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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
plinker
- Thread starter -BEEF-
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If your budget is around the $400 mark then the SR22 pistol is a good choice for a fun .22, the reports so far are that they function reliably with most bulk .22 ammo. I doubt I would use the D/A first shot often ... but with an exposed hammer it is no problem to cock the pistol.
Personally though, after 30 years of pistol shooting where I started on a .22, I have more or less come back to a .22 for a lot of "my needs". So I would'nt see anything wrong in "hindsight" if I had spent a bit more or a .22 pistol a long time ago.
My thoughts are that developing "skill" is an expensive undertaking and shooting .22 ammo enables this to be developed to the highest of standards on the lowest of budgets. So getting something accurate with a good trigger and able to be used in all manner of "situations" would be my goal if I was looking for a .22 pistol were I to be "back at my beginnings"
Therefore, as I quite like using a .22 here are some of the pistols I would consider :
I like the Ruger .22/45 for it's positional safety and slide release and mag release but I would get it modified to remove the magazine disconnect so that the trigger can be made as nice as possible. The magazine disconnect has to be over ridden every time you squeeze the trigger on the modern MkIII models inc the .22/45 but you can install old Mk II parts to enable the trigger to be a much sweeter pull. Then on balancing the pistol so that it handles as well as possible and is able to have the sort of sights which work well in low light conditions and are able to take red dot accessories for fast acquisition and laser dot's for the same reason ... I would add a tactical solutions pac-lite upper and barrel. Here is the sort of set up I mean.
Personally though I would opt for the adjustable rear sight combined with a picattiny rail on the upper to take a red dot sight for certain uses and also I would consider spending a bit more still for a silencer as these are a great asset for hunting with the pistol and for defensive use in a vehicle or home ... and they enable practise and training to be done without raising much attention. Here is my ideal set up ...
In the States where purchasing a silencer incurs a $200 fee I can see it makes sense to have a detachable model which could be used on other weapons such as a .22 rifle ... that and the fact that most of the integral silencer MKIII models are made just that bit too long for my taste in a useable pistol as they then require lengthy holsters ... but if you ever come across an original MKII/MKI integral model from Ruger which has the same dimensions as the 5.5 inch bull barrel model ... then that would be for me "perfect". The MKI's did'nt have adjustable rear sights though ... and due to their colectable value are not something you would want to change ... but the MKII's did have them and are great pistols.
These handle very nicely but are a little heavy compared to the ploymer receiver of the .22/45 and the Tac/Sol upper. The handy thing with them though is that because all Ruger .22's are straight blow back operation the use of the integral moderator which creates a little more pressure seems to enable them to function very reliably. The difficulty here though is that these are as rare as "hens teeth"
... so the Tac Solutions .22/45 would be a more realistic option.
Personally though, after 30 years of pistol shooting where I started on a .22, I have more or less come back to a .22 for a lot of "my needs". So I would'nt see anything wrong in "hindsight" if I had spent a bit more or a .22 pistol a long time ago.
My thoughts are that developing "skill" is an expensive undertaking and shooting .22 ammo enables this to be developed to the highest of standards on the lowest of budgets. So getting something accurate with a good trigger and able to be used in all manner of "situations" would be my goal if I was looking for a .22 pistol were I to be "back at my beginnings"
Therefore, as I quite like using a .22 here are some of the pistols I would consider :
I like the Ruger .22/45 for it's positional safety and slide release and mag release but I would get it modified to remove the magazine disconnect so that the trigger can be made as nice as possible. The magazine disconnect has to be over ridden every time you squeeze the trigger on the modern MkIII models inc the .22/45 but you can install old Mk II parts to enable the trigger to be a much sweeter pull. Then on balancing the pistol so that it handles as well as possible and is able to have the sort of sights which work well in low light conditions and are able to take red dot accessories for fast acquisition and laser dot's for the same reason ... I would add a tactical solutions pac-lite upper and barrel. Here is the sort of set up I mean.
