Which .22lr should I buy next?

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chaim

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Years ago I had a Ruger MkII. It was OK, but I much preferred a little drama (recoil and noise) when shooting, and back then 9mm was well under $10 a box. So, while it was cheaper to shoot, it wasn't worth it to me to keep it. I haven't had a .22lr for 10-15 years.

Now with 9mm near $20 a box .22 is a lot cheaper. With the price of ammo, I haven't shot much in years and my skills have degraded. With MD finally having realistic carry permits, and the prospect of regularly carrying in public, I decided I needed to practice a lot more again. After shooting up most of my stored 9mm and .40 and starting to pay an arm and a leg to replace it (spending nearly $100 per range trip is getting expensive on a teachers salary since I'm going at least once a week). So, I finally bought another .22 (a Taurus TX22) and I am loving it. Not just the cheaper practice, but it is simply a fun gun. So now I want another .22 handgun.

I'm having a lot of trouble deciding, so I figured I'd throw it out here and see what your thoughts are.

Part of me is thinking I'd like to go with something that correlates to one of my carry and/or home defense guns, but there are several on my list that aren't (any shooting will carry over to some degree as you are always practicing the fundamentals, and there are some fun guns that don't match up to something I use for defense).

My candidates:
  • S&W 317. I've always wanted a kit gun. I'm not sure I'd ever use it outside the range (I'm much more likely to carry a .357mag or even a 9mm when in the woods), but the idea that it serves a practical purpose appeals to me. At less than 12oz it could make a decent back up gun for my weak hand as well. It has S&W quality, I love revolvers. I do carry a Taurus 856UL at times, a Taurus 85CH (even though the 6 shot 856 "replaced" it, I really love this gun) and a 3" Colt King Cobra new model, and I may get a 3" Taurus Defender, so it can make a cheap small frame trainer that especially matches with my 3" guns. However, a big motivator is cheap shooting, and the $800 this gun would cost could buy a lot of 9mm and .38 (especially when I find the time to reload .38).
  • Taurus 942. I could get the same concept as above but a lot cheaper. I could buy a 2" or 3" (or both to correspond to both my 2" and 3" small frame revolvers), by most reports I've read it is a good gun. However, they are almost impossible to find and it isn't the 317 and when I get something that isn't quite what I want I often regret it (I've wanted a 317 for at least 10 years).
  • Glock 44. I have a Glock 19 and only recently got into Glocks so it would make a great training gun.
  • Ruger Wrangler. I don't have a SA revolver (other than black powder guns) and it would be fun. Any shooting is worthwhile and practicing the fundamentals and this is cheap, but it wouldn't match anything I use for defense.
  • Beretta 92. I have long wanted a 9mm 92 but they aren't cheap, and this would be about half the cost, and be a fun .22. It wouldn't directly correlate to anything I use for defense.
  • CZ Kadet Kit (while they can still be found) for my CZ 75B. I have a full sized 75B, a compact 75B, a P01, and a PCR. I often carry the PCR, I sometimes load up the 75B for home defense, and I'm thinking about getting a laser and light combo to make the P01 my main home defense gun.
 
It depends on what you want to do. As @Remington1911 stated if your interest is purely self defense/concealed carry than something that mimics the handling characteristics of that handgun is ideal for practice. If you are enjoying shooting as a sport then something that is accurate like Ruger or similar semi auto target pistol. Revolvers make great field companions but a good DA/SA .22 revolver is not cheap. I think the Rough Riders and Wranglers are cool but are of novelties for guys with a lot of guns. I don’t see them as rewarding range guns, plinking fun yes but but something that is not going to really improve your shooting skills.
 
chaim said:
My candidates:
  • S&W 317. I've always wanted a kit gun. I'm not sure I'd ever use it outside the range (I'm much more likely to carry a .357mag or even a 9mm when in the woods), but the idea that it serves a practical purpose appeals to me. At less than 12oz it could make a decent back up gun for my weak hand as well. It has S&W quality, I love revolvers. I do carry a Taurus 856UL at times, a Taurus 85CH (even though the 6 shot 856 "replaced" it, I really love this gun) and a 3" Colt King Cobra new model, and I may get a 3" Taurus Defender, so it can make a cheap small frame trainer that especially matches with my 3" guns. However, a big motivator is cheap shooting, and the $800 this gun would cost could buy a lot of 9mm and .38 (especially when I find the time to reload .38).
Click to expand...

