Could use some advice on selecting a 22 lr handgun

[toivo]

On a budget, needing a small grip, and accuracy to shoot in matches for pleasure... Beretta Neos. These can be had new for a few dollars under $300. They are an excellent entry grade target pistol. Get a 6" barrel for best accuracy. The longer sight radius of the 6" barrel makes the pistol easier to shoot accurately.

I'm not a Beretta hater -- I'm very fond of my 92, Jetfire, Cheetah, and Nano -- but I would place the Ruger Mark series pistols and the Browning Buck Mark well above the Neos as target pistols. It's all about the trigger.

 

[SARuger]

Rough Rider, best $100 you will ever spend.

And yes the Single Six is a better built SA .22LR but I have both and the RR is more accurate and has as many rounds through it as my SS and no issues.

I think they have birds head grips/frame available for them now that may fit small hands better. My Fiance loves this little gun and never complains about the grips and her small hands(She is a petite 5')

 

[GC51]

The Buckmark is a good shooter, the Ruger Mark 2 has a good rep(haven't shot one myself) and Colt did make a bull barreled model I had a few years back that was phenomenal. I think it may have been called the Cadet, mine wasn't stamped with a model name. The mag catch on it was problematic, it would release the mag while in carry and I didn't like that too much, I always thought the spring on the catch release was too light, but it would shoot right alongside my .22 rifles...I was looking at the Rugers yesterday, lot of choices on barrel configurations starting at $349 and going up from there...the one with the shorter bull barrel looked pretty sweet.

 

[AlfonsDeWolf]

The Colt .22 in "Cadet" form was made around '94-'99. The first year they used the name 'cadet' but due to naming pressure issues from another company the "Cadet" name ceased. Mine from '94 or '95 is stamped "Colt .22". I like that better, but if you want to googleinfo this search "colt cadet"