What's the best .22 pistol to get?

[phrogg]

Does anyone have any reccomendations on a good .22LR pistol for somewhat cheap? (less than $300, maybe?) I'm looking into getting one, and the only real brand name one I know of is Ruger Mk. I or II. Those go for... what, $300 on up? I was hoping for something other than that, maybe even a revolver, although an auto pistol would be fine. Accuracy isn't the most important... If it can get 5 inch groups at 25 yards, it's fine.

...I'd love to have something with good recoil, too, if possible.

[Habakkuk21]

The Heritage Rough Rider if you want a wheel gun. I juist bought one for my 16 year old daughter, and it even comes with pink mother of pearl handles, if ya want em. I got a really good deal on it: $119, new in box, including the extra magnum cylinder.
I've been shooting the Browning Buckmark Camper for about a year, and it's lovely. Yesterday I shot a 455 in the league, and on one target, shot a 97. That's the best shooting I've ever done. Reviews I've read, since I bought it, say that it's one of the preferred target shooting models. I paid under $300 for it.

[BattleRifleG3]

I've had good experiences and have heard nothing but good about the Beretta NEOS. Seems to be best for the price. Others may be fine, but do cost more. The NEOS has super features and is super reliable.

[rebel727]

RG makes an inexpensive single action that's very dependable. I bought my first new one in 77 and it's still going strong. Pretty accurate too.
Never owned a Buckmark but a friend of mine has one and it's nice, a lil light for my taste tho. Ruger MKII is good. Only problem with it is the clip spring is strong. A lot of people have a hard time loading them cuz the button hurts their thumb. I have no problem with it tho, just push it all the way down and drop 10 rds in. I'd go with the bull barrel for the adjustable sights but the tapered looks better and is just as accurate just hafta drift the rear and file the front. (Ruger makes them extra tall on purpose and they always shoot low)

[Big Dog]

The Rugers can be a pain to disassemble til you get the 'knack'.
I like the Browning Buckmark. Easy two inch groups at 25 yards, very reliable - and the ergonomics match my Colt .45.

For revolvers, both the Ruger Singlesix and the Heritage Roughrider are good. I'd maybe get the Heritage in steel frame with adjustable sights - just my preference. I have an old Italian Tanfoglio that is the direct ancestor of the Heritage, in alloy frame - it's a great little shooter and still tight after many years of shooting. :nod:

In double-action, you might find a good Taurus .22LR wheelgun. Not quite up there with a Smith, but it's half the price too!

[troylaplante]

I am with Big Dog on the Browning Buckmark. I like mine a lot, so does the wife. The NEOS is about the price range you are looking for, as well, but I have not shot one. Most people I talk about .22 pistols with are bullseye target shooters and don't recommend anything but a Ruger MK II for an entry level .22. The high end bullseye specialty gunsmiths don't like the MK III. I don't know, since I have never had one. I do own a 22/45 Ruger model and am happy with it.

[rebel727]

I likes my Ruger MKII Guvmint model. Wouldn't mind having a new MKIII with the fluted barrel tho.

[rodekill]

Olympic is bringing back the Wolverine, it looks a little spacy but the price is good and I'm intrested in getting one at some point.
It has a 10 shot mag and is semi auto, looks real fun!!

[Big Dog]

Rodekill, my original Wolverine shoots right with my Buckmark! The originals are a bit pricey though. Excellent grip and superb trigger!
I hope the new ones are as good, without the danged "lawyer trigger".
Besides Oly, there's another company that's bringing out a version of the Wolverine too! I may start a mini-collection of them . . . :right:
Some folks like the Walther P22, but it's rather small for my hands. It seems to prefer the hotter ammo too.

[myarmor]

I like my 22/45 MkIII-a great shooter, light, and excellent quality.

[Rugged]

walther p22

mine with the short barrell and CCi Stingers kicks more than my ruger 9mm.


It's combat accurate, not much more, but resting, I do better than 5".

you can't reliably run the bargain basement .22lr ammo though. Mine's diet of choice is CCi Mini-Mags.

It's really fun, Highly concealable, and better than fisticuffs for sure.

[BattleRifleG3]

I should perhaps have been stronger in my recommendation of the Beretta NEOS. I had the good fortune to rent it once and was quite pleased. While some claim it has a stiff trigger, I found it to be just fine. The site radius is good and the top rail allows practically any attachment you can dream up. I have not heard any complaints of malfunctions, and it fed every round I gave it. In my opinion an excellent gun at a great price. Never fired a Buckmark but the only advantages it might possibly have would be the trigger and some features like special sites and bull barrels.

If I buy a 22 auto pistol, the NEOS would be it. I have heard far too much bad about the Walther P22 to trust it. The happy owners are a vast minority.

Only other 22 I might consider would be a wheelgun.

[Rugged]

BRG3,

Every "internet" walther owner I've met has been unhappy. Every real one i've met in person (5 or 6) love it.

