Own Only One .22LR Handgun?

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Reading this thread, I just realized that I don't personally OWN a .22 handgun... several antique and more modern .22 rifles yes... but the .22 pistols I use are all "family" ones...

I should correct this... Going to the Gun show today... maybe I'll grope with a purpose. I grew up on an old High-Standard, it's one of my favorites of all time.
 
I don't currently own any .22LR guns though I've been through several (they sell the quickest when situations dictate).

I like the S&W 22A for longer range pistol shooting. It fits my hand well and it's very accurate though it doesn't like the cheap bulk ammo.

I like the Ruger 22/45 if I plan on suppressing the gun... My buddy's has been the picture of reliability suppressed, unlike several Walther, S&W and other Ruger pistols I've had experience running with a suppressor.

Non-suppressed, for simply plinking... Any of the Ruger Mk pistols are great with the right ammo.
 
I've really enjoyed my Ruger MKII for the last 20 years. I've shot the Buckmarks , but I don't like their sharp edges.
 
I own many .22 handguns, and there are still others I want. If I had to narrow it down, it would be really tough. I think aesthetics are as important as function, thankfully there are plenty to choose from.

These are some excellent and beautiful looking plinkers.

Colt Woodsman
S&W Kit Gun
S&W K-22.
Browning Challenger (Belgium made)

I've have these for bullseye, not plinking, but I wouldn't part with them either.

S&W 41
High Standard Victor
Hammerli 208

I have some others that I'm not as fond of. I have a Ruger Mk II which is ok, but nothing too special. I'd prefer the S&W 41 to it any day, but there is a price difference. I also have an older High Standard Model B, which is a beautiful gun, but not my favorite shooter. I have a Ruger Single Six, the old model convertible, and it is fun but I prefer my S&Ws to it.

I guess I'm addicted to .22s. They for the most part make up the bulk of my guns, both in handguns and rifles. I got addicted to Winchester pumps and autos, that spread to target .22s, both rifle and handgun, and then it just went a bit haywire with what I considered classics all around.
 
I would have to say my pick is and would always be, a Colt Woodsman. I found the one for $400 which is not bad and it is amazingly accurate. But there are many more .22's I want to add to my collection eventually.



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Really I just can't see owning only ONE .22 handgun. If I really had to pare the collection down I'd say two would be the minimum. One each for revolver and semi. Of course then it comes down to WHICH revolver and semi.... :D

For semi the Ruger 22/45 you saw in CraigC's posting is the one I suggested earlier with the actual 1911 grips. This fills the size out so it's not the skinny feel of the integral grips of the other model 22/45. There's no doubt that these Rugers are fine guns. But then so is that Colt Woodsman or the Browning and Hi Standard models that were made in the same style of design. But of all the current production semis the Browning Buckmark is the one that does it for me. I like the look and the grip shape feels like they used me as the hand model.

A top end DA revolver is easier to pick out. It's clearly down to either a S&W K frame such as those already mentioned or the old Colt Officers Match or similar in .22. The triggers of both are of the highest quality feel and make any other DA trigger fail by comparison. Anything else is just a place holder until the shooter can obtain one of these two ultimate guns. Some say that the Dan Wesson models are up there too. I haven't shot one so I can't comment. I do know that my own Model 17 is a keeper. With the Wolff spring kit in the gun it is 99.9% reliable for ignition and the resulting trigger feel is very close to my other center fire K frame guns.

For an SA revolver I believe that if cost is no object that the USFA guns are pretty much The King. But legions of Single Six owners can't be wrong. They are great plinking guns that are at least as accurate as 98% of their owners. If they are less than perfect it would take a top level target shooter to show that they are not up to the job.
 
So, if you could only own ONE .22lr handgun for plinking (NOT hunting or self defense), which would it be?
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A Smith 34-1, K22 or M41 or maybe a Ruger old or new model Single Six Mk1 6 7/8" Target, Mk2 5.5"bull or Mk3 22/45 5.5"competition or how about a Sig Trailside, High Standard militaty citation trophy, Browning Buckmark or a Colt Huntsman.
Of course since I don't have to choose just one my choice is all of the above.
 
Only one 22 handgun? Revolver... It will shoot ANY 22 round. Short, Long, Long Rifle, Standard Velocity, Hi-Velocity, Hyper-Velocity, Shot Shells... and mixed in the cylinder. My recomendation, Ruger Single Ten. I love mine. Deadly accurate, beautiful and built for 3 lifetimes. Certainly an heirloom. Perfect fit and finish, excellent trigger, Williams Fiber Optic Sights, and 10 shots. What more do you want?

1022pics002fixedMedium.jpg
 
I have owned a few .22 handguns including a couple of Ruger MKII's, Colt Target, HS Victor and Sharpshooter, SIG Mosquito. I currently own 2, a Dan Wesson 722 and this Buckmark/TacSol/Fastfire setup:

DSCN0260-1.jpg

This would be the "only" one if I was forced to make a choice
 
I'm all about time-tested dead nuts reliable stuff
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I own a MkIII and I like it, but it does not fit this criterion.

I recommend you look up a steel challenge match in your area and go observe the many guns in action. I was amazed at the number of malfunctions I witnessed in the many brands of 22 semi's present. In fact, the ONLY semi that I did not see fail at least once was a Kimber conversion.

I saw ZERO malfunctions in any revolver of any brand.
 
H&R 999 Sportsman,
It is the only one that I own (well, still waiting on the cool down period) and it is top break, which I like, but not everybody else does, so to each his own. And it is nine shots instead of eight, or six, and it is double action, and my favorite part..... It is really inexpensive compared to a ten shot S&W, or any S&W for that matter.
 
So, if you could only own ONE .22lr handgun for plinking (NOT hunting or self defense), which would it be?
Click to expand...

It would be between the Ruger MK3 or Browning Buckmark. Like the Ruger's but they have a little learning curve when it comes to field stripping them. The Browning Buckmark is just simply a tack driver :cool:
 
Mine is a Ruger Mark III Hunter. The only way to upgrade it would be to buy a specialized, competition target pistol.

But I do want a Ruger Bearcat because I have become convinced, for several reasons, that it would be the ideal gun for introducing new shooters, particularly women and youth, to shooting.
 
I have a Ruger stainless Mk II standard that pretty much just stays in the safe, but the .22 I use most often is a Taurus 96.

The Taurus 96 was their effort at producing a target-grade revolver similar to the S&W 17. Six shot da/sa medium-frame revolver, 6" barrel with a Patridge front sight and target blade rear sight. Well, they came pretty close, but the S&W trigger is a hair smoother/crisper. Still, I like it for about half the price. It is more accurate than I can hold it, and can make dime-size groups at 25yds all day. It's out of production now, but used copies can be found on the larger auction sites.

I like a .22 revolver in that it can be loaded with everything from hyper-velocity mini-mags to CB Shorts and not have to worry about FTF/FTE and othersuch autoloader issues...

This is also the handgun I use to train newbie shooters since it is a full-size gun that shoots with minimum recoil/noise.
 
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