Best .22 Pistol for the money

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JeeperCreeper

JeeperCreeper

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What's the best .22LR Auto for the money?

I know the Ruger MK and Browning Buckmark are favored, but they are kinda pricey, relatively speaking.

I've heard good things about the Ruger SR22. What about the Beretta Neos?

I also heard to stay away from Walther and S&W Umarex builds and SIG Mosquitos??



Any others to consider?? I'd like to stay below $300 give or take.
Uses will be plinking
 
I own two MkII Rugers, and neither is for sale.
That said, I bought a .22LR Ceiner conversion kit for my 1911 about six months ago, and I shoot that more than anything else. Probably by a factor of 3 or 4 to 1.

If you have a favorite pistol and a .22LR conversion kit is available for it, that is a great buy. You get to shoot a lot with your regular gun, same trigger, same manual of arms, but cheap ammo.

At least it used to be.
 
I dont know about best but after 50 plus years of shooting I like the Ruger 22/45 bersa 22 thunder, a bunch of smith revolvers and grandpas old NEF snub. Oh and a heritage arms single action.
 
Browning Buckmark, or Ruger MKII or MKIII.

You pay once.
And only cry once.

In the end, 30 years or more from now, you will still bee happy.
 
Probably the SR22, for the money.
That said, my Colt/Walther 1911 runs very reliably on good high velocity ammo.
 
A Ruger Mark series gun shouldnt run too much over your $300 budget. If I were you I'd pay the extra 50 bucks or so. As accurate as anything out there and will last for generations. The SR is pretty nice, but certainly not in the same league, especially for range work.
 
I always hear good things about those Neos. The S&W M&P22 seems to get a lot of good reports too.

The SR22 is a good value, IMO, and I would include the Bersa 22 as well plus its all metal and based on the same frame as their 380s.

The SR22 seem to have fewer reports of being ammo sensitive between the two, and thats been my experience too. I liked the sights better on the SR22 but IMO, the Bersa had the better single action trigger. DA went to the Ruger.

I'm not really up on current prices but all of those should be cheaper than the Buck Mark and MKxx's
 
I payed $300 for my Ruger 22/45 new a few years ago. I think they can be had for about $350 today. No question what I would get.
 
Ruger MKII. Any day, every day.
Don't doubt me on this :D

And for extra credit:

Ruger Single Six for revolvers.
You can take that to the bank!!
 
rcmodel said:
Browning Buckmark, or Ruger MKII or MKIII.

You pay once.
And only cry once.

In the end, 30 years or more from now, you will still bee happy.
Click to expand...

Exactly.

I prefer the MK guns. I have 6. My oldest is a 1965 model bull barrel MKI. It still runs like a Swiss watch.
 
It seems either of the Rugers gets the vote.

Anyone have experience with the Neos? They are around $250 and look like good target shooters.
 
The ray gun look turns me off no matter how good it shoots.

My buddy just bought a Smith 629 Performance Center. It sure shoots good, but the barrel looks like something off a moon man's gun.
 
Anyone have experience with the Neos?
Click to expand...

IMHO, the Beretta is the best buy of the group based on it's quality and price. You can still find a new one just over $200 on sale. They are reliable , accurate and have a decent trigger. The NEOS is very kid friendly too in that smaller hands will fit.

I just bought a really nice used Buckmark Micro for $250, so that is another route to look at. The used market has so many great deals for a patient buyer.
 
Last edited:
Go look in the used case. They just about give Ruger 22/45's away at my local gun shop. I've seen them for less than $250.00 fairly recently. I paid $219.00 for one since the first of the year that had one scratch on it. And that was the tag price. I didn't even ask them if they'd go lower. It came with the box and papers too. It was dry as a bone, and filthy, so I had to clean it, and oil it, but that was the only thing wrong with it.

I suspect someone had heard all the stories about how hard they are to clean and never even tried it.

Hint...they're not that hard...really.
 
I have 2 Ruger Mk2, one Mk3, a Walther / Umarex 1911, M&P 22 full size, M&P 22 Compact, as well as several others. The Ruger Mk2 has always been my favorite. And once someone gives you a few tips they are not difficult to take down and reassemble. But right now I'm loving my M&P22 Compact quite a bit.
 
Look for a used Ruger MK II, or get a new MK III and remove the LCI, and mag disconnect.
 
$600.00 for a case of 22lr

Don't skimp on the pistol.
When looking at prices, don't forget to check the cost of replacement magazines.
 
I own all five of the top target style .22 pistols,,,

I own all five of the top target style pistols,,,
  • S&W 22A
  • Ruger Mk-III
  • Beretta NEOS
  • Buckmark Hunter
  • Ruger 22/45 Mk-III

Each pistol has it's own unique characteristics,,,
I'm don't believe there is a universal "best".

As far as quality of build,,,
They are all high quality guns.

As to accuracy they can all print a 1" group off of a rest at 25 yards,,,
That's not saying I can do that shooting free-hand,,,
But they are all capable of that precision.

None of them have great front sights in factory stock mode,,,
I've put fiber optic fronts on the Berettas and love them,,,
I've put Wilson Fire Sights on my 22/45's as well,,,
My Buckmark came with a nice fiber optic front,,,
I don't know of an option for my S&W 22A.

The stock triggers vary as well,,,
While none of them have "bad" triggers,,,
The Buckmark and Ruger's are nicer out of the box than the Beretta or S&W.

I don't know of any trigger upgrades for the Berettas or S&W,,,
or that matter I don't know of any for the Buckmark,,,
There may well be some out there,,,
I just don't know of any.

With the Ruger's though,,,
There are many options for trigger upgrades.

In fact there are so many after market items for the Ruger's,,,
I jokingly call their pistols Barbie's for Men,,,
They are infinitely accessorizable.

Here is what I would recommend basing your choice on,,,
There are two factors I think are all important.

  • Which one fits your hand the best.
  • Which one makes you smile when you look at it.

If a gun doesn't fit your hand,,,
You will never maximize your accuracy potential.

If a gun doesn't make you smile when you look at it,,,
Will you ever be truly happy owning it?

Now before I end this long dissertation,,,
I own a Bersa Thunder 22 which is a great pistol
I also own a Ruger SR-22 which is a very fine shooter,,,
And a dedicated CZ-75B Kadet which I absolutely love shooting.

Don't stress over buying the "best" pistol,,,
Find the one that fits your hand and makes you smile.

That will be the best for you.

Aarond

.
 
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