Personally though I would opt for the adjustable rear sight combined with a picattiny rail on the upper to take a red dot sight for certain uses and also I would consider spending a bit more still for a silencer as these are a great asset for hunting with the pistol and for defensive use in a vehicle or home ... and they enable practise and training to be done without raising much attention. Here is my ideal set up ...
In the States where purchasing a silencer incurs a $200 fee I can see it makes sense to have a detachable model which could be used on other weapons such as a .22 rifle ... that and the fact that most of the integral silencer MKIII models are made just that bit too long for my taste in a useable pistol as they then require lengthy holsters ... but if you ever come across an original MKII/MKI integral model from Ruger which has the same dimensions as the 5.5 inch bull barrel model ... then that would be for me "perfect". The MKI's did'nt have adjustable rear sights though ... and due to their colectable value are not something you would want to change ... but the MKII's did have them and are great pistols.
These handle very nicely but are a little heavy compared to the ploymer receiver of the .22/45 and the Tac/Sol upper. The handy thing with them though is that because all Ruger .22's are straight blow back operation the use of the integral moderator which creates a little more pressure seems to enable them to function very reliably. The difficulty here though is that these are as rare as "hens teeth"
... so the Tac Solutions .22/45 would be a more realistic option.
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I am partial to my marlin model 60 i have used since the 70's. Accurate once you are used to the sights, never a jam or misfire.
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Yes, and it meets the needs described in this post as well:
SIG/Sauer 229R with a .22LR conversion, all packed in a Pelican case with 4 mags for each slide and the SIG light/laser thingy.
Mine has had none of the reported problems plaguing the Mosquito and is quite fun (and much cheaper than .40 S&W) to shoot. The magazines for the .22 conversion are plastic, however, and susceptible to damage that the steel mags can simply shrug off. This requires a bit more care when flailing around at the range but nothing too troubling.
It is ridiculously simple to change over. The conversion is an aluminum slide with a blowback action that just replaces the centerfire assembly in its entirety. One lever, slide, rack, boom. You can do it with your eyes closed.
I actually bought this as the .22 and then purchased the centerfire conversion later. There was a coupon deal at the time that made it cheaper to go this way.
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Not tryin' to side line the thread but someone mentioned about the collectability of the MK1 Rugger, I've had mine since new in '68, (based on the serial #, how collectable is it?
larry44
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You can't go wrong with any of the .22's mentioned for plinking. I love my Ruger Single-Six and Mark II, my Walther P22 and even my little Beretta 21A. I definitely think that whatever you end up with you also consider getting a Ruger 10/22 rifle. I don't think there's a firearm that's more fun at low cost than this one!
And a note to all of you mentioning the problem with reassembling the Ruger Mark series of pistols I found a great solution to it: check out Majestic Arms. They're in Staten Island, NY - of all places - and they make and install the Speed Strip Kit. I've had it on my Mark II for nearly 20 years and put another one in my Mark II .22/45 last year (but ended up selling it). The kit not only makes it easy to remove the bolt for cleaning but also eliminates the magazine disconnect and reduces the trigger pull!
I've got lots of guns but, like others, find that I end up shooting my .22's more than anything. And don't worry about which one to buy...it will only be your first, not your last!
And a note to all of you mentioning the problem with reassembling the Ruger Mark series of pistols I found a great solution to it: check out Majestic Arms. They're in Staten Island, NY - of all places - and they make and install the Speed Strip Kit. I've had it on my Mark II for nearly 20 years and put another one in my Mark II .22/45 last year (but ended up selling it). The kit not only makes it easy to remove the bolt for cleaning but also eliminates the magazine disconnect and reduces the trigger pull!
I've got lots of guns but, like others, find that I end up shooting my .22's more than anything. And don't worry about which one to buy...it will only be your first, not your last!