It MAY ba that because we have the Kalifornia edition, sans bareel nut and bushing, that we dont have the problems. I have yet to see any of the other "commoon complaints" in my pistol. Ive shot about 2000-2500 rounds of various stuff. No one I've actually met in real life has ever had a problem. If i listened to people I didnt know on the internet, I'd never buy anything.

Personally, I wouldn't buy an itallian gun. I would get the browning buckmark or the ruger mark 3 first.

Also, if it doesnt HAVE to be a handgun, the walther g22 is pretty fun as well.

[Big Dog]

Rugged, you echo my sentiments too. Everytime I hear someone bash a certain gun, I know that he probably doesn't own one, and maybe never even handled one! I've been known to go out and buy a certain gun BECAUSE it was trashed by others! I want to try it for myself, and see what it's like. I've gotten some very good guns that way, and only a couple lemons.
I know two guys who have the Walther, and both like it. They have found that the guns seem to prefer the hotter loads. One feller uses Stingers in his, and it works well. I can shoot them okay, they just feel small to me.

I haven't handled the NEOS yet, but would like to. I have seen different colors of grip frames available for it, and I guess it's sort of modular? It might be the next big DIY special in pistols, like the 10-22 is among rifles.

[gunssb]

I love my (used) single six but I want to get that Heritage Rough Rider sometime just because everyone says it blows up or that the cylinder locks up & won't move but it's always someone who's heard someone say that, never the actual owner. That, a Hi-point in 9mm and a Llama 1911 Gun snobs are annoying

[Rugged]

it's the internet.

I moderate a HUGE computer forum. you listen to these guys and there's not a single decent piece of hardware that will ever actually work in anyone's rig. Just like big dog, I specifically purchase many of these bashed components and have never, ever had a single problem.

Look at a hot rod car forum, sheesh, you could never buy ANYTHING that won;'t blow up, break down, or cost you alot to maintain.


The reason I started looking at gun forums to begin with was the p22. I read all kinds of horror stories. bad mags, safety switching to safe position while firing, barrell flying out, sights falling off, testicle shrinkage, safety switching to off while practice firing with live rounds in chamber (future darwin award winner there).

I asked the guy at the gun store, he called over another clerk "mike has two, he loves them... I think there's even some fobus holsters around here for em."

mike: "naw you wont find em, I bought em both"

Me "hey mike, your barrell ever fly out? sights fall off, safety switch to off while firing?"

Mike "naw, it's a fun little gun, I've had one for a year and I just bought the desert colored one"

Me: "thanks I'll take one"

Then I find out the guy at the ammo counter of Wally World has one, his girl has one, the japanese guys at the indoor range I go to have p22s and g22s. none of us ever had a problem, all of us read the crap on rimfire.com or wtfever.

It does NOT like standard velocity stuff though, i will say that. blaser or eagle wont even cycle the slide reliably. Mini mags, stingers, velocitors, game shock, all works great.

[Rave]

I like Hi-Standard,quality as good as it gets,and very easy take down for cleaning. :nod:

[MAX7.62]

I got a good deal on an S&W 22S a couple of years ago - it's the only non-1911 handgun in the vault. It's not a bad little rimfire target/plinker. I added a simple BSA illuminated red dot, it works well. I've heard some good stuff about he NEOS too, a friend has one and loves it.
The Walthers are OK, not a target rimfire by any means - because of length, but not bad little pistolies. We like 'em at Summit simply because they have the threaded muzz which allows the installation of an adapter and supressor. We manufacuture BATF transferable/registerable supressors for .22's, so the P22 makes for a nice "package deal".
I have had more than one person point out that I should have a .22 conversion for a 1911 because - I got a bunch of 1911's! I will probably get one of the Kimber .22 conevrsions in the future, but it hasn't been a priority.
A .22 in a 1911 just seems kinda - - wrong!? I mean, it's like putting a 5 horse Briggs motor in a funny car ya know?
:target:

[troylaplante]

Originally Posted by Rave

I like Hi-Standard,quality as good as it gets,and very easy take down for cleaning.

Yup, and they come the a high standard price tag, too. If I had the money, I would have one. I think, however, that the original post was looking at the $300 price range.

[Big Dog]

MAX7.62, I hear ya on those .22 1911 conversions. I thought about one, but for the price, I can get a nice complete pistol, and keep my 1911 together!

I just bought a Stoeger Luger .22LR pistol off a range buddy. It's another one the 'exspurts' love to rag on ('jammomatic', alloy frame, etc.). I know a few people who own them, and they like 'em! I shot this one, several magazines full - it runs like a Timex! It's my baby now! Not a great target gun, but loads of fun for tincan plinkin'. :nod:
I didn't 'need' another .22 pistol, already having several - but I've wanted a Luger of some type for years. This one feels great, excellent grip, a natural pointer and a sweet trigger! Next weekend I'll wring it out on paper with many different loads - see what it prefers.