Good small .22

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sabre2

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I have a Ruger mk11 target that I use for cheap practice. It works great, but it is a heavy long sight radius gun, even larger than a 1911. It occurs that some of the defensive guns that I have are short sight radius light weight guns. It might be a good idea to add a small grip, light weight, short sight radius .22 to to the mix. Since I am not familiar with this type of gun, I was hoping for some suggestions. Thanks. :confused:
 
whm1974,
I have their .380 and like it very much. I have not been able to find one of their .22s here locally and have not been able to try one. Maybe at this weekends gun show? :)
 
I've got a Taurus .22mag LW snub revolver I like. They make a .22 also in alloy. Do you have to have an auto? If so how small do you want to go?
 
how small?

Popeye,
Not too small. I was thinking about the size of a kahr pm9 or mini glock. I'm not really looking for a pocket gun, more like a training gun. Maybe something j-frame size. I know that there are a lot of small .22s , but you don't read too much about them.
 
Ruger makes a short barrel version of their polymer frame 22/45. It's designed to mimic the feel & operating controls of a 1911 style auto. Last I checked around here they were going for about $230 new. You already have a Ruger .22 auto - same basic thing with a shorter barrel & different grip angle.

Walther makes a P-22. It's overall shape & size is similar to Sig and S&W compact DA/SA autos. It too is reasonably priced (under $300) - and it's operating drill & layout is designed to mimic a modern DA/SA centerfire auto.

From what I've read, the Ruger is about as reliable as their other .22 pistols. I have personal experience with Ruger pistols and can vouch that they will typically eat and spit out most anything that will fit in the magazine. The Walther (I've read but have no personal experience) seems to be a bit more picky about the ammo it likes. But we're talking .22's here - so whatever brand you get is going to be a lot more economical than any centerfire factory loaded rounds.

Now if you're talking really small - the little Beretta autos and NAA mini revolvers are probably the best choice (again, all reasonably priced). But from what I am understanding from your original post, what you are looking for something with the same general feel, weight & sight radius as your centerfire auto. If this is the case, either the Ruger or Walther models discussed above sound like what you are looking for.
 
Small .22 Auto?

If you want to spend the money, how about the Beretta Cheetah Mod 87. REAL nice .22 auto, reliable, well made and easy to clean.

I've got one and its the one gun that ALWAYS goes out the range with me.
 
Another - tho a ''cheapie'' but surprisingly useful anyways as a fun plinker is the Phoenix HP22. Cheap as heck ... not that high a quality but I got the ''kit'' some years ago - on a whim. Has the short barrel (3"?) and the long (5") ... haven't shot it in ages. $160 all in IIRC ... maybe even less.

For what it is, and if you don't expect too much - it's another fun gun to have around. Mine rarely baulks at any .22 ammo - and you can run off 10 shots in an embarrassingly short time! LOL. Not good enough for carry tho.

Here with long barrel - way more accurate.


hp-22_s.jpg
 
FEG RL61 (or whatever its US trade name)

PPK-size, steel slide, aluminium frame 6+1, reliably works with HiVel non-HP .22 LR ammo.
Under 200 USD.
 
Thanks to all

It looks like the Beretta 87, bersa .22, Feg rl-61, and Walther p22 are good bets to do what I want. Thanks everyone for the ideas.
John :)
 
If you can find one, an Iver Johnson TP22 might do the trick. Mine is reliable, very accurate, and fun to shoot. The TP22 is much cheaper than the Walther TPH, on which it is based.

ijtp22ls.jpg
 
Bersa .22?

I checked Eagle imports (the Bersa importer) and they don't show the .22 on their site. It is on the Bersa factory web site. If anyone knows if and where they are being sold, please send that on. I have not been able to find anyone selling the .22. :confused:
 
what does a Iver Johnson TP22 go for? How reliable are they compared to the Walther?
 
"If you can find one, an Iver Johnson TP22 might do the trick. Mine is reliable, very accurate, and fun to shoot. The TP22 is much cheaper than the Walther TPH, on which it is based."

Hey, it is just an ERMA EP55 pistol (with some American trade name).
This is definiately not Walther quality, as it is made of zinc alloy, originally made for gaspistol (EGP55) - for that purpose it is one of the bests.

The ERMA company went bankrupcy in 1997.
 
"What about a Taurus PT-22?"

DAO trigger - no target practice, plinking is not fun so much.

No extractor, misfired round must be cleaned manually by tipping off the barrel.
 
If it is just the size & weight of the bull barrel Ruger you have, maybe drop into your local gunshop and heft a 4-3/4" 'skinny barrel' vs the 6+" bull barrel model.

I can shoot my MKII 4-1/2" comfortably for a lot longer than my shooting buddy's bull-barrel 22/45. His has the 6-7/8" model...balance seems a bit muzzle-heavy for me.
 
highend vs lowend

a fine pistol for about 4-5 hundred is the beretta 87, on the low end, the hungarian F.E.G. made smc-22. i saw an feg pistol on gb a couple of weeks ago for about 2 hundred.
i have them both and it would be a hard choice if i could only keep one.
the beretta is sweet and a beretta! the feg has a fine blued finish and is a walther clone.
 
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