.22lr auto or double action revolver

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johnnylaw53

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I will be retiring soon after 30 years LEO while I'm happy to be leaving I have notice that my access to cheap (free) ammo will dry up. So I"m going to get a .22 lr to shoot cheap. I also have my beretta and S&W 642 that I will shoot now and then but i really don't want to spend the money to shoot them as much as I would like to shoot. so I''m going to get a .22lr hand gun just not sure which to get a semi auto or revolver. If I go revolver I would want to go double action as I had a single action .22 ruger many years ago and didn't like loading it. What would you suggest to be a good .22

be safe
 
My Ruger 45/22 served me well for so many years and is built like a tank and super reliable to boot. Check it out.
 
If you are going to retire, you will need a hobby or you will die setting in your Lazy-Boy watching Oprah..

Time to take up reloading so you can continue to shoot centerfire almost as cheaply as .22 RF.

rc
 
You might consider a H&R 999 Sportsman, or one of their other revolvers. (used of course)
 
Semi auto or revolver... both.
Really depends on which you prefer. How much are you wanting to spend?
 
Although I love a good revolver I tend to lean toward semi-autos for .22 LR.

I don't know if it's the luxury of not dealing with empties (since you can't reload .22s) or the increased capacity, but you just can't beat a good .22 auto.

Either way, good luck on your retirement!
 
Hi, Johnny.
Allow me to sugest.
Autoloaders
Browning; any Buckmark
Ruger Mark 1-2-3 (1 don't hold the slide open on last) or 22/45 will serve you fine.
Now why not a centerfire with a conversion kit like CZ 75-b or 1911.
Revolvers
S&W any masterpiece 4" or 6", expensives but pure joy to shoot.
H&R 929 4" frugal but works just fine to have fun.

CZHenry
Fl
 
My all time favorite plinking gun might be what ou are looking for, but you'll have to be patient and shop a bit. Beretta model 70s, or Model 71, in .22. No longer made, you can find them at gunshows or at auction on the internet. Light, compact, with nice triggers, they have "fixed", non tilting barrels ane are very accurate. And, you can almost put them in a back pocket without much more discomfort than your wallet.http://www.uzitalk.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=6696&d=1148330512
 
a good 'companion/training piece' to the j-frame airweight 642 .... the airlite 317 ('chief's special'/exposed hammer). S & W now advertises a 'centennial' version (hammerless/enclosed hammer, like the 642) as well. Closest approximation to the size/weight/handling of your 642.

If you had a 36, 49, or a model 60, I'd suggest the 34 or the 63 (steel).

Congratulations on your upcoming retirement. :)
 
If you don't already own a Ruger Mark II/III pistol...why?

I just can't believe that a law officer wouldn't already own one! The pistols are great for target shooting, plinking and self defense — and how many guns can be said to be proficient in all three?

The Rugers are fun to shoot, as I'm sure you know. They're well priced, dependable, good investments (and did I mention that it's fun to shoot?).


RugerMarkII_11.gif
 
I would say get yourself a Browning Buckmark. I have shot a couple and their accuracy and durability are about as good as it gets. Did I mention that their trigger is amazing.
 
If I had to choose between my K-22 Masterpiece and my Colt Woodsman, I would keep the K-22, but it would be a hard to part with the Woodsman.
 
i'm gonna have to go with confederate on this one. the rugers are really great. i love my 22/45 ruger with bull barrel.
 
I chose to go with a revolver, I have a FIE 22 single action and a S&W Mod 63, saving up for a S&W 617 10 shot 6" barrel. I had a Ruger 22/45 but sold it. The ruger was a fine gun, accurate and well made. I chose to sell it because I got tired of picking up 22 brass, is much easier and better at the range to just empty the cylinder into the bucket than crawl around to find it on the ground. Also has some issues with certain types of ammo not working in the ruger, never had a problem in my revolvers.
 
I'd go for the Ruger Mk II or III. Either the standard model or the 22/45 depending on which grip style and angle you prefer.

I have both and they have been 100% for me, no problems of any kind.

The mags may take a little bit of time to reload but I can't carry 3 extra cylinders for a revolver in my back pocket! :)
 
An important question yet to be asked is How will you be shooting the gun? SAO?

You're contemplating a DA revolver, and I can wholly recommend a 617, 17, 18 or K-22, but they're pricey and if you hate shooting DA and end up shooting it SA most or all the time, I'd recommend the MkII/III or Buckmark (all fine pistols) for the reasons McGunner outlined below:

Go for the auto, much more for the money and more quality guns available. I have a Ruger Mk2 among others, but the Browning Buckmark is a good gun. These two sort of set the standard for .22 autos. They're easily affordable, reliable, and very accurate.
Click to expand...
 
IMO Ruger MkIII v S&W 617.

The revolvers are quite pricey but if you have the money that is the direction I'd take.
 
Tough decision. I have a S&W 617 as my only DA .22 revolver and love it, but I love SA revolvers also. Mine are all Ruger. I love my Ruger MkI, II, and III autos, but a S&W 41 is super nice also. I have several conversion units for the 1911 and I love shooting them too.

After I retire I intend on shooting my TC Contender a lot more. Yes its a single shot, but you can spend an enjoyable afternoon not eating up too much ammo and pick ammo from .22 to something that would flatten a large critter.
 
Congratulations on your retirement!

I don't know if I'm any help. I chose 'both.' I have a Ruger 22/45 that I love to shoot but hate to take down for cleaning. Last winter I had a chance at a S&W model 48 that has 22 mag and 22 LR cylinders. I broke a long standing rule and sold a couple guns that were collecting dust to finance it. The Smith does come to the range more often than the Ruger now largely because nothing fits my hand like a K frame Smith. My kids like shooting it too.

I looked at conversion kits but kept thinking 'I could buy a whole gun for that much money.' So I got the Ruger. The 22/45 kept the controls in the right places.

The S&W revolvers do run more $ than the Ruger autos but if I had to choose, I'd keep the S&W. (Time to drop some hints about retirement presents?)
 
I have and use both. If one goes away for whatever reason, it will be replaced. If utterly forced, I would take a revolver over an auto, as 1) I simply prefer them, 2) revolvers are better for teaching new shooters, and 3) I simply prefer them.

Frankly, it's hard for me to imagine why someone would ask for advice on the subject. (See 1) and 3).)
 
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