Which .22 pistol to buy?

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HJP

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Browning, Ruger, S&W, or other for plinking?
Leaning towards the Browning as you can buy longer barrel from Tactical Solutions without permit, as not true for Ruger. Help!!:confused:
 
I just got through cleaning my three Ruger 22's. (MK III 22/45, MK II, Single Six) Guess which one I'd recomend?

Although I admit, I don't have any experience with the others, but I'd be willing to bet I'd like them too.

Oh. Add the Bersa Firestorm to the list. That's a fun little gun too.
 
Contender pistol or Ruger Mark II

Contender pistol or Ruger Mark II
 
You can't go wrong with either a Ruger or a Browning. I have a Ruger Mark II 678G and a Browning Buckmark Plus. My wife prefers the Browning because it has a shorter barrel and has the mag release on the frame rather than on the butt. From an accuracy and performance perspective they are both great shooters.
 
BuckMarks and Rugers are almost always recommended, other guns get recommended hit or miss. There's a reason for that, they're both time tested reliable and accurate. I shoot a BM but I wouldn't sneeze at a Ruger. If this is your first 22 handgun, then either one is a good place to start. No offense to the other poster but I can't really recommend a Trailside, and I own one.
 
May I suggest a revolver. 22lr isn't exactley a good cartrige for a auto loader IMO.
 
I have had a 22/45 a P22, and a MKIII Hunter. With the exception of the P22, I've enjoyed them. However, for pure plinking fun, I seem to go to my Firestorm in 22lr most often
 
I'll go against the crowd and say my S&W 22a has been dirt cheap and a load of fun.
 
I just bought a .22. My advice is to got to gun shops and hold them and point them. That will probably decide for you.

I had an open mind, but the ruger felt the best in my hands (which are larger). Some were just plan ol tiny. I liked the BM and Ruger the best. I chose the metal frame Ruger Hunter. The 22/45 is a poly frame and may have issues and is thinner and does not have the grip options for upgrading, at least not yet.

I was told by others to stay with a Ruger or BM for reliability. P22 looks fun, but is small.

If I had to recommend one, I would say the 5 1/2 inch bull barrel metal frame Ruger. Mark II or III. But there is not a right answer as it is personal.
 
I'm enjoying all the replies and the comments. Has anyone bought a barrel from Tactical Solutions ? Reports are that they are even more accurate than stock Browning or Ruger barrels. Soooo many choices.
Thanks for the replies.
 
Well, I'm partial to the Rugers. I have a 5.5" slabside barrel Mark II (kind of an oddball model - MK512GCL) with an Ultradot. It's a bunch of fun - very accurate and reliable (well, the reliable part came after a trip back to Ruger to repair a stovepipe issue - it's been perfect ever since). The only other .22 I have is a great, old S&W Model 17 - not a fair comparison to the pistols you're interested in, though.

The advantages of the Ruger include very good customer service, a bunch of aftermarket stuff and lots "community" knowledge. As far as I can tell, they run pretty much forever. I do hear regular complaints about the grip angle and disassembly. In my limited experience, it took me about two tries to get the disassembly figured out - piece of cake after that. The Glock-like (as opposed to 1911-like) grip angle on the metal guns bugs some folks (not me - I'm a Glock guy, too).

That's my 2 cents - you certainly can't go wrong with the Ruger or Browning.

-SlimeDog

PS: I'm not sure what you mean about needing a "permit" for longer Ruger barrel from TS. Can you explain?
 
I've got a Walther P-22. I bought it because it was small, light, and looked cool; I wish i had not. It's not a bad gun, it is just not a great gun like i think you will find with the Ruger or Browning.
 
Slimedog--.22 Ruger

Check the Tatical Solutions web site. The upper receiver is serialized on the ruger, so TS has to do the same, thus the FFL dealer purchase. Not so with Browning.
Thats the way i got it anyway.:confused:
 
rented Ruger Mk II, III, S&W 41 then Buckmark hunter. At the end, I went with Buckmark for following reasons. The grip angle felt the best in my hand. The accuracy was dead on and lastly the price was right.

So far shot about 1000 rounds through it with only a couple of misfires in the beginning due to ammo issue. Last 500 rounds went through without any issues.
 
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