I've been watching the 22lr recomendation . . .

[IdahoSkies]

In another active thread (and plenty of others) has been the repeated recommendation to pick up a piece chambered in 22lr for frequent practice. I've had a .22 as one of the pieces "on my list" for a while and I'm wondering what is better to get a full size .22 target pistol to work with, or a .22 most similar to my carry piece.

I carry a .32 Beretta and have a .38 k frame at home. I have often wondered about picking up a palm size .22 (bobcat or taurus clone) for low cost practice, but the .32 isn't all that snappy anyhow, so I was wondering if I should just skip it and get a full size .22 target pistol like a buckmark. Thoughts?

 

[ArmedBear]

Skip it and get a full-size .22 target pistol like a Buckmark or 22/45. Cheap, accurate, fun, reliable guns. The Rugers especially are very ammo-tolerant, so you can practice with whatever crap is selling for cheapest. I've got a Mark II Target that's been upgraded for match shooting, and on my last day in the local pistol league, I managed to shoot a possible -- with $1.47/50 ammo from Wal-Mart. Most .22s are ammo-sensitive, but the Rugers tend to run with almost anything. In the past year and a half of spotty ammo availability, that's been a feature I REALLY appreciated!

Where are you, BTW?

 

[bigfatdave]

I have both carry gun clone .22 guns and target .22 guns.

One is good for hitting 18" gongs at 100 yards and drawing on paper with at 20, the other ... well ... isn't much fun if you're wanting precision.

If you want a Buckmark, then get one, if you want a little revolver, then get one ... or get both, you'll save on ammo if you do high-round-count range trips, and you'll be able to do those high-count trips if you've never been able to afford them.

 

[BCRider]

An excellent variation on the perrenial favourite topic.

I went with lighter weight .22 semi auto pistols that have grip angles similar to my other center fire semis. I wanted the lighter weight so the guns would recoil somewhat and provide a better practice simulation for IPSC style shooting. I feel that this same trait would be good for self defense practice as well.

Yet even with their lighter weight they still are superb for "anti flinch" practicing. But I also use them at a local Speed Steel event where this same good practice trait works against me. A heavier gun that recoils less would speed up my target shooting for the highly competitive .22 handgun class. But it's all for fun anyway so I don't really mind.

For .22 revolver shooting I recently got a very nice Model 17. It's an excellent practice gun to go with my Model 19. But the 17, and similar K22, crosses the lines of practice and target gun thanks to being a very capable target gun in its own right. Best of both worlds? Well see as the matches for this summer progress.

For your situation I suspect that .32 is fairly pricey to buy to be able to practice much. So if you came across a similar size and grip .22 I'd likely be inclined to buy it if I were in your shoes. And being as you're practicing for a smaller center fire anyway the .22 practice would be that much more valid due to the similarity in recoil.

For the K frame option a K frame 17 or K22 would be a pricey handgun. You can buy a LOT of white box .38Spl for what a K frame .22 costs.

Meanwhile a Buckmark would be a nice gun to shoot for you but it's far different from either gun you already have. And while any shooting is still good practice you're not really getting something that relates to the other two guns at all.

 

[bflobill_69]

Skip it and get a full-size .22 target pistol like a Buckmark or 22/45. Cheap, accurate, fun, reliable guns. The Rugers especially are very ammo-tolerant, so you can practice with whatever crap is selling for cheapest.

+1... buy a full size .22lr with grip orientation closest to your carry/hunting guns...

Bflobill^9

 

[Carl N. Brown]

After a season of shooting only centerfire pistols in fourteen events last year, I decided to do a little pre-season target practice with my .22 Ruger this year. Between right hand arthritis and left hand crappy tunnel syndrome, I had developed a heck of a flinch (concealed by 7.62x25 and .45 recoil). Practice with the .22 has helped me overcome.

 

[ArmedBear]

Note that the different barrel lengths and weights of the Brownings and Ruger make a significant difference in handling.

