Mitchell Citation II vs Ruger/Buckmark?

[mrcpu]

I was looking at one of the pawn shops today, and they have a Mitchell Citation II ($439, marked down to $349).

My W is looking for a plinking/target pistol, 22 caliber...

It looks in fine shape, grips looked good, not dirty at all, but it had been used enough that the paint was ground off the mag in several places...

Anyway, don't know much abotu 'em... Whatcha think?

 

[Baphomet]

While I've not shot a Citation (weren't they made by High Standard?) I do have experience with both the Buckmark and the MKII/III.

Long story short:

1. Let your wife make the final decision.

2. Personally, I'd strongly suggest either the MKII/III or the Buckmark, and in that order.

Told you I'd keep it short.

EDIT: Ahhhh... is this the pistol to which you refer? If so, I stand by my previous statments. Which came first, this or the Buckmark? It looks like a predecessor to the Browning...

 

[huaco]

I know nothing about the Mitchell but you can't go wrong with a Buckmark. Mine has the trigger to which I compare everything else and after 40, maybe 50 bricks it's as accurate as ever. I've replaced the recoil buffer a couple of times and finally the firing pin and it seems better than new. Breakdown may seem complicated at first but it's really not a problem once you've done it. It's a wonderful design well executed and even at two cents a round you'll be hard pressed to wear it out. You can't beat it for the price.

 

[jaybar]

You might want to pass on the Mitchell

The Mitchell's were clones of the Original High Standards manufactured after the original High Standard went belly up in 1984. The frames and barrels were pretty good copies but the internal parts (hammer, sear etc) weren't. Most of the Mitchells I've had experience with were accurate but unreliable. They had soft hammers and sears, poorly fitted extractors and were consistent malfunctioners. When the new High Standard Mfg. started up they sued Mitchell for name and product infringement and Mitchell thankfully quit making the clones.

My W is looking for a plinking/target pistol, 22 caliber...

Take a look at one of the short barreled Ruger 22/45 MKIII's for your wife. Light in weight, great grip for small hands, reliable, and available for a lot less than $349.

 

[mrcpu]

Blaph, yeah, that looks close, except the barrel on this was a couple inches longer, and fluted. But the rest looked very similar.

 

[mrcpu]

The problem on the 22/45 is that nobody around here seems to have one, so it's hard for her to try it out. Personally, I think the mkII would work, but it's up to her.