Compact .22LR semi auto pistols, what are my options?

Ruger 22/45 :) The target model can be found for well under $300. It's a very solid pistol. The sights aren't the greatest but with some time, you'll get used to them and do great. The one thing I will say with the 22/45......it is NOT fun to field strip when you need to clean it. I heard lots of stories about what a pain it was before I bought one and.......they were right. I've heard that once you field strip it several times that it loosens up some and it's much more manageable. I had to send mine to Ruger cause I was an idiot and I've been hesitant to field strip it since. You may need a rubber mallet and a dowel rod. I think it's a great pistol but just warning you ahead of time if you decide to buy one. :)

Another option would be the Ruger SR22 but there are people who shoot a lot who have had to send them back already due to some problems. You can google and see what the issues are if you like. Just look up "Ruger SR22 problems" and you should find the forums and articles. I think the SR22 will be a great pistol but I'm a bit gunshy to purchase one until I'm sure that they have all of the "bugs" out of them. For similar money to the SR22, you can also get the S&W M&P22. It should run you right to your budget of around $350.
 
Sig Mosquito (although you should be prepared to shoot a couple bricks of ammo through them for break in) or Ruger Mark II.
 
jcwagers said:
..., you can also get the S&W M&P22. It should run you right to your budget of around $350.
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I have one of those for use with a suppressor. It is the first realistic centerfire style 22lr handgun I have held, though the CZ Kadet comes highly recommended at another ~$150~$200. The Beretta 87 is another expensive high quality option that mirrors the centerfire options.
 
jcwagers said:
Ruger 22/45 :) The target model can be found for well under $300. It's a very solid pistol. The sights aren't the greatest but with some time, you'll get used to them and do great. The one thing I will say with the 22/45......it is NOT fun to field strip when you need to clean it. I heard lots of stories about what a pain it was before I bought one and.......they were right. I've heard that once you field strip it several times that it loosens up some and it's much more manageable. I had to send mine to Ruger cause I was an idiot and I've been hesitant to field strip it since. You may need a rubber mallet and a dowel rod. I think it's a great pistol but just warning you ahead of time if you decide to buy one...
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The sights can be upgraded for not much money and there's a $8 part that makes disassembly that much easier and less confusing (mag in, mag out???). Robert.B, let me know and I can link to some YouTube video that talk directly about these 2 issues the MKIII has.

-sh00ter
 
gomipile said:
Depending on your definition of "compact" a Ruger Mark II or Mark III with standard taper barrel is very high quality and fun to shoot.

Browning still makes the Buckmark, which can be had in your price range, and is also quite nice.

Taurus makes several very small .22 pistols which are styled like Berettas and which meet your criteria.
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I am, and always will be a huge fan of the Ruger Mark series. Their all steel models are fantastic. I prefer the bull models, or the 7 1/2 target. They are full sized guns, however. Not compact. though if you get one with a 4 inch barrel it is not bad. Worth the money, and well within your budget.


Other thoughts, would be a .22 revolver. S&W, or Ruger.
 
sh00ter01 said:
Have these gotten better about cycling all kinds of ammo or are they still picky as hell?

-sh00ter
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I ran through 250+ round tip lead rounds, non jacketed never heard of the brand cheap stuff I got at the gun show no problem at all. I have the metal magazines. No idea about the poly ones though
 
another vote for Buckmark, although the Ruger Mk series is good, too.
The SR22, 22/45, M&P, Mosquito, Walther, etc... are all polymer frames, which was ruled out in the OP, as nice as some of them are.
 
What no Smith and Wesson fans? I have several dozen .22 pistols including a couple buck marks and half a dozen Rugers but my old 2206 always seems to go in the range bag first. Ergonomics maybe? Not sure but it's a reliable tack driver. The 2214 is the most reliable compact I've owned and has decent sights if you want something tiny.
 
mblackfu said:
Taurus pt22... my wife and i both have one.... they are around $225 a piece brand new
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My PT22 went back to the factory 3 times:mad: Barrel latch broke at 30 rounds , then twice for not being able to get through a mag with out a jam or missfire. On the other hand the taurus model 94-2" 22 revolver is as good of a small 22 as I have ever had
Roy
 
plumberroy said:
...On the other hand the taurus model 94-2" 22 revolver is as good of a small 22 as I have ever had
Roy
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I had my Stainless Model 94 w/2" barrel fail in under 100 rounds. It fired out of time and caught about half the bullet on the back of the forcing cone spraying lead out the side of the gun. I returned it to the gun shop I bought it at, wasn't wasting my time dicking around with Taurus's CS.

-sh00ter
 
sh00ter01 said:
I had my Stainless Model 94 w/2" barrel fail in under 100 rounds. It fired out of time and caught about half the bullet on the back of the forcing cone spraying lead out the side of the gun. I returned it to the gun shop I bought it at, wasn't wasting my time dicking around with Taurus's CS.

-sh00ter
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Thats a shame mine has been flawless over several thousand rounds and as accurate as any 2" barreled pistol I have fired
 
Hey guys, wife and I decided on a Taurus PT22...the 2.75" model, seems to be good selection in styles and would be easy for me to make custom scales for each gun. Watched a lot of reviews and videos, seen that it can be picky with some ammo but seems to like CCI and some have had success with the Federals.

I am still looking into either a buck mark or a mkII but i'll probably go for the longer barrel model after our anniversary. Thanks for all the recommendations, gave me a good spectrum of what is available.
 
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