.22 pistols- advice please

[weezil_boi]

I am about to get my first .22 pistol. Just for something cheap and different...

In the $300 or so range... Im looking at:

Ruger MK III
Beretta u22
SW 22
sig mosquito

Id love to hear your suggestions and why. This is just a fun gun, not a match or trainer. Id like it to shoot the bulk ammo reliably.

[Travis8128]

dont have personal experience but you should check out the walther p22.

seems to be a popular one.

[bussda]

Don't know about price, but the Ruger is usually the inexpensive one. And is the most amount of accessories available for later.

BTW, have you checked the rimfire section also?

[weezil_boi]

BTW, have you checked the rimfire section also?

Good idea. I wish I thought of it 5 minutes ago

[Meety Peety]

Ruger is a good gun, but it can be a pain to break down. It isn't the most accurate thing ever either, but then again.. that is to be expected. One thing I've loved about mine is that it seems to feed most budget ammo very well compared to other pistols. My Walther P22 is probably the most accurate .22lr pistol I've seen, which is surprizing with its 3" barrel. Its sturdy, reliable and accurate, not to mention feels a lot better than most .22 pistols (In my opinion).. however you'd be looking at a higher price. After tax and fees, mine was ~$450 out the door ($375 tag). You could probably find one cheaper, they are just hard to come by where I live so I had to pay what that particular dealer wanted.

So I'd say go with the Ruger if your budget is super firm, or if you can spend a few extra bucks, the Walther is great.

[X-NewYawker]

Ruger Mk III for life
walther P-22 for now

I should clarify that. I loved my Walther -- really accurate -- but broke pretty easily. The Ruger is metal -- stainless hunter -- great sights -- and really accurate too. Can't break it down easily? That's right. That's what gunscrubber is for.

[weezil_boi]

The walther is a little more than I wanted to spend. But it also felt kinda small? Maybe I was handling a compact model or something, but didnt dig it too much.

I like the feel of the rugers and the smiths... but just find the bolt style of the ruger kinda wierd and unfamiliar to me.

Are they like the 10/22... where you can lube and run em forever without cleaning? Or are they high maint internals?

[berto]

Don't forget the Browning Buckmark. In your price range and a lot of fun.

[Meety Peety]

The Walther definately is a compact - Its small. 75% scale of the P99, which already isn't a huge gun. I do like it though, always had a thing for compacts.

If you like the feel of the Ruger, I think you should definately get one. Out of the other choices, you will get the best performance out of it. It doesn't NEED to be broken down for cleaning every time, but I'm the kind of person that likes to. Its not impossible though, and once you've done it a handful of times, it becomes less of a PITA. If you want to run it without cleaning often, from what I've seen it isn't that much of a problem. A buddy of mine has run his without cleaning for a very long time.. probably between 2-3k rounds. I don't like it, and I beg him to let me clean it (lol) but it doesn't seem to hinder performance too much.. it does FTE and FTC from time to time though, every 100 or so rounds.

[JTROKS]

Don't forget the Browning Buckmark. In your price range and a lot of fun.

+1.

I got 2 of them and I've shot Rugers and S&Ws.

[bussda]

I like the feel of the rugers and the smiths... but just find the bolt style of the ruger kinda wierd and unfamiliar to me.

Are they like the 10/22... where you can lube and run em forever without cleaning? Or are they high maint internals?

The ruger bolt style is just about like any other semi auto, pull the slide back at the back.

Yeah, no one will want to admit it usually, but very low maintenance. Some (not me) have said the shoot better without cleaning, but that is what others have said.

But the big winner is, if you want to customize it later, you have losts of options.

[SanSacto]

Don't forget the Browning Buckmark. In your price range and a lot of fun.

That's the first .22LR pistol I am going to get.

[Turo]

I just got a Beretta u22 Neos, and it's great! smooth trigger, really comfortable grip, and accurate as heck.

[r08ert209cali]

Another plus 1 on the buckmark. I love mine very acurate. goes with me every time. including todays squirrel round up..

[illuminate10]

I just got a Beretta u22 Neos, and it's great! smooth trigger, really comfortable grip, and accurate as heck.

Yea I have the Neos also and it's fun to a point to where I'm worried about the longevity of it. The U22 Neos eats everything I put in it. ( bulk packs, Aguila SSS 60 grain, etc.. ) Out of the thousands of rounds I've put through it, it has jammed maybe 3 times. Has the built in rail on top too.
Not to forget the price tag around $260 before taxes and DROS.