Best 22 for under $400

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"Last summer the slide cracked, just broke almost in two about an inch from the front, apparently it's a fairly common problem with the pot metal slides."

I have seen this a time or two at the range that my brother owns.

Did Walther repair the gun for you? I am curious, because both failures I have seen were not on guns that we sold.

I do most of the buying for our range, and have had the best luck with the Ruger mark III and 22/45. Unfortunately, I can't comment on the Buckmark,
as I have no experience with it.

We did just buy a Sig Mosquito, and it seems like a pretty accurate gun. The D/A trigger pull is terrible...it may improve after being shot a bit. For most shooters, that may be negligible, anyway.

I have been drooling over the CZ Kadet, but fear that it may be beyond the price range of most of our clientele. They wholesale around $385...kinda pricey for a rimfire. If they are anything like the P01 I own, they may well be worth it.

Happy shopping!:)
 
the ruger 22/45 and the beretta neos are nice i think. both shot accurately and reliably. never fired a buckmark, but they feel nice in my hand.
 
skipjack, I haven't even been motivated enough to contact them, but guess I should so at least I could have it fixed and put it on the shelf. Since I got the Buckmark I don't have the slightest urge to ever shoot the P22 again.

I did see a post from someone else with the same problem who said they did replace the slide, so I'll give them a call in the next few days and see how they react.
 
+1+ trailside. shoots ~~almost as well as my S&W 41. both have L&G 2moa red dots. trailside will function fine with '41 mags also
 
Thanks to Hexidismall

Thankyouofor your great work on the Neos ! I will be checking ouot my neos using your guide soon ! Thanks again ! Kevin :D
 
I own and shoot the following .22cals on a weekly basis:
Browning Buckmark
Heritage Arms revolver
Ruger single six revolver
Ruger MK3 Hunter
S&W 22A
Sig/Hammerli Trailside (4" & 6" models)
As accurate as the Ruger MK3, yet much easier to takedown/clean. The Trailside is the best!

P.S Cabelas still carries the Trailside
 
Ruger here

I have a pair of matching Ruger Mk II pistols (6 7/8 stainless, heavy barrel).

I shoot it better than any other pistol I own.

Wife insisted on having one just like mine after shooting it one weekend, which is why we now have two.

I will probably also get a Buckmark at some point, as they balance well and fit my hand as well as the Rugers do.

My recommendation: Ruger Mk II (or III) or a Buckmark.

DWARREN123, you know where to get a Kadet for under $400? Share!
 
I've had three Rugers, a standard and two MKII's as well as one Buckmark. Both are great guns that will run forever and are very accurate. The choice between the two comes down to personal preference, I like the Ruger better so that's what I've stuck to.
 
I have owned a Ruger Mk. II that was a horrible unreliable piece of junk (to me) a Smith 22A that worked just fine, and now a Beretta Neos 4.5 inch that is just the best little plinker ever.

Get the Beretta for around $240 and don't give it a second thought.
 
I have owned a Ruger Mk. II that was a horrible unreliable piece of junk (to me)
Click to expand...

That is such a contrary statement to just about every assessment I've read of the Mark II and of my own personal experience. I'd like to hear about your experience in in detail. Maybe there is something to be learned?
 
That is such a contrary statement to just about every assessment I've read of the Mark II and of my own personal experience. I'd like to hear about your experience in in detail. Maybe there is something to be learned?
Click to expand...

I went with the conventional advice and purchased a 4 inch KP4 model (a 22/45 variant of the Mk.II). Standard pressure bulk pack ammo would not cycle the slide/bolt even after persevering for about 2,000 rounds. The gun ran fine with Stingers, but nothing else. But even then I would have repeated FTFs with both of the factory magazines, where the bullet would mash up and deform as it failed to cleanly seat in the chamber. As all owners know, cleaning and reassembly is a joke that never seems funny.

