Looking for a 22 pistol

Status
Not open for further replies.
B

breakingcontact

Member
Joined
Oct 25, 2012
Messages
1,237
Location
Austin, TX
I start off with the "standard", the Ruger Mark pistols.

But I came across the M&P 22 pistol that's similar to the full size model.

What's your experience with 22 caliber pistols and what do you prefer?

I know the Buckmark is considered a good one as well.

What's the purpose of the pistol? general/all/utility
 
What's your purpose of the pistol? I like 'em all, but they have different purposes. Most are simply for fun but, like you noticed, some replicate service-sized centerfire pistols, and make good trainers because of that.
Some of mine include the Ruger Mk-II, purchased in 1987 as my first rimfire, as a plinker and handgun-trainer, a Heritage Rough Rider (just plain fun, and a potential trail/snake gun), and a Taurus PT-22. That last one is a potential trainer for my wife in handguns in general, and a trainer for me for my Kel-Tec PF9, since the two guns are similarly-sized, with similar trigger actions. My Phoenix HP22A would make a good "truck gun", and is fun to shoot as well.
I'd like to have my hands on a Ruger SR-22, too.
 
I own a S&W M&P22 pistol and a Ruger Mark II 22/45. They are both fun to shoot but I enjoy the Ruger more. I use the M&P to train new shooters how to operate a semi-auto handgun platform before moving to centerfire.

The Ruger is way more accurate and has a better out of the box trigger. I kept all ten rounds in a 2.5" circle at 21 feet while at the range last Friday. It also ran me $100 less than the M&P.
 
Agree the S&W is expensive.

I don't shoot enough to justify having a "trainer" so sounds like the Ruger is the way to go. Now just have to figure out which model.
 
EAA witness with .22 conversion. Can be bought on gun broker new for just over $500 + ship and transfer.

I got the .45 /.22 combo, They are CZ75 clones so close to the cadet that all raves about for less money.
 
Hard to go wrong with a Buckmark or a Ruger MK-series. Good triggers, slight edge to the Buckmark out of the box, good reliability, very good accuracy on both.

If you want a conversion, I recommend the Marvel Unit 1 conversion, very accurate and reliable.
 
I like the idea of the Ruger "lite" 22/45 model, but without a can on the end, it's almost too light.

I think I'll just do a 4" bull barrel with adjustable sights.
 
What no one has brought up is,,,

That the S&W M&P is an entirely different pistol type than the Ruger MK series.

One (M&P) is a duty style handgun,,,
The other (Ruger MK) is a single action target style handgun.

If you want a gun that can be an understudy for a duty gun,,,
Get the M&P.

If you want a target style single action pistol,,,
Get the Ruger MK series.

It's not that one pistol is inherently better than the other,,,
It's that they were designed for two entirely different purposes.

Don't pick a gun and adapt it to a purpose,,,
Choose the purpose of the gun and buy accordingly.

Aarond

.
 
I think this model will work well.
10101.jpg

It's a bit more expensive than the 22/45 model but also feels better in the hand.
 
For a first 22 handgun, its hard not to recommend the Ruger Mark series. They are inexpensive, supurbly accurate, and built to last for many generations. There is nothing cheaply made, and there has been no change in quality since they were introduced in 1949. Simply one of the very best. That said, there are others that are also very good. The Buckmark is as good as the Ruger Mark. The M&P22 isnt as accurate as the Ruger Mark or Buckmark, but is a good shooter. The Ruger SR22P would be a good first 22 handgun, or the Bersa Thunder 22. Those are in the same accuracy class as the M&P22, and a few dollars cheaper. They are certainly capable as plinkers/hunters, but are not target pistols.

Consider a good revolver as well. The Smith & Wesson 317, 617 or 63, or Ruger SP101 are among the very best, but those revolvers are higher priced than autoloaders, that are in the same accuracy class. You want something thats just a blast to shoot, is an excellent plinker and a good value? Check out the Taurus PLY-22 or Beretta 21a.
 
The Buckmark has the better trigger out of the box but is ammo sensitive. The Ruger MK's will shoot anything. I have the SS Hunter MKIII 6 7/8" barrel tricked out. It's a blast to shoot. There are tons of aftermarket parts for the MK's, not so for the BM. I would make sure that you get one that is D&T encase you want to add a Dot sight. If I recall all of the MK's are now D&T, years back they were not. Not sure about the BM but the last one I saw was not.
 
breakingcontact said:
What's your experience with 22 caliber pistols and what do you prefer?

I know the Buckmark is considered a good one as well.

