What honestly is the best .22 for just practice and plinking around?

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1. Ruger Mark II 5.5" Bull Barrel

2. Browning Buckmark

3. SIG Trailsides

4. Beretta Neos
 
Have to go with the Smith and Wesson 617...oh yeah this is autoloaders so its the Buckmark. The aftermarket is much friendlier.
 
As you may have noticed from the first 29 responses, there is no "best". :)

I've owned a Ruger Mk. I and a Browning Buckmark Hunter, and both were great. I've never shot any super-cheap .22s, but the only one that I ever shot that I didn't like was a Walther P22. It was tiny for no good reason, felt horrible in my hand, was unbelievably inaccurate, and couldn't feed ammunition reliably.
 
I have a Ruger Mark II and a Ruger Single 6. The Mark II for fun the Single Six for accuracy. I love them both.
 
Another vote for BuckMark.
I have a lot of .22 hand guns, including the Ruger....my BuckMark gets more rounds shot through than all the rest combined. And I love the Ruger Mark series styling...I just like shooting the BuckMark more.
But everyone is different. You may want to try some out first.
Jack
 
I should try to submit an article somewhere about the Buckmark, it's the only way I could write enough to do it justice. Let's see more pics of those Brownings, people!

For some reason when I bought it (Lubbock, Texas, Feb 1995) at a gun show from a local gun shop with a display table it took them a solid month to get the paperwork cycled and give me the dang thing. I guess because I'd never bought one before and needed to be entered in to the dragnet. At any rate, I was antsy about finally getting to check it out and took it to an indoor range. I hadn't been back to one until this week, and I remembered why. Shooting sounds like it's all around you and right next to you. Couldn't relax enough to sight-in my new 10/22, but with those sights who could? (scope on the way...)

But from the first time I took it outside it has been rock-solid, dead-on, pump-whatever-you're-looking-at-full-of-lead fun. And I was not a good steward of this weapon at all until recently. I can't imagine the shape it would be in if I'd broken it down and cleaned it dilligently along the way. It's like the beater you can always count on to perform better than you deserve.

I wish I could find mags for it over 12 founds, I found a Ramline version and of the two I bought one ALWAYS jammed the take-up round. I sure would like to find one that sticks out about 5" below the grip and I'd load 'em up over and over again. If it wasn't a pistol it would just be too easy to hit what you want. I have read raves about the cabine version. I'd love to get a long barrel and tailored stock, I'd buy another Buckmark and trick it out.

Does anyone know what years they made the 'flat-sided' barrel for the Camper model? Does that barrel style have a name? Thanks!
 
In a auto --- Ruger Mark II 5.5" Bull Barrel.

The one I have had is over 20 years old and has seen TENS OF THOUSANDS of rounds and is still a one hole group gun at 25 yards.
 
Any of the original or the latest of the High Standards. Next is the S&W M-41, and then the Ruger Mk II, I don't like the lawyer designed Mk III with the loaded chamber indicator that only a moron could have designed.
For bolt guns, I would go with the CZ bolt action .22s. They are excellent for the money.
On Semi-auto .22s, I would go with the excellent Thompson Center R-55 models - steel receiver and screwed in barrel. Pricey initially but cheaper in the end than a Ruger 10/22 which is fine if you want to tinker. But don't buy the Ruger 10/22 when you can buy a 10/22 design steel receiver and the all the innards are available from other companies that specialize in the 10/22 design.
Just my 22 cents (its inflation and the U.S. dollar is circling the drain!).
 
High Standard

What is this Ruger kit? :
Installed Majestic Arms kit and cleaning is a snap.

I liked the Ruger II I bought my son, but didn't like cleaning or playing with the innards.
 
Ruger Standard series

I bought a Mark 1 Standard in 1979 and had a tremendous amount of fun shooting it for several years until the job started eating into my free time. Now that I'm retired I took it to the range again and it's still one of the best and most enjoyable pistols I ever shot. It actually makes me look like good shot.
 
I like the ideas here but don't leave out the Sig its a good little .22 picked one up for the wife and yes it's in pink but the accuracy has surprised me.
 
Beretta 87.

It's eaten everything I've fed it reliably. :D
 

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Have had quite a few 22 pistols. Bought a Walther 22 for my son. It is the most fun, ergonimic 22 I've ever shot. Double to single action too. Plus its fairly light unlike some others and came with a laser which is actually pretty cool. Best "bang for the buck" IMO.
 
Spyvie, I think you convinced me. I'm going to get a Buckmark but I can't decide which version I want. Now a Camper with a Tactical Solutions barrel like yours is the front runner! I love that look.
 
For something handy, a lot of the current autoloaders are pretty heavy.

I'm a big fan of the S&W 422/622 for their lightweight and accuracy.

Have you considered a revolver? For handiness while hiking trails, plinking, and small game hunting, I'd find a nice used single action, say a Ruger Single Six or Bearcat, or a clean S&W Model 18 or a 317, for a crisp Double Action.
 
Ruger Mark III

...and here is why.

I just went to the range yesterday and everytime I shoot it it gets more accurate. I've had it for acouple of months and put about 2000 through it and it is just a solid, awesome gun.

I have the KMKIII512, which is the stainless 5.5" bull barrel and i'm ringing plates at 50yds nearly every shot and at 75yds about 6/10, I'm impressed with that.

You'll hear the banter of II vs III and the only real thing I hear is the loaded chamber inticator is samall and can get gunked. I haven't had it happen and I think anyone who is religious about cleaning their guns as I am won't either. Also, I feel the mag release on the frame behind the trigger is a big improvement and much more natural for auto shooters.

Assemby/disassembly...took it apart once and it was a pain but I will trust the old timers that tell me it only gets easier with age and repitition. I know I will always have this gun. Like my S&W 638, it's a non-trader/seller. You pick either up and you know it's going to last a lifetime and then some.
 
Hi-Standard-
You should be able to find a used one with a good bore for a good price. Wonderful shooter and a great pistol for introducing new shooters to the sport.

My old Model B
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Tinpig
 
Spyvie, I think you convinced me. I'm going to get a Buckmark but I can't decide which version I want. Now a Camper with a Tactical Solutions barrel like yours is the front runner! I love that look.

I know exactly what you mean! This is the one that did that for me.

http://lundestudio.com/others.html#buckmark-tacsol-aac

buckmark-tacsol-left-full.jpg
 
Spyvie, you're evil! Now I know I'm going with the setup you have. I like your grips better but it still has the 'look' I like.
 
Just to add to the confusion, the Walther P22 I bought a few months ago has had a thousand or so rounds thru it, no stovepipes, no failure to feed, and for my money it's VERY accurate. I"m not such a great shooter but I can get all ten rounds inside a six inch circle at 60 feet.. my S&W snubbie can't hit the side of a barn at 30 feet (normal for a snubbie I"m sure) but the Walther shoots straight as a string and works flawlessly. I'm a big man and the grip on the p22 is a bit small, but I"m also a lefty and the ambi mag release and ambi safety make me happy.

The little Bersa Firestorm is also a wonderful .22 auto, although I haven't got as many rounds through it. Everyone who sees it says "what's that?" so I figure not many have heard of it, but it's a Walther PP licensed knockoff from Argentina.. the Thunder is their bigger bore version.

I"m convinced the P22 had flaws originally and the company has addressed most of them.. the one I have is fabulous.

And about the Ruger mark series? Big, heavy, long barrels on most of them.. they're not even close to dropping in a pocket. They do shoot very very straight, but mine weighs twice as much as my Walther, at LEAST.
 
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