A few have mentioned the excellent CZ Kadet dedicated .22LR pistol. Unfortunately CZ is not importing them into the U.S. any longer, or may not even be producing them. They still do sell the superb Kadet Kit conversion unit that fits on the 75 series based guns. I highly recommend either the dedicated pistol, as I just picked up a used one, and also the Kadet Kit which had been practically living on my 75B.
Best .22 Pistol for the money
- Thread starter JeeperCreeper
- Start date
- Status
I recently bought a cherry Buck Mark Standard for $300. It shoots great, works great and should last beyond my lifetime. How is that not cheap? There are some cheaper pistols around but I haven't seen any of them that matched the Buck Mark for accuracy and quality and price. I love the Rugers too but they tend to run higher where I live. Even a brand new Buck Mark isn't all that expensive. You can buy a Camper for $320 brand new.
As others have pointed out it pays to look at the ammo you will be putting through your pistol. $300 worth of .22LR ammo is not a lot. I've shot more than that in a week at times or what $300 will buy now anyway. AT 7 cents a round that's $35 a brick. Shooting a brick a day is not hard at all. I've seen the time when I shot 2 bricks in a day. And 7 cents a round is cheap these days. If you want good ammo it will cost more if you can find it at all. Figure at least $300 a year for ammo if you want to actually shoot your pistol. I've spent over 10 times that much and that was before the prices went up, Yes I know I was obsessed. Everyone needs a hobby. I know people who spend far more than I do. Try feeding Tenex to a gun.
As others have pointed out it pays to look at the ammo you will be putting through your pistol. $300 worth of .22LR ammo is not a lot. I've shot more than that in a week at times or what $300 will buy now anyway. AT 7 cents a round that's $35 a brick. Shooting a brick a day is not hard at all. I've seen the time when I shot 2 bricks in a day. And 7 cents a round is cheap these days. If you want good ammo it will cost more if you can find it at all. Figure at least $300 a year for ammo if you want to actually shoot your pistol. I've spent over 10 times that much and that was before the prices went up, Yes I know I was obsessed. Everyone needs a hobby. I know people who spend far more than I do. Try feeding Tenex to a gun.
Ruger 10/22 Charger
The regular ones have a street price around $250. Stock, it's a great pistol. Not-so stock, and it's a really great pistol. And when you get really bored, you can drop three time that price in aftermarket parts, and get a stupidly awesome pistol.
FWIW, Ruger Mks and Ruger Single sixes are heirloom pistols. With reasonable care, they will be good to go for generations. Best .22 for the money? The one your descendents will cherish, long after you have passed it on.
The regular ones have a street price around $250. Stock, it's a great pistol. Not-so stock, and it's a really great pistol. And when you get really bored, you can drop three time that price in aftermarket parts, and get a stupidly awesome pistol.
FWIW, Ruger Mks and Ruger Single sixes are heirloom pistols. With reasonable care, they will be good to go for generations. Best .22 for the money? The one your descendents will cherish, long after you have passed it on.
show_me_2nd
Member
I had a MK-II bull barrel stainless years ago and really enjoyed shooting it, felt great in my hand and very well balanced for such a big chunk 'o stainless. Take down for cleaning is something of a hobby, as is re-assembly. Built to last forever. Have no experience with the 22/45. Looks like it has a polymer frame that might make it easier to dis-assemble? I have an SR22 now. It may not be "the Best", but for the price it is fun to shoot, very easy to take down for cleaning, and so far has had no feeding problems with various ammo.
snooperman
Member
- Joined
- May 4, 2009
- Messages
- 2,143
I have 2 Rugers and they are good , but I like the Browning buckmark much better. It has a better trigger and in my hands more accurate.
WestKentucky
Member
In autoloaders I prefer the ruger mk series by a small margin over the buckmark. A close third is the sw22 with target grips. By far the best pistol on the cheap I have ever had though is a phoenix hp22a. My first was when I was 14 or 15...cut a deal with my parents that if I brought a D in chemistry up to at least a B I got a gun...I got it and around 12000 rounds later rebuilt it, around 3000 rounds later bought another one. I have had 4 now. Sure they wear out...but they are very accurate, very reliable, and are still like $125.
