Recommend a 9mm or .22LR range pistol?

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milemaker13

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Looking for a good full size pistol for fun at the range. I'd like 9mm because it's cheap enough to shoot. I suppose I could consider a .22lr, can't get cheaper to shoot than that!
I don't plan to carry this so size/weight aren't an issue (as they relate to ccw anyway)
I'm mostly looking at the Beretta 92.

Any thoughts?
 
chicharrones said:
Sounds great. :thumbup:

If considering a .22 LR, I'll throw my hat in the Browning Buckmark ring.
Click to expand...

This. Just got my second Buckmark URX (stupidly sold the first one) and can believe how accurate a pistol it is, and how much fun to shoot. Check out the 2017 models; some real beauties among them.
 
If we're talking range use, for 9mm it's tough to beat a Beretta 92 for handing. For RF, my vote goes to a Ruger Mk III or IV.
 
Wow, .22 pistols can get up there in price. I like the Ruger and Browning, but they're a bit higher than I'd like.
I think what I'm really doing is comparing other choices against the $449 92fs. After I started to consider .22, I think I like the idea. After all, I am looking for a range toy/ plinker that is "cheap" to shoot.
Maybe I'll head out to a few LGS and see what's in the used cases.
 
The new 1911 browning 22 is a blast to shoot, my wife has the black label... We have not had any problems just loads of fun.
Yes also check out the conversion with ruger.

For a good 9mm look over the cz 75 B, and everything else you can get your hands on.... see how they fit your hands..... and how they point for you.
good luck, dirt
 
milemaker13 said:
Wow, .22 pistols can get up there in price. I like the Ruger and Browning, but they're a bit higher than I'd like.
I think what I'm really doing is comparing other choices against the $449 92fs. After I started to consider .22, I think I like the idea. After all, I am looking for a range toy/ plinker that is "cheap" to shoot.
Maybe I'll head out to a few LGS and see what's in the used cases.
Click to expand...

Worth a try. Many of the dealers around here are kinda high priced, but one local dealer had used Buckmark Campers and Ruger MKIIIs in the $250 to $290 range this past summer.
 
I have a Beretta 92fs and it is an excellent gun but not the best single action trigger and I don't find that I shoot it that much. The factory sites aren't as bad as many... but still not that great.

I would recommend a Springfield XDM competition in 9mm. These guys carry them for $590 which is an excellent deal!
https://www.gunsmidwest.com/xdm-comp-9mm-blk-5-25-19-1.html
I really appreciate the 19 round capacity when I am on the range. Trigger is excellent, much better than my Beretta. The 5" barrel gives a nice long site radius. They also make an OSP Venom version that comes with a red dot... really nice but kind of pricey. I love red dot sites on my handguns when I go to the range!

Do you reload? Shooting 9mm is really cheap if you reload! Good .22lr that functions well in my Ruger Mk2 isn't that cheap... when I can find it. My MK2 doesn't like the really cheap .22lr and often fails to feed with cheap Winchester or Remington ammo.

The KelTec PMR30 is an interesting looking weapon (although ugly as hell). 30 rounds of .22mag per magazine!

My 1911's are always a pleasure to shoot! I have thought picking up one in 9mm... but I am pretty spoiled when it comes to 1911's as mine (in .45) have been worked over very nicely by a smith that did a wonderful job.
 
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My wife has a sig 1911 "target" and it is a very nice gun. I would rather get a dedicated .22 over a conversion slide. So far, I'm not too hot on a 1911 in .22... Do you guys really like it?
I shot a buddy's xdm, can't remember if it was 9mm or .45, but I liked it a lot.

I'm reading a lot of reports that some of these .22 pistols don't function well with cheap ammo... well that's no good. The couple auto loading .22s we've had never had this problem. My first gun was S&W 622 (never get rid of any guns, you'll regret it!) And my dad had a tube fed rifle, maybe an old Marlin??

I do reload, haven't done any 9mm.
 
If you are going to carry a pistol for CCW/self defense, a "range pistol" pistol that mimics your defensive piece makes the most sense to me. As in, carry a Glock 26, range gun is a Glock 17. Or carry a S&W shield, range gun is a full size M&P. Make sense? For rimfire, I like Ruger. I have a MK1 and a 22-45.
 
I carry a Kahr cw9. Slim poly DAO. I like it. Your suggesting a full size Kahr? That does make sense. Same trigger setup...Not really what I had in mind, but that's why we're discussing. Thank you.
 
How much do you want to spend?
You can't really go wrong with a Ruger Mark-something with military bull barrel.
Take a look at the Hammerli Exesse while you're at it.
I never really cared much for Beretta Model 92s and sold mine long ago, but I'd jump at the chance to get a Sig 226
 
Are you thinking of a .22LR that might mimic a "service-type" handgun? The Smith and Wesson M&P-22 pistol comes to mind. For smaller, the Ruger SR-22 makes a good double for a DA/SA self-defense piece. For more of a "Glock-ish" feel, the ISSC M22, though hammer-fired, can fill the bill. Others here have covered some of the options in a 1911-style .22 pistol, as well as those in the Browning and Ruger lines.

For 9mm, the Beretta is certainly a good choice, and Bud's might still be running the Italian police trade-ins for $300. Not a bad deal at all.
 
milemaker13 said:
My wife has a sig 1911 "target" and it is a very nice gun. I would rather get a dedicated .22 over a conversion slide. So far, I'm not too hot on a 1911 in .22... Do you guys really like it?
I shot a buddy's xdm, can't remember if it was 9mm or .45, but I liked it a lot.

I'm reading a lot of reports that some of these .22 pistols don't function well with cheap ammo... well that's no good. The couple auto loading .22s we've had never had this problem. My first gun was S&W 622 (never get rid of any guns, you'll regret it!) And my dad had a tube fed rifle, maybe an old Marlin??

I do reload, haven't done any 9mm.
Click to expand...

My Nelson conversion functions with just about anything I feed it. I chose it over a Hammerli or S&W 41 target pistol as the accuracy is reputed to be on par. I did a lot of research before buying it and came to the conclusion that the Nelson is the best conversion on the market, and that it is more accurate than the majority of dedicated .22 1911s. I am very happy with mine. It is far more reliable than my Ruger Mark I, and I like it more than my old Wilson branded Marvel conversion that I parted with a few years ago.
 
milemaker13 said:
Looking for a good full size pistol for fun at the range. I'd like 9mm because it's cheap enough to shoot. I suppose I could consider a .22lr, can't get cheaper to shoot than that!
I don't plan to carry this so size/weight aren't an issue (as they relate to ccw anyway)
I'm mostly looking at the Beretta 92.

Any thoughts?
Click to expand...

What sort of budget?
 
milemaker13

I have a TacSol .22 conversion on a 1911 frame (set up for .38 Super/9mm.), that I assembled many years ago. Works fine and is very accurate with the right ammo. I also have a Kadet .22 conversion kit for my CZ P01; another great way to go with a 9mm. and .22 all in one gun.

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Due to numerous health problems, I don't shoot near as often as I used to but I do, really enjoy shooting my Ruger mk III Hunter with a Bushnell Elite 2x7 silver scope on it from my Caldwell Stable table in my back yard. The scope is a little over kill for a 22LR but, When I bought it I had plans on getting a 44mag. revolver later on and Deer hunt using that scope since it's actually made for heavier recoiling handguns but, due to health going down hill I don't know if that will happen for sure or not but with the parallax set at 100 yds. it still, performs quite well at shorter ranges. :)
 
Fora fun plinker/range gun, I really like the SW 22 Victory, and for 9mm, it's tough to beat the XD IMHO
 
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