I have $300, I want a .22 pistol...

[Macchina]

I have around $300 burning a hole in a secure location. I would like to purchase a semi-automatic .22 handgun. I will be using this gun for target practice and walking in the woods: size doesn't really matter. I want a reliable accurate gun. Any suggestions?

 

[LKB3rd]

A used Ruger MKII or III would be a good choice.

 

[BlacklabelOP]

+1, but I have a p22

But have you thought of a ruger charger??

 

[Geno]

Ruger Mark II (if you can find a nice used one) or a Ruger Mark III if you can't.

 

[madmattmd]

I have to agree with prior responses. A Ruger MK I/II/or III is probably your best choice for the money (I have a MK I and MKII). Many good used ones around for sale. Extra magazines and upgrade parts (grips/holsters/triggers/etc) are easily found.

There are probably a few more good choices for a used .22LR in this price range, but I don’t have any personal experience with them, other than a sad looking but mechanically great Ruger Single Six I picked up for $200.

Matt

 

[AppBrookie]

I have to say a Walther P22, my first 2-300 rounds(break in) were rough but now it runs like a champ, w/ cheap Remington Golden HP($15.97 for 550 at Wally World) or Winchester 333 HP's. Fun handgun that the whole family enjoys.

 

[Brian Williams]

Why would anybody want a Ruger Charger other than to have in the car to shoot groundhogs. It is not an easy item to haul around and I would rather have my Marlin 39M than a Charger.

Shop around and find a nice Mark I or II. I found a nice Colt Woodsman that was challenged finish wise but it shoots for around $300.
b

 

[tblt]

Ruger mark III

The browning is nice but jams

 

[Bubba613]

Ruger 22/45 and you can probably buy one new at that price.

 

[eatont9999]

I picked up my MKII with a 6" tapered barrel for less than $300. I like it pretty well and it shoots accurately.

 

[usp9]

The best $275 I ever spent was on this Browning Buckmark Field 5.5. A used Buckmark will deliver many years, if not generations, of great shooting fun. This one proved to be laser accurate and has a sweet, sweet trigger.

 

[Michael_2112]

I think the Ruger MKIII is a great choice and should fall within your budget.

 

[brin747]

I picked up a Ruger Mk1 in very good shape for $175 a few weeks back. It's a great gun for the money!

 

[Deanimator]

A used Ruger MKII or III would be a good choice.

+1

Lots of people use them for bullseye competition, so accuracy isn't a problem. With the right ammunition and good magazines, they're also very reliable.

The Browning Buck Mark is a good alternative.

 

[Justin]

At that price point, I'd agree with the suggestions of a used Ruger Mk. II or III.

The 22/45 is a decent-ish plinker, too. However, realize that there's no way to add after-market grips to it.

 

[Hostile Amish]

A Buck Mark or a P22 will serve you well.

 

[bannockburn]

A Ruger Mk.II, Mk.III, 22/45, Browning Buckmark, or Beretta Neos are all favorites of mine and can be found for around $300 or less if you do some dedicated looking.

 

[onebigelf]

Loooove my MK3. Bought one of these for it.

http://www.gamaliel.com/cart/product.php?productid=5823

Damn thing is evil. I'm blowing through obscene amounts of .22 ammo.

John

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Here are some good buys from www.gunsamerica.com

Ruger Mk1 (GA Number: 914866349) Classified Ad
Ruger Semi-Auto Pistols > Mark II Family
***Sale Pending*** Used with finish wear but completely functional.

Seller: Cascade Armory (FFL Dealer) $135.00

(This one is probably already gone, but watch that site and you may find another buy like that.)

RUGER MKII KK-15-3 (GA Number: 907432699) Classified Ad
Ruger Semi-Auto Pistols > Mark II Family
USED SEMI AUTO IN VERY GOOD CONDITION:6" BARREL CHAMBERED IN 22 LONG RIFLE:ALL BLUED STEEL CONSTRUCTION:BLACK PLASTIC GRIPS:1 MAGAZINE

Seller: SPORTSMENS OUTPOST INC (FFL Dealer) $229.00

RUGER 22/45 MKIII 5.5" BULL (GA Number: 973689414) Classified Ad
Ruger Semi-Auto Pistols > Mark II Family
THIS IS NEW IN THE BOX RUGER MKIII 22/45 IT IS THE 5 1/2" BULL BARREL WITH ADJUSTALE SIGHTS,POLYMER FRAME, THE NEW MKIII HAS PUSH BUTTON MAG ...(read more)

Seller: The Exchange (FFL Dealer) $239.00

Make friends with your local pawnshop dealer and ask him what he charges to do a firearms transfer (it shouldn't be more than $20.) Have him give you a signed copy of his FFL, and send that with a postal money order for purchase price plus shipping (probably another $20) along with a cover letter telling the seller to send it to the licensed pawnbroker. The pawnbroker will fill out the paperwork and you get your gun.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Listen to usp9....

