&W 617 which I think I shoot better than the Rugers. I had the trigger done and a red dot mounted on it. I can DA ten shots into one very small hole. Any good gun will shoot much better than you will.

FWIW I also have a S&W 41, which I just haven't shot much, and a Beretta 87 Target, which I've been shooting a lot lately. The 87 weighs a lot less and is completely comfortable to hold which seems to be why I don't shoot the 41. Maybe I just need to build my arms up more.
 
i actually wanted to like the buckmark better, because i'd heard so much about how hard the ruger is to reassemble. i shot better with a ruger, so that's what i ended up buying.

took me an hour the first time to learn the secret and since then it's a breeze to reassemble the ruger. here's the secret: hammer forward, hammer strut hanging back. that's it. if they would have just put that in the instruction manual i'll bet this whole "ruger is hard to assemble" thing wouldn't be spread all over the internet.
 
trailsidecompetition.jpg

Sig Arms just came out with this Trailside companion competition model .22 pistol. I have heard good things from its accuracy. May want to check them out.

Best Wishes
 
I'm reading with interest. I'm shooting bullseye with a Ruger MkI long and heavy barrel pistol that my dad bought me in the mid 60s, used. With Wolf Match Target it shoots better than I do. Always have an eye out for another target pistol, but I'm thinking a Baikal 35M off Gunbroker.
 
I really like my 5.5" bull barrel Mark II. As said, they are not drilled for scope mounts, so I'd probably go with the Mark III that is similar. Good shooting gun. You don't really gain much with the longer barrel of the Hunter model and it's more expensive.

Of the two you are looking at, get the one that feels the best in your hand. It is not the end of the world if you buy the other one later; you might just want to if you like to shoot 22's. I lean toward the autos for big plinking sessions and target shooting, but I really prefer shooting Colt or Smith revolvers in 22.

Added: For major plinking sessions, I bring several 22 handguns. Honestly, if I'm shooting 22's at the range, I'll have several with me there too. It is good to have a loader. :)
 
The Ruger Mark series is good. I personally prefer the Buck Mark. I've owned both the Single Six and the 617. Both are excellent but the semi-autos are more fun for plinking.
-David
 
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