Which .22 LR Pistol for a New Shooter?

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Grampy

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Ladies and Gents,

Thanks to the advice on this forum, I have decided to go with a .22LR pistol as my very first handgun instead of going with a bigger caliber 1st. My intial need is to get formal training and lots of practice before graduating to a more potent self defense weapon.

Now, I would ask for your input on a beginners .22LR---I have looked at the following guns online, and want to narrow down the list prior to finding a place where I can rent the guns or at least handle them for fit/feel:

Some info: Budget for this is under $400, I have small to medium hands, and may want one that I can mount a red dot scope onto, but at the very least, some kind of bright sights. My corrected vision is not 20-20.

Browning Buckmark----which one to select?
http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/family.asp?webflag_=006B&catalog_=B

Ruger MKIII----Which one?
http://www.ruger-firearms.com/Firea...e Autoloading&famlst=55&variation=Bull Barrel

S&W 22A---Again---which one?
http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/...=10001&catalogId=11101&categoryId=15710&top=Y

Sig-Sauer Mosquito
http://www.sigsauer.com/Products/ShowCatalogProduct.aspx?categoryid=30

Beretta Neos--not too fond of styling, though.
https://www.shopberetta.com/e2wShop...0&parentLink=2100000084:3100001364:3100001520

Walther P22
http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/...ategory_rn=43326&top_category=43326&training=

I liked the CZ-Kadet, since I may choose that maker when I go for a bigger cal. gun, but the Kadet is a little higher than my price range.
http://www.cz-usa.com/product_detail.php?id=34

Any good ones I've missed? Any kind of feedback is appreciated.

Grampy
 
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I own a Ruger MkII Government Target so, of course, I'm biased. I really like the gun and prefer it over your other choices. It's all a matter of what you like best I guess. There are scores of aftermarket parts that you can add to a Ruger to make it a better, more accurate shooter as well. I would go stainless, heavy barrel and adjustable sights. The rest, in my opinion, is purely styling. The Buckmark is also a nice gun as well, It just doesn't fit me as well as the Ruger. I think it's a toss up between these two. My vision is not 20/20 either, so I added some hi viz sights - really easy.
 
Ruger Mark III: This is the 22lr I went with. It's very accurate and feeds any ammo I give it. It can be mounted with a red-dot or bright nightsites. I recommend bright nightsights because if your learning in anticipation of moving onto a defensive handgun it's difficult to mount a red-dot aspecially if your going to carry it. These have a reputation of being tough to field strip. The first time it took me about two hours but i lear'nt all the tricks and the second time had it taked-down, cleaned and put back together in under 15 minutes. My times have steadely improved since then. Mags and aftermarket accesories are plentiful and I got a new 4 1/2 in bull barrel model for 250 out the door about three months ago.


Buckmark: pretty much same as Ruger but i have heard it's not as complicated your first time cleaning it. Accurate, reliable, large aftermarket and can mount red-dot.

Mosquito: looks great and I believe can be mounted with red-dot but their have been many reports of unreliable and ammo sensitive models. I don't know if this has been settled. Also not much aftermarket available and more expensive, probably $400-450 but not positive.

Berreta Neo: I don't any expierience with these but you can mount a red-dot and it's around $250. All I have heard form others with them are they are accurate and reliable.

Cadet: Again no expierience but I believe you can get a defensive caliber handgun and have a 22lr barrel to swap with. This will set you over your limit though.


I personally would look at a Ruger or Buckmark. The have great reputations, been around forever with long user life, and plenty of support for their users.


ETA: If your going to go with a CZ as a defensive handgun I would really look into a way to get your defensive handgun with the 22lr adapter. It allows you to do so much more training with your fighting gun, really engraining sight alighnment, grip, trigger and other skills that are beneficial
 
A Buckmark was my first firearm, about a year ago. It's a fine gun for the money. My only objection is that it's not suitable for serious target shooting because you have to separate the sight rail from the barrel to field strip it, so you have to sight it in again after every cleaning, unless you just clean from the muzzle.
 
I'm partial to the Buck Mark since that is what I have. Love that gun. Fun to shoot, although any .22 is probably fun to shoot. Probably can't go wrong the either the Buck Mark or the Ruger.
 
I'd go for a Buckmark or a Ruger Mk.III, solely because you can get an Ultimate Cliploader. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65jHazxWXCA

Specific model shouldn't matter a whole lot. Either one can have a red dot mounted on, and I believe fiber optic sights are available for both as well.
 
