Help me decide on a good shooter: 22 Autoloader

[Sour Kraut]

I'm looking for recommendations for a good shooing 22 Autoloader. There are so many out there I need some suggestions from experienced owners to narrow my choice. Would prefer it to be within the $300-$400 price range, but might consider slightly more if warranted. Not too big and heavy but an accurate shooter with good balance and pointing characteristics. would like suggestions on the various Ruger models as well as any others worthy of consideration. Will be used for target and perhaps small game. Other guns owned are XD, Sig and Walther. Thanks!

 

[JoePfeiffer]

My Buckmark URX is a great little gun. I've put a holographic sight on it that works very well. The one downside is that the wraparound gross make disassembly for cleaning a bit more difficult, but it's still not bad.

sent using CPIP (see RFC 1149)

 

[sappyg]

You might try rimfire central. That's a great place to start. Most all ruger autos have a sub forum there.
Personally I like the MK III 22/45. I just tore down the bolt on one of mine after ~6k rounds and the firing pin spring was broke in three pieces. No telling when this happened. Never had a FTF. The darn thing works even when it's broken.

 

[gfpd707]

Look no farther than the Browning Buckmark. Mine chew through anything and is amazingly accurate. The trigger is also the greatest factory pull of any 22.

 

[ID-shooting]

Nothing wrong with the buckmark as mentioned above, but Ruger is the Standard all others are judged on, lol.

I like the Rugers, a base model can be had in your price range. The target versions can get a little heavy after a while. I have a Standard in 6 inch. Plenty more accurate than I am and balances really well.

 

[Johnny Lightning]

Buckmark wins in my opinion. I own a buckmark and have shot my buddies Ruger 22-45 and the buckmark has a better trigger and I like the grip much better on the buckmark.

 

[OcelotZ3]

I've got quite a few 22lr semi-autos.

For sheer reliability & good value, you can't go wrong with a Ruger or Buckmark. I've got both and like each for their differences.

I prefer the 22/45 over the other Ruger models, although I also have 2 Mark II Government Target models, which are a bit different than the normal Mark II's. They are all great.

All of them (including the Buckmark) are a bit fiddly to take down & clean. Watch some videos on the web on the Rugers particularly because some folks really have problems putting them back together. Once you know the tricks it's easy. My LGS regularly has people come in to sell them Rugers in pieces, or locked up, for a cheap price just because they couldn't figure out how to put them back together. That's how I got one of my Mark II Government Targets.

Good luck with your choice.

 

[JohnM]

I finally ran across a nice Ruger Mark I, they're hard to beat.
I didn't like the new Mark III.
I like the Colt Woodsman, but they're just so spendy anymore.
Never had a Browning.

 

[Pilot]

Hard to beat the Ruger, and while they are very accurate out of the box, there are a myriad of aftermarket goodies you can install to take them to match grade.

 

[weblance]

I have 18 Twenty-two autoloaders. I think the best all around value for build quality and accuracy is the Beretta Neos. Its excellent for someone starting out that might be uncomfortable with the Ruger Dis-Reassembly. Its also $100 cheaper. A little odd looking, but take the $100 you save over the Ruger, buy an optic, and you will be shooting rings around the open sighted Ruger, for the same price. Want a combat style plinker? The Ruger SR22P, Smith &Wesson M&P 22 or Sig Mosquito are excellent. Feel like being 007? Bersa Thunder 22 or Walther PPK/S 22. Want a 1911-22? Colt/Walther 1911-22. Want a fun little pocket rocket? Beretta 21a or Taurus POLY PT-22. I own the ones I just listed, and they all are excellent.

 

[Sour Kraut]

I have 18 Twenty-two autoloaders. I think the best all around value for build quality and accuracy is the Beretta Neos. Its excellent for someone starting out that might be uncomfortable with the Ruger Dis-Reassembly. Its also $100 cheaper. A little odd looking, but take the $100 you save over the Ruger, buy an optic, and you will be shooting rings around the open sighted Ruger, for the same price. Want a combat style plinker? The Ruger SR22P, Smith &Wesson M&P 22 or Sig Mosquito are excellent. Feel like being 007? Bersa Thunder 22 or Walther PPK/S 22. Want a 1911-22? Colt/Walther 1911-22. Want a fun little pocket rocket? Beretta 21a or Taurus POLY PT-22. I own the ones I just listed, and they all are excellent.

Wow, THAT is a collection. Thanks for sharing; some of those models I am not familiar with but intend to research!

 

[arizona98tj]

I own a buckmark and have shot my buddies Ruger 22-45 and the buckmark has a better trigger and I like the grip much better on the buckmark.

Judging all Ruger pistols by the 22-45 means you've sold yourself short, IMO.

 

[Kiln]

I'd say go with the Ruger MK3. I've got one that has been completely flawless with various ammo types and has seen over 10k rounds with only basic cleaning. It has only had a full disassembly one time and has been totally reliable.

