Need a good/accurate/value .22 pistol

[FTF]

It's just getting too expensive to shoot my other calibers as much as I am at the range. I should have had one earlier, but I am now looking for the best .22 plinking/target pistol I can reasonably get used for under $300.

Of course, the front runners are MKII's and MKIII's, especially the hunter model which I can't find cheap. I'm also looking at Buckmarks. Not much else as I just can't stand the plasticy handguns in ANY caliber. I'm assuming longer barrels = better. I can find these under 300 and the short barrels even under 200... used.

At the pricepoint I'm at, the sights generally suck, so an upgrade to at least something more visible on the front will likely be in order. It needs to be easy to upgrade sights and/or put a red-dot on it for fun. And be balanced and with a good enough trigger to not mess with for a while. Easy takedown would be nice, but not necessary, lol, I know they all suck. I plan on shooting this thing, a LOT, so, obviously durability matters. I'm looking for longer distance shooting, say 25 yards or so. Best performance stock is key, as nothing in my price range that I see has been modded.

What best meets my criteria?

TIA

 

[oscar]

I have a MK II and it is first rate. Much more accurate than I am capable of.

 

[camper]

+1 on the MK II. Recommend the slab barrel.

 

[Euclidean]

Ruger 22/45 Mark III. Paid $287 or so. More accurate than I am.

 

[sm]

I hate the MKIII with the indicator and all, sure hope Valquartson comes up with a fix,
Could not pay me to have a Neo or Trailside either.

Now an OLDer Model 18 revolver or similar is worth finding, even if one has to stretch the budget.

OLDer
MKI and MKII, actually the Standard Model is great, fixed sights, weight is easy to tote, and great teaching tool for kids, and new shooters as the heavy target models are too heavy.

Buckmarks, again keep it simple and these are hard to find used, once gotten, rarely given up.

High Standard, one sleeper for a field/plinker is the Duramatic.

The more these new guns come out all goopy and lawyerized ...the better off one is for buying used, or getting a .22 lr top end for a 1911.

 

[Euclidean]

I'd take a Mark II myself, but after looking around for one locally for a while now, I'm sick and tired of it. The people that have them aren't giving them up in droves for some crazy reason. Imagine that.

The Mark III is all they're making nowadays anyway.

 

[Mark54g]

Beretta Neos. Simple to take apart, easy to clean, etc. It is also very accurate.

 

[FTF]

No plastic guns... just call it a character flaw or ignorance... I just can't use them.

What is the reason to go with a .22/45? My current fav weapon is my .45 Kimber.. is the .22/45 a legit training tool for my primary weapon? I've handled them, but just don't seem to be that 'closely' related???

I guess the MKII's seem to be the front runners. I figured that as well since I'm seeing them used in my price range. Are the smaller barrels (non hunter-target) good out to 25yds? This model keeps coming up no matter whom I ask.. any suggestions as to replacing the sights and/or red-dot it? I really want serious accuracy (at least as capable as I am) out to the max range distance (33yds)... And I need SERIOUS reliability.. I really enjoy my range time... 5k rds in a year is an easy assumption.

 

[P95Carry]

FTF - the 22/45 is good for me because I prefer grip angle and - the controls are (approximating) a 1911 layout. More instinctual for me anyways.

Great gun for pin shoots I don't dislike MkII style but the 22/45 is way better.

 

[taliv]

cdnninvestments.com

has the Sig Hammerli Trailside for $299

i bought one many years ago when they were much more expensive and haven't regretted it. it's exactly what you're looking for in the "target/plinker"

 

[P-32]

I would look at the Buckmark 5.5 Target. Good iron sights, adjustable front and rear, adjustable trigger for trigger pull and the rail is already there for the dot sight.

The price seems to have gone up some over the years. My 5.5 will shoot tiny groups with the right ammo. (PMC ScoreMaster) CCI Standard Vel. still shoots nice groups. It gobbles up the bulk stuff from WalMart.

The 5.5 has proven to be reliable as it has approx 15,000 rounds through it so far and shows no signs of wanting to stop. My 5.5 has never had a fail to feed (except when the mag wasn't seated) or not fire except those dud rounds one comes across once in awhile.

A friend's trigger job did go south after about 5,000 rounds. I sent the pistol back to Browning with a note stating the pistol was used for Bulls Eye, expecting to pay for the repairs. The pistol came back in 2 weeks with a trigger almost as good as my Smith 41. The only thing it cost me was shipping one way.