Mosquito: looks great and I believe can be mounted with red-dot but their have been many reports of unreliable and ammo sensitive models. I don't know if this has been settled. Also not much aftermarket available and more expensive, probably $400-450 but not positive.
Click to expand...

This pistol also has a TERRIBLE trigger when compared some of the other choices, such as the Rugers or the Buckmarks.

-
Jim
 
Dave, I never take the rail off of the bbl on either of my Buckmarks. One is a Camper,and one is a std.
 
Buck Mark Target.

BUT, as long as you're looking, by all means keep your eyes peeled for a used Smith & Wesson M41, the best American-made .22 target pistol. (Forget the lesser S&W models.) The 41 has a far superior trigger, balance, and take-down. There are still deals to be found.
 
Sig Trailside was not in your list. i suggest it cause it has a built-in rail, shoots 98+% as well as and uses the same mags as a S&W 41--it is way too accurate for the price! it is closer to the weight of a buckmark; much lighter than a mk ll or lll. $400 used [they are not in production] is about as low as they go.
 
Having shot all of them, I'd scratch everything but the Ruger and Browning.

I think you get more for your money from the Brownings. I'd go with the Hunter model because of the long barrel, fiber optic sight, looks, and price.
 
+1 for the Ruger or the Browning. I bought a S&W .22A once, it shoots fine but it is no where near the quality of the Ruger or Browning. The only plus to the .22A is that the base model comes w/ rails to mount your red dot...
 
Grampy;

I notice that all your selections are semi-auto's. T'were me, I'd seriously consider the Ruger Single-Six, single action revolver.

It's in budget. It's usually found with a .22 magnum cylinder also, which is nice down the road. And because of the single action operating system, is usually considered to be less prone to neophyte operating error.

All of the above being said, I'll throw a vote to the Beretta NEOS that is among your picks. You will not find an easier to clean .22 semi-auto pistol. Mine's certainly decently accurate and reliable. Extra magazines are cheap enough through CDNN at $10.00 each.

900F
 
Thanks for all the excellent tips~

KindOfBlued---"I think you get more for your money from the Brownings. I'd go with the Hunter model because of the long barrel, fiber optic sight, looks, and price.
"

I know getting the longer barrel can help with accuracy, but will that hinder my development once I get a higher caliber gun next for defence, likely with a 4 to 5 in barrel instead of the 7+ in.?

Thanks
 
Barrel length only gives you a longer sight radius, not more "accuracy" per se. A long sight radius does make it easier to learn on though, since aiming mistakes are more apparent. You'd probably be better off learning the fundamentals on a gun with a decently long sight radius, and it's not too much of an issue to move to a shorter gun later on.

Oh, for your next gun, I recommend Truglo TFO sights on it. They have fiber optics and tritium inserts, so the dots are visible, and the same color, in any lighting.

Most night sights just have a tiny tritium insert in the middle of a white dot, and it can be hard to see the glowy part in the dark, if your vision's bad. The fiber optic is 2-3 times the diameter of a typical tritium insert, and the whole thing glows about as brightly. Much, much easier to see. I can take a photo later, if you want, comparing the two.
 
Thanks, Ryan----so I gues the wise choice would be to NOT get the Bucmark Hunter that already has fiber optic sights, if I intend to get the TROGLO TFO sights?? I'd be paying twice for hi vision sights right???
 
Truglo TFO sights aren't available for Buckmarks. In fact, they're only available for Glocks, Sigs, H&K USP standard (no compact or tactical), Kimber 1911s, and XDs.

They also aren't necessary on a practice, non-defense gun. I'd get the one with the fiber optic sights already on it, so you can get used to them. Actually, it's likely the factory fiber optic sights are Truglo brand, just not TFOs. Unless you have a range that allows you to turn off the lights and practice in the dark, you'd never miss the lack of tritium illumination.

I only meant the Truglo TFOs would be good sights for your second handgun.
 
Thanks CB900F----"And because of the single action operating system, is usually considered to be less prone to neophyte operating error."

First decision I made was to go with a semi-auto. on this, and I noticed most of the ones I looked at say they are SA.
 
I'm feeling no love for the P22 here :( I've got one that I run with my silencer. Lots of fun, fits my big hand very well for a small gun. Did find a website and downloaded the WALTHER p22 Bible. Did the recommended polish on the parts that can eat up the slide, and has been working flawlessly, even with subsonics. Has rails and all kinds of accessories available. Almost like the 10/22 of pistols.
 
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