Help choosing a .22 pistol

[Coded-Dude]

I have seen a few posts on other forums talking about a Smith & Wesson M&P 22LR pistol (built on the M&P 40 frame); Budsgunshop even has one posted on their website (listed as out of stock). A lot of forum posts were speculation and a few posters said the listings were photoshopped. So, I called Smith & Wesson customer service and asked them if this was a real product or a hoax. Here's what he said:

The M&P 22LR pistol model# 122000 is a real product. It has an anticipated release date of early February 2011, but as with anything that the ATF is involved in, we can't set that time frame in stone. The rep did say that from everything he has been told, things are still on track for the February release date.

source

Still not sure if Feb is the concrete date(or whether or not it will be on the CA roster), but it is coming out.

[Caribouriver]

I never thought of the .22 conversion kit for the .45. GREAT IDEA! Does anyone have any experience with a satisfactory combination? Would a .22 conversion shoot as accurately as the Ruger. Or is it a major compromise to get two for 1.5X the price of one? I know nothing about how well he conversion kits work and which ones work best. Great info gentlemen. Thank you. Martin Retting is the closest to me. Is there as good as anywhere?

[xMAC1x]

Ruger Mark lll I shoot the hunter real nice gun. & 20.00 for 500 rounds my son can shoot, all he wants.

[sigfan91]

If at all possible, get a Ruger Mark II. If you must get brand new, a Ruger Mark III will do. These guys will eat just about any cheap, crappy, bulk ammo.

Ask yourself, what's the point of getting a 22 plinker if it only works with expensive CCI minimags?

[Gary13]

I have a buckmark and it within the first magazine new shooters are hitting targets with it. Its the most accurate handgun I have had the pleasure of shooting. You could also get a 1911 and buy a .22 conversion kit for it.

Conversion kits:
http://www.palmettostatearmory.com/p...ccessories.php

I have a Ruger MkIII 22/45 which I like. I will be getting a RIA .45 Tactical soon and was wondering if these kits fit RIA's? Anyone tried?

[Legasat]

The Browning Buckmark and the Ruger MK II & III are the standard.

You can't go wrong with any of these.

[BC9696]

http://www.keltecweapons.com/our-guns/pistols/pmr-30/

Light, holds 30 rds and is tacticool taboot.





Want to customize it? No prob.

[JSpin]

i recently bought a buckmark, and i am absolutely in love with it. i rented all of the popular choices, and all goood guns for the most part. the trigger and factory fiber optic front sight on the buckmark are sweet right out of the box.

my dad has a mark 1 ruger that hes had for decades and he still loves it. however, after shooting mine, he said he would buy the browning if he had to do it over.

before buying, i decided i liked the browing best, but if a good deal popped up on a ruger first, it would an easy decision. i ended up buying the browning up in WA state for 340 bucks out the door, which seems to be less than used rugers go for in California. cash and carry with a WA ccw too!

[beerman]

Ive owned several Rugers and a buckmark...nice guns but, they arent even in the same class as the Smith model 41...the others have been culled from the herd.

[badmonkey]

I never thought of the .22 conversion kit for the .45. GREAT IDEA! Does anyone have any experience with a satisfactory combination? Would a .22 conversion shoot as accurately as the Ruger. Or is it a major compromise to get two for 1.5X the price of one? I know nothing about how well he conversion kits work and which ones work best. Great info gentlemen. Thank you. Martin Retting is the closest to me. Is there as good as anywhere?

I've got a ceiner 22 conversion that i use with my RIA GI. works with Federal bulk ammo, CCI mini mags, CCI stingers, and all of the 22LR that i throw at it. as far as accuracy, i can't tell you for sure--but it seems as accurate as the gun is shooting .45. I will say that some people have had issues with Ceiner's Customer Service. I haven't had a need to use their CS so it's not an issue for me personally. But i also hear that the kimber 22 conversion is reliable and a good product if you're worried.

most, if not all conversions for the 1911 will come as a slide with an integrated barrel, guide rod, springs, firing pin, etc. you basically field strip your 1911, removing the slide, barrel, guide rod, and springs, and replace it with the conversion. an aftermarket 22 mag usually ships with the kits too. spares are ~$35.

[BamBam-31]

Having a conversion kit is a good idea because you're training with the exact same platform. However, having two separate guns for the same price (conversion kits cost about as much as an entire basic .22lr pistol) means two people can shoot at the same time at the range.

Man, Kel-Tec doesn't hold back when it comes to Tactical Ugly, does it?

[redcliff]

Since .22lr handguns are subject to a lot of rounds fired, it pays to get one that is good quality and will last a lifetime.

The Browning Buckmark, Rugers, S&W Model 41 ($$$), Colt Woodsmans, High Standards and S&W Model 17, 18 and 617 revolvers are all top quality choices with good triggers that will give many years of excellent service and retain their value well.

I greatly prefer the steel .22lr handguns over the polymer and pot-metal less expensive models available.

In regard to 1911 conversion units and accuracy currently the best is the Marvel Precision Unit 1. It's guaranteed to shoot under 1" groups at 50 yards from a rest. It does away with sloppy slide to frame fit by utilizing a slide contained within the conversion unit which is secured to the donor frame by tightening a bolt which locks it to the supplied slide stop. Mine shoots extremely reliably and very accurately with Federal 525 bulk pack .22lr ammo (NOT Federal 550 bulk pack, there is a difference).

The only downside of the Marvel Precison Unit 1 (or Unit 2 which is slightly less accurate and less expensive) is that it does not lock the slide open on the last shot although it can be locked open manually, a trait shared by several of the .22 pistols mentioned above. However, as the owner of a Colt Service Model Ace that has worn the slide lock notch down twice to the point of not locking open I don't consider that a big deal. I understand Bob Marvel is working on a new unit that will lock the slide open if you wanted to wait for one.

[eccvets]

I like my p22 and although its not as accurate as some of the others, its a lot more fun and you can pratice reloading your HK's with it.

[BigDogatPlay]

Hard to go wrong with a Ruger Mark I or Mark II. I'm still not certain the Mark III is really an improvement but most people I know personally who have them, like them. Buckmark is always an excellent value and are outstanding shooters.

I recently picked up an S&W 22A. Still breaking it in / wringing it out but the accuracy out of the box was good... tight groups at 15 yards with only a bit of fiddling to get it onto the bull. I'm still not convinced it's a long term winner but it was on sale for $239 and I couldn't pass it up.

[hefedehefe]

HP22 is the best .22 you can get. It's got a lifetime warranty and shoots like a champ. I put 3k rounds through it before it stopped shooting, then cleaned it and it was firing even better. I put 300 rounds threw it last night at the range and only had 2 fte. I am very impressed with this $150 .22. I also have the 5" barrell and extention, but hardly use them. People love this small lil guy and it's built tough and SOLID