Need .22 advice

[gsfoster1964]

I shoot a Beretta 92 but looking for a .22 Plinker. Hear good and bad about the Sig Mosquito, Ruger Mark III is a great shooter but hard to break down and clean, and the Walther P22 seems to get may mixed reviews.

Shot the Mark III today and was impressed. Have not shot the others

Any good advise out there from owners?

 

[JohnKSa]

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Of the guns you listed, the Ruger is probably the best bet. But see if you can find a used MkII instead of a new MkIII.

Not too long ago a friend of mine shipped his MkIII back to the factory--the built-in lock won't unlock anymore.

 

[gfen]

Browning Buck Mark.

Feels far more elegant, and looks far more attractive than the Ruger offering which feels more like an impact wrench than a handgun.

 

[mnrivrat]

I'm sure that many will share their favorites with you , and there are more than a couple good choices.

I wouldn't pass up the Ruger thinking the tear down is a big problem. Once you go through it the first time you will realize it isn't a big deal.

Another favorite of mine is the Browning Buckmark series.

 

[losangeles]

I'll pipe in and recommend the Ruger Mark III. I've shot the Mark IIs including 22/45s, and recently purchased the Mark III Hunter 6 7/8" stainless steel fluted barrel with HiViz fiber optic sights, and added a Bushnell red dot scope.

Great accuracy, feels great, looks great and handles great!

 

[losangeles]

For rifles Ruger 10/22s are good too. With either one, because they're so popular, there's a wide variety of after market products and lots of parts and accessories. I've got one 10/22 and I'm going to get another to mod it up.

For rifles, the CZ 452 is a very accurate rifle out of the box. I'm looking at as another new purchase, too.

 

[The Freeholder]

I have the Walther P22. It's a hoot to shoot, easy to clean and relatively non-fussy about what ammo it likes. I haven't had any problems with mine, which was bought used from a fellow THRer.

 

[MatthewVanitas]

I'll add another vote for any of the Ruger .22LR autos.

The takedown isn't bad at all, and if you actually *gasp* follow along in the manual */gasp* the first few times you do it, it's not bad at all. Far better than a certain M1895 bolt that I never, ever, got back together.

Buckmark gets a lot of good press on THR as well, so maybe see how one of those fits your hand for comparison's sake.

-MV

 

[GunnySkox]

If you don't care to buy a new gun, you could get a Ceiner conversion kit. I have one for my Springfield Mil-Spec, and it has totally turned me into J.A.Ceiner's salesman. I like it 'cause it takes 15-round mags.

http://www.22lrconversions.com/ber-pg.htm

~GnSx

 

[wally]

The Buckmark is good but its takedown is even bigger PITA than is the Ruger since it requires hex wrenches

I've all the major .22 pistols -- Buckmark, Beretta Neos, MkII, 22/45, Walther P22, and S&W M22A. Can't say anything really bad about any of them, but all have their minor faults and irratations. IMHO its easiest to rule out the Walther P22 unless you want a .22 as an analog for a small defensive DA/SA pistol.

Neos is easiest to take down, closely followed by the S&W M22A. Main fault of the M22A is the slide is really sloppy in the frame and wobbles up and down quite a bit -- I thought I'd broken mine after I put it back together the first time as I didn't really notice the slop while shooting it. Went back and looked at new ones and yes they are that loose out of the box -- function has been 100% and its got a really nice trigger out of the box.

Other pluses for Neos and Ruger: CDNN has had spare Neos mags for $10 and you can order the six mag parts from Ruger in Prescott, AZ and assemble your own extra Ruger mags for under $10 ea.

--wally.

 

[JohnKSa]

WARNING! This post is written with the express intent to inform and entertain. Due to the differences in human nature, behavior and culture, it is possible that information contained within this post may annoy the reader although that is certainly not the intent of the author. Reading past this point constitutes an agreement by the reader to waive his legal right not to be annoyed by anonymous communication on the internet.

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You didn't list the Buckmark, but it is a good gun--my wife has one that she loves, and a friend of mine has put plenty of rounds through his. I'm not sure that the takedown is all that much easier than the Ruger.

 

[f4t9r]

I am also looking for another 22 handgun
this is what I believe from what I have owned:
Ruger is ok but feels funny in my hand
P22 had two of them and no luck , jam city
Sig Mosquito just sent back to SIG , Trainwreck
Traded a SIG Trailside that was very nice
I want a Browning or a 1911 in 22 is my next choice

 

[Furncliff]

Used Hi-Standard (the older ones made in CT). If you can find someone who has one who will let you shoot it. Really sweet, very accurate, push button (or lever) take down.

