Good Overall .22 Pistol?
- Thread starter Dynasty
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A Ruger MK I, II, or III in the barrel length and sight type of your choice is a fine .22 for both those starting out or one that has owned handguns for years. My Ruger MKII Target generally goes to the range everytime. My High Standards & S&W's don't get shot nearly as often. Plus you can shoot HV .22's in the Ruger without issue.
krs
Member
Agree with Bill.
Ruger .22's are available in several configurations for several intended purposes including the general use plain and simple plinking fun gun, and all models deliver good value. They are proving to last for generations now as well.
Ruger .22's are available in several configurations for several intended purposes including the general use plain and simple plinking fun gun, and all models deliver good value. They are proving to last for generations now as well.
mgregg85
Member
I've got a ruger Mark II and I love it. It can be difficult to field strip at first but you will get better at it each time you do it. What makes it difficult to field strip does help it achieve a nice, clean look.
MMCSRET
Member
You did not state a preference between revolver, semi-auto, or single shot. For accuracy its hard to beat a scoped Contender. For all round utility either of the other two. I have all three and then some. I take the one thats going to do the job I'm involved in at the time, sometimes I will carry more than one.
texaspunk
Member
I love Ruger II's, but I have a Sig Mosquito that is way too much fun to not mention here.
Craig M. Arnold
Member
Browning Buckmark. 
FlyinBryan
Member
havent shot it yet but i just got the browning buckmark. 2 actually, 1 for my brother and another for myself.
i actually went to get a ruger but the browning just felt more natural to me. the size and angle of the grip was one deciding factor, another was how balanced it felt compared to the bull barreled ruger. one other thing i liked was the fact that it had adjustable sights. i was really only looking at the bottom of the line models and the ruger didnt have adjustable sights.
the sights werent really a big deal to me but it was a nice touch.
really just liked the look and feel better.
like i said, i havent shot it yet. i will know more in a few days.
i also like the way they look customized a little better (not that i will change anything on mine for a while.
heres a pretty clean one:
http://lundestudio.com/wallpaper/buckmark-tacsol-right-flat-hi.jpg
ither than the optic sight on that one it does not cost all that much to get it set up similar.
i actually went to get a ruger but the browning just felt more natural to me. the size and angle of the grip was one deciding factor, another was how balanced it felt compared to the bull barreled ruger. one other thing i liked was the fact that it had adjustable sights. i was really only looking at the bottom of the line models and the ruger didnt have adjustable sights.
the sights werent really a big deal to me but it was a nice touch.
really just liked the look and feel better.
like i said, i havent shot it yet. i will know more in a few days.
i also like the way they look customized a little better (not that i will change anything on mine for a while.
heres a pretty clean one:
http://lundestudio.com/wallpaper/buckmark-tacsol-right-flat-hi.jpg
ither than the optic sight on that one it does not cost all that much to get it set up similar.
nitetrane98
Member
I've got a Browning Challenger II that I really like. A little more old school on the old Colt Woodsman theme. You can find used ones for a couple hundred bucks.
http://www.securityarms.com/20010315/galleryfiles/2400/2495.htm
http://www.securityarms.com/20010315/galleryfiles/2400/2495.htm
FlyinBryan
Member
very nice nitetrane
Justin
Moderator Emeritus
Smith and Wesson Model 41. Fit, finish, ergonomics and accuracy makes all of the Rugers and Brownings cry.
The Smith costs more (roughly the same price as a decent centerfire gun) but is accurate enough for anything from plinking to small game hunting to Bullseye competition. Fit and finish is the best of anything you'll see on a US-made .22, and it's the best you can get before making the leap to dedicated competition-only .22 pistols.
The Smith costs more (roughly the same price as a decent centerfire gun) but is accurate enough for anything from plinking to small game hunting to Bullseye competition. Fit and finish is the best of anything you'll see on a US-made .22, and it's the best you can get before making the leap to dedicated competition-only .22 pistols.
Average Joe
Member
Ruger MK series, or Browning Buckmark, either will serve you well.
bflobill_69
Member.
Very toough to beat a Ruger Mark II used or Mark III new for the money.
Absolute tack drivers!
Fired a Browning Buckmark recently - also VERY nice. The one above mentioned I have not fired is the Smith Model 41 ((but a buddy has one and I will have to convince him to bring it out to the range soon)).
Bflobill69
Absolute tack drivers!
Fired a Browning Buckmark recently - also VERY nice. The one above mentioned I have not fired is the Smith Model 41 ((but a buddy has one and I will have to convince him to bring it out to the range soon)).
Bflobill69
CDH
Member
For a really classy and accurate pistol, see if you can find a pre-Texas High Standard Trophy or Victor. High Standard made some of the very best .22 semi-auto pistols during the days when they were in Hamden and then East Hartford. The Texas High Standards made by the people who bought all the tooling at auction?... not so much.
For brand new, the Smith Model 41 is the best thing going in it's class.
If you want a plinker, get a Ruger. If you want to knock flys off a post at 100 feet, get a Model 41.
For revolver, I'd be looking at the Smith Model 617, or if you want to go back in time some, find a nice Kit gun in 4". Mine is the Model 63 which is great because it's stainless.
For brand new, the Smith Model 41 is the best thing going in it's class.