The Neos is nice too and I don't think it gets the respect it deserves. My experience with the Neos has been flawless as well, although I only have a couple thousand rounds through it. Overall it seems to be a pretty high quality pistol with unique looks and several nice features.

The trigger isn't as good as the one on the MK3 but the takedown is EASY and different length barrels can be swapped out in just a couple of minutes.

 

[jonnyc]

My favorites:
1. Buckmark
2. Beretta Model 71

 

[RainDodger]

The only way to narrow it down is to decide what you want it for. Weblance gave you a lot of information, but you have to decide... target? Plinking? Hunting? What?

My Buck Mark is a great, great shooter and it's so accurate that it's almost boring to shoot. My Ruger SR22 is a lot of fun - it's reliable and eats all the ammo I give it, unlike some of the other poly .22s. It's no target pistol, but it's more fun than the Buck Mark.

 

[marb4]

I have well over 50K rounds through my buckmark and its still as accurate and reliable as the day it came new out of the box. Changed the recoil spring once just as a preventative measure but have done nothing else to it but shoot, clean, shoot , clean.....

 

[anothernewb]

another +1 for the buckmark here. probably one of the best out of the box rimfire pistols out there.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

Ruger has had over 50 years of perfecting their pistols. I would look hard at them.

 

[bannockburn]

Sour Kraut

Here's my all-time favorite .22, my Beretta Model 70S, that meets and exceeds all of your criteria for a good shooting .22 autoloader. It is perfectly sized (lightweight enough with great handling, balance, and ergonomics), has an adjustable rear sight, is completely reliable with any .22LR ammo, and has excellent accuracy with CCI MiniMags and Wolf Match Target loads.

 

[Orion8472]

I really like the Beretta Model 70S above. I'd like to have one!

Anyway, I have shot many 22lr pistols and I will have to "ditto" what many have said here already. Go with what has seemed to work best for many others. I have a Mark II Government Target Model that will pretty much cycle anything [not VERY light loads, like primer only charges, of course]. I can shoot subsonic out of it with few if any issues.

New ones CAN be a PITA to take down for a while, but my mom just had to have a new "bare bones" Mark III, and it shoots nearly as good as my GTM.

If I was going to get another one, I would be tempted with the Lite they just came out with. 22/45 style with a lighter weight upper.

 

[JohnM]

I don't see the fascination with the 22/45.
If you want a big semi that looks like a 1911, get a real one.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

I have one .22 semiautomatic pistol, an AMT .22 Automag which I bought shortly after they first came out. It was my first handgun purchase.

It's sweet...6 inch barrel, 9 round magazine, slim, light, and accurate.

How accurate? I can hit a soda can at 100 yards with it from a bench rest. It might take me all 9 rounds in the magazine, but they'll ALL be impacting very close. Since this is open sight (no scope) from a 6 inch barrel, I call that darn good.

I've taken it frogging, squirrel hunting, and done tons of plinking with it.

It is by no means a quiet pistol, however. Easily the loudest out of the three I currently own (Colt 1991A1 .45 acp, Beretta 92FS 9mm), and an impressive 18 inch muzzel flash in low light conditions. But it's an absolute DREAM to shoot!

This has always been one of those guns that if you can't hit what you're aiming at, then the fault is the guy attached to the trigger finger.

I can't speak for the new .22 Automags, as they're made by a different company now. Presumably they're just as reliable and accurate as mine.


EDIT:

High Standard now makes these.

http://www.highstandard.com/index.php/weapons-a-products/weapons?id=111

If you're looking for reliability, accuracy, and power, this sure fits the bill. If you're looking for a cheap plinker/target shooter, then this ain't it. .22WMR is a lot more expensive than .22 LR.

 

[wally]

We've all the ones available in your price range.

My favorites
S&W M22A (7.5" fluted bull barrel model)
Beretta Neos
Browning Buckmark
Ruger MK II
Ruger 22/45 MKIII

My Wife's favorites
Browning Buckmark
S&W M22A
Ruger 22/45 MKIII
Ruger MK II
Beretta Neos (just doesn't fit her well)

The Walther P22 doesn't make the list, although its a nice novelty shooting it suppressed. Neither does the SMC-22 Hungarian PPK "clone".


The Rugers are by far the worst to take down for cleaning, the Buckmark is a close second needing two different sized hex wrenches to take down but its open enough on the sides that its required a lot less often.

The Neos is the easiest, with the M22A close behind and both are as open as the Buckmark and thus rarely need to be totally disassembled.

 

[Sour Kraut]

New style Ruger "Lite" version

Thanks for all the great input!

Anyone have experience with the Ruger Lite series?

 

[weblance]

I have a 22/45 LITE(Gold). Its an excellent pistol as well. It balances nicely, but does have a little bit of recoil(not really) I think its a fine pistol. I got mine as soon as the were announced. Its just as accurate as my other two 22/45s. I can get 2-3" groups at 25 yards with the open sights.