Looking for a fun, inexpensive .22 handgun

[doc2rn]

Colt

I like the colt (target) cadet. I bought mine for $250, but I also like my Model 1 Ruger even though I only paid $199 for it.:banghead: I have had both for over 10 years without a hiccup. As for stamped guns like Jennings and Phoenix after X number of rounds dont be suprised if the slide gives you a black eye.

 

[frez]

Thanks, guys. Ended up scoring a well-used 1-1/8" NAA revolver off of a friend for $100. Looks like it's going to be a lot of fun (though I'm completely lost as to why the pocket holster has space for 5 extra rounds - as if you can reload the thing in the middle of a fight).

As if a .22 will do any good in a fight. It can't kill if it's not a headshot, right?

 

[aaronrkelly]

Forgot about the Rough Rider....I got one of those. Paid $125 with both a .22lr and .22mag cylinder - never had a minutes trouble with it.

 

[Headless]

That roughrider looks really enticing, especially at that price point and with the .22mag cylinder! I've always wanted a .22mag revolver.

 

[MCgunner]

I am sorry, know it's probably a decent gun, but I just cannot STAND that Wather....tacticool fugly to the max... I'm a traditionalist, give me a Buckmark or a Ruger or something, maybe an old Colt Woodsman. That thing is an abomination to my eyes. But, of course, anyone 30 and under love Picante rails, or what ever they are.

Yes I do realize that comparing a Phoenix arms pistol to a Jenning was a poor choice of words, but I could not think of anything else that shot rimfire and was in the same price range. The phoenix arms guns are very cheap but they are a blast to shoot and they are reliable.

Well, I had a .22 short Beretta I gave a hundred bucks for and it was a complete piece of crap, wouldn't feed, wouldn't fire on less than three hammer strikes, junk. The up side was I sold it to a dealer at a gun show for $135 on the name, alone. I'll keep my HP22 over any TEN Beretta's after that experience. When I got it, I thought I'd found a cool little fun gun, but it ain't no fun when you're cussin' it.

My little NAA mini is fantastic and goes everywhere with me! I've used it to take rabbits and close range, shoot the heads off snakes, even made a head shot on a feral wild dog once at about 25 yards. It ain't too accurate as a plinker, but it's amazing what you can do with it. It'll keep 'em all inside 5 inches or so at 25 yards if you REALLY concentrate off sandbags. The tiny sight radius is a pain, but that's part of the appeal of the thing. I've carried and shot mine for 20 years and never get tired of the little thing. It's always one of two or three guns that I carry 24/7. Right now, I have it in the watch pocket of my carpenter's jeans with my Kel Tec P11 in the front pocket below it. That's how easy it is to carry.

Now, to make that thing shootable, I had to put a folding "grip holster" on it (a neat attachment) so I could get a grip on it. With that tiny bird's head, well, I just simply couldn't shoot the thing. My mitts ain't THAT big, but they sure ain't THAT small!

 

[gazpacho]

My current stable of 22lr handguns:

HK4 (also 32acp and 380acp barrels)
Walther P22
Firestorm FS22
Taurus 94 2"

The HK4 is neat, but its also a safe queen. The Taurus actually goes to the range the most. But the best of the bunch is the Firestorm. Everything about it is right. Plus, for some reason, Aguila Super Maximum ammo in combination with this gun shoots .38 holes in target paper! The cut is so perfect, it looks like it was done with a hole puncher.

 

[Brad Johnson]

I know you said you weren't interested in the Ruger 22's, but I have to put in my vote for them. I have a 22/45 4" bull barrel, blued. 25,000+ rounds (so far) without a single mechanical failure. It has a distinct dislike for the flat-nosed Winchester Wildcat ammo but cycles everything else I've fed it with 100% reliability. Available for around $240 locally.

Brad

 

[bdutton]

If you own a 1911 you should think about getting a .22 conversion. The great thing about a .22 conversion is that there is no background check since it is not a firearm ( no frame).

I love my marvel but there are much cheaper conversions out there.

 

[obxned]

Heritage Rough Rider

Yeah, what about the Rough Rider??? I've been looking at prices and it seems like a good gun for the money, but I on't know anything about the company or the gun. Anybody use this one??

 

[msgttbar]

Here is mine.

 

[weisse52]

You will enjoy the NAA. I carry one daily. And yes, they are fun to shoot. I think people sometimes lose sight that guns can be used to have fun with. They can be that way for lots of reasons. The NAA mini's are just that way. I always laugh everytime I shoot mine!