Rimfire Pistol/Revolver, What's Your Take?

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Sulaco

Sulaco

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I'm in the market for a rimfire handgun. I am partial to revolvers over semi-auto's but either one would work. I like the size and price of the Walther's but don't know much about them.

If I went with a semi-auto, I'd want something real reliable. I have been entertaining the idea of a .17HMR just because it's different but I don't know what to expect from it out of a short barrel. I don't want anything with an external lock or safety device like the S&W and Taurus' though.

Throw some opinions my way and let me know what y'all have or don't have and want.

Thanks!
 
The field is wide open.

Ruger, Browning and others make fine .22 handguns -- I personally like the Ruger MKII models (which are still readily obtailable) and would get the 5 1/2" heavy barrel model with the adjustable sights if I were buying one today.

Smith and Wesson still makes good .22 Revolvers -- as does Ruger. If you like a single action, the Single Six is hard to beat.

In used guns, I like Colts -- I have a Colt Officer's Model Target (which was Colt's top-of-the-line target revolver way back when) and the Colt Woodsman, which is superb.
 
What are you planning to do with one?

If you plan to shoot Bullseye matches it's hard to go wrong with a Ruger Mark II as described by Vern Humphrey. (My son is shooting mine at Camp Perry today).

If you want a handgun for plinking and running around the woods, a good choice would be a used Smith M18. They can still be found and have no lock.
 
I want something to do a lot of duties, really. My wife is just getting into shooting and I would like to one day soon buy her a small revolver for concealed carry/nightstand duty, so a rimfire would be nice to warm her up with. I'd also like something to put in my pocket when I walk around outside or whatever. It would even probably dispatch it's fair share of rodents.

I don't want to spend a lot of money, but I would rather have something that will last (my favorite and only other rimfire is a '64 model 39A that I spent long hours restoring). I looked at the two Rugers today and thought the Single Six and Bearcat both looked nice. Is there much size difference between the two?

I'll keep an eye out for a used Smith.

Thanks fellas!
 
I got this used 34 for about $320 on Guns America...

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I got this Browning for $300

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I would recommend either, plus the Ruger Mk II or Mk III. They're all good guns. I would not recommend the Walther p22. They're kinda cool looking and fun to shoot, but inacurrate and problematic...
 
This is always so difficult. I personally respect and enjoy the Ruger Mark Is, and IIs (IIIs are okay); also I enjoy the Ruger BearCat, the S&W 6-shots and 10-shots. Last, and by no means least, there is the T/C Arms Contender. You have a difficult decision ahead! Make the decision based on intended use: pleasure, target, hunting, competition, etc.

I personally am looking for a NIB Ruger Mark II. :) Wish me luck!!!

Doc2005
 
Wow, that 34 is beautiful! Let me know if you want to sell it! That would be the ideal gun for me. I would be fine with a used MkI or II but am not crazy about the III's. I've never been a big fan of the Buckmark but the Single Six is looking good too.
 
I think you'd have more fun punching holes in paper with a revolver... but I can't tell you why. Maybe you shoot more carefully? I dunno... but I'd opt for the revolver... anybody have information on those Taurus 94s?
 
I enjoy shooting my Ruger Mark II and I also own a Browning BuckMark Challenger. I like the fact that the Ruger is heavier and I seem to be more accurate with it. I also have a Ruger Single Six Revolver that is a lot of fun. Every time I play at the range, these are my favorite toys!:D
 
I like the Ruger MkII and really like the Ruger22/45 in bull barrel. T/C makes a very nice and acurate .22LR in a Contender.

As for the Tuarus 94, We use the newer ones with the black grips and the "safety" lock. We have four of them and put alot of rounds through them. Of the four I'd say one was good. We don't baby them. They are always getting sent back to the smith, mustly for cleaning, they lock up and won't rotate with out manually turning the cylinder or lock up and not open. I don't know what would happen if they were shot like I personaly shoot, but my limited experance says I wouldn't own one.
 
Look for a Model 17 or 18 Smith first time around (both K-Frames). (Just my opinion.) The Model 34's are J-Frames and hence smaller. The current J-Frame Smith 22 is the Model 317 and the K-frame is the Model 617.
 
I'm very partial to my Single Six. It has a 5.5" barrel, adjustable sights and is stainless. The more I shoot it, the better it gets. It also has a 22 mag cylinder, should I feel like shooting 'em. I like the hang and feel of it, and it's nice to look at, too. It's one of my favorite guns.
 