Browing Buckmark. Occasionally you can find the basic one new for $300-$325, but you're probably looking at used.

Other Good Options in that price range: New S&W Model 22, Used Sig Trailside, Walther P22.

Friends don't let friends buy Rugers, especially in these pistols - unless you have 3 hands, you ain't gonna reassamble one without a lot of cursing. Why anyone would buy a Mark 2 or 3 when the Buckmark is roughly 400 times better looking, AND cheaper, AND better made, AND easier to assemble/disassemble, and equally accurate, is just beyond me. Unless it's for the aftermarket doodads. I guess people just don't look at Brownings and compare them- must be a marketing/availability thing.

 

[BCRider]

The re-assembly is a skill that comes with practice. Yeah there's some cursing involved initially but like many skills a person can soon get the drift of it.

Although from having shot four different .22 semis and one revolver I'd have to suggest that you need to stop and ask yourself what makes you want to shoot.

I've shot two different Rugers. They are excellent paper punches. Accurate and consistent. However they are so heavy that they are almost lifeless in the hands of the shooter. They operate flawlessly but without any of the experience of shooting. There's just no kick so the experience is reduced to me.

S&W 22A cures some of this by offering up a bit of kick and some signs of life passes through your hands. For this old shooter the gun is far better than I am. The one I shot is a range pig so it has some lack of cleaning issues and I'd get one FTE every two or three magazines. However when under the better care of a considerate owner I have no doubt that it'll shoot marvelously.

High Standard target. Now this was one sweet gun. The personal gun of one of the range owners I was lucky enough to pass 100 rounds through it. Very accurate and lovely to hold with the custom made target grips. Almost sexy in fact. Gun shot great but with the barrel weights it "suffered" from the same lack of "lifesigns" as the Ruger.

I've also shot a S&W model 63 kit gun revolver. Small and light it offers up some real liveliness in the hand so you know you're shooting a gun. Nicely accuracy as well but not the tight groupings of the longer barreled semis.

In the end the one I selected for my own was a gun I had not shot at all. I just got a Tanfoglio Force 22 which is a gun that is not offered for sale in the US. I've passed 200 rounds through it and I'm in love. It is very light (29 oz) so it has some serious, for a .22, kick and it is producing groupings that are as tight as any I've ever achieved. I'm enjoying the kick as it is great for practicing my sighting skills for the 9mm in IPSC shooting. Not to mention that the kick makes me grin.

Prior to this my options were either a 22A of my own or going with the Buckmark which is very much like the High Standard but without the barrel weight.

Depending on what you want from your new gun there are also aftermarket aluminium barrels that are steel lined. They should offer a good blend of weight reduction to let more of the kick reach your hand while being an upgrade for the barrel from what I've read.

 

[paintballdude902]

a ruger single six is possibly the best .22 revolver in history (bias maybe)

 

[-v-]

+1 Browning buck-mark. Picked a NIB one for $300 two months back. No mechanical malfunctions since day 1, and more accurate then I am. Also, I like the buckmark's balance a lot better then Ruger's equivalent. Ruger is far too front-heavy for me, the buckmark sits nicely with the center of mass right above my hand.

 

[jduvall89]

save 50 more bucks and get a bersa thunder 9mm, or even .380.

not as cheap in ammo for a 22, but still fairly cheap, fun for target prac, AND could be used in defense, and small enough for carry if desired

 

[Freezebyte]

Browning Buckmark Camper with tru-Glo sites and Ergo grip is VERY comfortable and looks awesome. I woulda gotten that for Christmas but Santa was VERY good to me this year, so I "upgraded" to a XD(m) 9mm for my first handgun. Yeah, ammo is more expensive, but what the hell.