Talk me through this...

Status
Not open for further replies.
S

Stinkyshoe

Member
Joined
Jan 28, 2003
Messages
538
Location
Midwest
Hi everyone
I am trying to plan ahead to future firearm purchases when I turn 21(2 years, 2 months, and 21 days). I may like to eventually get an auto loading high power pistol such as a Glock or 1911 or both. But I am more of a 22 caliber guy. The ammo is cheap and practicing with one will help out shooting a 40 or 45.
Here is my question. What should I get for a 22 pistol?? I haven't been interested in the Browning pistols because they seem to be quite pricing. Are they worth the money? Are they better than a Ruger MII or 22/45? Also, I want to get a 22 pistol with the longer sight radius. I think the 6&7/8" barrel is probably the best for me. I have it narrowed down to the Mark II Government w/ the bull barrel or the 22/45 with the slab side. Please talk me through the options, advantages, disadvantages and mechanical differences between the Government model and the 22/45. Will they shoot with the same level of precision and accuracy? Do you think the bbl Gov. is too much weight to carry for the stability advantage it would have over the 22/45? What about the grips? Any advantages here?
Thanks
Ss
 
I've had a Ruger Mk II for many years. You can't go wrong w/ the Ruger. Actually, you can't go wrong w/ the RUger or the Browning. I've had limited experience w/ the Buckmark, but it is a fine performer.
Based soley on the experience I've had w/ my Mk ii, I'd say get that one!
 
I've never owned a Browning but my first gun was a MKII.
It's a great pistol (I still have it, 18 years later).
I've only had to replace the extractor (once).
You won't regret buying a MKII. I recommend stainless; the MKII is a gun you may keep forever.

BamBam
 
In most areas I have been to, the Buckmark is nost significantly pricier than the Rugers. In any case, a .22 LR is an excellent place to begin.
I am also curious as to why you consider the 1911 and Glock to be high powered?
 
The Browning Buckmark is a lot more pistol than a Ruger IMO. I have had several Rugers and they do not run long without jamming, 700 rounds or so tops without cleaning, the Browning will go several thousand. The Rugers are also a nightmare to strip and clean, Browning a piece of cake. The Buckmark has controls in conventional locations too, another advantage. The Ruger heavy barrels are accurate, but not more so than the Browning. I would take one Browning over 3 Rugers after having bought a couple of both guns.
 
I've had both. If you're planning on getting into a 1911 later, I would say the Buckmark. The controls will be similar, as will the angle of the grip, so there will be little to get accustomed to. The Buckmark is also extremely easy to strip for cleaning, as stated.

They are both fine weapons; I sold my Buckmark because a Colt .22 became available. Those are a bit harder to find, so I grabbed it. I still have my Ruger, and it's the stainless 6 7/8" barrel you mentioned.

Mikey D...
 
Just an idea, but take a look at the CZ-75B. You can buy the .22 Kadet kit for cheap practice. It uses the same frame and the features of the gun should be virtually identical. Check out for more information.
 
Is there a gun club in your area?

If so, join it and get to know the members. It's been my experience that firearms enthusiasts like nothing better than to teach new shooters what they know and let them try out their firearms. Shoot as many different .22s as you can and decide which one(s) feel right to you.

Even less complicated is to go to a gun range that offers rental pistols. Again, try as many as you can. My personal .22 is the Ruger MK II but I like the Browning very much as well. You can't go wrong with either one.
 
CZ 75

I'd jump all over that CZ 75 with the Kadet .22 conversion kit, provided you have the $$$ for it.

Just to let you know I'm not entirely blowing smoke, I've handled and shot a CZ in .40 cal and it was one of the finest handling and accurate handguns I ever shot, right from the first clip.

I'm with you on shooting .22's.....after all "I R the 22luvr"

good luck.
 
Thanks for all the replys so far. I will try out the Buckmark at a range when I am old enough. I wonder, is the 22/45 functionally similar to the Mark II?
Croyance,
Well I guess in my mind they are high powers. A 45 acp or 40 auto seem to have some knock down power for an semi-auto. I guess the Desert Eagle 44 mag has a bunch more power. I was just thinking of the 45 acp as maybe the middle of the road in the power department, much like the 308 is in the middle of the road for long guns. I guess I think of Glocks and 1911's as high powers because they also pack a lot of fire power.