What's the purpose of the pistol? general/all/utility
Click to expand...

life would kinda suck without a 22. They are too fun. Experience wise I've had a few... shot a few, some a lot.
Get the one that suits you and YOUR purpose best. If you don't know or don't have a purpose for one then best advise is to use the search function.
 
I don't think you can go wrong with a Mark III.

I have a stainless Target version, with the 5.5" bull barrel, and it's my favorite toy.
 
The rim fire's are my favorite, I have several rim fire rifles and pistols, I like the challenge...and it's cheap fun. I don't hunt anymore so all my guns are range toys.

There are a lot of "modern" .22LR pistols, I have a few, but I prefer the all steel pistols from the 50's 60's and 70's.

Some of the High Standard pistols like this field king are great shooters, not all that expensive,(this one was $325) they are accurate, fast to take down and have superb triggers. (shoot only standard velocity ammo in them, they were designed before HV .22LR ammo was available, besides they deserve the good match ammo).

8120588426_ac86d99836.jpg
 
Furncliff, sharp looking gun!

What is generally quieter in these 22 pistols? A shorter or longer barrel? Not talking about suppressed ones.

I could see where a 4" barrel may have more blast/pop but the bullet should be slower so off in the distance the gun should be quieter, right?
 
I love the Ruger MKII, probably the best 22 pistol out there. I have a High Standard, Buckmark, S&W 22A, Walther P22 and several Rugers. I prefer the MKII over the MKIII.
 
I just don't see why you would ever want a 22 pistol with a long terrible pull (ex: sr22) when there are good single action available in the buckmark/mk lineups. Browning will have a better pull out of the box, and possibly a better feel to it. The ruger has always been more reliable for me, and has more aftermarket support. choose the one you like holding better. They're all pretty good, it's really a preferential toss up. (accord vs camry vs sonata vs....)

within the ruger mk lineup, the 2 has a mag release on the bottom of the gun; as a lefty I like it, as a righty, probably not as much. The 3 has a regular position mag release button and some extra lawyer friendly "features" The 22/45 has a plastic frame that tried to mimic the 1911 grip angle. I don't care for it at all. It makes the gun top heavy, I tend to point too high with it, I don't like the mag release button or the plastic plate on the bottom of the mag and gosh darn it, it's not what I grew up with!
 
I just don't see why you would ever want a 22 pistol with a long terrible pull (ex: sr22) when there are good single action available in the buckmark/mk lineups.
Click to expand...

It's when you want a .22 pistol that emulates a duty pistol.

The triggers on my Ruger 22/45 are crisp single-action mechanisms,,,
But if I want a .22 for cheap practice I want something with a trigger like my carry pistol.

So if all I wanted to do was pop tin cans at the range,,,
it's a single-action target style pistol for me.

If I want to practice with a duty style gun,,,
I want a .22 that emulates the same trigger action.

The rimfire M&P is perfect if you also own a M&P in centerfire.

Like I said earlier,,,
Match the gun to your purpose.

Aarond

.
 
makes a certain sense I guess, but I don't know that I would ever confuse a 22 with a 9 or more, so for me it doesn't make a lot of sense. but if it works for you, more power to you.
 
Ruger MKIII, bull bbl. Quality, accuracy and the heft of a service pistol. Get the device that holds the mag button down when reloading, saved the thumb. I get tired before I finish shooting the whole 500 rnds in the box.
 
"Good" .22 pistols in my personal experience
S&W M41 Target Pistol
S&W M422/622/2206
Ruger Mkl/Mkll/Mklll steel frame pistols, all variations
Ruger 22/45 Mkll/Mklll pistols, all variations
Browning Challenger/Nomad/Medalist all variations
Browning Buckmark all variations
Beretta Neos
Walther PP/PPK

The purposes to which .22 pistols are applied are as wide and varied as the individual owners.
I use mine for plinking, formal and informal target shooting and hunting
 
Breakingcontact...you asked about the relationship between the long and short barrels and the noise/report.
\\
I do notice a difference between the short barrel on that Field King and longer barrels on my S&W 41 and H.S. Supermatic. But there is a much bigger difference when going from target ammo at about 1070FPS and the very high velocity rounds at 1750 fps.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

B
  • Locked
Which is your favorite Ruger 22 pistol and why?
2 3
Replies
62
Views
4K
almherdfan
A
S
  • Locked
  • Poll
Which first .22 LR pistol?
Replies
24
Views
1K
AMBASSADOR
A
U
  • Locked
Volquartsen .22 pistol
Replies
3
Views
794
340PD
3
needmorecowbell
  • Locked
Need a new 22
2
Replies
31
Views
1K
Al-jim19
A
C
  • Locked
Good .22 pistol?
2 3
Replies
54
Views
4K
zb338
zb338
Back
Top