Unless you just need a flyweight gun, I'd bump that aluminum alloy cylinder 317 up to an all stainless steel 63.

25 ounces isn't heavy unless you're talking pocket carry guns. And any stainless cylinder should outlast any aluminum cylinder at the locking notches. Not to mention the wear that the cylinder centerpin can cause on the aluminum frame of the gun from long term frequent opening and closing. There's a 642 thread showing that wear somewhere here on THR.

Edit: Here's the thread. https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/my-s-w-model-642-is-wearing-out-possible-fixes.904895/
 
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I still have my first gun, my Ruger Mk. II Target and I still love it.

In my mind, practicing with a 22 to represent a centerfire carry gun doesn't make sense, because the recoil and noise are such a big part of shooting the centerfire. Only possible caveat is that when a fellow is in a situation in which he must shoot for self defense, no amount of recoil or noise is going to bother him.

If it's just about marksmanship, go with a Beeman P17 pellet gun and avoid not only a lot of cost and taxes, but be able to shoot it in your house or garage as well. Even less noise and recoil than a 22LR.
 
wcwhitey said:
It depends on what you want to do. As @Remington1911 stated if your interest is purely self defense/concealed carry than something that mimics the handling characteristics of that handgun is ideal for practice. If you are enjoying shooting as a sport then something that is accurate like Ruger or similar semi auto target pistol. Revolvers make great field companions but a good DA/SA .22 revolver is not cheap. I think the Rough Riders and Wranglers are cool but are of novelties for guys with a lot of guns. I don’t see them as rewarding range guns, plinking fun yes but but something that is not going to really improve your shooting skills.
Click to expand...

When I was at my height playing hand gun games I ran a 1911. 45ACP gets expensive even back then fairly quick. I tried an air gun, but it just ate the CO2. It worked great and was....more or less....a mirror of the gun I ran in the games. Then I went to a GSG 1911, and never looked back. I never ran the numbers but I think it was cheaper over the CO2 gun.
 
wcwhitey said:
I think the Rough Riders and Wranglers are cool but are of novelties for guys with a lot of guns
Click to expand...

Ah, but I do have a fair number of guns (20 or more handguns). It I got the Wrangler it would help as far as practicing fundamentals and improving overall accuracy, but it would be primarily a fun gun.


Kp321 said:
Two recommendations; one of the 1911 22’s such as Colt, GSG or Kimber, Or the SIG 322 which is getting great reviews.
Click to expand...

Ah yes, forgot to put a 1911 on my list. I have a couple in .45 and I love the 1911 platform (though I no longer use guns with a safety for carry or home defense). A couple 1911s are on my list (from cheap to middle price range).

Probably not a 322, I like SIGs and one of my main carry guns is a P365. However, the SIG 322 doesn't appeal to me.

I left out another in addition to the 1911, Probably pretty similar to the 322... the S&W M&P. I have a 1st gen S&W M&P40c that is sometimes carried and I may get a M&P 45 as my home defense gun if I don't use my P01. So, it would work for closer practice, though it isn't the top of the list.
 
excellent post, chaim!

i am a rimfire fan. my quick thoughts:

s&w 317. i had one. i liked its looks and light weight. i sold it because its aluminum cylinder heat binds by 50 range rounds, a known and totally exasperating design flaw.

taurus 942. i had the predecessor 94. its stout trigger pull was absolutely, horrendously impossible. it went away happily and quickly. too bad because i am a fan of taurus centerfire revolvers.

ruger wrangler. i also have ruger single six, ruger bearcat, ruger lcr and heritage roughrider. the wrangler is good. a used (i.e. relatively cheaper) single six is better. bearcat kinda too small to hold to be hugely fun plinking and is expensive. the lcr dao snubbie’s problem is a long trigger reset. since the lcr is designed to be a ccw, and rimfire defensive tactics typically involve a fast ammo dump to center mass, if one neglects its long trigger reset the unhappy result is short-stroking and cylinder lock. the 3” barrel lcr-x with a hammer allowing single action shooting makes the lcr-x more of a (better) kit gun. any lcr 22lr is really expensive now so i cannot say it’s worth the high price. the heritage roughrider is hit or miss. i have a 4.75” model from ten years ago that is actually quite ok as an occasional, inexpensive plinker. last year i bought a newly made 6.5” model to complement it, but it was really poorly fitted and i sold it fast. that said, kygunco now has an online sale for the hrr in 22lr/wmr in either 4.75” or 6.5” barrels for just $90, free shipping to your ffl, after $30 factory rebate.

