Gun for the ranges

[FieroCDSP]

I had an interesting experience with my P22 today. For what it's worth, it's no dime-shooter. For defense practice, it'll work just fine. Anyway, my story....
I haven't cleaned the thing in three weeks, which includes two shooting sessions of more than 250 rounds each time. I cleaned it last night, even lubing the mags some because they felt gritty. I went to the range today and went to fire. Click. I've had a lot of Fail to strip problems with one of the mags, but only on the first two rounds. I went to the other mag and it did the same thing.
Most of you say "well, that's what we're talking about". Well, after I coaxed 100 rounds through it, the feed issues cleared up. Maybe the thing likes being dirty.

 

[MrBorland]

Right now, I'm shooting my 4" S&W 617 .22LR and 4" 686 .357Mag. Typical session is 300-350 .22LR, 50 .38spl, and a few .357Mags.

 

[MrBorland]

I was thinking either a Smith & Wesson 22 LR or a Walther P22?? What do you recommend or preference??

I really like my .22 revolver, but if I were to spring for a semi-auto .22LR, there are a number I like and shoot well, with the S&W 41 being one of them.

 

[10-Ring]

I used to take several guns to the range...now, I don't like cleaning them all, so I only bring one...maybe 2 and it's usually my current house gun. Now if I go long gunning, I'll bring'em all because I don't have a nearby long gun range so it's a while between sessions and make a day out of it.

 

[wanderinwalker]

For .22s, I have lots of experience with:

Ruger 22/45 Mk III
Ruger Mk II
Ruger Single-Six
Beretta 21A

The Rugers are Rugers. Well built for the price, accurate, reliable, durable. I shoot the 22/45 at the rate of about a brick every two/three weeks and don't expect to wear it out. Ever.

The Single-Six is the latest acquisition and mucho fun to shoot, albeit at a much slower pace. I also suspect this one will not get many range trips when it's below freezing as the SA loading is too difficult for me with those little cartridges and gloved hands.

The Mark II was father's gun, for a long time, until he traded it for a new 22/45 Mk III. It needed a sight adjustment and didn't seem to shoot quite as well as the 22/45s have, but it was fun and more reliable than the newer pistols IMO. I think it has something to do with the magazines used between the two frames.

The Beretta? Well, it's a small "carry" gun and not meant for high-volume shooting, IMO. It was lots of fun at first, but after a few bricks it was an unreliable jam-o-matic, no matter how clean it was and what it was fed. Oh well, gone now. These seem to be hit-or-miss, good-or-bad. Take your luck, but it's not much fun as an afternoon plinking pistol.

Never have tried a Buckmark, but I've never read or heard anything bad about them. S&Ws are supposed to be pretty good too. Or a High Standard. Mmmmm.... High Standard....

And others get shot regularly, but I've been too lazy to reload much lately, so the .22s get the #1 slot 90% of the time.