22LR pistols...

Status
Not open for further replies.
I own a Browning Buckmark and a Ruger 22/45, both with bull barrels - I could heartily recommend either. My kids shoot them when I take them shooting, and I shoot them myself when I need to get back to basics or just feel like some cheap shooting fun. Also own a Smith and Wesson 422 (.22 semiautomatic) which is a POS - very poor accuracy, I'm not sure why (I bought that one as a favor from a local priest who was leaving the country). Bruise, don't go printing any billion dollar bills now - just heard on the local radio that someone got busted for counterfeiting billion dollar bills - seems there is no such denomination!
 
Over the years, I owned 2 Walther's, a blue PP and a stainless PPK/S, both in 22LR. Some of the most comfortable pistols I ever owned, yet both jammed. Not every clip mind you; ocassionally I'd even get a whole box thru either of them with nary a skip. I would think "I finally found the right brand of ammo" and then it would jam twice in the same magazine. Operating under the philosophy that a gun always jams at the worst possible time, utter reliability, repeatable reliability is my criterion for a semi-auto.....and so they went looking for a kinder soul.........
 
For someone new to handguns, I'd recommend a double-action revolver. If you plan on using it exclusively for plinking, get one with a 6" barrel. If you plan on carrying it concealed, get a snubbie. Taurus makes a high quality inexpensive 9-shot snubbie (8 shot for 22 magnum). Pay a little extra for the titanium frame. :thumbup:

For EDC, I recommend the NAA "Black Widow" .22 WMR single-action mini0revolver. Some folks incorrectly refer to these guns as derringers. For another $20, you can get an extra cylinder chambered for .22 LR. This is my favorite gun. :thumbup:

A few folks mentioned the Walther TPH, which is expensive and hard to find. Iver Johnson made an inexpensive copy of this gun in the 80's, called the TP-22. A great little pocket-sized D/A automatic . . . load it up with CCI Stingers. :thumbup:

The Colt Woodsman and Diamondback are considered by many to be the two finest .22 handguns ever made . . . their collector's value has skyrocketed in recent years, though. :(
 
Bah.

Get the Ruger and don't look back. When you're at the point where you're not happy with the factory sights, $30 will make them what they should have been in the first place and you're left with an heirloom. A sturdy, accurate, reliable heirloom that ran $240.

2500+ rounds as of today. Two stovepipes so far. I wish that my AK was this reliable.
 
First a bit of advice about shooting a handgun. It is just like the martial arts. One must perform a motion enough times to form a muscle memory that become instinctive. This includes training your breating, stance, sight picture, trigger control and followthrough. It can take thousands of times to get it right. Practice makes perfect only when it is perfect practice!

The advice about starting with a 22 is sound. Cheaper ammo equals more rounds fired. Low recoil reduces flinching to a minimum and you can actually see what effect jerking the trigger or bad breath control has. Hearing and eye protection is a must, however, even with a 22. Diagnostic targets are available that will show if you are heeling, jerking, anticipating recoil etc. and they are usefull.

As regards reccomendations the top of the line would be a Colt Officers Model Match for a revolver and either a Smith and Weson M-41 or a Colt Woodsman Match Target model for a pistol. Very expensive, hard to find, lovely to behold and objects to be cherrished. Accurate in the extreme.

Next down would be a Smith K-22 Masterpiece (6") or Colt Diamondback (4"). again hard to find and very costly.

Ruger MK-II autos and Single Six revolvers are much easier to come by but they usually have atrocious triggers out of the box and it can take a couple of thousand rounds to slick up the action, the trigger and lap the barrel.
 
exranger714 said:
First a bit of advice about shooting a handgun.
Click to expand...

Exranger you do realize that this thread is over a year old and the discussion has long been over? :rolleyes:

weird-animal_5_49.jpg
 
Yup...over a year.

Sort of like talking to echos.
 
When it comes to 22LR pistols I've owned them all. Rugers, Brownings, Smith & Wessons, Taurus, and Rossi among several other smaller names. All of them came and went though because I hate the way they foul up so fast and cause jamming problems. The only one I ever kept, will keep and absolutely love is the Air Lite 8 shot revolver with a 3" barrel and front ramp/rear adjustable sites by S & W. This thing keeps going and going and going long after my BuckMarks, Rugers, and all the others couldn't be trusted to empty a clip without a malfunction and you know what? The accuracy difference when plinking cans or shooting rats is so nominal if even worth mentioning that it puts this revolver at the top of my list for all time greatest 22 LR pistols. I'll sacrifice a small bit of accuracy at 25 yards for being able to count on it any day of the week personally.

Get ya one. You won't look at a semi auto 22LR again once you use and carry one of these babies. My multi tool probably weighs more than this thing does fully loaded.

I also have a NAA Black Widow but other than the pain it is to reload compared to the Smith its just as flawless but hey, its to be expected with a revolver. The worst thing I run into with either of these is having to poke a leather punch through the cylinder to force a spent casing out if it gets really really dirty.

This Air Lite shown here impressed me so much that I went out and got my wife and I both a 32HR Magnum snubby that we also carry and love just as much for the ease of carry and reliable performance.

STR
 
I've had my Ruger Mk 1 for about 30 + years, I've fired at least 5 or 6 thousand rounds out of it and in 30 + years have never had a single misfire or jam, without a doubt the most accurate pistol with iron sites I own.
 
the ruger's both pistol and revolvers are great ll Browning's and the older colts i have not had a smith but would like one Ive also like the Taurus 22 mag revolver right now i have a 6 in target master colt that was my grandpas its pretty nice but would like a ruger with a 5.5 bull barrel and a 22 mag in ss by Taurus for a walk about gun :D
 
T. Erdelyi said:
I've had my Ruger Mk 1 for about 30 + years, I've fired at least 5 or 6 thousand rounds out of it and in 30 + years have never had a single misfire or jam, without a doubt the most accurate pistol with iron sites I own.
Click to expand...


You must keep yours pretty cleaned up compared to us. We grew up with Rugers because its all my dad would buy us and I can't recall a one that ever performed flawlessly but thats the joy of a revolver in my experience. You can neglect it and get away with it more than a semi auto, particularly with a dirty round like 22 LR. Even my Marlin 22LR semi auto carbine needs a thourough cleaning every 250 rounds or it will start jamming or chimney stacking on me pretty religiously after that. Once I clean it up its good to go again but thats the part I hate messing with when you are out shooting. I rarely took any cleaning supplies with me in the field, we did all that at home you know. But anyway, I'm sure there are some that do better than others too. I have a Glock 17 that I've shot many thousands of times and its one that never screws up at all too so I believe you.

STR
 
Kismet said:
Yeah, sure, Yuh nSuh,

Like gun discussions are EVER over. :rolleyes: :D :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Yeah, slipped what little of what's left of my mind.;) :D
Still lots of good info in the past threads but it would be nice if folks would start a new one with a link to the old one instead of bring up an old, old, thread.:rolleyes: :p
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top