Which .22 auto?

[Malice]

So my 21st is less than 2 weeks away, and I finaly decided not to go the cool-factor route (fullsize 9mm) and instead go take the practical plan of action (.22 auto).

I figure I will be able to shoot a .22 about ten times as much as a 9mm, and I could use the extra practice. I will later get a sub-compact something or other for carry use, but my first handgun needs to be a .22

I have obtained a $100 gift card to Bass Pro, which is the closest sporting-goods/gun store to me. I was looking today, and they have a Ruger 24/25MK3 for $300, and a Browning Buckmark for the same price.

I know these both have a reputation as solid, classic guns. On first glance I like the look of the Ruger a lot more. The Buckmark seems cheap to me, and the Ruger seems more solid.

However, I dont know a whole lot about these guns. Which one would you buy? What are some pros and cons of each?

Another option is the Beretta Neos or the S&W autos, both ringing in at $250. I dont particularly like the looks of either of these guns (plasticy and cheap), but if you own one and think its phenomonal, tell me about it.

 

[igpoobah]

Either the buckmark or the ruger will be a great shooter. I like the looks of the ruger better as well...

 

[cpark_12]

I've heard the walther p22 is a great gun for the price. $285 around south GA

 

[Dienekes]

I started with a Ruger Standard Auto in 1959. Don't have that first one, unfortunately--but have made up for it since. Very hard to beat them for the long term.

My personal preference is for the steel guns with short barrel and fixed sights. Once zeroed you are in business for good. If you want a better than stock (or factory target) trigger have a Volquartsen hammer/sear set and steel trigger installed down the road.

My preference runs to the pre-Mk III guns, but that's just me. If you could find a nice older one reasonably priced, you're in business.

BTW your thinking is right on. There will always be centerfire pistols out there.

 

[jdc1244]

I have a 22/45 that’s a pure joy to shoot, I can recommend that and as noted you really can’t go wrong with the guns listed so far.

An the nice thing is you’ll always want to shoot your .22, regardless of how many centerfires you own.

 

[Trope]

I think a .22LR auto pistol is a great idea. I got mine after my 9mm, but I should have done it the other way around (maybe then I wouldn't have developed that flinch...). It has really helped my shooting, because I can focus on the basics without worrying about recoil, or cost.

I have a Buckmark Camper that I got at Academy for $219. It's a fine pistol, and very accurate. I did replace the top rail with a Tac-sol one, as the stock plastic one is lacking.

I don't own, but have shot several Rugers, and they're also very nice. Go with the one that feels right, I doubt you'll have regrets with either choice.

 

[earplug]

If you don't have access to A range that has any type of competition, get the one that fits you.
If you have access to A range that has competition .22 shooting, find out what works best for what they do and compete.
Check out various Bulleye league shooting clybs or perhaps metalic shooting sports.
Don't be afraid of spending roughly $1000.00 for a pistol that will serve you well for the next thirty/forty years.

 

[cslinger]

Really a Buckmark or a Ruger will treat you just fine but I am in the Ruger camp personally. Of course that Mark III with loaded chamber indicator chaps my......well you get the point.

So my suggestion is Ruger Mark 1, Mark II, 22/45 or Browning Buckmark.

Chris

 

[mballai]

Go Ruger!

 

[sammy]

The Ruger is a much better choice IMO. Much more reliable and solid than the Buckmark. Keeping in mind, both are just target pistols and will serve you well.

 

[cslinger]

Much more reliable and solid than the Buckmark.

Now I am a Ruger guy but this is going a bit far. The Buckmark is a very good solid .22 in the same field as the Ruger offerings.

Try both and determine what works for you. Now the Walther P22....well my mother always said if you cannot say something nice.................................

 

[greener]

Ruger MKIII/MKII, Buck Mark and S&W 22A all have strong points. All will do a fine job. I think the P22 is a couple of notches below these in quality and accurcy.