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The MKI integral silenced pistols were what I was referring to ... after Stallone and Banderas used them in the 1995 film "Assassins" these went through the roof ... they were only done in small numbers .... I suspect that model may fetch $2000+ in good condition or depending upon it's history perhaps more to the right collector ( i.e. links to SOCOM/CIA ( Vietnam era ) or other Special Forces ). It could well be more if two or more Collectors were determined to buy one in an auction ... you hardly ever see them come up ...
The regular MKI I am not so sure of the figures ... it might well be worth investigating ...
The regular MKI I am not so sure of the figures ... it might well be worth investigating ...
This is exactly what I would have typed!I have a Browning Buckmark Camper, pretty much stock besides I added a Hi Viz fiber optic sight. The thing is pretty accurate. I shoot license plates at 60 yards with it. Also, it's bomb proof. Not picky on ammo, plus, you don't have to clean it. Its had about 1800 rounds through it since the last time its seen any type of cleaning. Not on jame, FTF, FTE, nothing. It might see a light cleaning when I hit the 5,000 mark................................might.............
The Mark IIIs are a PITA with all the magazine crap you have to do. Good pistols, but a PITA.
Garth Reckner
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Those Tactical Solution guns are really awesome. Pretty sure I am gonna need two of those.
Garth
Garth
M67
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Same here. One of these years I'm going to have to get a 4.5" barrel and a silencer for my Buckmark.
Tactical Solutions puts out some cool products.
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The Buckmark is another good choice for a tactical solutions set up ... I like the thicker grips and the trigger is another one which benefits from the magazine disconnect being removed (on the newer models ) ... and this also makes sense if you want to carry the pistol for a defensive role ... the weight of the pistol is like the Ruger MkII but it does have an aluminium frame ... it is the steel used in the upper which makes it around .32 oz's ... but the Buckmark is a much lighter pistol once the barrel is replaced with the Tac Sol Trail Lite upper . The receiver still has the logical .45 acp positional placement for the safety, slide release and mag release and once altered it is an excellent alternative. Over all the polymer 22.45 set up is probably just a bit lighter but both are good.
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GregB
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Let me know what you decide. I "need" a .22. Lusting after the LCR in .22 right now, but they are running @$400-$425 locally, that's as much as a real gun!! Love everything about the Ruger 22/45 except the previously mentioned issues. Gun show this weekend. If I can find a good used one, I may get the kit in the link.
Shot a local .22 steel match with my friend's S&W 22A, which I like and I hear is a lot easier to clean. However, my gunsmith, who's a machinist by trade, told me that the 22A has a little plastic disk that needs to be replaced every so often. He also converts Mark III's to Mark II's. I need to ask him about the Buckmark.
The Walther and SR22 don't fit my hand and the Mosquito horror stories make it a non starter for me. Main reason I haven't bought a .22 is that I don't currently own a semi auto pistol and the next one I buy will more than likely be something that I can buy a .22 conversion kit for. Leaning toward a 1911 or a Glock. Wish there was one available for the XDM .45
Like the M&P as well but one of my local dealers said that a law enforcement agency he knows doesn't like the M&P, but won't really elaborate on why.
GregB
BaconBeavers
Shot a local .22 steel match with my friend's S&W 22A, which I like and I hear is a lot easier to clean. However, my gunsmith, who's a machinist by trade, told me that the 22A has a little plastic disk that needs to be replaced every so often. He also converts Mark III's to Mark II's. I need to ask him about the Buckmark.
The Walther and SR22 don't fit my hand and the Mosquito horror stories make it a non starter for me. Main reason I haven't bought a .22 is that I don't currently own a semi auto pistol and the next one I buy will more than likely be something that I can buy a .22 conversion kit for. Leaning toward a 1911 or a Glock. Wish there was one available for the XDM .45
Like the M&P as well but one of my local dealers said that a law enforcement agency he knows doesn't like the M&P, but won't really elaborate on why.GregB
BaconBeavers
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Lot's of folks have mentioned Ruger Mark I/II/III or the Buckmark. I've shot both, and you can't go wrong with either. Own a Mark III Target in Stainless myself. It's a great plinker and should last for a long, long time.