Bottom line, I finally ignored all the advice and believed the evidence of my own experience and offloaded that piece of junk, who knows, Friday gun maybe. The Neos I have now is a super little pistol, probably should have opted for the 6 inch 2 tone, but the 4.5" is just fine for me.
 
tideguyinva,

I see a lot of guys on here that are endorsing the Beretta NEO's, Ruger MkII's, Browning Buckmarks, Walther P22s, etc. While those are all excellent choices, I have to say that my favorite .22 hand gun of all time, by far, is the Smith & Wesson 422 w/ 4" bbl. When S&W quit making them, I thought that was one of their biggest mistakes. Every one of my friends who has shot it has gone in search of one. They have the feel of a "real" handgun, and help develop excellent trigger control. They have a safety that is down for fire, up for safe, which is compatible with the controls of the 1911, BHP, and similar pistols. If you carry a handgun in that configuration, I would seriously consider the S&W 422. You can still occasionally find them on gunbroker between $325 and $375. That's my 0.02
 
Newton, maybe the problem is with the 22/45 variant? Compared to a standard Ruger 22, the 22/45 magazine sits at a very different angle and maybe that messes up the feed geometry. I'm not sure, since I'm not a gunsmith.

I'll do some checking and see if anyone else has similar thoughts...
 
I bought a used Ruger 22/45 in really nice condition, hardly every fired, for $135.:D Its a great gun and is what I'd recommend.:D
 
Well first of all a BIG Thank You goes out to everyone for their opinions on this thread. It helped out considerably. I ended up getting a stainless Browning Buckmark 5 1/2 barrel I will post pics when I get home.
 
I own and shoot the following .22cals on a weekly basis:
Browning Buckmark
Heritage Arms revolver
Ruger single six revolver
Ruger MK3 Hunter
S&W 22A
Sig/Hammerli Trailside (4" & 6" models)
As accurate as the Ruger MK3, yet much easier to takedown/clean. The Trailside is the best!

P.S Cabelas still carries the Trailside
Click to expand...

I thought they stopped making trailsides?
 
I have a Ruger MKII 22/45 model with a heavy 6 7/8" barrel. I use it for Bullseye competition. It shoot well with any .22 ammo, but especially with CCI Mini-Mags, CCI Standard Velocity, and (oddly enough) Remington bulk-pack "Golden Bullets".

The only thing I'd recommend to watch out for with the .22/45's is to make sure you like the grips because they are not replaceable like the ones on the regular MKII and MKIII's. They are a little too narrow for my long fingers, although that became much less of a problem after I took the gun to a local gunsmith for a trigger job.

No one has mentioned a H&R model 999 revolver yet. I can't recommend it just because I've never fired one, but if I ever find a good deal on one I'm gonna buy it.
 
+1 for the Neos, it looks funny but its pretty cool to shoot.
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Question to the Neos shooters. From the photo's I have seen, the grip angle looks much more acute than on most other guns. Do you find it comfortable to hold and fire, or is it a strain on the wrist to track on target?

I am a Beretta fan and have been looking at the Neos as a possible fun plinker, but none of the local gun stores stock any to have an opportunity to hold one.
 
berreta grip angle

i thought the berreta was a little unusual at first , but once you feel how it really is when you shoot it , you will learn to love it ! It is a very secure and comfortable grip , easy to stabilize ! Several first time shooters find it easy to use ! Plus because i am a lefty i like the ambi safety ! most 22 auto pistols dont offer this ! My 54 year old eyes dont like iron sights very much for precision shooting and the weaver type rail on the barrel makes it simple to mount a red dot sight ! if oyur ever in South Florida give me a shout and we will schedule some range time !:) you can see for yourself ! Kevin
 
Standard pressure bulk pack ammo would not cycle the slide/bolt even after persevering for about 2,000 rounds. The gun ran fine with Stingers, but nothing else. But even then I would have repeated FTFs with both of the factory magazines, where the bullet would mash up and deform as it failed to cleanly seat in the chamber.
Click to expand...

You know it's strange everyone can have a issue with some revolvers & auto's. The Ruger MK II I have currently works with everything I can stuff in the magazine. The holy grail of some's .22 auto is the S&W 41. I had basically the above quoted problem with it with only one of the 2 barrels I had with it. There is no quick & easy answer. Everyone pays their money & takes their chances.
 
The S&W 22a is a very good buy for the money. Its currently on sale in central Ohio for $169+tax. Its not as pretty or expensive as the others and therefore not as popular. They are very accurate and reliable and take down in seconds without tools. Full length scope rail as well. Excellent customer service. I'll take function over form.
 
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