The absolute best .22lr handgun!

[Confederate]

PiKid89 is correct. Most of the federal agents and cops I know are almost unanamous in picking the Ruger Mark II pistol. Back in the 80s, when sanctions were placed against South Africa and Rhodesia, people bought large amounts of Ruger .22s because they could go for years without repairs. They were accurate, robust, reliable -- and they could go on almost forever without being cleaned. And they could fill the air with incredible amounts of lead in a very short period of time.

Based on accuracy, reliability, toughness and everything else, the Ruger wins hands down.

The Single-Six is a fun, tireless pistol, too, and it takes the greater .22WRF round; but it's a single-action and is a .22 that will likely be in your collection for a very long time.

 

[MIgunguy]

Based on accuracy, reliability, toughness and everything else, the Ruger wins hands down
I agree 100% with this assesment of the Mk II.

However, my favorites are the Beretta 71 and S&W 18.

 

[PzGren]

I had owned a Hämmerli 208, Walther GSP, a Beretta 71, and many others over many years. While the GSP and 208 were great sportsequipment, they were just that, purebred target guns for olympic shooting.

I got out of serious competitions and was looking for high quality guns that give a great performance and finally settled for a Hämmerli 212 Jägerschaftspistole and a Korth revolver.

On the other hand my K-22 shoots almost as well as the Korth does and you pay a lot for the small difference.

 

[Prosser]

I've had a LOT of what are supposed to be great 22's.
Model 63 was shotgun accurate.
Colt Trooper Mark III is the gun I wish I'd kept. Thumbnail accurate, ate most ammo beautiful gun.
I traded the Colt for the FA. BIG mistake.

Have to do some work on this new single six, and, I'll get back to you...

 

[Onmilo]

I own three "Bests" in .22 L.R. handguns
1. S&W Model 41
2. S&W Model 17
3. Walther PP

For an ubermatch pistolen I would choose a Walther GSP.

 

[Justin]

Take your pick. Pardini SP, Feinwerkbau AW93, Walther GSP, Hammerli 208 are all obivious picks for "the absolute best .22lr handgun."

 

[Taurus 617 CCW]

I special ordered a Ruger Mark III from Davidson's. It is a full stainless model, 5.5" fluted bull barrel and not only is she beautiful but shoots great! It's not the best for laser precision accuracy but it is a real all metal .22. It doesn't feel cheap like some of the plastic .22's out there today.

 

[Andrew Wyatt]

Beretta Model 75, Docter sight, AAC Pilot suppressor. With the "fixed" barrel, it is just about as accurate as any .22 pistol. What more could one ask for?

[/IMG]

This one wins the thread. Forever.

 

[bhk]

My favorite 'bests' are the Smith 41 and a Smith 18 (four-inch version of the 17 with a ramp front sight). The four-inch 18 makes for a great trail gun while loosing little of the precision of the 17. As far as currently manufactured revolvers, the 617 (four or six inch) is about as good as it gets without mortaging the home. The four inch 617 will be a better handling gun as the 617s generally have full-lugged barrels, adding significant weight to the front end. As far a paper punching accuracy, I believe the 41 will consistantly outdo the K frame revolvers (17, 18, 617, etc.)

 

[TonyT]

If I were aserious target shooter I would opt for the Walther GSP or Pardini SP. In the domestic produced 22's the only one would be the S&W Model 41.

 

[Bulldawg55]

What is the best .22lr handgun you have ever handled?

The best I've handled is my Marvel Conversion.

It feels exactly like my SA GI!

 

[JMusic]

The old Colts and High Standards are worth looking at. I've used most including FWB's. For the money the model 41 is hard to beat. I do have a weak bone for the High Standard Military Model.

Revolvers I think the K and J frame Smiths are hard to beat. Competition for this pistol though would be the Diamond Back in 22 LR.

 

[Confederate]

If you're going to use it for a range gun, a S&W 41 is fine; but for a defense or survival piece, no way. It all depends on what you're going to want the gun to do.

One reason I push the Ruger auto is because they may not be the absolute best in any category, they're near the top in ALL areas -- defense, target, range, camping, trail and durability. I'd never ditch my Ruger Single-Six cowboy gun in this life, but as much as I love it, it wouldn't be the one I'd grab on the way out the door in a societal breakdown! So it just depends...which is why there are so many responses.

