22LR pistols...

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My first pistol I bought for myself was a Ruger standard target, an RST4, in 1977 or so. Cost me $80 slightly used. I about wore it out. It was an older model, and in the papers I found an order form for walnut target grips for... $4.95! I sent it in and they honored that price.

I had the bolt jeweled and a Grade 5 reblue on the frame in the late 80's. I know!, kind of like perfuming a pig, but it turned it into a beautiful little pistol.

As for extracting cases that separate, I just made a little jag from a coathanger and keep it in my shooting box. It's just the thing for pushing a stuck cartridge case out, but that has only happened to me twice, both times from shooting in the rain.

When my Dad died in 1982 I inherited his Ruger Mark 1 6" Target w/ adj. sights, and it is scary accurate.

Being Mark 1's, both pistols use the old 9 rd. mags and don't have a bolt hold open on the last round, but no big.

I have wanted to get one of the 22/45's for a long time. They also make a smaller 3" model I think that looks very good.

Norm
 
I like a good .22lr double-action revolver, but man, you can end up paying for it! I've been looking around for a good 22 lately. S&W and Taurus double-action 22s start at about $400 and go up from there. Now, I'm a little picky (and cheap)- I don't like 9-shot revolvers, I like standard 5 or 6-shooters, and I didn't want to spend more than $300 tops.

I found just what I was looking for a few weeks ago- the Charter Arms Pathfinder. Charter just started turning out new production Pathfinders after a long hiatus- they're chambered for 6-shots on a smallish frame, with 2" or 3" barrels. I picked up a used 3" one for $180, and I'll be trying it out for the first time this weekend. Lockup is solid and the quality "seems" comparable to Taurus.

I dunno, for that price you can't really go wrong. You can probably find them at gun shows new for about $250 max.
 
Bruise - As long as you're printing more, print both sides this time so we can both get one. ;)
 
Yeah, but 45-70?

You are correct...the Browning Buckmark is a crackerjack pistol. I've lost track of how many thousands of rounds I've put through mine...5 inch barrel..nothing fancy...with absolutely NO problems. Nice balance and weight to it, I prefer it to the Rugers.

And...I had a Ruger single-six, a .22LR with the extra .22WMR. cylinder....I may be the only human on the planet who hated that model gun. I like revolvers...but that paper-weight was stiff, ill-balanced, and mean-spirited.

Bruise? you pays your money and takes your choices, but the Buckmark is a remarkable pistol for the money.

Enjoy shopping.
 
The finest 22 semi autos ever made were the High Standard models that demand $$$ these decades.
Nothing was as good.
The Ruger..well it was wonderful from 1949 up intil about '86 when little Billie decided money was more important than reputation...

I've never been able to get too excited over the revolvers in 22 LR.
Back when I did work for Colt.. circa 1982-85, the Trooper MK3 was a nice handful of 22 revolver but rough operating and needed tuning ( just smoothing) out of the box..

Sounds like a certain knife company.. No ? ;)
:D ...
 
My first .22 pistol was a Ruger semi-auto, and I loved it (this was 1960), had it for years, and stupidly traded it off on something...a great pistol. Currently I have a very old S&W K-22 Masterpiece (now called a Model 17) that is a all this old lawman could ever ask for. Never the less, I am in the market for an older Ruger 22 auto with 6" barrel for old times sake, and I DON'T like the loaded chamber indicator that sticks out on the side of the new Mark III. Oh, I have an old Beretta 22LR that hasn't been out of the safe for 15 years....almost forgot that one. The Ruger is better in my hand.
 
Hi Bruise:

You are on the right track. The report from a .22 is mild and the recoil very light. It's a real fun way to enjoy shooting a handgun. Cheap, too.

Enjoy!
 
High Standard Supermatic Trophy, made in Hamden, Connecticut.

I owned the Ruger for many years, and shoot this .22 a lot better. Everyone shoots this gun really well; it has target sights and a 2 lb. pull. Magic.

You never know, you might trip over one cheap.


Ad Astra
 
These two are good shooters.
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coltdb.jpg
 
I picked up a Ruger MkIII 22/45 three weeks ago. It now has just about 1,500 rounds through it. One malfunction so far, not counting two dud primers. I opted for the 6" bull barrel as the pistol "hangs" very nicely. It cost me $240 before tax and included two magazines and a scope mount.

It is extremely accurate. Benched, it does a number on the clay pigeons on the 50 yard line. (Offhand, it still gets them once in a while.) The factory sights are crap. Replacements from Brownell's runs around $30, depending on your tastes. A newer shooter probably wouldn't mind the factory sights.

If you go the Ruger route, make sure you know someone who's handy at disassembling and reassembling them. It's tricky the first few times. I'm told that they last forever; I'll know more in another month or two. ;)
 
ClintB said:
These two are good shooters.
coltdb.jpg
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Oh, man a Diamondback! Believe it or not, this was my Mom's bedside gun right here. My Dad had his Ithaca 1911 and my Mom this. Such a great revolver.

Norm
 
As another option to look at, Gun Tests just recommended the Walther .22 with a 4 inch barrel as a great plinker and general .22. It looks good. Not any more expensive than other quality .22s.

Also, the Beretta Neos (?) kind of looks like a ray gun, but it got generally good reviews.

I'm still bitter about someone stealing my Ruger Mark II with a bull barrel and target sights:mad:
 
Kismet said:
Bruise? you pays your money and takes your choices...
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Thanks again for all or your replies. It's always good to get the opinion of folks who have accelerated lead particles for many years.

I've been accelerating particles for a week. :)
 
Bruise a pistolero, what's the world coming to? Just kidding Bruise, hope you have a blast. Twenty twos are absolutely perfect for target practice and casual shooting, but be warned, guns are like khukuris, if you start small you'll eventually want something bigger and vice versa. I used to shoot a lot and had a particular preference for magnums. Nowadays the only magnum I own is a dinky little backup gun. :o :D

magNEW.jpg


Sarge
 
I really like the Browning Buckmark bull barrel.

I also have really liked the 6" barrel Ruger Single-Six w/ both .22 LR and .22 Magnum.

22/45 wouldn't be a bad choice at all.

John
 
Sylvrfalcn said:
Nowadays the only magnum I own is a dinky little backup gun.
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I had one exactly like that for many years. Had a little leather pocket holster for it, that had the patina of much carry. Quite a little blaster. The delicate mechanisms would fail every few years, but NAA always fixed them up good as new for me with no charge.
 
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