My short bull barrel 22/45 is a good stand-in for a standard pistol. My long slabside bull barrel 22/45 is more a target-shooting gun for when I want to practice with partridge sights. My Ruger Mark II Target has huge, funky Herrett custom target grips on it; you wouldn't want it as a practice gun. However, its accuracy does show what the platform is capable of, which is truly excellent, far better than the price of a basic Ruger would suggest.

 

[rswartsell]

I'm sure you mean PATRIDGE sights?

 

[ms6852]

I would stay away from the Taurus 22's, trigger pull on those pistols average from 9lbs to 14lbs. You won't be able to pick your nose with that finger because of all the muscle build up. I own a Buckmark, and you really can't go wrong with the Browning or the Rugker MKIII both pistols are are equally reliable and accurate. It becomes a matter of personal choice. I chose the Browning Buckmark over the Ruger MKIII simply because I liked the feel of the URX grips in my hand. That was the deciding factor for me. I practice at 25 yds all the time and am able to hit a 3" target consistantly. It is a good way to practice as it will magnify any bad habits you do not see with centerfires.

 

[huntsman]

In another active thread (and plenty of others) has been the repeated recommendation to pick up a piece chambered in 22lr for frequent practice. I've had a .22 as one of the pieces "on my list" for a while and I'm wondering what is better to get a full size .22 target pistol to work with, or a .22 most similar to my carry piece.

I carry a .32 Beretta and have a .38 k frame at home. I have often wondered about picking up a palm size .22 (bobcat or taurus clone) for low cost practice, but the .32 isn't all that snappy anyhow, so I was wondering if I should just skip it and get a full size .22 target pistol like a buckmark. Thoughts?

If by practice you want to duplicate shooting your carry piece then yes get the .22 Beretta. If by practice you mean plinking then get whatever and have fun.

 

[MCgunner]

Academy has a buckmark for 270. I have, among other .22s, a Ruger Mk 2. Those two, the Buckmark and the Mk 2, define quality plinker grade .22s IMHO. Sigs, Berettas, you can have 'em. Particularly that Beretta Neos, looks like something out of the Man From Uncle. I don't care for ugly, Buck Rodgers type guns.

 

[Skylerbone]

I may have been one of those other posters Idaho as I find myself constantly suggesting the 22 to any who will listen.

As for your question about which way to go it's up to you. I shoot a S&W M&P 40cal. and plan to purchase other non-similar pistols in the future. My main practice 22 for the past 25+ years has been a Ruger Single Six. I also have a Beretta Neos (yes it looks odd) that I bought as a fun plinker. After a little home tweaking my trigger now breaks (on the Neos) at 3 lbs, 3 1/2 on the Ruger and 4 on the Smith. None have the same tactile feel as the others.

My experience is that shooting dissimilar weapons like my AR and my Model 700 has no perceptible negative effect on my targeting.

PS the Neos is an inexpensive and surprisingly accurate little gun with a simple $2 trigger mod (Google Neos Bic lighter trigger job) that has brought many a smile to younger shooters' faces at the range and encouraged a few beginners to stick with shooting after inspecting their targets.

 

[osteodoc08]

If you are looking for something "combat" style, you can look for a Walther P-22 or Sig Mosquito. You'll have plenty of practice clearing the FTF and FTE

I bought a used Mark II Target and have been delighted. It eats everythign I give it and hasn't failed yet.

I'm looking at picking up a short barreled Buckmark or maybe, just maybe a Walther P22 to carry around the woods. the 5.5" bbl Mark II tends to weight the britches down while walking with a hip holster. Go try them out and go with whichever feels the best.

 

[bigfatdave]

If you are looking for something "combat" style, you can look for a Walther P-22 or Sig Mosquito. You'll have plenty of practice clearing the FTF and FTE

I have a p22, and when I let it get dirty and feed it crap ammo, it becomes a little malfunction trainer for my PPS.

But with proper maintenance and feeding, a p22 can run just fine, although the tiny grip and short length will amplify any shooter's errors greatly.