not on your list but the ruger sr22 semiauto pistol is my most-shot firearm! probably becomes my ccw when old-age infirmity strikes eventually, deeply and permanently.

since you already happily own a taurus tx22, i shouldn’t suggest another semiauto pistol.

for only $90+ffl you cannot really go wrong trying a heritage roughrider revolver from kygunco, maybe the 6.5” barrel to get more out oomph of its 22wmr cylinder.

good luck!
 
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Although the Taurus line is not known for high-quality, I purchased a Taurus TX 22.

Although I did have issues with one of the magazines that came with a pistol, Taurus replaced it, and it works fine and then purchased two additional magazines and I have four great magazines that work with the TX 22 and shoot anything I give it.

Although I was again, uncertain about Taurus, I can honestly say it is probably the most fun plinker to shoot. The fit in my hand is perfect. Go to your local gun shop and hold one and then make your decision.
 
So, usually when I decide to post here it is because I'm having trouble making up my mind. I've been thinking about this for a few weeks to a month (since I got my TX22, and really, before then since this is simply pt. 2 of the decision that brought me to that). Heck, I've thought about adding a .22 and specifically the 317 many times over the years, nearly making a decision but always putting it off. Well...

Today on my break at work I started searching for Taurus 942s and saw there are a few out there right now (all 2" and steel). Then I was thinking about how long I wanted the 317 and how often I'm not really happy with a compromise choice when I really want something else. Then I went on Gunbroker and there was a new 317 with a BIN price of $659... it isn't there anymore :)

So now I just have to wait for my local FFL to get together with the selling FFL and for shipping... then MD's stupid 7 day waiting period can begin when it gets here, and in somewhere around 2 weeks I'll finally have it.

Still thinking about the other options though (including a 2" 942).
 
jstert said:
excellent post, chaim!

i am a rimfire fan. my quick thoughts:

s&w 317. i had one. i liked its looks and light weight. i sold it because its aluminum cylinder heat binds by 50 range rounds, a known and totally exasperating design flaw.

taurus 942. i had the predecessor 94. its stout trigger pull was absolutely, horrendously impossible. it went away happily and quickly. too bad because i am a fan of taurus centerfire revolvers.

ruger wrangler. i also have ruger single six, ruger bearcat, ruger lcr and heritage roughrider. the wrangler is good. a used (i.e. relatively cheaper) single six is better. bearcat kinda too small to hold to be hugely fun plinking and is expensive. the lcr dao snubbie’s problem is a long trigger reset. since the lcr is designed to be a ccw, and rimfire defensive tactics typically involve a fast ammo dump to center mass, if one neglects its long trigger reset the unhappy result is short-stroking and cylinder lock. the 3” barrel lcr-x with a hammer allowing single action shooting makes the lcr-x more of a (better) kit gun. any lcr 22lr is really expensive now so i cannot say it’s worth the high price. the heritage roughrider is hit or miss. i have a 4.75” model from ten years ago that is actually quite ok as an occasional, inexpensive plinker. last year i bought a newly made 6.5” model to complement it, but it was really poorly fitted and i sold it fast. that said, kygunco now has an online sale for the hrr in 22lr/wmr in either 4.75” or 6.5” barrels for just $90, free shipping to your ffl, after $30 factory rebate.

not on your list but the ruger sr22 semiauto pistol is my most-shot firearm! probably becomes my ccw when old-age infirmity strikes eventually, deeply and permanently.

since you already happily own a taurus tx22, i shouldn’t suggest another semiauto pistol.

for only $90+ffl you cannot really go wrong trying a heritage roughrider revolver from kygunco, maybe the 6.5” barrel to get more out oomph of its 22wmr cylinder.

good luck!
Click to expand...

Hopefully I don't have the cylinder issues with mine. That is what turned me off on my Rossis.