M67
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Let me know what you decide. I "need" a .22. Lusting after the LCR in .22 right now, but they are running @$400-$425 locally, that's as much as a real gun!! Love everything about the Ruger 22/45 except the previously mentioned issues. Gun show this weekend. If I can find a good used one, I may get the kit in the link.
Shot a local .22 steel match with my friend's S&W 22A, which I like and I hear is a lot easier to clean. However, my gunsmith, who's a machinist by trade, told me that the 22A has a little plastic disk that needs to be replaced every so often. He also converts Mark III's to Mark II's. I need to ask him about the Buckmark.
The Walther and SR22 don't fit my hand and the Mosquito horror stories make it a non starter for me. Main reason I haven't bought a .22 is that I don't currently own a semi auto pistol and the next one I buy will more than likely be something that I can buy a .22 conversion kit for. Leaning toward a 1911 or a Glock. Wish there was one available for the XDM .45
GregB
BaconBeavers
If you're looking for a revolver 22, it's going to be more than the LCR 22, but Rugers new SP101 in 22 is a great feeling gun. More expensive and the hammer spring is about 7 pounds too overkill, but a great pistol.
I beleive Smith is remaking their K22 in the Classic series as well, and many consider that the best 22 revolver, if not the K22, the Ruger Single Six.
As for the 22A, they're good pistols but not too well known anymore, and I beleive I've heard that problem about the disks as well.
I can imagine your gunsmith friend will tell you, about the Buckmark, it's solid but the mag safety needs taken out (which I believed Peter said too).
As for the law enforcement and the M&P, maybe because they received a batch that had a mag safety, or Smith didn't cut them the deal Glock cuts them. Hard telling, but the M&P is a solid pistol. I know a local police department around me that wont let officers carry the Kahr 380 (considered one of the best 380s) because they had 1 jam, when it was brand new, only 2 rounds through it, and they used hydroshocks.
So did you decide? I was checking out the Sr22 tonight too...looks like a fun little pistol....and it's getting good reviews. If (when) I can't find a PMR30, think I'll get the Ruger....
Try to find a MKII Slabside Guvmint...you will never need another Semi .22 pistol again.
Wipe out the bore, don't clean it until you put a brick through it...then clean it (tearing them down sucks), get her spotless. Throw in a EDM extractor and go shooting, realize how much of a PITA they are to tear down...yawn at cleaning her. Do this for a couple years, and (maybe) after another 3-5 bricks you might get a malfunction...clean it if you feel inclined, or just take off the scales and soak her in your wife's Tupperware filled with Kroil and clean the bolt and breech faces. Drip her dry, throw away your Old Spice and just wear your MKII everywhere...even the Axe wearing guys will be rubbing their fingers through your hair
BTW, Jesus doesn't just build Hot Rods...I think he also had some involvement with MKIIs, the .45ACP cartridge, knees on bees, and Kroil
Wipe out the bore, don't clean it until you put a brick through it...then clean it (tearing them down sucks), get her spotless. Throw in a EDM extractor and go shooting, realize how much of a PITA they are to tear down...yawn at cleaning her. Do this for a couple years, and (maybe) after another 3-5 bricks you might get a malfunction...clean it if you feel inclined, or just take off the scales and soak her in your wife's Tupperware filled with Kroil and clean the bolt and breech faces. Drip her dry, throw away your Old Spice and just wear your MKII everywhere...even the Axe wearing guys will be rubbing their fingers through your hair
BTW, Jesus doesn't just build Hot Rods...I think he also had some involvement with MKIIs, the .45ACP cartridge, knees on bees, and Kroil
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They're not that hard to figure out. If you have even a basic understanding of how things fit together, you'll figure it out.
Bull barrel 6 7/8" with a Volquartsen muzzle brake.