Today the 5.5 is my second 22 pistol and is often used by new or shooters who don't have a pistol yet. The 41 isn't used to plink so the 5.5 does that too.

 

[Ironballs]

did someone mention slabeside?

http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=2544128#post2544128

 

[Ala Dan]

I would have too go with a Browning BuckMark Plus SE, with 5.5" bull
barrel and Tru-Glo marble fiber optic (green) front sight and Rosewood
laminate grips. I have one, and its the only .22LR in my current
inventory. That will probably change when (and if?) I find the
right revolver.

 

[rustymaggot]

i am a big fan of the ruger mk1 and mk2. i have a mk1 and its really reliable and durable. the only problem ive ever has with it was the extractor didnt like some kinds of ammo, but a 12 dollar volquartzen extractor and it hasnt failed to feed or extract in the last two bulk packs ive fired thru it. and as others have said, its accurate. i like to challenge beginning shooters to contests for who buys dinner by letting them use a scoped 22 rifle and i use my bone stock mk1 shooting at clay pigeons laying out on burms at 75 yards.

 

[CajunBass]

Ruger 22/45 Mark III. Paid $287 or so. More accurate than I am.

+1 that. I actually like the loaded chamber indicator. It's nice to know the first round out of the magazine actually got picked up and chambered. Mine has a BSA red dot sight on it. Nice when you have old eyes like mine.

The Mk II is good also though. I've got one of each. I really can't tell a dimes worth of difference in the way they shoot.

 

[Soybomb]

I can't say enough good things about my s&w 22a. Cheap, lifetime warranty, free shipping if it breaks, aluminum frame, easy to take down...I love it.

 

[bestseller92]

Go with either a Ruger Single Six or Mark II. You won't be disappointed.

 

[bdutton]

Ruger or the buckmark. I would lean towards the ruger.

 

[DMSHEPARD]

I would suggest the Ruger 22/45 as it is closer to your Kimber than the MKs. If you want a red dot be aware not all Rugers are drilled/tapped for the scope mount. All MKIII series and the later MKIIs come with the rail, and the new 22/45s are certainly in your price range. I have the MKIII 5.5 Bull and honestly have never noticed the loaded chamber doo-dad. If you want a very reliable, very accurate .22 I would get the 22/45 and an aftermarket sear kit. The Clark trigger on my MKII10 is very good. I also like the looks of the Rugers much better than the Brownings. (Sorry if I upset you buckmark guys, JMO )

 

[rbernie]

The Buckmark has the same grip angle and such as the 1911 and Ruger 22/45 but, unlike the Ruger, the controls are actually shaped and work like a 1911. For example, the safety lever on the Buckmark is actually a lever that works and feels just like the thumb safety on a 1911, whereas the Ruger has a button-looking affair that can't be 'swept' the way you would a 1911 thumb safety.

The Buckmark is also a nice, all-steel pistol. It just FEELS substantial.

 

[foghornl]

I'm sort of a Ruger guy, so I'll plug the MKII/III for an autoloader.

Revolver? The Single-Six, or if you need to teach those with "hands of lesser physical presense", like younger folks, the Bearcat.

I had a Bearcat for a while, liked it fairly well, but it was a bit too small for my 'ham fists, complete with sausage fingers'....also known as "Fat Hands Syndrome"

 

[shooter58]

I have the MKII version of the .22/45 Ruger, with the 5.5" barrell. Love the gun. Extremely accurate. Bought it new at a gun show for $220 two years ago. Seems to handle all brands of ammo.

 

[Red Tornado]

I'm another one with the 22/45 MkII, and think it's wonderful. I wanted the grip angle to match the 1911, and I got stainless just because it seems more durable to me. I made the decision over the Buckmark for those reasons, but I feel quite sure that if I had gone with the Buckmark, I'd be just as happy.

Those are your two most likely choices, so see which feels better and don't look back....at least for a while until you get the other one, too.
RT

 

[Red Tornado]

Just checked the for sale ads, check this.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=208681

or this:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=208825

Both look reasonable, especially that slabside. If you're after accuracy, I imagine that has enough.
RT

 

[RustyFN]

I just bought a new Ruger Mark III with the 5.5 inch bull barrel for $310 and I love it. It is a lot easier to take apart and put back together than some of the stories I heard.