"One of each": my basic battery of (3) .22 handguns

[MatthewVanitas]

Random post, but had it on my "to do" list for some unfathomable reason. My post on the Ataturk Military Museum in Istanbul had much cooler photos, but I digress.

My goal was to trim down to four firearms: CFrifle/CFpistol/RFrifle/RFpistol. I'm doing pretty well so far, but have decided for the time being that diversified .22 are okay. I rationalize this as "they're good for starting out newbies".

Here's my current set, one of each major category: auto, DA revo, SA revo. Yes, I realize that there could potentially be many other categories (DA auto, falling block, etc), but this covers the basics that a newbie might be interested in.

If I find that one revo is far better for newbies than the other, I may sell the extra one. But I think a revo is easier to explain to a newb than an auto. The last time I took newbies shooting (two Colombian girls), they both preferred the Ruger MkII to the revolver, but liked the Glock 19 most. I figure over time and newbs, I'll figure out my ideal .22 battery.

Here's the current selection: Ruger MkII (rocks, and exactly the version I wanted for $245, like new), Rossi 511 (half the price of the S&W kit gun at $220 like new), Ruger Bearcat (new, $350). The MkII is scary accurate, fun for 100m Silhouette. The Bearcat is surprisingly accurate for fixed sights. Haven't shot the Rossi yet, just bought yesterday.

My gun pics have improved immensely since I learned to: TURN OFF THE FLASH, use natural light but not in direct sunlight. I still need to work on stabilizing the camera, but don't want to buy a tripod. I heartily encourage my THR brethren to turn turn off the flash. I need to go read the threads from our THR camera buffs as to further improve my gunphotos, but I'm better than I used to be by far. My current bugbears are a) camera stability, as the shutter speed is slow on natural light b) getting the proper mix of natural light. Below photo displays failings a) and b).


Here's my current collection. Yes, I like stainless.

 

[carebear]

I think you're using too much light. The blueing looks all silvery and ugly.

 

[MCgunner]

I think you'll find the little Rossi a good bit more accurate than the bearcat and nearly as packable. I'm on my second one, first got stolen and I just couldn't live without another. My first one was pretty accurate, but this second one shames the first one. It's erie accurate. I love that thing.

Nice collection and, like you, I prefer stainless guns for both practical and aesthetic reasons.

 

[22-rimfire]

Three 22's is not a bad idea... I'll list mine: Ruger Mark II 5.5" Bull Barrel, 6" Colt Trooper Mark III, and High Standard Victor. If I were buying today, which I might as I am always adding things... I'd get another Ruger Mark II or III and add a red dot, probably a clean Smith K-22, and a new Smith Model 41. Always wanted a Model 41.

 

[MCgunner]

I lack a really quality auto like the Ruger MII. I do have the Ramline that shoots as good as a Ruger, frankly, and was about a 200 dollar gun retail. It's very light, shoots very well, but is a little odd and plastic haters hate it. It doesn't have a lot of heft to it, only 20 ounces despite it's physical size. Then I have this Charter Arms Explorer II "survival pistol" based on the AR7. I have an AR7, too. The pistol was cheap, 70 bucks new, only reason I bought it. It feeds and shoots danged good, but the trigger sux and it's rather butt ugly, but whadda ya expect for 70 bucks, eh? Then I have the little Rossi, which is the gem of my .22 collection. I have this old Erma LA .22 which is a luger style toggle bolt gun. It's fun, but just a range queen. It's old, I've had it for about 35 years. Then, technically part of my .22 collection is my little NAA mini revolver with holster grip. It's just a handly little pocket tool. I've shot snakes with it, a feral dog on my place at about 30 yards with it (friggin' head shot, died instantly ), and a half dozen or so rabbits with it. It's always in my pocket. Really takes some consentration to shoot that tiny little thing, though. LOL

I sorta want a Ruger MII, but don't feel the need what with all those .22s in my collection. The Ramline really fills that roll. It's not as classy, but a good shooting gun. It's picky about ammo. Have a lot of misfires with cheap ammo that's not well primed. I found it shoots CCI mini mag very reliably, though.

<edit> How could I forget my TC Contender .22 barrel. It's a 10 inch with a 2x scope, basically a rifle that fits in a shoulder holster. That's my squirrel gitter. Six handguns in .22 and I don't consider that excessive at all. I like rimfires.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Not quite sure how to approach this -- I only have two .22s, a Ruger MKII and a Colt Officer's Model Target. But then I have a Fed Ord M1911A1 frame with a Ciener conversion kit and an M1927 Argentine with a Colt Service Ace conversion kit.