In SA revolvers the ruger single six or Bearcat are hard to beat. I'm on single six number 3, barrel keeps growing longer with each new gun. Accuracy does increase, but marginally. On the cheap though a rough rider with the shorter barrel...4 5/8???...is well balanced, very quick, and acceptably accurate. I plan to buy a second one of those with a birdshead grip just for fun. A bonus on those is that they have a thumb operated hammer block safety. Finish is poor, but on a $149 gun once you beat the snot out of it you can rattle can it back to black and go for round 2 and not feel bad about it. There are other high and low end guns here as well, but I won't even consider any other except a colt frontier.
In DA revolvers it's pretty hard to go wrong if you buy from a company you have heard of. Charter, Taurus, Ruger, and Smith & Wesson all make quality guns. Of the bunch the best for the buck is a USED taurus. In new guns the price is too close to make much fuss over so buy the sp101 or the smith j frame that fits the best. In used guns they hold about 80% of their value though, and a 99% taurus will hold about 65% of its value. So you start with a 350 dollar gun, and now your around 225 or 250 when the others are still 350+. Charter guns are similar in price to taurus, but charter has made some absolute crap so it's kind of a crap shoot on those (pun intended). Taurus has made junk too, but they stand behind their guns pretty well. It may be slow but they will take care of the customer whether they bought a new gun or a secondhand beater.
In SA revolvers the ruger single six or Bearcat are hard to beat. I'm on single six number 3, barrel keeps growing longer with each new gun. Accuracy does increase, but marginally. On the cheap though a rough rider with the shorter barrel...4 5/8???...is well balanced, very quick, and acceptably accurate. I plan to buy a second one of those with a birdshead grip just for fun. A bonus on those is that they have a thumb operated hammer block safety. Finish is poor, but on a $149 gun once you beat the snot out of it you can rattle can it back to black and go for round 2 and not feel bad about it. There are other high and low end guns here as well, but I won't even consider any other except a colt frontier.
In DA revolvers it's pretty hard to go wrong if you buy from a company you have heard of. Charter, Taurus, Ruger, and Smith & Wesson all make quality guns. Of the bunch the best for the buck is a USED taurus. In new guns the price is too close to make much fuss over so buy the sp101 or the smith j frame that fits the best. In used guns they hold about 80% of their value though, and a 99% taurus will hold about 65% of its value. So you start with a 350 dollar gun, and now your around 225 or 250 when the others are still 350+. Charter guns are similar in price to taurus, but charter has made some absolute crap so it's kind of a crap shoot on those (pun intended). Taurus has made junk too, but they stand behind their guns pretty well. It may be slow but they will take care of the customer whether they bought a new gun or a secondhand beater.
Last edited:
mgmorden
Member
Ruger Mk III (22/45 version if you like that grip better).
I've also got a 1911 conversion kit by GSG that I run on my Spartan that is nice.
I've also got a 1911 conversion kit by GSG that I run on my Spartan that is nice.
muzzleblast...
Member
I am going to cast my lot with the Ruger Mk II/III fans. Best for the money, and Ruger stands behind their products with solid customer service, however, unlikely to be needed with a MkII/III.
IKE
Member
I've owned stock MKI's (three) since 1976 so I suppose that I'm somewhat prejudice.
I suggest gettimg a good Ruger MKI or MKII in the finish and barrel length you want, take care of it and you'll be passing it down to your grandkids.
I suggest gettimg a good Ruger MKI or MKII in the finish and barrel length you want, take care of it and you'll be passing it down to your grandkids.
Woodsman!
Member
I vote Buckmark, nothing wrong with all the others, I just like the 16 click sight a little better.
CaliCoastie
Member
- Joined
- Jun 24, 2010
- Messages
- 497
Browning buckmark won out here. Got the of them now last was used (looked brand new with two extra mags) for 250. Was looking for a ruger mk pistol when i got my first one, glad with going the ruger route. As for single six's? Had a convertible once want happy such the accuracy with 22lr, 2.5-3in at 25yds. I can do substantially better wuthering the buckmark (cut a small tree down behind a target at 25yds).
One thing to look into is trail lite barrels, save some weight.
One thing to look into is trail lite barrels, save some weight.
digsigs226
Member
As a general rule, I will avoid any .22LR pistol with a fully reciprocating slide. I think the recoil energy for most loads is just to darn close to not being able to fully actuate the slide mass. I had a P22 that was a jam o matic, even with CCI mini-mags. Accuracy was just bad enough to make the pistol quite a bore to shoot. If I buy a. 22 pistol again it will be a Browning Buckmark or Ruger Mk III.
