What is the best 22 cal. pistol on the market in terms of fit and finish, reliablity?

[Master Blaster]

For under $800 as serious target pistol with really good fit and finish.

S&W model 41 I know about 50 regular bullseye pistol competitiors that use them.
Ruger KMK 512 is a good plinker I like mine.

Over $1500 Hammerli and walther target pistols.

The Baikal IZH is an olympic grade pistol for under $500 but is lacking in the beauty department.

 

[Kahr carrier]

MK-2.

 

[popeye]

I've got a Browning "Field" model (5.5 HB, adj. sights and integral scope rail). Also a HB S&W 41, and a S&W 17. I like em all, but the I shoot the 41 the best.

 

[Shmackey]

The question was which is the *best* in terms of fit, finish, and reliability. I had a Ruger Comp. Slabside, and it was very good, but it is not in the same room as "the best." Neither is any Buckmark (which I also like). The baseline answer is a Hammerli 208 and then you can branch out to Morini, Walther, the new Hammerli, and the other Euroguns. Bring $1500 and a steady hand.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

Ala Dan is the only other person whom ever mentions the model 18 smith--that feller smart

Hey, I have one, too. I love mine (as well as my Micro Buckmark and my Old Model Single Six).

 

[V-fib]

S&W 422 6"bbl accurate,reliable,easy to clean and dang fun to shoot.

 

[curt]

HSSMITH,
I agree with most of your assesssment of the buckmark. Mine is very accurate, fits my hand like a glove and it's purty too! However the experience i've had as well as a couple of other who shoot buckmarks at my range is that it tends to get unreliable after it gets dirty it starts FTFing. Is there anything you've done or speacial lube you're using. I don't like having to clean my .22s after every shoot.

 

[Chris Rhines]

For best accuracy for the money, the IZH-35 really can't be beat. My club will likely be buying a few in the near future to replace our Rugers and Buckmarks. It ain't pretty, but it shoots like pistols three times as expensive.

The Smith & Wesson Model 41 is pretty, but IMO it's not worth the asking price. $800+ for no adjustable trigger, substandard sights, and so-so balance? Nah.

If you have the money and the desire for a top-end euro target pistol, I really like my Pardini SP.

- Chris

 

[twoblink]

http://www.feinwerkbau.de/

Feinwerkbau; said to be one of the smoothest machines made on the face of the earth..

Shot my friend's, same hole, for all who shot it...

I'd put it above a Hammerli...

I have a Ruger 22/45, reliable, easy to shoot, accurate. It doesn't give me warm fuzzies though..

That's my "take the girls out to shoot" gun; no recoil. The controls are where you'd expect them to be unlike the MkII's, (mag release is on the bottom) I want to teach controls to new shooters, and so I didn't want a MKII.

Buckmark is a good one as well.

I would have bought a Trailside, but they are not PRK approved.. :banghead:

 

[twoblink]

BTW,

Feinwerkbau's are the choice of the champions... I believe that almost every year, the competition shooting championships are won by people shooting Feinwerkbau's, and not Hammerli's...

 

[RCL]

For a pistol, the new Sig looks pretty nice.
For a revolver, you can't beat the Freedom Arms.

 

[Chris Rhines]

Twoblink - The Feinwerkbrau AW93 is a work of art, but it's a really new gun and there's not much street-level feedback yet. If it's as good as their air pistols, then it'll be something to see.

As for the ISSF pistol competitors, by far the most common ISU Standard Pistol I've seen is the good old Walther GSP. Hammerlis and Pardinis make an occasional appearence as well, along with a handful of real exotics (Morinis, Uniques, FAS, etc.) In Air Pistol, Feinwerkbrau dominates, although Steyr has a healthy slice of that market. Free Pistol is ruled by the Russian Toz35, which has taken more podium slots than any other free pistol in the past twenty years.

If you're going to drop the coin on a euro-style target pistol, really any of the big names will give you your money's worth.

- Chris

 

[YodaVader]

I have the Ruger MKII and for the price paid I feel it is hard to beat. Accuracy is excellent. Trigger was done by Clark Custom Guns - out the box the trigger is not very well suited for competition style shooting - that is , one -handed shooting.

