First Post -- The .22 Handgun

[Burchtree]

First post, thanks for having me here.

I'm not going to ask what the best .22 is, I know those questions get asked a lot on forums. My question is based more on what is new and important in the world of .22 handguns. Basically, I've got a project to work on and need to focus on modern .22s but should limit it to about 5. I don't want to miss out on something important and want to cover all bases. I know I'll be leaving out a lot of good .22s but gotta keep it to new, innovative, or longtime favorite guns.

Here's some that I've considered:

Ruger Bearcat
Walther P22
Ruger Mark III
Sig Trailside
Beretta Neo
Buckmark
Kimber slide conversion?


Thank you all for checking this out --- any and all help or suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks

 

[jonnyc]

I'm not sure what your project is, but you might want to include some "non-target" pistols:
Walther TPH
NAA Revolver
Taurus PT-22

 

[LynnMassGuy]

S&W M41, Expensive and worth it.

Regards
John

 

[Standing Wolf]

S&W M41, Expensive and worth it.

Worth it only because the European match pistols cost so much more.

 

[Sharps Shooter]

Howdy Burchtree and Welcome.
You say your question is based on what's new and important in the world of .22 handguns? Could you explain a little more what your project is about? It sounds interesting.

 

[Icewolf]

+1 for Smith 41.

How about the Colt Woodsman and the High Standards?

 

[jmtgsx]

Dont have one...

...but lusting for a Beretta 87


http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a104/jmtgsx/target_plinking_87.gif

 

[Gixerman1000]

I have a Browning Buck Mark Micro Standard, a Ruger Mark II Competition Target and a S&W 41, the Ruger and Browning great shooters and the 41 is just awesome.

 

[rick_reno]

I don't know what project you're doing, but you might want to include one of the 22 target pistols with a 2 stage trigger (Hammerli and Pardini are two I've used) - I'm sure there are others.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I'll assume you're working on a novel and need an interesting gun or two. New is fine, but I note you have some old classics in your list, such as the Ruger Bearcat.

Among the old, romantic guns you might consider are:

Colt Officer's Model Target -- Colt's top-of-the-line target revolver in the 1930s.

Smith and Wesson's K-22 -- the counter-part to the Colt (and on into the '50s.)

The Colt Ace and Service Ace (the latter with the famous Carbine Williams-designed "floating chamber." These were on M1911 frames and also available as conversion kits.

The first and last have some interesting quirks -- the OMT has an adjustable front sight, and the Service Ace has the floating chamber I mentioned.

 

[rick_reno]

Another nice series of older guns are those made my High Standard - they're fantastic handguns. Olympics, Victors are an excellent example of fine 22's.

 

[Pilot]

Benelli MP95E

 

[Burchtree]

Thank you all. No novel, just an article on some of the today's .22 pistols. I want to include both autos and wheelguns.

 

[New_geezer]

Seems something not mentioned so far is the idea of converting a 9mm or 45ACP or some such pistol to shoot a 22. There are many conversion kits available (I don't use one so none come to mind right away) But people like the way a particular gun feels in the hand and want to practice with it without having to chew a lot of more expensive ammo.

I think the biggest changes in 22s are much the same as other guns - use of polymer materials and alloy parts. Making guns easier to break down and maintain (Trailside and Neos come to mind) and all the options in optics for precision shooting. I would think the huge business in after market parts and procedures for upgrading your initially cheap plinker into a finely tuned tack driver is worth exploring - the Ruger autos have to be in the lead for this aspect of the 22 market.

 

[Majic]

but gotta keep it to new, innovative, or longtime favorite guns.

Right there is where you opened your first can of worms. If your project needs information about the new and innovative .22s on the market then how can a longtime favorite fit in the picture? Not to mention you have opened the door for people to name virtually any .22 ever made.

 

[XavierBreath]

longtime favorite guns


Colt Woodsman

And I cannot believe nobody mentioned.........

The Ruger MKII

 

[MachIVshooter]

New and innovative .22 handguns?

Here's what I'd go with:

1: Beretta NEOS
2: Walther P22
3: NAA mini folding grip
4: Calico M100 pistol
5: Beretta 87

Each of these is in a league of their own. Guns such as the venerable Ruger Mk series and Bearcat, or Browning Buckmark are supreme rimfires, but do not represent anything particularly innovative, and certainly aren't "new".

 

[Sunray]

Hi, Burchtree. New shooters are always welcome. New designs aren't necessarily better than older designs. The Ruger Bearcat, for example, isn't new nor innovative.
You thinking of target shooting, hunting or plinking? It matters. So does your budget. For target shooting with a relatively sizeable budget(about a grand or so, BNIB), the S&W Model 41 is the only one to consider. It is picky about what ammo it will shoot and function with though. Mind you, all .22's require you to try as many brands as you can to find the one or two that shoot best in your pistol. Even two identical pistols will shoot the same ammo differently.
For a limited budget, the Ruger is the way to go. Crappy trigger and a nightmare to take apart, but they're ok. Reliable and will function with most ammo.

 

[TimboKhan]

Well, I am always in for a MkII. I have no experience with the MkIII, and to be honest, I probably never will as I am perfectly happy with my two MkII's. In some ways, I am not sure what spurred Ruger to redesign it. The heelclip magazine, while a absolute nightmare for some (Rockstar.esq, I am talking to you...) never bothered me in the least, and I don't particularly need a loaded chamber indicator or a trigger lock. Of course, in todays litigious society, all the "safety" features are damn near a necessity. Some people birth cats at the mere thought of having these features attached to thier guns, which I don't understand as they really don't seem to be an impediment to the operation, but when it boils down to it, my opinion is that the MkII was about all I could want in a .22 auto, and thus I see no reason to "upgrade". This does not mean that I have no interest in other .22 autos. Quite the opposite, actually. I am still waiting for someone to post a range report on the Whitney Wolverine from Olympic, and I have in the past owned and been happy with a Buckmark. Matter of fact, .22 autos are the one category of gun that I have no bias for or against any particular company! For revolvers, I have owned Single Sixes and Bearcats. Single Sixes are delightful guns and chances are really, really good that I will own another one day, and I have handled a S&W (can't remember the model number offhand though) .22 revo that I really liked and plan on purchasing at some point, but for my money, the H&R Sportsman 999 is the cats pajamas when it comes to .22 revos. Top break, automatic ejection and 9 shots in a comfortable gun that offers both single and double action. I have one and I would really like another! Not a new gun by any stretch of the imagination, but one of my all-time favorites.

 

[Ala Dan]

Don't forget Colt's Match Target .22 caliber self-loaders~!

 

[mnrivrat]

just an article on some of the today's .22 pistols. I want to include both autos and wheelguns.

Taurus M-94 & Tracker , S&W line of featherweights .