22 Pistol?? WHAT??

[enzo357]

The ruger mark 111 is a heck of a gun. Shoots well, loves walmart federal ammo, and is a great way to shoot on a budget.

[decepticon6551]

My dad has both & I've put a few hundred through each. I wish the GSG shot like the Mark III so I could buy one, but it doesn't.

Get the Ruger.

[Oneaudiopro]

Hmmm

I've heard the GSG 1911 is very picky with ammo. If you want something that will chew up any ammo go with mk 3, browning buckmark, or the SR22P. The mk III and Buckmark however are annoying to break down and re-assemble. To break down the Mk III safely you'd probably need to buy a soft mallet and possibly a nylon punch. I'd suggest you watch a youtube field strip of it. That said, I now own an SR22P and I love it. The M&P 22 is also just released but from what I'm hearing so far are negative criticisms of it.

If you're not swapping out parts, theres absolutely no reason to ever break down a Ruger mkIII..............started by some idiot in here and more uninformed ones stepped in to continue carrying the torch................sheeeesh

[Q619]

I have an SR22 and a MKIII short barrel hunter. Both are excellent guns. The hunter has claimed a fair number of squirrels.

[aklon]

Go for the Ruger. If you get one with a bull barrel, it's a handy warm-up gun for your 1911.

[far from tactical]

I had a sr22 pistol and I love it befor I would shot 100 rounds of 9mm and call it a day but with my 22 I can shoot and shoot with out giving it a second thought if I do go for a second 22 I will be thinking of the m&p22 which is a great full size 22 or a ruger mk3

[chonkey]

If you're not swapping out parts, theres absolutely no reason to ever break down a Ruger mkIII..............started by some idiot in here and more uninformed ones stepped in to continue carrying the torch................sheeeesh

Or maybe I do know what i'm talking about and you haven't shot it enough. Magazine release was sticking and it was necessary to field strip it to detail clean it from all the gunk inside. If you put thousands of rounds down any gun you will eventually need to do a proper cleaning and disassembly regardless of what gun it is. In any case I like my guns to be thoroughly clean and it's difficult to get it really clean without field stripping it.

[JTROKS]

Browning Buckmarks are hard to beat.

[TKM]

If you can find a MK II at a reasonable price, grab it.

A MK 512 is almost perfect.

Good balance, don't have to undo any lawyer nonsense, lots of mags that will work. The longer 678 and 10 versions are basically rifles without the annoying stock. They all work very, very well but you can carry the 512.

Blue or stainless is personal preference.

[TKM]

If you're not swapping out parts, theres absolutely no reason to ever break down a Ruger mkIII..............started by some idiot in here and more uninformed ones stepped in to continue carrying the torch................sheeeesh

The dork line starts here.

[mp0wer2384]

Ruger Mark III target/hunter

[scootle]

+1 for the Ruger Mk III... it's about as bombproof as you can get, and will eat almost any ammo reliably.

if you like 1911-style grip angle and controls, you could also look at the 22/45 as a variant on the Mk III.

and props for choosing this route as your first handgun... best advice i was ever given. the savings you get on ammo will pay for your first centerfire handgun easily... and the fundamentals you'll learn on the way there with the .22 will last you forever.

[Old4eyes]

The only reason to pick the GSG is if you have a 1911 and you want the feel of that in a .22 caliber. The Ruger 22/45 has a 1911ish grip angle, but the controls are not right. The GSG comes with a lot of baggage.

So if you are not looking at a 1911 feel, go for the Ruger. A 22/45 will be cheaper than a Mark III. You give up replaceable grip panels (the 22/45 model that has grip panels is not on the California list) and there are more aftermarket parts for the Mark III line than the 22/45. Reliability should be the same for both.

I've got the GSG and a Ruger Mark III and I when I shoot a 1911, I'll warm up with the GSG. If I am not shooting a 1911 that day, I use the Ruger. And I will not be shocked if the GSG breaks.

[Stardude82]

The only thing I find obnoxious about my basic 22/45 is the fact you can't easily change the hand grips, but its possible with some effort.

Buy a target pistol and get a Cliploader(tm).

[scootle]

The only thing I find obnoxious about my basic 22/45 is the fact you can't easily change the hand grips, but its possible with some effort.

i think there is a special-order configuration of the 22/45 with removable grip panels... i forget which model it was, but you would likely have to SSE it in CA.