Last edited:
bannockburn
Member
- Joined
- Apr 24, 2007
- Messages
- 26,299
In an earlier post I mentioned that I thought the Beretta Neos was a decent buy for the money. I still do but if I took into considertion one of my own guns then it would have to be my Beretta Model 70S. All steel construction (but doesn't feel like it), incredible reliability (with any standard or high velocity ammo), and very accurate (thanks in part to a great little adjustable rear sight).
Now it's not going to win any target shooting contests (I have a Ruger Mk.II for that), but in terms of being my Best .22 Pistol for the money, this has to be it.
Now it's not going to win any target shooting contests (I have a Ruger Mk.II for that), but in terms of being my Best .22 Pistol for the money, this has to be it.
snooperman
Member
- Joined
- May 4, 2009
- Messages
- 2,143
" I know everyone favors the Ruger MK and Browning buckmark, but they seem pricey. " Well , if you can not afford a new one, look for a good used one. Or , you can buy a new S&W 22A which is a good plinker.
lewwallace
Member
WVGunman
Member
- Joined
- Feb 26, 2014
- Messages
- 380
I know I'm gonna get flamed for this, but ...
In the last three years I have owned:
I liked them all, but the best gun for the money was the Phoenix. It hit where I aimed and cost less than half as much as the others. I loved shooting it.
Because of that, I've come to be kind of cynical about most opinions you get in response to questions like this.
In the last three years I have owned:
- a new Ruger Single Six, cost =$375
- A used Beretta 71T, cost =$225
- a used Phoenix HP22 with 5" barrel, cost =$110
I liked them all, but the best gun for the money was the Phoenix. It hit where I aimed and cost less than half as much as the others. I loved shooting it.
Because of that, I've come to be kind of cynical about most opinions you get in response to questions like this.
Omaha-BeenGlockin
Member
I've had most every 22 out there-----what I have now:
MkIII stainless Target 5.5in bull
MkIII blued Std--6in
Single Six Convertible stainless 6.5in
The MKIII's have been modified by removing the mag disconnect and LCI-----the blued one "might" become trading fodder for a new Super Blackhawk---maybe.
A decent .22 handgun is becoming quite expensive these days and I still vote for an all metal Ruger.
MkIII stainless Target 5.5in bull
MkIII blued Std--6in
Single Six Convertible stainless 6.5in
The MKIII's have been modified by removing the mag disconnect and LCI-----the blued one "might" become trading fodder for a new Super Blackhawk---maybe.
A decent .22 handgun is becoming quite expensive these days and I still vote for an all metal Ruger.
rswartsell
Member
Bullseye? S&W 41
Otherwise? Normal budget=Ruger, Bit more geld?= Colt Woodsman.
Been that way for 40 years or more. Nothing wrong really with Buckmarks, not my cuppa tea but a lot seem to like 'em. After that you are on your own (oh, also vintage High Standars do the job).
Revolvers let in the Smith 17's and Ruger again.
Otherwise? Normal budget=Ruger, Bit more geld?= Colt Woodsman.
Been that way for 40 years or more. Nothing wrong really with Buckmarks, not my cuppa tea but a lot seem to like 'em. After that you are on your own (oh, also vintage High Standars do the job).
Revolvers let in the Smith 17's and Ruger again.
Gun Master
Member
Best .22 Pistols for the Money ?
I own 3 of the above:
1. Colt Huntsman 6" , bought brand new and in pristine condition, functions perfectly, & a beautiful gun.
2. Ruger Mark I 6", well used and serviceable .
3. Taurus PT22 2 3/4" , 99%.
Meets my needs.
Now as far as Wheelguns........, that's another story.
Well......., a S&W Model 41, "How much do you want for it man ?".
I own 3 of the above:
1. Colt Huntsman 6" , bought brand new and in pristine condition, functions perfectly, & a beautiful gun.
2. Ruger Mark I 6", well used and serviceable .
3. Taurus PT22 2 3/4" , 99%.
Meets my needs.
Now as far as Wheelguns........, that's another story.
Well......., a S&W Model 41, "How much do you want for it man ?".
Last edited:
- Status