Looking for Advice on a 22 Handgun

[JamminJ]

[TOMBSTONE]

S&W 617 OR Sig Mosquito...

[r3plica]

Browning Buckmark?

[sd_shooter]

The Single Six is a good pick for sure - I've shot someone else's and I'm also looking for one. I fondled the 7.5" SS Hunter model at the local gun shops, it was very nice!

I've got a Ruger MkII Target with a ~6.5" barrel, great gun. I would be happy if this were my only 22 handgun, it is excellent in every respect:
(this pic is not mine, however)

[freonr22]

Model 41?

[elSquid]

If I were in your shoes, I'd just get a 617... if you can find one!

-- Michael

[wellfedirishman]

If you want to hunt, plink and shoot informally, the Single Six is great fun. It is very accurate, but slower to reload and cock/fire. I had one, sold it and regretted it, and just recently picked up an old model (1959 vintage I believe).

If you want to shoot competition, where you will have to reload quickly, the Mk III is the way to go. I shoot a MK II and Mk I in PPC in my local pistol league. It is easy to put a rail and red dot on it also.

If you want to shoot anything (competition, hunt, target, etc.) then the S&W 617 is the way to go. It is expensive (about $750 new), but worth it. Get the 10 shot model, and get a rail (about $30 online) and put a red dot on it. You will not regret it. The trigger is very smooth, and the double action is a pleasure to shoot. If you can find one used for about $600 or so, you will be doing well. You can buy speedloaders for both the 6 and 10 shot versions for fast reloads.

Good luck. Any of these guns are great choices, and a must-have for anyone's rimfire collection.

[SteveMartin]

If you shoot outdoors a lot where there is less likely to be a bench or table, the Single Six can be a pain to reload while standing.

It shoots really nice and fits my hand well. I don't use the magnum cylinder very frequently.

[zipman5150]

High Standard Victor.

[NorCal_]

Browning Buckmark if you want a solid little .22 . Two others to consider would be a sig mosquito or a ruger Mark II or III . If you do get the sig i highly recommend CCI minimags for the initial break-in period.

[Pugster]

>> Either MKIII in the Hunter / Competition model is fine. I would also recommend the following upgrades:
- Get the Volquartsen Target Sear (Maybe also the Target Hammer)
- Remove the magazine disconnect
- Get the Ultimate Cliploader for ease of reloading mags

Ruger Single Six
- It can get really tedious to reload after a while (~200 rounds)
- Very safe to handle since it's SA

Ruger MKIII
- Lots of good aftermarket support
- It's very easy to get a Red Dot mounted on the MKIII and will make shooting a breeze
- It's a pain at first to field/detail strip but you will get used to it in time
- You can get the Ultimate Cliploader and it makes loading the mags really simple

SW 617
- I don't have experience with it but I would think it's easier to clean than the MKIII

[JamminJ]

S&W 617 OR Sig Mosquito...

The Mosquito looks nice but probably not my kind of thing, at least not yet. Looks like a good compliment to a black main gun.

One vote for the 617.

[JamminJ]

Browning Buckmark?

Thanks for the suggestion, looks interesting. Looks like a good alternate to the Mark III.

[JamminJ]

If you shoot outdoors a lot where there is less likely to be a bench or table, the Single Six can be a pain to reload while standing.

It shoots really nice and fits my hand well. I don't use the magnum cylinder very frequently.

It would probably be used mostly indoors, Firing Line in Huntington Beach in particular. I don't know of any outdoor ranges in Orange County and if I'm taking a longer trip I'm probably bringing rifles.

Interesting you don't use the magnums often. Probably similar to putting .38s through the 686.

[JamminJ]

If I were in your shoes, I'd just get a 617... if you can find one!

-- Michael

Ha! Spending the time for an exhaustive study to make the best choice and then not having "the one" available would be frustrating, so say the least.

At least if the search takes over 30 days I can go with the second choice first.