The Colt is far and away the best shooter.

 

[bpisler]

Ruger MK II for the wife,it's got a gold dot
front sight and a little trigger work done
to it.Great shooting pistol and likes most
ammo except winchesters.

S&W 18-3,all i can say is fun,fun,fun.It's more
accurate than the ruger with less recoil.My
wife likes this one too but i shoot this one a
lot.It prefers federal game shok ammo.

Beretta 21-A,My BUG that rides in my front
pocket.I'am accurate out to 20-25ft with it.
It hates the cheaper 22 ammo,prefers CCI
mini-mags or federal game-shok.

 

[MCgunner]

Might I make a suggestion. Get a Pachmeyer compact grip for that Rossi. you'll love it. The stocks that come on it are too tiny.

 

[wally]

I'd almost be embarrassed to list all the .22s I own. At every gun show "buy them all" keeps ringing in my ears Amazing what you end up with after 25+ years of shooting/collecting.

They are fun, cheap, and easy to shoot.

Enjoy!

--wally.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I'd almost be embarrassed to list all the .22s I own. At every gun show "buy them all" keeps ringing in my ears Amazing what you end up with after 25+ years of shooting/collecting.

They are fun, cheap, and easy to shoot.

Enjoy!

--wally.

As I have said before, there are only four useful handgun cartridges -- and the .22 LR leads the list. Everyone should have at least one.

 

[mndfusion]

.22lr pistols are badass! You can shoot that subsonic ammo and it sounds like firecrackers, no earplugs required.

 

[Brian Williams]

My 22lr's are
A S&W 35-1 with a 6" barrel and adjustable sights, great gun
A Colt Woodsman 1st series, this is a Luger of 22s, nice and tight and quite accurate
A Ruger MKII Slabside and it also is a good gun, just that the Woodsman has soured me towards it.
Some Day I would like to get a Ruger Single six with a 5 1/2" barrel.

 

[Frandy]

Have 2 and want a third

I have a 6.5 inch stainless Ruger Super Single Six and this Sig Trailside. I've been looking at a Colt Trooper for $449 at my dealer, but I think the price is just too high.

 

[birddog]

I'll play. The Taurus .22 at the bottom is my wife's. The S&W 22-A1 on top was my first 22 and it's okay. The middle gun, and cheapest of the bunch is my new Heritage Arms Rough Rider. For the last 2 weeks, I just can't put the thing down. It's accurate as can be and was cheap, to boot. I've heard the finish doesn't last on these, but it's one of the highest fun-factor guns I've gotten in a long time. One of those that it seems you just can't miss with. The beer cans I've killed with it will tell no tales.

 

[MatthewVanitas]

Might I make a suggestion. Get a Pachmeyer compact grip for that Rossi. you'll love it. The stocks that come on it are too tiny.

I do like Pachy grips overall, but does Pachy still make a model which fits the Rossi 511?

I have pretty small hands, so I don't find the stock grips to be unusably small. I do wish there were a model of Tyler T-Grip that would fit, but I don't know if there is such a thing out there.

-MV

 

[MCgunner]

I do like Pachy grips overall, but does Pachy still make a model which fits the Rossi 511?

I have pretty small hands, so I don't find the stock grips to be unusably small. I do wish there were a model of Tyler T-Grip that would fit, but I don't know if there is such a thing out there.

-MV

The same grip that fits the model 68-88 will fit the 511. I've got one on mine.

Listed here under "Rossi Small Frame" http://www.ajaxgrips.com/ajax/pachmayr?set=04

http://www.ajaxgrips.com/ajax/pachmayr?set=04,43c08826&geometry=4x3-1-04

The Rossi with Pachmayr grip (I finally learned to spell it):

 

[22-rimfire]

Wally: "I'd almost be embarrassed to list all the .22s I own."

I only listed three of them and three wanta be's. No mention of any other ones.

 

[TimboKhan]

I am a rabid fan of the MkII, even to the extent that I prefer the latch as opposed to a button for a mag release and thus own two of them. For revolvers, my far and away favorite is the H&R Sportsman 999. 9 shots, DA/SA, break open ejection. For my money, its the best .22 revo there is, although I don't know that I have ever seen a bad .22 revo from any of the major manufacturers. Actually, when it comes to .22 pistols and revos, I really don't think that you can go wrong with any of what the major manufacturers offer.