Any good .22 WinMag pistols?

[telcom911]

I have recently been given 26 boxes (thats 1300 rnds) of .22 Winchester Magnum ammo. I now need somthing to shoot it out of. Looking for somthing very, very, very small. A mouse gun I can easily stash as a 'hideout' gun while working. This will be carried in addition to my Glock 22 and 27, placed somewhere that it could not be easily found. Smaller is better- and inexpensive is best!

Any suggestions?

 

[Graystar]

http://www.naaminis.com/

I have the NAA-22M. I got it with the 22LR conversion cylinder for about $150.

 

[telcom911]

Thanks for the suggestion

I just called my dealer and he ordered me a NAA mini, he quoted my $219 for the .22MSC. A .22 Magnum with a 1 1/8 inch barrel and an extra cylinder so I can shoot LR out of it also.

I am going to sew a pocket in my vest in the back right below my neck, great place to hide a third gun for "just in case."


Her is the NAAmini I ordered.

 

[22luvr]

Good choice........

I've owned 3 minis: 2 mags and one .22LR. I could never shoot any of them with any degree of accuracy. That is until I ordered the oversized rubber boot grips (NAA part #GMM-M on the NAA website) and it was like a whole new gun. It really does not add much size to the mini but adds security, plus it enables the shooter to cock and fire the single action much quicker. Check it out. The difference in handling confidence took a quantum leap.

 

[Cableman]

Smith & Wesson is making the 648 again. Probably one of the most accurate 22 mag revolvers out there. They are spendy though at $500.

If you want a cheap plinker, get a Ruger Single Six Convertible with both 22lr and 22 mag cylinders.

 

[dave5339]

Look for a used Smith and Wesson Model 51. Great pistol and fairly accurate also.

Semper Fi

 

[Hkmp5sd]

I think the 1970's era Charter Arms Pathfinder is an excellent platform for the .22WMR.

 

[Greybeard]

Telecom - NAA's a great little gun - but LOUD in .22 Mag. Be sure to read and heed part in manual about safety notches because, at some point, you WILL drop the gun - guaranteed! And check out NAA web site on ballistics. Especially CCI +Vs. Enjoy all that gimme ammo!

 

[seeker_two]

If you don't mind spending some money, I've heard that the SP-101 or Colt Diamondback make great .22Mags when you have a gunsmith ream out the chambers.

But, for a plinker/hunting gun, I second the Single Six idea...

 

[Hand_Rifle_Guy]

Seeker, bore-diameter might be an issue. LR uses an outside-lubed heeled bullet, vs. the inside lubed mag. This was one of the reasons that early conversion-cylinder Ruger Single Sixes didn't work so hot, and the Colt Diamondback factory-issue mags were plagued with innaccuracy. Basically, mag bullets are too small for the LR groove diameter, something it took Colt a LONG time to figure out.

Dunno how Ruger addressed the problem in modern re-issues, but converting an older/other LR gun may not work out so great.

FWIW, AMT Automag II's are supposed to be pretty good IF you can get a good one, a big if. They came in a variety of barrel-lengths. LOUD, bright flash, like a 7.62 x 25 or a .30 Carbine pistol.

There's also the Grendel P-30 but I've never seen a good story about these. Biggest virtue was a 30-round mag, but it doesn't make up for it being a very ugly-looking complete POS.

Both of these are full-size guns, so it's probably moot anyhow. Just mentioning 'em as membrs of the short list of available Mag Rimfires.

 

[seeker_two]

Two things:

1. Colt Diamondback is a REVOLVER. You may be thinking of the Woodsman or the recent .22lr auto they made before they got out of the handgun business for awhile...

2. The bullet diameters are the same, it's the case diameter that's different. Since the bullet is seated inside the case in a .22WMR, the case is somewhat larger. Hence the need to ream out the cylinder chambers. All the conversions I've seen shoot pretty accurate.

I wish Ruger or Browning would make their .22lr autos in .22WMR. A Mark II in .22WMR would be the berries...

 

[Penman]

High Standard once made some cosmetic changes to their Sentinel .22 revolver line (underlugged barrel, larger grips) and offered it in .22 WMR as well. Stay away from them. The .22 LR Sentinels are great guns.

 

[JCM298]

NAA .22 Mag

I've had two NAA .22's. The first I carried for years as a last ditch BUG but sold it after I retired. A year or two after the sale, I saw a .22 Mag at a great price and bought it. I started carrying it but it was a last resort because it did not appear to be very accurate.

A few years ago a writer described shooting it two handed, which sounded strange for such a tiny gun. The trick is to shoot with the strong hand with the weak hand for support and using the weak thumb to cock. I was surprised to find that it works. At 7 yards, five shoots can be covered with the palm of my hand.

I practice with .22's, fire a few Mags for insurance and still carry it once in a while,
John

 

[seeker_two]

HRG:

Please ignore # 1 on my previous post. After rereading, I mistook the word "mag" in your post for an auto's mag, not the .22 "mag".

Sorry for the confusion...:banghead:

Another consideration would be the Taurus 8-shot J-frames in .22Mag. My wife has the .22lr version, & she loves it. Word of advice--get at least a 4" bbl. You'll realize more power that way. .22Mag is not really good for a snubby...

 

[Hand_Rifle_Guy]

All is clear. Pardon my shortcut abrvtns. I usually use "magazine" when referring to ammo feeders. You're just supposed to read my mind. I took off my tinfoil hat and everything. Didn't you get my brainwaves?

I can't remember where I read the bullet dia. bit, but I think it's right. I seem to recall that LR bullets are .228, but Mag bullets are the same diameter as .223 bullets. Colt didn't address this for some years on the Diamondback, and then discontinued the chambering due to lackluster sales. They were using the same barrels on both chamberings to save money, but it didn't work out, apparently. This is just the kind of industry insider info Colt wouildn't talk about much what with their classic corporate mentality. Bad advertising, and whatnot.

Mind you, this was years and years ago, and standards may be different now. Or I could be mis-remembering the whole thing. I read it a while back, perhaps in a mid-eighties gunrag as an aside in an article about something else. I dunno, I have no actual experience with any of the guns in question, I just wanted to give a heads-up. A gunsmith who's making a conversion oughta know more.

 

[makarov]

I actually think that is correct. I think Ruger splits the difference on the Single-Six guns. Have heard that the 22 mags are slightly less accurate than the .22LR cylinders.

I know this was discussed on TFL...