 

[boomer1911a1]

To amplify what Greener stated:

I have no idea what Bass Pro stocks, but I would rank the choices thus:

1. Ruger
2. S&W/Browning (tie)
3. High Standard
4. Beretta NEOS
5. SIG Trailside

NO-GOs:
1. SIG Mosquito
2. Walther P22

I love Rugers. Many will whine about the difficulty of dis-/assembly of the Mk. III. Don't let that put you off. The thing will come with clear instructions, and if you need further help, the internet abounds with advice. Yes, it will be tight. Yes, you might need a plastic/rubber mallet for the first few break-downs. You will be rewarded with excellent ergonomics, tight accuracy, and durability that will see you teach your grandchildren to shoot with it.

Now, about removing that Loaded Chamber Indicator...

 

[Slugless]

I have a Buckmark & a Mark II. I like the grips on the Buckmark better but the Ruger I just like it better. I'll pick up & play with the Ruger but won't with the Buckmark. Good thing they aren't children.

There's a good print article on assembly of the Ruger MkII, I could scan it & upload but it's probably on the web somewhere. Both the factory instructions & the article aren't comprehensive enough but the factory instructions aren't bad.

Boomer's right, don't let the assembly scare you although I did curse some during my first one. Lesson learned, get a rubber mallet & don't be afraid to smack it.

 

[JKimball]

When I was in your shoes I also narrowed it down to Ruger and Browning. I ended up getting a Ruger MkII .22/45 and have been very happy with it. I don't especially like the polymer frame of the .22/45, but I do prefer the controls.

I think I ended up getting it over the Buckmark because of the price.

 

[bannockburn]

Avoid the Walther P22; I bought one for my son and is severely lacking in quality and functionality. Go with either the Ruger or the Buckmark. Either of these guns will serve you well for a very long time.

 

[shooter429]

I gotta dissent here. Buckmarks have it all

I have had several of the Rugers and Buckmarks. I can honestly say that the Browning are the better gun and better value, combining excellent looks, performance and price. I have owned several of both, and I gotta tell ya the Buckmarks have been considerably easier for me to shoot really well. The triggers are light, crisp with little overtravel. The URX grip fit perfectly. And the Buckmarks are 100% reliable with all CCI ammo (what I use most).

I use the Rugers from time to time, but they do choke and the triggers are heavier and coarser, so I do not think they are nearly the total package when compared to Browning. They are much better than the pee 22.

Shooter429

 

[ArmedBear]

My 22/45 with a heavy barrel is very accurate, ridiculously reliable (2000 rounds between cleanings sometimes and it still feeds every round -- groups just open up as fouling cakes around the chamber face).

Rock solid, good shooter. My trigger is silky smooth, too. All bone-stock.

Not the prettiest, and you will have to be patient the first few times you take it apart and reassemble it. Not hard but you have to RTFM and follow it.

 

[kingpin008]

I have a Ruger MK III Hunter and a Walther P22. Lemme do a quick rundown, hopefully it'll make my post a little less convoluted.

MK III - First off, this gun will give you the potential for greater accuracy than the P22. It will also run you more. I paid about $450 for mine, while the P22 cost me well under $300.

That being said, I shoot my P22 WAY, WAY more than the Ruger. For extended shooting sessions, the Ruger can get a bit weighty compared to the P22. The P22 is much lighter, and not as accurate. But for a plinker, it's AWESOME.

Those who constantly bag on the P22 really get on my nerves. The majority of them, I've found, haven't ever owned one, or owned one that was a little buggy but they never bothered to see what the problem was. There are a number of "fixes" you can do to make the P22 more reliable, but they are by no means necessary on all P22's.

Also - P22's are probably the most commonly suppressed .22 semi autos out there. Seriously, do a search on youtube, they're all over the place. And the fact that they're usually found for a little under half the price of the Ruger is great if you're looking for a gun to suppress - because of the cost of the ATF taxes and can. Never mind you'd have to get a complete new upper for the Ruger if you wanted to have it suppressed down the line. That or buy an integrally suppressed one to begin with.


So long story short - they're both great guns, for completely different reasons. Take your time and rent both, if you're able to. And then sit back and ask yourself what you're looking for in a .22. Do you want something super-accurate and all-steel, or are you more inclined for a handy, lightweight and versatile little plinker to unwind with?


ALSO - something that turns some folks off of the Ruger, at least initially, is that takedown can be a B**CH if you don't know what you're doing. Hell, even if you do know, sometimes it makes you wanna tear your hair out. If that's an issue, go with the P22. Much easier to take down and clean.