If you want a plinker, get a Ruger. If you want to knock flys off a post at 100 feet, get a Model 41.
For revolver, I'd be looking at the Smith Model 617, or if you want to go back in time some, find a nice Kit gun in 4". Mine is the Model 63 which is great because it's stainless.
Gottahaveone
Member
One more weighing in for the Buckmark. Over the years I've owned probably 40 or so .22 pistols and it's the one I kept. It fits me well, it's quality made, and it shoots better than I do.
IndianaBoy
Member
- Joined
- Jan 3, 2005
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- 1,551
Get the Ruger Mark II.
Mine is a fantastic pistol.
Shot a friend's Mosquito this weekend. It is his second one as Sig replaced the first one because it would fire with the safety engaged.
It is the least reliable pistol I have ever shot. It is the least reliable pistol I have ever HEARD ABOUT.
At least 5 failure to extracts per mag. Sprinkled in with 1 or 2 failures to return to battery.
This pistol only runs with hypervelocity ammo like Velocitors, regardless of which spring he has installed.
I suspect that weak magazine springs are responsible for the FTRTB. Why the pistol won't extract... I have no idea.
It would be a great Sig training pistol.... if it didn't suck.
That being said. I trust my life to my Sig 225.
Mine is a fantastic pistol.
Shot a friend's Mosquito this weekend. It is his second one as Sig replaced the first one because it would fire with the safety engaged.
It is the least reliable pistol I have ever shot. It is the least reliable pistol I have ever HEARD ABOUT.
At least 5 failure to extracts per mag. Sprinkled in with 1 or 2 failures to return to battery.
This pistol only runs with hypervelocity ammo like Velocitors, regardless of which spring he has installed.
I suspect that weak magazine springs are responsible for the FTRTB. Why the pistol won't extract... I have no idea.
It would be a great Sig training pistol.... if it didn't suck.
That being said. I trust my life to my Sig 225.
Ala Dan
Member in memoriam
On the cheap'o end- the old High Standard Dura-Matic*.
On the costly end, Smith & Wesson's model 41, Colt's Match Target
Woodsman, Brownings, and Rugers come too mind.
*FootNote- those old High Standard's sold for $35 NIB, as late as 1974.
I should have bought a tractor-trailer load of 'em, at that price~!
On the costly end, Smith & Wesson's model 41, Colt's Match Target
Woodsman, Brownings, and Rugers come too mind.
*FootNote- those old High Standard's sold for $35 NIB, as late as 1974.
I should have bought a tractor-trailer load of 'em, at that price~!
mauiglide
Member
I bought a Ruger Mark III Hunter last month and it is a great shooter. Price is right and beautifully built. I've been pimping it out with new target wood grips and an Aimpoint H-1 red dot. I will keep the internals stock until I get bored one day...which will be almost never especially with this pistol.
Spyvie
Member
My Buckmark
The nice thing about the Browning is how easy they are to work on yourself. I found this 7" Tac-Sol barrel on sale for $149, installed it with an allen wrench and a little locktite. Did the Hegis spring flip for the trigger and now I've got a sweet shooting lightweight target pistol for well under $500
The nice thing about the Browning is how easy they are to work on yourself. I found this 7" Tac-Sol barrel on sale for $149, installed it with an allen wrench and a little locktite. Did the Hegis spring flip for the trigger and now I've got a sweet shooting lightweight target pistol for well under $500
SimpleIsGood229
Member
I suggest, in no particular order, any of the following:
-High Standard
-Browning Buckmark
-Beretta Neos
-Ruger Mark II (I think the ''safety'' devices on the Mark III are ugly, unnecessary, and more theoretically failure-prone)
-Beretta 87 (nice, but expensive)
-S&W 41 (nice, but even more expensive)
The rest is up to you. Handle them, then pick what works the best for you.
The ergos of the Neos and Mark II/III don't work well for me. I quite like the Beretta 87 and Smith 41, but they're too expensive for me. Therefore, the Browning Buckmark Bullseye (7.25" barrel) is what I have. The URX version (rubber, finger grove grips and smaller gripframe) is especially nice. The newer Buckies have mag disconnects, but they're easily removed, IIRC.
-High Standard
-Browning Buckmark
-Beretta Neos
-Ruger Mark II (I think the ''safety'' devices on the Mark III are ugly, unnecessary, and more theoretically failure-prone)
-Beretta 87 (nice, but expensive)
-S&W 41 (nice, but even more expensive)
The rest is up to you. Handle them, then pick what works the best for you.
The ergos of the Neos and Mark II/III don't work well for me. I quite like the Beretta 87 and Smith 41, but they're too expensive for me. Therefore, the Browning Buckmark Bullseye (7.25" barrel) is what I have. The URX version (rubber, finger grove grips and smaller gripframe) is especially nice. The newer Buckies have mag disconnects, but they're easily removed, IIRC.
coop923
Member
I've put thousands of rounds through my Ruger Mk II target and love it. It has the 5 1/2" bull barrel and really holds and shoots nicely. It's got a nice trigger too -if I remember right, it breaks at a little under 3 pounds, according to my RCBS gauge. They are little trickier to take apart and clean than some others at first, but it'll get easier after a couple of times.
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