Also have the S&W 41. Very good out of the box pistol. Pretty good trigger. Easy barrel changes. Easy takedown. Again , excellent accuracy.

For the higher end competition 22's. A friend of mine used a Pardini to win the Camp Perry 22 Pistol Championship a few years back. So , I would say the pistol is quite a good one. He now has added the Hammerli to his collection.

 

[Slow]

Ruger MKII with CCI higher end stuff....not Blazers

 

[Kahr carrier]

MK-2.

 

[searcher]

None better than the Smith M41. I've had one for 7 years. Excellent accuracy and fit and finish are a notch above all the others.

 

[Frenchy]

I'm a Wheelgunner, so I'll got with my Pre-17 K22 Masterpiece. A lot more accurate than I am!

 

[Soap]

The Mk IIs, Buckmarks, S&W 41s, etc. just simply cannot cut it when compared to a top end target pistol like a Hammerli, Walther, or Pardini. My favorite so far has been the Pardini SP.

 

[makarov]

I have an old Browning Medalist (1962 vintage) if you can find one at a reasonable price they are beautiful guns.

Also reccommend the Smith and Wesson K-22 ( Model 17) I recently bought a 17-4 and am pretty happy with it.

Have a Ruger Slabsides too. It is nice, but not as nice as those listed above.

Next purchase will be the IZH-35m. They are fugly, but accurate as can be. Beauty is as beauty does...

- Makarov.

P.S. I will eventually get a Kadet kit for my CZ-85. You can never have too many .22's....

 

[hksw]

IMO, the build quality of the MkIIs and Buckmarks are pretty good for guns under$400, at least from what I've seen from my samples. Certainly my 10" MkII doesn't look as nice as a Bullseye Target (rosewood) but its fit and finish seems to be as good (before the takedown lever slot gets dinged up with a screwdriver).

Only problem I've had (after break in) was with a Buckmark Standard. Top rib came loose causing misfires as the bolt/slide was misaligned with the breach. Bent in some of the teeth of the crown shaped washers ans loctited to bolts and no more problems.

The Hämmerlis are nice.

No US importer for Feinwerkbau that I know of.

 

[caz223]

The best in fun/dollar without going crazy and spending $1000+ on a .22 pistol, I think would be a smith 41.
I shot a really old Hi-standard, and they are not bad, either.

 

[Bullet Bob]

S&W K 22


High Standard Trophy (Hamden CT model)


1948 S&W K22 with tapered barrell (5-screw)



S&W model 41


S&W Model 18


Colt Officer's Model Match (1957)


Colt Woodsman (1969)


S&W Model 617, 10 shot, aluminum cylinder (top gun)


Can you tell I like .22's? For about $300.00, a used S&W Model 17 or 18 is a screamin' deal, in my book. For that price, you can get one in near new condition, and the fit and finish are fantastic. For new shooters, I think revolvers are the way to go, but many experienced shooters do not share that opinion.
http://www.fototime.com/848D8825A5458E8/standard.jpg

 

[hksw]

Whoops, forgot about Nygord (importing Feinwerkbau).

 

[Detritus]

High Standard Trophy (Hamden CT model)

BoB you're KILLING me here!!!! ~drool~

too bad the Texas/houston guns seem to be absolute trash!! sheesh if i could get one with REAL High Standard quality from that place (i live an hour from the head-office/factory) i'd be al over it.

but having learned to shoot handguns using a 68 vintage Citation.... i'm afraid i expect anything with "High Standard" on it to be just that made to a HIGH STANDARD!

and on the question asked, if you don't mind it being used a Hamden or Hartford made High Standard is getting up there amoung the top of the line fit finish and accuracy wise.
though if you think a Buckmark is "magazine picky" you do NOT want to lose the factory mag in a HS! but since the factory mags are well-built this isn't much of an issue for most folks.

 

[Mastrogiacomo]

I had considered a Walther P22 and still may as I hear good things about the gun but I think I might lean to the S&W 617 first. I did use the Ruger Mark II -- great gun but I didn't like the mag release and wouldn't want to assemble the gun after cleaning....