Need a new 22

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needmorecowbell

needmorecowbell

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Looking for opinions on a good, reliable, fun for plinking 22. Want something that is similar to my centerfire pistols I have and carry which are CZ 75 and XD mod 2 pistols. Not wanting the SA ones like Ruger MK, Buckmark, SW Victory. Want it to be similar to what I have and carry. SA/DA or Striker fired OK. I'm considering Ruger SR22, Walther PPK/S, PPQ 22 and Bersa Thunder. Want to keep it in the $300 range. Looking for opinions and suggestions. Thanks.
 
I cant say I own one of the last three you listed. But I have a coworker who has an sr22 that’s one of the early ones and he prolly has 5-7k worth of rounds down range with it. He burns a lot of 22lr between the Ruger and his s&w victory. The Ruger is not ammo finicky likes Aquila and shoots and handles well. There is a few parts that are plastic that I’d prefer were metal but someone I forget who makes them In metal. It’s got a little wear on it. Shoots to point of impact. After handling and shooting his I want one. It’s likely to come in the next year. The Bersa 22 seems to get some mixed reviews.
 
Some earlier Bersa 22 seem to be jam o matics. I’ve seen some say they only like high vel rounds. Your preferred list looks like mine. Most of my info on the walthers and Bersa is all googling articles and reading reviews and forums. I’ve settled on the SR. There has been a few revisions to the SR that seem to make it even more to the good. The only complaint I see is the break down is not as practical.
 
I have had an SR22 for about 4 years. Its been very reliable and accurate. Everyone who has shot it has really liked it. I definitely can recommend it based on my experience
 
The Bersa is on my wants list, too. I have it in .380, and it is an exceptionally-reliable and solid shooter. I like all-metal guns (all-steel if I can get 'em) and that nudges the aluminum-framed Bersa even further ahead of the Ruger for me.
 
I have an SR22 and would highly recommend it. But in your case, as others have mentioned, a conversion may be best.
 
larryh1108 said:
I'd get the conversion package for your CZ75. Same lower, .22LR upper.
You shoot your actual gun.
Better than a different gun.
Click to expand...

Larry always beats me to it! Yeah, I'm thinking you already got a great package in the cz75, conversion would top any other of the ops choices.
 
Thanks for replies. I am thinking about getting the Kadet conversion. Was surprised how much they have gone up in price though. Wish I had picked one up many years ago when under 300. 420 seems expensive to me when just getting the slide, barrel and mags. For a bit more I could get another complete CZ. That’s why I was leaning towards getting maybe one of the others mentioned used in the 200 range, but I may wind up with the Kadet.
 
Browning Buckmarck, Ruger Mark III or IV, SW Victory they are superb plinkers and they are reasonably affordable. Aftermarket part are abundant.
The CZ Kadet kit will impress you at accuracy dept.
Nevertheless all shoot very well with rare exceptions a bad shooter. Having them it is hard to pick up one to go, mostly I take 2 of them.
A good friend of mine have a Bersa per years with thousands of rounds trough the pipe, nice size on the woods. But sights are too small for this old man, (I do use only adjustable sights.)
Get any and post pics of firearm and target.

Old Henry
 
Of those you mentioned I have the SR22. It's probably the most reliable 22LR anything I've ever owned other than a Savage gill gun rifle. If it's hi-vel and the priming is good it will shoot it. I also have one of the newer Walther PPK/S 22 pistols. It's pretty much like the Ruger although I haven't shot as varied amount of ammo in it as I have the Ruger as I've had the Ruger for quite a bit longer. I also traded for a Phenoix last year and it has had no problems. I do stick to subsonic ammo like recommended and, with the longer barrel, I am a little more accurate than with the other two. CCI SV and Aguila subsonic are the ammo brands I've shot in it.

The Phoenix will meet your price point. The other two will exceed it.
 
My wife loves loves loves her sr22.

But me, I like it fine. It feels nicely made and shoots well and is not finicky with ammo. But on thing I don't like is the safety, safe is down and fire is up. All my other pistols are the opposite so it really throws me off and feels unnatural. I'm afraid if I shoot it too often it might mess with the fact that I operate the safeties on my other guns (almost) automatically without thinking too much about. If this doesn't bother you then it's a good little pistol.

I wish they would come out with a decocker only model. Even if it was just a more expensive Talo special or something I would scoop it right up.
 
The safety thing hasn't bothered me. I had a Walther P22 before I let my #2 grandson talk me out of it and I had no problem with it either. Now the Phoenix is a little fiddly but I leave the barrel safety in the fire position and rely on the side safety with it.
 
Anecdotally from friends who have owned them, the Ruger wins out over any of the Walthers. I have a Firestorm .22 (same as Bersa but with rounded trigger guard) that has been 100% reliable with Mini-Mags. Good luck, and let us know what you finally pick.
 
Jonesy814 said:
I have had an SR22 for about 4 years. Its been very reliable and accurate. Everyone who has shot it has really liked it. I definitely can recommend it based on my experience
Click to expand...

Exactly my experience as well. I have fed it Blazer, MiniMags, CCI SV, Golden Bullets, Wildcats, American Eagle HV, Aguila SE HV and SV and they all fire reliably. Accuracy is not as good as my 6" MkIII Target but I was impressed with it considering the platform. Pleasantly surprised overall at the functioning and accuracy.
 
You cannot go wrong with a Ruger SR22, but it is a little small (like a 'carry gun' come to think of it).

My two personal .22 semi-auto favorites are both full size pistols that operate and feel like their center fire brethren - the GSG M1911 (full size metal 1911 with steel slide & alloy frame) made by German Sport Guns (who also make the Sig Sauer .22LR 1911) and the Walther PPQ 22 (full size with a steel slide & polymer frame) http://www.waltherarms.com/handguns/ppq/ppq-22/ .

They have both been very reliable and are an absolute joy to shoot. I especially like introducing them to new shooters because they function and feel just like 'the real deal' minus any recoil.

PPQ22-left.jpg

GSG_M1911.jpg GSG_M1911a.jpg

They both also have threaded barrels, so if Illinois ever allows suppressors I will be sending my $ off for the Federal Tax Stamp for sure! On several occasions I have had customers come back in with friends or family to purchase another GSG M1911 after shooting it for the first time, they liked them so much. I sold my own GSG M1911 to a friend who wanted it because I liked the Walther PPQ 22 even more!
 
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Another vote here for the Ruger Sr22. I had one, then sold it for some stupid reason. I intend on getting another now but it will be the longer barreled one. Personally I would pass on both the Walthers. I believe they are made by Umarex and I will never own another .22 made by them.
 
needmorecowbell said:
Looking for opinions on a good, reliable, fun for plinking 22. Want something that is similar to my centerfire pistols I have and carry which are CZ 75 and XD mod 2 pistols. Not wanting the SA ones like Ruger MK, Buckmark, SW Victory. Want it to be similar to what I have and carry. SA/DA or Striker fired OK. I'm considering Ruger SR22, Walther PPK/S, PPQ 22 and Bersa Thunder. Want to keep it in the $300 range. Looking for opinions and suggestions. Thanks.
Click to expand...

I have had an SR22 since they were first out, not sure how long ago that was maybe 5 years ago ? I've run thousands of rounds through it. It is very fun to shoot, and as reliable as the sun coming up, I honestly do not think I have had one FTF or FTE. Very accurate. My daughters love to shoot it as well. About the only thing I slightly dislike is the decocker, but I have gotten over that. I suspect others are good too, just sharing my experiances with the Ruger.

-Jeff
 
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