Which .22LR handgun should I buy

Which .22LR would you choose and why

  • Ruger MK III

    Votes: 37 35.2%

  • Browning Buckmark

    Votes: 39 37.1%

  • Smith and Wesson 617

    Votes: 29 27.6%
  • Total voters
    105
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J

jackslayer

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Sep 12, 2006
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I have narrowed it down to theses three:

Ruger MK III
Browning Buckmark
Smith and wesson 617

For those of you that have shot some or all of these which would you choose if you had to limit yourself to one and why?

It will mostly be used for target shooting/plinking
Thanks
 
I voted for the M617 because I'm a revolver guy but I also own a Ruger Mark II that I like to shoot often. I like the Mark II and would buy one again but I like revolvers better.
 
I can move a golf ball around at 25 yds with my Ruger MkIII - as fast as I can sight and squeeze 10 times. That gets my vote.

-MW
 
Maybe it's just bad luck, but I've never had good experiences with .22 LR semiautomatic pistols. At the very least, they're picky about what ammo they'll work with, but I still had numerous random failures to feed from Ruger Mark IIs and Mark IIIs I've shot. I've also shot a S&W 617 (10-shot version), and I think it's just dandy. I've never shot a Browning Buckmark so I can't comment on it. Of course, others may have had very different experiences, but this has been mine thus far.
 
Buckmark

Just as accurate as the Ruger and a heck of lot easier to take apart and clean. I'm sure the Smith is a fine gun just never handled one.;)
 
I'm a Ruger guy, prefer the Mark II, though.

The Buckmark is a great gun, though. Either of the autoloaders would get my dollar before the Smith and I consider myself a revolver guy. The Smith is $$$$ and not of high enough quality to justify the $$$$ IMHO. If I wanted a Smith revolver, I'd look for an old M17 K22 Masterpiece. The new ones just ain't got the quality vs what they cost.

I've got, but one magazine for my Mk II. Why would I need more? I ain't going to combat with it, just hunt squirrels and plink with it. Magazines are cheap, though, if I did want another one.
 
Ruger MK II (not MK III unless you modify the lawyer stuff) or Browning Buckmark.
 
S&W 617.

It shoots anything you can stuff in the chambers, regardless of brand or short long or long rifle.

No FTF or FTE.

No buying spare magazines.

Still gives you a 10 shot capacity.

Will hold it's value and your kid will use the heck out of it many many years from now.
 
S&W 617.

It shoots anything you can stuff in the chambers, regardless of brand or short long or long rifle.

No FTF or FTE.

No buying spare magazines.

Still gives you a 10 shot capacity.
Click to expand...

+1. I have a 4" 10-shot 617 and a MkIII 5.5. I've also shot a Buckmark. All are good, but my personal preference is for the 617. You can feed the 617 not just long and short...but primer-only ammo as well. Sure, the MkIII and Buckmark will shoot all these, but you're likely to have to manually operate the slide between rounds.

IME, between the Buckmark and Ruger, the Buckmark has the better trigger out of the box, whereas the Ruger's action is easier to tweak and more aftermarket parts are available. "Course, the SA trigger of the 617 beats them both. Ironically, though, if you're likely be shooting in single action mode exclusively, I'd suggest the Ruger or Browning.
 
I have 4 22 pistols, A Ruger MarkI, Smith 41 and 2 Buckmarks. The Smith is by far the finest and most accurate but silly expensive. The Ruger is fine. The Buckmark is the best bang for the buck. (no pun intended)

Is it perfect. Of course not.

If you go w the Buckmark use locklite on the top hex screws. They can shoot loose and that is a fault that can be considered a negative if you are arguing for another brand.
 
Buckmark

Fits like a glove (prefer the fit over the Ruger)
Shoots everything I feed it (including really cheap stuff)
More accurate than almost any other gun I own
 
I own more than a few Rugers and one Browning Buck Mark and soot them often; models from either of those two manufacturers would serve you quite well. I don't share the high opinion of S&W these days, but that's just me.
 
of your choices I chose the Browning. A buddy of mine just got one and it is a very nice little .22. I think his is the camper model.
 
I own all three .22s you mention; a 6" M617, a 7.25" Buckmark Bullseye model, and a Ruger MkII with a 5" bull barrell.

The 617 is incredibly accurate, reliable and fun. I have a Millet SP-1 red dot on it and it shots a ragged hole at 25 yds. The Buckmark is equally accurate, reliable and fun; originally I was going to put another Millet on it ( I really like the SP-1) but I shoot it so well with bare sight I have left it as is. The Ruger is fine; I personally don't are for the grip angle as much. The Ruger's original trigger isn't suitable for fine target shooting; the Buckmark has the best production trigger I have ever shot. Good luck.
 
Leaning towards the 617 and was from the beginning. Just seems to fit my interests more. I like to savor my shots. I like the idea of shooting .22 short, long and long rifle. I also plan on getting a Waltz re-sizing die set and would anticipate better reliability out of a revolver after doing the re-sizing.

Is the 617 the same frame as the 627?
 
You need to buy yourself the 617.

You need one, and they only get more expensive every year. I've owned the Euger MK2 for 19 years now, and I used to own a Buckmark. Four years ago I finally stopped putting it off and bought a 4 inch 10 shot 617.

Now I can hardly walk because I'm busy kicking myself for not doing it years earlier. It's THE nicest .22 handgun I've ever owned, the most fun to shoot, and of course THE most reliable. If you can get it in the gun and close the cylinder, it works. No more magazines to mess with.

If I was in one of those mythical SHTF situations, and was heading out the door with only one single handgun, I'm taking my 617. It has minute of plastic milk jug accuracy at 100 yards with no problem, and squirrel head accuracy at the needed range. It's a fun target/plinking gun that can do double duty as a survival handgun. In 4 years shooting 3 to 4 bulk boxes of Federals a week, not a single malfunction. (I'm retired, so the wifey and I do a lot of shooting.)

Get the 617. If you don't, you'll only regret it later.
 
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