The Combat .22 Semi-Auto

[sigarms228]

I wouldn't consider the Ruger Mark series or the Buckmark target pistols....I've always considered themed more as regular everyday 22 pistols. Of the two, the Ruger 5.5" Bull Barrel has a better street record...but it takes a lot of training with near perfect shot placement for a stop

The SR22 and M&P 22 are fun pistols and If I had to choose between the two I'd go with the SR22...but I've only put a couple of hundred rounds through a couple of different ones

Same here as far as the Buckmark and Ruger Mark series. I personally prefer the grip angle of the Buckmark or Ruger 22/45. My Buckmark is such a pleasure to shoot and the weight is comparable to my SIG P226, maybe a few ounces more. My M&P 22 Compact is fun to shoot but the light weight makes it feel a bit toyish. I rarely shoot my M&P 22 Compact since getting the Buckmark. My wife never really liked shooting until we got the Buckmark which she just loves.

 

[9mmepiphany]

I personally prefer the grip angle of the Buckmark or Ruger 22/45

I do prefer the 22/45 grip to the Mark II grip, but my Ruger is pretty old. I started with the 6.875" barrel before going with the 5.5" one. For target work, I like my S&W M-41...haven't decided between the two barrels yet

 

[jstert]

ruger sr22. i have 20,000+ rounds through mine in ten years. accurate, reliable, handy.

 

[American_Fusilier]

Here's another vote for the S&W M&P 22 Compact.

I've not had any issues from mine and it's now a suppressor host. Good gun.

The only down side is the mag capacity at 10. Makes me start eyeing the Sig p322 or the FN 22 pistol.

 

[chickasaw_hunter]

Well the Israelis bet a lot of PLO lives on the Beretta 70s, and even thwarted a airline hijacking.

 

[Grunt]

The logic never ceases to amaze me. Mention .25 ACP for self defense and the comments trend toward being too small for defensive uses. Mention .22LR for self defense and the comments trend towards how it’s not a bad option, lot of rounds fired quickly, wouldn’t want to be shot by one (or an BB gun) either, used by Israelis, effective with good shot placement and on and on.

 

[1KPerDay]

I know you said no Ruger MK series but I’ve never found any rimfire, or centerfire for that matter, that was more reliable than my Ruger MKIII 22/45. It went 10,000 documented rounds with 2 misfires and no FTF/FTE, without a detailed cleaning. I used 6 factory magazines and never cleaned them. They still feed everything flawlessly. The pistol has about 15K rounds on it now had has developed a pesky tendency to misfire and squib. .22 Ammo quality has dropped precipitously since 2008 IMO, and I’ve replaced everything I can think of but it’s still not 100% anymore.

However, for those first 10K it was something to behold. I have a new SIG P322 and I can rarely get through a magazine without a light strike or stovepipe. I have several mags and they all do it.

So since you said reliability was paramount I figured I’d put in my dos centavos.

 

[reddog81]

There are lots of variants of the MK series and Buckmarks. I’d go with any of them over an SR22 or M&P. Neither of my Rugers are “target” models but they might as well be with how well they shoot.

 

[toivo]

I like my SIG P250-22 Compact. It's true DAO, so it has second-strike capability for dud rounds. Magazines hold ten, so no legal issues for you. It has been out of production for a while, though, so you may have hard time finding one.

 

[toivo]

The logic never ceases to amaze me. Mention .25 ACP for self defense and the comments trend toward being too small for defensive uses. Mention .22LR for self defense and the comments trend towards how it’s not a bad option, lot of rounds fired quickly, wouldn’t want to be shot by one (or an BB gun) either, used by Israelis, effective with good shot placement and on and on.

If somebody made a compact (as opposed to mousegun) size .25 ACP with a capacity of 10+ rounds, I think the discussion would be different.

 

[9mmepiphany]

The logic never ceases to amaze me. Mention .25 ACP for self defense and the comments trend toward being too small for defensive uses. Mention .22LR for self defense and the comments trend towards how it’s not a bad option, lot of rounds fired quickly, wouldn’t want to be shot by one (or an BB gun) either, used by Israelis, effective with good shot placement and on and on.

It is pretty funny how that works. Both calibers depend on the same thing for effectiveness...shot placement

For folks who care, it has been my observed experience that the .25ACP generally feeds more reliably than the .22LR. The CF cartridge is semi-rimmed while the RF cartridge is rimmed...that makes it inherently more reliable.

Here are a couple of interesting facts about each cartridge:
1. The deadliest .22LR firearm is the Voere American-180. It has a pan magazine (165-220rds) and had a rate of fire of 12000rds/min. It has the ability to shoot through concrete through cumulative effect
2. The .25ACP has long been the weapon of choice of professional Mexican gang members for drive-by shootings...not because of it's deadly effect, but for psychological effect; sort of like Native American Plains tribes counting coup

 

[jmr40]

I have a Sig 322 and the Smith M&P 22. Loading the 20 round double stack mag on the Sig requires care or you'll get jams. But once figured out it is a much better pistol than the Smith.

