steel challenge .22 semi auto

[JohnnyK]

I recently went to my first steel challenge match and had a blast another competitor was shooting a .22 semi auto and did very well. I usually shoot 9mm but am considering getting a .22 semi auto handgun for this as .22 is sooooo much cheaper to shoot... any recommendation on hi capacity, RELIABLE, .22 semi auto handgun for competition? I didn't ask what the other guy was shooting... I should have. thanks, Johnny

 

[NWcityguy2]

A Ruger Mk II or Mk III would be a good choice along with any other target oriented 22LR.

 

[Naybor]

Agree on the Ruger Mark II or III for a starter gun.
If you really get into the sport, specialty target .22s are available but the prices can go thru the roof pretty quickly.

My Mark III is reliable, accurate, and so far meets all my needs. (Another good choice is a Buckmark .22)

Edit: Here is a site with some Mk IIIs : http://www.ruger.com/products/markIII/index.html

I have the top Standard model in Stainless Steel. Look at the Target and Competition models further down.

 

[Jon_Snow]

I also love the MK IIIs, but you might want to look at a 22 conversion for your 9mm, depending on what your goals are and what gun you already have. If all you want is to have fun and do well, a MK III is a great way to start and you can upgrade it easily as you get more involved.

 

[GCBurner]

I got a .22 conversion unit for my Glock 22, and it works very well for the Steel Challenge. This isn't a bullseye target competition, it's mostly speed, so fancy optical sights aren't really required.

 

[coolluke01]

I shoot a lot of steel matches. You must not have any poppers or dropper huh? I don't think the .22 would knock them down reliably.

I have a Beretta Neos that I like a lot. Not very expensive and easy to take down and clean. Much easier than the Rugers I've seen.

It's very accurate and shoots fast. It has a very new age look and feel. The safety bites into my hand when it's on. But I just take it off when I pick it up and it's not a problem.

Be very mindful of splatter when shooting at .22 at steel. It seems to splatter more than FMJ or plated ammo.

 

[mbopp]

Lots of Brownings and Rugers at the club Steel Challenge matches I shoot at.
If I were to build a Steel Challenge 22 it would be a Ruger MKII with an aluminum VQ upper and VQ trigger parts. But any 22 that can feed 5 magazines reliably will work. Right now I'm using an old Hi Standard Victor - a bit heavy, but it has a sweet trigger. Guys are running S&W M-41 target guns also.
There's no knocking down targets in Steel Challenge, all you have to do is get a hit on the target.

 

[arcticap]

any recommendation on hi capacity, RELIABLE, .22 semi auto handgun for competition?

I see many of the same models at our weekly .22 steel plate matches that have already been mentioned.
But most everything seems to only have a 10 round capacity.
However the highest capacity that I've seen is the Ciener conversion for the Taurus PT101 that has a 15 round capacity. My son's runs like a champ which I can attest that not all of the Ciener and other brands of .22 conversions do.
And some of the target guns prefer standard velocity ammo instead of high velocity. The type of ammo that you'd prefer to use is something to be aware of before deciding on the model.

 

[TxBobS]

I shoot a lot of steel matches. You must not have any poppers or dropper huh? I don't think the .22 would knock them down reliably.

Steel Challenge is different and never requires you to knock down a target. The stages (I think there are 8 of them with 5 usually used in a match) are fixed and pre-defined consisting of 5 targets. Except for 2 of the stage definitions, you stand in one spot and shoot all of the targets ending on a designated stop plate. Nothing gets knocked down.

 

[MrBorland]

any recommendation on hi capacity, RELIABLE, .22 semi auto handgun for competition?

You asked for semi-auto recommendations, but emphasized "reliable", so FWIW:

My first and only rimfire steel match was a large regional championship. Day 1 was shot with a handgun, day 2 with a rifle. AFAIK, I was the only one who brought a revolver - a 4" 10-shot S&W 617 .22LR DA revo. During the match itself, every shooter had, as far as I could tell, at least one malfunction, whereas I had none. The strings were very short, and the timer doesn't wait. IIRC, I won the day, helped by time simply given to me by everyone else. When I shoot rimfire steel again, you can bet I'll pack my 617.

I do have a MkIII, though, and if I had to shoot a semi-auto at a steel match, it would likely work as well as any semi-auto could.

 

[NWcityguy2]

10 round capacity is fine. If you can't hit 5 plates in 10 shots than capacity isn't the problem. I shoot Steel Challenge with my 1911 and will have to reload on the clock maybe once every 15 stages. With Steel Challenge you have to screw the pooch twice on a stage before it matters anyway.

 

[TxBobS]

I'll add that my daughter uses uses a Ruger 22/45 and as long as you find ammo it likes (which wasn't too hard) it works great. MrBorland makes a good point about revolvers though.

 

[fuelie777]

I run the local SCSA match once per month for the past two years. You do not need a highly accurate gun, so any typcial .22 lr will do fine. Reliability is really the most important aspect, along with good sights. Although 22 conversions are great, I have witnessed more issues with reliabilty with them then a gun built for 22 lr only. I personnelly use a Ruger Mark 3, added the volugerson extractor and firing pin kit, added the green fiber front sight, and have not had any issues with it in 10,000 rounds.

Get what you want, and go shoot it at the steel match. Have fun.