Help choosing a .22 pistol

[Argonaut]

I have many 22 handguns including a 22/45 Ruger. I prefer the magazine release on the 22/45 to the regular MK guns. The Ruger is typical Ruger stuff, a little crude with some sharp edges but shoots well. Mine is one of the Stainless steel Hunter series and was pretty expensive. It does have good sights and is reliable. I think I would look for an older quality pistol like a Colt, Browning, High Standard semi autos are world class. Many of these classics have a pretty high price tag but if you are diligent, you can find a deal on a shooter for a few hundred dollars. I have a Erma Luger in 22LR that is a beautiful thing to look at and handle but it is not reliable. One of my favorite is a Stevens Tip up single shot with a 9" barrel and target sights. It is a joy to shoot. A good S&W revolver is always a great way to go too.

[shinbone]

I'm not a big fan of the aluminum 22 conversion. I think the lightweight slide makes the gun feel completely different. You lose the weight dampening advantage of the steel slide and your front sight will quiver easier. A marvel kit that redcliff mentioned above or the 22/45 are good ways to go. And this is just something to think about; if you have a 1911 with a hand-fitted slide, an anodized aluminum slide might mess up the fit between the frame and original slide.

[high_revs]

In addition to the ones suggested above (I have a Buckmark) there's always the Model 41.

[dr_communist]

I have 2 .22 pistols. A ruger standard and a Phoenix hp-22a. They are both great but I would stick with the Phoenix.

[brassburnz]

What I would really like is a 1911 and, more than likely, will have one someday. Cost of ammo is a factor in this purchase and the fact that I am teaching my daughters and someday my grandchildren how to have fun shooting safely. So, the .22 for starters. What do you suggest? I hear good things about the reasonably priced Glock like polymer ISSC M22B with 4" and 5-1/2" barrels ($240-270 @ J&G) and like the steel and look of the Ruger Mark III or 45/22 for more than twice the money. Do any of you have these or other candidates and can report in with your impressions? I would really appreciate it. Thanks.

Since you are talking long term investment here, here's another way to look at things. If you can afford it, buy the 1911 of your choice and a match target .22 conversion from Marvel Precision or Advantage Arms. These conversions are match quality conversions that should be able to outshoot a Ruger MK or Browning Buckmark.

I own two Marvel Unit 1's that have factory test targets of less than 0.75 inch at 50 yards. My Advantage Arms conversion doesn't quite have that degree of accuracy. The Marvel Unit 1 is $450 and the Advantage Arms Target is $350.

http://www.advantagearms.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=AASOS&Product_Code=1911Target&Category_Code=

http://www.marvelprecision.com/unit1.php

Add the price of a decent 1911 and you're over $1,000 but you are set for years to come.

Tactical Soluntions also make a target grade conversion, but I've never shot one. If they are like all the other TacSol products, they should be excellent.

DO NOT buy a cheaper conversion from JA Ceiner or even the Kimber conversion. They are plinkers and not target grade conversions. The same is true for the Colt .22 conversion. It was actually designed as a .45 acp training device to generate MORE felt recoil. Accuracy is not that great.

Something else you might want to consider is looking for a High Standard .22 pistol or a Colt Woodsman (and variations, Huntsman, Challenger, etc.). You might be able to find a used one for about the same price as a new Ruger or Buckmark. If you find a very clean sample at the right price, it should actually increase in value as the years pass.

A long while back, I was looking for a .38 Special revolver for my wife. I found a Smith and Wesson Model 15 and Colt Diamondback, both for about the same price. I bought the Colt. Today a Model 15 is probably worth about $450-500. The Diamondback should be worth more. Maybe $600-700.

[nweaver]

I just went though the same process and am now in the 10-days-CA-wait-period on a Buckmark Camper, after trying out the Ruger MK III, Buckmark, and Neos

I didn't like the maintenance or feel of the Ruger, and the Neos didn't feel good to me, but the buckmark was great.

[axhoaxho]

What I would really like is a 1911 and, more than likely, will have one someday. Cost of ammo is a factor in this purchase and the fact that I am teaching my daughters and someday my grandchildren how to have fun shooting safely. So, the .22 for starters. What do you suggest?...

If a 1911 is what you would really like in the future, then the Ruger 22/45 would sound like a perfect .22LR pistol for you at this moment.

The Ruger 22/45 is designed to give a similar grip shape, feel, and fire controls (safety, magazine releaes, bolt hold-opens, etc.) as the 1911. So in the future when you move up to a .45ACP 1911, you would feel natural.

I also like Ruger firearms that... they have very reasonable price, and they last for generations. They would be perfect to pass down to your grandkids.

Regards,

[Caribouriver]

You guys have been tremendously helpful. Please accept my heartfelt thanks. I started off today knowing zilch about .22 pistols and revolvers. I still know nothing. But thanks to you all, I have a good start on the road to learning something.

[RTE]

I too was going to get a 22lr conversion for a kimber.
For an extra $100 I got a Like new 22/45 6-7/8 slab side and put a red dot on it.
Almost takes the fun out of trying to hit something 50/100 yards away

[GunDog]

Can't really go wrong with any of the classics:

Ruger MkIII
Ruger 22/45
Browning Buckmark

????
See post #9 for a real classic.

[SAR_boats]

With a little help from Volquartsen Custom the Ruger Mk3 is an awesome shooter, the best on the market. It feeds, fires and extracts every type of ammo. BUT, out of the box you will be fairly underwhelmed. Additionally, God help you if you want to swap out barrels, and Ruger customer service is a joke. (seriously, when I talk to a gunsmith who works for a mfr and he says barrels cant be removed from receivers because they are welded together, but cant explain why custom shops can swap barrels there is a problem).

Buckmarks are great out of the box, better than Mk3s, but there is less aftermarket stuff for them, and I've found that they can be a little finicky on ammo.

The Walther (S&Walther?) P22 looks cool with its tac rail and threaded barrel but is extremely finicky on ammo. Clean, dirty, new or broken in, it doesnt matter, FTL and FTEs are common. Plus it is nowhere near as accurate as a Browning, Ruger or High Standard

Don't know much about the Beretta Neos but GAWD is that an ugly gun. WTF were they thinking?

The S&W model 22A is a decent shooter. Definitely not the most accurate thing out there but I never experienced a FTF/FTL/FTE with it.

Personally, I think the S&W Model 41 is way overrated at the prices they are fetching. I think Brownings are better out of the box and are half the price.

And then there is the Ruger SingleSix convertible. Nothing wrong with a SA revolver. They always go bang If I needed an inexpensive, fairly accurate hiking 22 that was dependable, I'd pick this. Plus you can throw the 22 mag cylinder in there for bigger booms.

[INJUNTOM]

I have a Ruger MKI, and a Taurus 94 9 shot revolver.

Both work good.

[BamBam-31]

????
See post #9 for a real classic.

Oh, I dunno....the Colt Woodsman recommended earlier is kinda real as well.

[BamBam-31]

????
See post #9 for a real classic.

Oh, I dunno....the Colt Woodsman recommended earlier is kinda real as well.

[uracan]

I saw a few references to the Smith and wesson M&P22 pistol. any feedback on that pistol?
I'm on the fence between that and the Ruger sr22 pistol.