 

[Quickdraw Limpsalot]

I'll cast a vote for the Ruger as well. The takedown REALLY isn't bad once you follow the manual once or twice, seriously. The Browning Buckmark is a great pistol too, but the Ruger fit my needs a little better. The Walther P22 I shot was fun, but I couldn't hit anything with it without lots of practice... not necessarily inaccurate, but I couldn't hit golf balls at 25 yards with open sights with it the way I can with my Mark III 22/45 (most of the time... heh.)

 

[rustymaggot]

ruger mark1 or 2 is great. magazines are cheap for em, and they are very reliable. accurate as i will ever need out of a pistol. rugged too. disassembly isnt as tough as people say it is. its fairly easy compared to some guns ive had.

 

[ZenMasterJG]

I'll toss in the S&W model 41, too. It's fantastic, but it'll sticker-shock you unless you happen to stuff your mattresses with $20s.

 

[shaggycat]

I have a Buckmark and love it. It is plenty accurate, easy to break down, beautiful, and it fits my hand perfectly. Hold a Neos, Buckmark, Mark II and III, Trailside (REALLY affordable at Buds right now), maybe the 22a and buy whichever feels best.

 

[wrench]

Ohhhhh, the Buckmark!

 

[hkusp]

I'll pipe in and recommend the Ruger Mark III. I've shot the Mark IIs including 22/45s, and recently purchased the Mark III Hunter 6 7/8" stainless steel fluted barrel with HiViz fiber optic sights, and added a Bushnell red dot scope.

Great accuracy, feels great, looks great and handles great!

I'll second that. Got my son the Hunter model. His name is also Hunter, so he thinks it's really cool. Put an UltraDot on it and he is tearing out the x ring at 50' with a sand bag rest. Take down is not that bad once you understand it. Use the manual. Most of the time I just use CRC Non-Chlorinated Brake Cleaner, Breakfree CLP, and a boresnake to clean it. It's also very reliable. Eats everything I've fed it. Good .22lr.

 

[kframe357]

Buckmark for me. Plus I added a red-dot for s**** and giggles.

 

[Highland Ranger]

In case you don't see what you want here this one has been done a few times.

S&W 41 - personal favorite
Browning Buckmark
Sig Trailside

All good choices . . .

 

[DMSHEPARD]

My .22s- Walther P22, Colt pre-war woodsman, MKII 10" MKIII5.5"

Walther is good to put in your pocket for some informal plinking, not really a paperpuncher. Check rimfirecentral for many improvements in reliablilty.

Woodsman is accurate but is a bit pricey and really more of a collector for me.

Now, on to my favourite guns, the Clark Custom 10" is probably not what most are looking for in a "plinker" but it is unusual and very accurate. The 5.5" is probably one of the most reliable and accurate plinkers/paperpunchers out there with many aftermarket grips trigger and etc. Some don't like the appearence of the Rugers, oh well, you'll have to make up your mind on that. If you are looking for a reasonably priced plinker look for a used MKII, it may even have a trigger mod in it already, it's biggest hinderance. I found disassembly of the Rugers straightforward with the manual. The Rugers are simple and as reliable as a rock.

All the guns mentioned above(in the other posts) have earned their reputations and it is up to you to decide what feels right and what fits your budget.

The MKIIIs have been "Lawyerized" with loaded round indicators and safety locks and mag disconnects. More parts but I think it is nothing to worry about.

 

[Gonzoinc]

Hope I don't get rideculed here... but, how about a s&w 22A

You can find them cheap
easy to tear down and clean
and their fairly accurate (at least mine is)

 

[MCgunner]

In case you don't see what you want here this one has been done a few times.

S&W 41 - personal favorite
Browning Buckmark
Sig Trailside

All good choices . . .

Got a friend with a S&W M41 that I've fired. I know it's an expensive gun, but it's worth every penny. That thing has the sweetest target trigger I've ever felt. Of course, I've never fired any of the really high dollar Euro olympic stuff.

I know, too, the Ruger is one of the best little .22s around with lots of aftermarket to take care of the trigger if you don't care to live with it stock, for instance. The Browning Buckmark is a very good gun. I've not tried a Sig, sure they're good. I've not tried any other S&Ws, but I'm sure they're all good, too. Can't go wrong with a brand name, just a matter of handling a variety and seeing which one you like the looks and feel of, way I see it.

 

[borrowedtime69]

my vote:

My vote would be for the Ruger MK II 22/45. I own three of them and love them all. i bought up these three before the MK II is all bought up. Get one while you can, cause im not gonna buy a MK III. i dont like the internal lock, the loaded chamber indicator and the fact that you cant fire the gun without a mag in it. rugers are built like tanks, theres lots of aftermarket parts you can buy for them, and they are great little, cheap to feed , small game getters.

good luck! -Eric