 

[jar]

Of my little 22LR handguns the Walther PPK/s has probably been the more reliable but the Ruger LCPII is pretty close and about half the weight. The little Beretta and Tarus tip ups are also nice but finicky as to what ammo they get fed. Picky eaters.

It's my revolvers though they get the most 22LR WalkAbout, particularly my old S&W Kit gun.

 

[dogtown tom]

I love .22's. Always have.
But I'm having difficulty wrapping my head around The Combat .22 Semi-Auto

If it's all you have, you planned poorly. I get the survivalist, TEOTWAWKI, zombie theories........but no. Other than very specialized uses, the .22 LR in a combat gun is likely as poor a choice as a Barrett .50bmg for "home defense".

If a .22 pistol or revolver is all you have, all you can afford or the only caliber whose recoil is bearable? Fine. I get that.
But there's a reason John Browning didn't make a rimfire pocket pistol, but did invent the .25acp cartridge specifically FOR a pocket pistol. RELIABILITY. For "combat", self protection, a .25acp beats .22LR every time in reliability.
As noted above by Grunt, a lot of people dismiss the .25acp while extolling the virtues of .22LR. Fact is, the ballistics are pretty much the same.
.25acp
vs
.22LR


But..........if I was required to choose one .22 handgun for combat/survivalist/TEOTWAWKI/Zombies, I want one renowned for reliability. The Ruger Mark I/II/III/IV.
For a .22 rifle It's my 10/22 with integral silencer.
Mine looks a lot better than his

 

[9mmepiphany]

But..........if I was required to choose one .22 handgun for combat/survivalist/TEOTWAWKI/Zombies, I want one renowned for reliability. The Ruger Mark I/II/III/IV.
For a .22 rifle It's my 10/22 with integral silencer.
Mine looks a lot better than his

Whenever I read Combat .22 Semi-auto, the image that pops into my mind is

prop gun

 

[Mark_Mark]

.22 mags design is were the reliable comes in. If the .22 ammo is not stack correctly, you will get Rim Lock.

So look for a proven design like Ruger MK4!!!!! tired & true

 

[Jim Watson]

If somebody made a compact (as opposed to mousegun) size .25 ACP with a capacity of 10+ rounds, I think the discussion would be different.

Walther made a very very few PP and PPK .25s. Like 50 total.
More 1910 Mausers.

 

[RudderDudder]

Best one I have used is a Sig P322. It feels very similar to the P365 series and is threaded, optic ready, and able to accept a light/laser.

It has been *mostly* reliable. I have been shooting mostly Aguila 40gr which is not especially reliable to begin with. If anyone else has one of these and can recommend ammo I'd like to know.

That said I don't think I'd want to depend on any 22 for self defense.

 

[Jim Watson]

CCI Mini Mags are the standard of reliability for non bullseye .22s.
I have shot the range‘s P322 with them at 100%, also my Plastic M&P C.

I had a malfunction in my Nelson recently but don‘t recall the brand, maybe Aguila.

 

[AlexanderA]

It is pretty funny how that works. Both calibers depend on the same thing for effectiveness...shot placement

Exactly. Shot placement. When talking about .22 for "defensive" use, that would be all-important.

In a true defensive situation, you wouldn't have the time or the cool-headedness to line up your shots perfectly. With a heavier caliber, a shot would be disabling even if not perfectly placed.

That's why a .22 would be better for offensive use -- as an assassin's weapon -- than for defensive use. On the offensive, the shooter has the initiative, and can take his time.

The proper role of a .22 handgun is for training. You're deluding yourself if you think you can use it for self defense. It's more likely to get you killed than if you had no gun at all.

 

[Mike OTDP]

If you want reliable .22LR ammo, I strongly recommend going with good match-grade stuff. RWS, Eley, Lapua, or SK. Maybe CCI Green Tag. Most of the complaints are with el-cheapo bulk pack.

As far as pistols, I really regret the loss of the old .22 versions of pocket pistols. Walther PPs and PPKs, Beretta 70s and 71s, Astra Constables - all made with the quality of their centerfire equivalents. So much of what is offered today is designed to a price point that doesn't allow for high quality.

 

[jmorris]

I’ve killed a lot of trapped animals with the .22lr. It looses a lot out of a pistol, so I always use a rifle but if I did use a .22 pistol to dispatch them, it would be an accurate one, to get them to drop and die in one shot, it’s got to be in the right spot. The distances are not very far but the “sweet spot” is pretty small.

 

[Mizar]

Apart from a quality revolver, which will be my first choice if I was considering a .22LR handgun for self protection, I will also suggest for the OP to take a closer look at the Beretta 70's series (if he can find one in good shape and with a reasonable price). Wonderful little guns, maybe one of the best compact rimfire pistols ever made. Well made, reliable, adequate safety and ergonomic enough even for bigger hands, they are a joy to shoot (and carry).

 

[PapaG]

I submit your thread title for oxymoron of the year.
That said, my wife's arthritis has reduced her to using a Walther PPK/S 22.

 

[commygun]

I submit your thread title for oxymoron of the year.

As acknowledged in the first line of my post. Think I’m going to give the M&P Compact a crack. By all accounts, it might come closest to what I’m thinking about.