Inexpensive SA/DA (or even 1911 style) 22 LR pistol

[saturno_v]

I do want to buy a 22 LR pistol that is not a target model (I already own a S&W 22A)

Ideally I would like a SA/DA trigger setup but I could go even with a 1911 style pistol. Barrel has to be over 4", ideally close to 5" or more.

I was going to buy a Bersa Thunder 22-6, basically a Thunder 22 with a 6" barrel, I did like the look, new was under $300, typical Bersa good quality and made with real gun metal....what not to like?? Surprisingly, Eagle does not import this particular model anymore (and people that own them love them)...I cannot find one used.

I had a terrible experience with a Chiappa 1911-22, terrible finish, made of zinc alloy, got rid of it unfired.

The SIG Mosquito has a short barrel, it has a plastic frame and it is over priced IMHO for what it is.....so is the CZ Kadet 22 LR kit (and I do not own a CZ 75 to begin with nor I'm a fan of conversion kits in the first place)

No pot metal, no tupperware frame.

There is anything out there??

Thanks!!

 

[Tallball]

I bought a Sig Mosquito. It is junk. I think Ruger makes something like that and people seem to like them.

 

[MedWheeler]

Yes, Ruger makes the SR-22, but the OP (like me) likes all-metal guns.

I think Browning has a 1911-22 out as well.

As far as all-metal, DA/SA guns go, only the PPK Walthers come to mind, and they can be expensive. I have a neat AP22 by FEG (Hungary) that is a rimfire version of their PA-63. What a solid, well-crafted pistol this is. However, it is rare; the Interarms version I have only having been imported during 1998. SMC imported some more a year or so later.

I didn't know Bersa had discontinued shipping the Thunder 22 to the US. Makes me wish I'd bought the one in my local store's case a month or so back.

 

[gotboostvr]

I've understood the kadet kit to be a very nice piece of kit.

But I too have a distaste for "conversion kits" and "drop in parts" where I think something should be fitted but that's a whole 'nuther thread.

I really like my new CZ 75B SA and was looking at the kadet kits recently out of curiosity and boredom.

What do you dislike about them?

 

[basicblur]

You might want to check out the M&P 22 Compact?

Made by S&W (unlike the full size M&P 22) and gets great reviews.

Can't tell you that I prefer any of mine over the other - I have the Mosquito (later models fixed some problems with earlier models), M&P full size and compact, Walther P22, SIG 1911 22.

The Ruger seemed to be one of the most highly regarded out there until the M&P Compact came out.

 

[saturno_v]

What do you dislike about them?

Maybe I'm weird but I like to have a complete firearm rather than swapping slides and magazines.

The Ruger is too compact for my liking, I would love a barrel length of at least 4.5", ideally 5" or more.

 

[Gerald1222]

Check out the Colt Gold Cup .22 1911 style for 339.00 Made by Walther in Germany. I have one and Love It !!

 

[toivo]

I didn't know Bersa had discontinued shipping the Thunder 22 to the US. Makes me wish I'd bought the one in my local store's case a month or so back.

They haven't. There are still tons of them out there. He was looking for the one with the 6" barrel, and that's a real rare bird. I didn't think they ever imported that one into the US, but I could be wrong.

No offense to the OP, but I think you've got some conflicted desires there. You don't want a target-type pistol, but you want a barrel that is 5" or more? That suggests 1911s, but you want DA/SA? Maybe a CZ-75 or a Beretta 92 with a .22 conversion kit, but I'm stumped for what else would fit your requirements. I think you might have to get over your distaste for conversion kits, and I'm going to go out on a limb and say the CZ-75 with the kit is not overpriced for what it is. You're getting two excellent pistols for your money.

EDIT TO ADD: If you can deal with SAO and don't mind the fact that it's called "Target," this version of the SIG P938-22 has a 4.1" barrel.

 

[bannockburn]

saturno_v

I'm just the opposite: I like having the added versatility of being able to convert to another caliber by just swapping out the barrel, slide, and magazine. When I bought my CZ P01 the salesman offered me the Kadet conversion kit for such a great price I didn't think twice about getting it. Took a little bit of fitting and now I have two guns for little more than the price of one gun.





Same thing with an old Essex frame assembly I had. Originally I built it as a .38 Super but ended up giving the frame and barrel assembly away some years back. I really wanted a Marvel .22 conversion kit but they were always on perpetual back order. Found this TacSol conversion and really liked the quality of the assembly. Very well built and great for target work or just fun to plink around with.

 

[Ibmikey]

A decent .22 and "cheap" or inexpensive are not compatible. I have a dozen or more .22 pistols and one that stands out for price, reliability, accuracy and fun is the S&W Compact M&P. Shoot one and convince yourself.

 

[rbernie]

I was going to buy a Bersa Thunder 22-6, basically a Thunder 22 with a 6" barrel, I did like the look, new was under $300, typical Bersa good quality and made with real gun metal....what not to like?? Surprisingly, Eagle does not import this particular model anymore (and people that own them love them)...I cannot find one used.

I didn't know Bersa had discontinued shipping the Thunder 22 to the US. Makes me wish I'd bought the one in my local store's case a month or so back.

Bersa still makes 'em, and the 'standard' models are still imported - just not the extended barrel version.

A full size CZ with Kadet kit is probably the best available (but not cheapest!) choice.

 

[X-Rap]

I'm very pleased with the Kimber conversion, very accurate but somewhat finicky on ammo.
Ruger MK I or II is hard to beat.
Good and inexpensive may cost more in the long run, lots of them to weed out.

 

[cc-hangfire]

For 22's, I have a Ruger Mark II, a S&W 22A, a Walther P22, a Kel Tec P11 + Twisted Industries .22 conversion kit, & a SIG P226 with .22 conversion kit.

For what you've asked for, the SIG + conversion meets your requirement. It's DA/SA, full size, full weight, all metal, and has functioned without FTF or FTE with the bulk ammo I've fed it. But it ain't cheap. On the plus side, it's also a 9mm. And it's SIG quality, even the conversion slide & magazine. Swapping the conversion is the same as field stripping for cleaning. No fitting required, either.

For DA/SA I like the Walther but it is polymer, & isn't as reliable as either my Ruger Mark II (SA) or the SIG. My 22A (SA) is a project gun, and is very ammo picky right now. The Kel Tec conversion runs fine, but the barrel to slide fit is sloppy at the muzzle, so accuracy is not good.

 

[Zendude]

Not DA, but I have the Colt (Made by Walther) 1911. It is a full size 1911 and shoots well as long as I use a quality high velocity 22 cartridge. Aguila and CCI work best.

 

[saturno_v]

A decent .22 and "cheap" or inexpensive are not compatible. I have a dozen or more .22 pistols and one that stands out for price, reliability, accuracy and fun is the S&W Compact M&P. Shoot one and convince yourself.

I beg to differ...my $199 S&W 22A has been flawless, accurate and lot of fun.

I will look into the Walther 1911 22 LR replica...it seems intriguing for that price.