The 942 seems to have fixed the 94's bad trigger. Lots of reviews seem to praise the trigger. The 94's trigger rep is why I wasn't considering a used 94 when the 942 was so hard to find.

I'd love to find a Single Six at a decent price. I may have to consider the Roughrider after all (the rebate sounds nice, especially since some local dealers have it for just under $150 before the rebate).
 
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rhodester said:
Although the Taurus line is not known for high-quality, I purchased a Taurus TX 22.

Although I did have issues with one of the magazines that came with a pistol, Taurus replaced it, and it works fine and then purchased two additional magazines and I have four great magazines that work with the TX 22 and shoot anything I give it.

Although I was again, uncertain about Taurus, I can honestly say it is probably the most fun plinker to shoot. The fit in my hand is perfect. Go to your local gun shop and hold one and then make your decision.
Click to expand...
Yup, I love my TX22. It is why I want another .22 so soon.
 
Well let's see. You have listed quite a few valid options. So go with what suits your need the most at this time. You can always get others later.

I have the following 22lr handguns;
  • Taurus 942 that is great for hiking and makes a great companion to my Taurus 856 38 Special.
  • G44, great trainer for the G19
  • Ruger MkII - why not
  • H&R 949 SA revolver. It is nice to have a single action
  • S&W 22A and Kel-Tec CP33, both are good target pistols and both outshoot my Ruger MkII

A note on double action rimfire revolvers - they all have heavy double action trigger pulls no matter what brand they are, it is the nature of the beast. The reason for rimfire revolvers having a heavy DA trigger pull weight is due to the simple fact that rimfire primers are harder to setoff then centerfire primers. You need the heavier hammer spring for rimfire primers.
 
chaim said:
My candidates:
  • S&W 317. I've always wanted a kit gun. I'm not sure I'd ever use it outside the range (I'm much more likely to carry a .357mag or even a 9mm when in the woods), but the idea that it serves a practical purpose appeals to me. At less than 12oz it could make a decent back up gun for my weak hand as well. It has S&W quality, I love revolvers. I do carry a Taurus 856UL at times, a Taurus 85CH (even though the 6 shot 856 "replaced" it, I really love this gun) and a 3" Colt King Cobra new model, and I may get a 3" Taurus Defender, so it can make a cheap small frame trainer that especially matches with my 3" guns. However, a big motivator is cheap shooting, and the $800 this gun would cost could buy a lot of 9mm and .38 (especially when I find the time to reload .38).
  • Taurus 942. I could get the same concept as above but a lot cheaper. I could buy a 2" or 3" (or both to correspond to both my 2" and 3" small frame revolvers), by most reports I've read it is a good gun. However, they are almost impossible to find and it isn't the 317 and when I get something that isn't quite what I want I often regret it (I've wanted a 317 for at least 10 years).
  • Glock 44. I have a Glock 19 and only recently got into Glocks so it would make a great training gun.
  • Ruger Wrangler. I don't have a SA revolver (other than black powder guns) and it would be fun. Any shooting is worthwhile and practicing the fundamentals and this is cheap, but it wouldn't match anything I use for defense.
  • Beretta 92. I have long wanted a 9mm 92 but they aren't cheap, and this would be about half the cost, and be a fun .22. It wouldn't directly correlate to anything I use for defense.
  • CZ Kadet Kit (while they can still be found) for my CZ 75B. I have a full sized 75B, a compact 75B, a P01, and a PCR. I often carry the PCR, I sometimes load up the 75B for home defense, and I'm thinking about getting a laser and light combo to make the P01 my main home defense gun.
Click to expand...

Why not get them all and write a nice range report here?
 
PzGren said:
Why not get them all and write a nice range report here?
Click to expand...
Show him some of the gems you've posted in other threads and I'd bet he'd revise his list.

I'm kinda light on rimfire pistols currently since I've apparently become a rescue home for old, retired target rifles. There are a couple on my radar (S&W 41, Colt Woodsman Match Target) but I'd never overlook a MK series Ruger for pure fun.
 
Walther PPQ 22
Taurus TX22
Sig P322
FN 502

I like Glocks but just can’t get excited about a 19 sized gun with only 10 round magazines in 22.
 
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