Steelharp
Is your mark II a Slab side barrel or a full barrel?

Thanks again for the help
Ss
 
The 22/45 is a part of the MkII family. Unlike the other MkIIs, the 22/45 has a different grip angle (similar to 1911), magazine release on leftside of gun (other MkIIs have the mag release on the bottom of the grip), and a polymer frame with integral grips molded into it. The grip angle and locations of the mag release, bolt release and thumb safety are all reminiscent of a 1911-type pistol. I have a 22/45 slabside with a 6-7/8 bbl and target sights and it shoots great.

Definitely try and get some hands-on time with various 22s to see what feels comfortable for you.

Bosco
 
GET THE RUGER!!!

I've had 2---count 'em 2!!!-----Buckmarks that were NOTHING BUT TOTAL JUNK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!------NEVER AGAIN.

While I really like my A-Bolts and BL-22 from Browning----the Buckmark is nothing but a POS and should be a huge embarassment for Browning---suspecting the reason they haven't dropped the Buckmark is because they are making too much money on those of us they duped into buying such JUNK.
:fire:

Rant off---Anyway---get the Ruger----you'll like it.
 
My club has a couple of Ruger MkIIs and a couple of Buckmarks, all of which have seen many thousands of rounds downrange.

The MkIIs generally keep on trucking pretty well. The Buckmarks do not. They tend to shoot themselves loose and need to have the sight rails tightened every 50-100 rounds (I don't recommend using Loctite on the screws, as the sight rail has to be removed to field-strip the gun.) In addition, they tend to be less accurate than the Rugers, despite somewhat better trigger action.

You are certainly on the right track with getting a .22 pistol first. My advice would be to get a Ruger MkII (I'm not a fan of the 22/45, just because the MkII grip feels more comfortable) with the Ruger factory thumbshelf stocks and adjustable sights. Shoot it for a while. If you like how it feels, consider a Volquartsen MkII drop-in trigger kit (MSRP $87.50) which will improve the trigger pull dramatically. My Dad's MkII has such a kit installed, and the difference is like night and day.

- Chris
 
Just shows ta go ya

That you can find any opinion you want on any pistol.

That said, I bought a MkII 6 7/8' bbl in 1982. It has never jammed or otherwise failed despite very little cleaning, with all kinds of ammo. Stripping is, in my experience, a snap--simpler than a 1911-IF you read the manual and remember the trick. But you just don't have to do it all that often anyway.

For an entry-level target .22, there is no other if you ask me. And though I'm long past entry-level, I still use and rely on mine. Just my 2 cents..maybe I was lucky.
 
The Rugers are also a nightmare to strip and clean
Click to expand...
Sorry but I don't agree.... it is really not that hard:
http://www.1bad69.com/ruger/field_strip.htm

the 22/45 has the controls in a more "Normal" position but you are pretty much stuck with the grips the way they are. If your ok with that then there is nothing wrong with them. I personally liked the SS MKII better but it was more of a looks thing, and the availability of aftermarket add ons for them.

for choosing between the Rugers, see which feels the best in your hands, as all of them are very accurate and you probably will not see any difference in accuracy (I mean unless you get into serious competition).

The 22/45 field strips the same as the MKII and many parts will interchange.

for parts for both check out:
http://www.ontargetguns.com/mark.html
 
New owner of a MkII myself

I would say to start with a 22 revolver first.

I was in your very dilema a few weeks ago. Not the age thing but Buckmark or Ruger. I settled on Ruger.

Taking a Ruger apart the first time is easy! Reassembly is a Pain in the ***(even with the manual) compared to every gun I have owned. After buying mine with the 5.5 inch barrel I can say without a doubt go for the longer barrel.

You mention carry. Finding a holster for one of these babies is a task in itself.

Also, another reason to get the competition model is that it is already tapped for a scope mount. Something else I regret.

I had 2FTF's on my first two mags but they were with subsonic ammo. After it gets broke in I may have better luck who knows.
I also am already prepared to get the Volquartzen upgrades.

Good Luck -Bevr
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top