 

[varoadking]

Those who constantly bag on the P22 really get on my nerves. The majority of them, I've found, haven't ever owned one...

I bought one NIB one - sold the POS. About a year later I decided to buy another one NIB - sold the POS. They are pure crap, IMHO...pure crap...

I have 5 Ruger MKII's in various configurations (some with Tactical Solutions Pac-Lite, and Volquartsen LLV uppers), a S&W 422, and a SiG Trailside. Any of these is a fine choice in a .22 autoloader. Been thinking about the Browning 5.5 Field, but can't seem to find one out there...

 

[greener]

Those who constantly bag on the P22 really get on my nerves. The majority of them, I've found, haven't ever owned one, or owned one that was a little buggy but they never bothered to see what the problem was.

I own one. It went back to S&W at less than 1k rounds for excessive slide wear, which they said was normal, but they thought the barrel needed replacing. Gotta hand it to S&W, they have excellent customer service, even if they missed the problem.

There are a number of "fixes" you can do to make the P22 more reliable, but they are by no means necessary on all P22's.

On return, I disassembled the pistol, polished the trigger bar ears and used loctite to get the frame screws to go from loose to tight. These are fixes, not to improve performance, but to keep the pistol from self-destructing. I'm waiting for Walther to get around to sending me another extractor so I can peen one and fix the problem of casings being ejected in my face.

The P22 is light, small, not terribly accurate and is inferior in materials of construction and design to the Ruger, BM and 22A. I shoot the P22 regularly because I'm determined to learn how to shoot it accurately. My wife won't shoot it because she doesn't like the shell casings hitting her in the face. It is fun to shoot, but it doesn't meet the standards set by my other semiautos.

My Buck Mark Standard came with one magazine and no optics rail. It would cost another $60 to add what came standard with my Rugers and 22A. The BM is an excellent pistol. Good trigger, accurate and seems to be less sensitive to ammo than my Rugers and 22A. I wasn't impressed with the grip until I started shooting the Standard. If mood and price meet, I'd buy either a Bullseye or Target model.

I have a Ruger MKIII Hunter and MKIII 22/45. Both are excellent, reliable and accurate pistols. I thought the out-of-the-box triggers were good. Rugers have the advantage of tons of aftermarket tweaks. I took advantage of this and replaced the trigger and sear with the VQ upgrades. The triggers are now excellent.

The 22A is a semiauto that deserves more attention than it gets. I bought mine for $175 with a 5.5" barrel and have added a 7" barrel. So, for the price of the Buck Mark, I have a pistol with two barrels. It shoots very accurately and has been quite reliable through 15k rounds. It is the easiest to field strip. There isn't much in the aftermarket except grips and barrels.

I'd give my Ruger Hunter and edge of the rest of my .22 semiautos and I'd probably give the Rugers a slight edge over the other brands. However, the Ruger, BM and 22A will all do very well and "best" would be a matter of personal preference.

 

[SHOTGUNJOE]

I just inherited a Ruger 22/45. I like it and I'm having fun with it. Granted, like you, I'm also a beginner at semi's. Perfect gun to familiarize me with semi's before getting my CCW.

Lots of luck making the decision that's right for you.

 

[yesit'sloaded]

+1 on the 22/45. When you get bored of open sights you can put a cheap BSA red dot on it. My friends came with two magazines, a lock, and all you need to mount a scope other than the rings and actual scope.

 

[Ghost Tracker]

Buckmark...without a doubt, the best choice. I echo the "avoid the P22" advice. I really wanted it to be a much better pistol than it is.

I've owned (almost) all models of Ruger, Browning, High Standard, S&W, (CZ 75B & Marvel 1911 .22 conversion) .22 pistols. I finally settled on the Buckmark with Ruger very close behind.

 

[Rex B]

I have a S&W 22A. I don't like the stock grips, and I don't like the plastic receiver. If there is a version with a metal receiver, I'd opt for that. Wooden target grips are $75. I don't like the little recoil buffer that has to be replaced every some many rounds. Is that common to other pistols?
But it has good sights, good balance, and a full-length Weaver rail standard. And it's $200.