I find that it is easier to shoot a semi-auto. Now, some people take the approach that if you learn with a revolver, you'll certainly be good with a semi. This is true. I learned to play guitar on an acoustic, which is harder to play than an electric. But I almost quit learning out of frustration.

A semi-auto .22 is easy to take care of; wipe it off and oil every few thousand rounds. I "clean" my Buckmark by wiping off the chamber face and, rarely, taking a brush to the chamber. So far, my Buckmark Camper has been reliable, with the caveat that it does NOT like most of the cheap 500 round bricks. Eats anything else I want to shoot.
 
I have a S&W 22A and a Ruger Mark II, both bought used. Both are not off the shelf pistols. The 22A was a special run for AcuSport which has a 7" Fluted Bull barrel and a green Fiber Optic front sight. The Ruger was done over by Clark Custom. The barrel, action and trigger are all custom and the barrel is ported.

Both pistols are a lot of fun to shoot and very accurate. I'm looking for a revolver now because I like shooting revolvers over semi-auto pistols. An older S&W would be great to find.
 
sfhogman said:
I'm very partial to my Single Six. It has a 5.5" barrel, adjustable sights and is stainless. The more I shoot it, the better it gets. It also has a 22 mag cylinder, should I feel like shooting 'em. I like the hang and feel of it, and it's nice to look at, too. It's one of my favorite guns.
Click to expand...

Absolutely! - The very first guns my father ever taught me to shoot were his S&W .38 snubby and his Ruger Single Six. The single six was so accurate I could out shoot him with his other pistols after just shooting for about a year. I was 7 or 8 so he could have been letting me win, but I hold to the accuracy of this weapon. In fact I loved the single six style so much I got myself a Ruger Vaquero .45 long colt. It has since become my favorite handgun. It feels like air to shoot and looks pretty doing it. As for accuracy - lets take some baseballs out to the range and see who keeps it rolling.

Maybe it's the thrill of the first semi-auto rifle I ever shot turned out to be my favorite rifle too. My fathers M1 Garand - One of those is one the way for me right now.
 
start with SS

I think everyone ought to own a Single Six. Enjoy it for a lifetime, and proudly pass it on. The Super Single Six has adjustable sights.
Your requirement for pocket carry narrows the choices though.

The Bearcat would be a good choice, but I think they are over-priced.

Take a look at a NAA Black Widow. 5-shot single action revolver, .22LR or .22 Magnum (or both, with 2 cylinders). Pretty gun, all stainless. Accurate, but small enough to drop in your shorts pocket or her purse. With the Magnum cylinder it's minimally suitable for SD. And you don't have to worry about it rusting when you sweat on it. I love mine.

S&W 22A is a $200 semi-auto that is a lot of fun, and accurate. But the grip is not for everyone, and I bet your wife won't like it. But who knows?
 
I have a MKII, and a Single-Six. Both are WAAAYYY UP on the Fun Gun list. I had a Bearcat a while back, but it was just a fractional tiny bit too small for my Ham Fists, complete with Sausage Fingers...AKA "Fat Hands Syndrome".

My first .22 revolver was a pre-model number S&W "Kit Gun" I bought used. Oldest son owns it now, and has taught his daughters to shoot with it.
 
If you're partial to revolvers as I am, buy a revolver. The little J frames tend to have rough DA triggers, but they make great small caliber DA practice and fired in SA mode, are very accurate in the field. An old K.22 in good shape would be highly desireable. The problem is, they only make the little J frame based stuff anymore, Smith, Taurus, or Ruger, they use the small frames. I'd LOVE to have a K.22, but it's low on my want list. I used to shoot my Uncle's a lot when I was a kid. It was wonderful, a 6" barrel on it, fantastic field gun and accurate to the max. His had a beautiful nickel finish on it.
 
My favorite 22LR handgun is my CZ75 Kadet. Plus it's a 9mm with a swap of the slide.

I love my Single Six and my new Taurus 94 nine shot snubby. I even have a Walther PP in 22LR and it's loads of fun. All are good guns, accurate and reliable (the Walther continually surprises me because it has cheap aftermarket mags). But the CZ Kadet is the one I enjoy the most.

22Pistoleros.jpg
 
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