 

[Salty1]

When I was looking for a multi-purpose 22 pistol I ended up with a Sig Mosquito, reason being is I was not really looking for a "target" gun, just one to plink and teach my wife how to shoot with. I am extremely satisfied with it and will always own it. The downside is that it needs CCI mini mags to function flawlessly, after a thousand rounds it will feed and fire any of the quality 22 ammo, I typically stick with the mini mags, at $7 a hundred, it is still cheap compared to my larger calibers. I consider it great for teaching newbies as it has all kinds of features, a safety, decocker etc, it also has the feel of a larger Sig....

 

[wanderinwalker]

You're going to shoot your .22LR A LOT, so just pick one that you like the best.

I've had a 4" Ruger 22/45 Mk III for a few years now. Very accurate and reliable and a great tool for teaching new shooters and refining your technique. It's also inexpensive, I think I bought mine for about $250 new.

I also HAD (notice that word) a Ruger Single-Six, 5 1/2", for a couple of years. It was also great fun to shoot, but harder for me to shoot consistently. And it never left the safe after I bought this:



That's a Smith and Wesson Model 18, K-frame .22. Absolutely one of the most fun and best shooting pistols I own. While it could use a little smoothing of the trigger, everything goes BANG when the hammer falls (not always a given with some lots of .22 ammo in my 22/45 FWIW). The Ahrend's stocks are my addition, but otherwise it's had no alterations that I know of. Matter of fact, I like it so much I tracked down a Model 19 K-frame .357 Magnum to match it!

 

[22-rimfire]

I think you are on the right track. Either the Buckmark or Ruger Mark III's are very good. I like the 5.5" heavy barrel on the Ruger for an all around shooter. Buy which ever feels better in your hand and I would not buy a tiny 22 for practice.

With revolvers, the Smith 617 is the best these days in my opinion. I like the 4" a lot. The Smith Model 17 and 18's are very fine 22 revolvers which have been replaced by the M617.

 

[ArmedBear]

My experience is that shooting dissimilar weapons like my AR and my Model 700 has no perceptible negative effect on my targeting.

In fact, I think it increases your awareness. Shooting exactly the same thing all the time seems to make me lazy, and ingrain some bad habits.

That's not to say that, before a match or a hunt, I wouldn't practice with the gun I was going to use. I certainly do. However, for all-around shooting, I think that cross-training helps. Note that NRA Bullseye 2700 matches are shot with 2 or 3 pistols, and require at least .22LR and .45ACP, in immediate succession. Participants seem to shoot them quite well.

 

[searcher451]

I sure wouldn't buy either a Tomcat or a Bobcat. I've had examples of each and have never found either one to be reliable. I would endorse a Ruger Mark series pistol, the Browning Buck Mark line, or a Walther PP in .22 (not the P22, mind you, but a PP or a PPK). Any of those will provide you with long years of good, reliable service, IMO.

 

[aka108]

I like the older 22 cal handguns like the K-22 from S&W or the Match Target Woodsman and Service Model Ace from Colt. No plastic, no alloy, all nicely machined and finished steel. Save up you bucks and get some real quality for the money.

 

[KodiakBeer]

I've owned Rugers, Buckmarks and now a P22.

I like the Buckmark the best by a large margin. It's solid, accurate and has a pretty good trigger right out of the box.

The Rugers are solid also, but the trigger makes it choice #2.

The P22 is cheaper than either of the above and while it's a good and reliable handgun, it's just harder to shoot well. It doesn't feel "solid" and has a poor trigger and a short sight radius that make it hard to shoot well.

 

[Skylerbone]

Did some quick present and fire drills yesterday after work. These are strong side holster drawn two-handed. Align as you bring the gun up, confirm target and fire. Reholster and repeat. I had worked on both guns since my last range day and chose to load 2 .40 cal and 3 .22 lr just in case either decided to slam fire into full auto.

Distance was 15 yards, factory sights on both.

For my money .22 training is invaluable and as I stated above these two pistols in particular are great examples of dissimilar designs that still compliment each other on the range.