The Ruger auto isn't the funnest gun I've ever shot (though it's no slouch), but it's what the Security-Six was to the .357 magnum revolver world.

 

[makarovnik]

Colt Woodsman or good old Ruger S.S. Mark III

 

[PzGren]

Since the OP has asked for the absolutely best handgun that I have handled, I have to refute the Ruger MkII, while it is a great handgun, it barely qualifies as the absolutely best! It is a jack of all trades but out-of-the box it wins in no department.

He has money saved up to get one to his liking and I guess that a S&W 41 will really please him and become very dear to him. If his S&W 41 runs well, that is. And not all do.

If you had the choice in between those two that I post below, would you really take the Ruger for other than monetary considerations?! The 212 is extremely reliable and balances well and while I only have a few thousand rounds through mine ( I mostly enjoy my Korth ), a friend of mine has over 40,000 rounds through his Hämmerli 208 and it does not even show.





Please do not consider this Ruger bashing, I have two MkIIs that I like and that are solid, accurate trouble-free pistols but you will be hard pressed to convince me that it is the absolutely best rimfire pistol.

 

[welldoya]

I agree with several of the posters - Ruger Mkll (I like the stainless 5 1/2" bull barrel), S&W Model 17, Colt Woodsman ( I have the sport, target and Match Target and they are all terrific). I also have a Colt Trooper MK lll and while it's a very accurate gun, it is also extraordinarily heavy. I wouldn't want it to be my only .22.
I think knowing what I know now, if I only wanted to own one .22 handgun and it would be used for everything from plinking to woods carry, and I didn't want to break the bank, I would go with the aforementioned Ruger or a Woodsman if I could find one for a great deal. ($500 would be a great deal for a 90% target or sport)

 

[greyling22]

how about the now defunct sig trailside? a hammerli for the masses. I certainly liked the concept, but I don't know why they stopped making them.

What kind of ammo are you going to be feeding your gun? if it's cheap bulk ammo them I'd look for reliability over accuracy. cheap ammo's not that great. I would hazard a guess that good ammo out of a ruger is going to be more accurate than cheap ammo out of a hammerli.

 

[CraigC]

Please do not consider this Ruger bashing, I have two MkIIs that I like and that are solid, accurate trouble-free pistols but you will be hard pressed to convince me that it is the absolutely best rimfire pistol.

I agree! Ruger produces some excellent firearms at affordable prices (got two dozen of them!) but you can't really pin the "best" label on any of them, unless cost is the primary determining factor. I've had three MK-series over the last ten or so years. All have been accurate (½"@25yds) and reliable but the late model 22/45RP is the only one I still have. I've been shooting the Brownings for over 20yrs and have always considered them to be a step above. My Buckmark Bullseye model is disgustingly accurate.

 

[awgrizzly]

Does anyone have any experience with the Kimber .22 Rimfire? I have one but haven't shot it yet for lack of a round tuit. It's a full size 1911 style, aircraft aluminum slide and frame, 5" match barrel, adjustable trigger, 18 ounces loaded. I got it in a trade for a Kimber .22 conversion.

 

[Rexster]

S&W K-frame. It seems S&W has labeled these as both Model 17 and 18 in blued, and as at least Model 617 in stainless finish. (Not sure about a 618.) Mine is a Model 17, with a 4" barrel. Superbly accurate in its own right, it is also an understudy gun for my defensive handguns, which are primarily medium-framed revolvers and SIG P229s with the DAK trigger system.

Part of me yearns for a Beretta 87 Cheetah, either the regular or target versions. Perhaps, someday, both.

 

[ZeBool]

Colt Diamondback. Absolutely spectacular .22

 

[1KPerDay]

The best I've ever handled is my Colt Woodsman Match Target. It has always been extremely accurate and reliable. It has the best trigger I've ever used. John Brownings best work.

beautiful.

 

[GURU1911]

My 6" colt diamondback in .22lr is my vote for the best .22 pistol i have ever owned. My next favorite are the colt huntsman, challenger, & woodsmen pistols, sadly no longer made in hartford, conn.

 

[FM12]

Smith & WEsson K-22 or Model 41. A good high grade Hi Standard would be nice also. JMO, YMMV, of course.

 

[Jed Carter]

For less than $800 the Beretta 87 Target is a good pistol. Above $2K there is no "best" just really really good pistols. Check out Walther, TOZ 35, Pardini, Benelli if you really want to exspend more than ammo.