S&W 22a

[92greenyj]

I just got back from the range with my 22A for the first time.

Fed it Blazer bulk. Had one fail to feed, my fault, mag wasn't seated all the way. One fail to eject fully. Case got caught in the slide. Quick and easy to clear. Those were the only issues I had with it from a good 300 rounds.

Accuracy is good. I discovered I am seriously out of practice as I haven't shot in a couple of years. But after a bit of time I was getting very good groups with it.Better than I got with my Ruger P90T 45 ACP I was also shooting thats for damn sure

[loose_electron]

Interesting - I started mine on bulk ammo and never had problems with the gun.

FTF's due to bad rim primer yes, but thats 22 bulk.

[Annex138]

I picked up my 22a last week. I shoot about 250 fed bulk and about 50 blazers through it with 1 stove pipe and about 10 ftf due to light strike and about 10 fte with the fed bulk. The blazers all fired fine. From what I have read, the 22a need to be broken in. The more you shoot it the better it runs. Next time out I am going to shoot more blazers and some mini mags and see how it does. The gun is accurate with putting 10 shoots into a inch at 25 yards which is good shooting for me with my screwed up eye sight.

[Coyotegunner]

For a low cost 22 they are very good.I have one for 3 years with 0 issues.I have Rugers,and other S&Ws.Really like them all.I sold my 41s,but they were great.Friends have the Brownings,with no complaints.Walthers are good if you can get over the poor accuracy.The Sig Mosq.,I owned 2.One new,one used.They shot only the highest velocity ammo with any kind of reliability.Sold them cheap,with a warning to the new owners when the wife was getting sprayed in the face with some hot debris.I own and count my life on Sigs other guns.

[Izzy43]

I have had a 22A for a couple of years. Runs flawlessly with any ammo I use. Best is the lifetime warranty from S&W so no worries if it breaks. Inexpensive, not pretty, kind of barrel heavy (5.5" barrel) wish I had gotten the 4" barrel. Breaks down easily for cleaning. Should last a lifetime.

[Masterdebater]

my uncle has a 22a and i hate where they put the mag release, ull be shooting it and accidently bump it and release the mag, take getting used to for sure. id get a ruger, i love my dads mk2

[Annex138]

only issue there is that Beretta let the NEOS certification lapse. you can no longer buy them in CA. I know because that was what I had wanted originally but its now off roster.

I was in the same boat as you. I wanted a neos but being off roster I ended up getting a 22a instead. When I went to pick up my 22a yesterday, Turners in rancho had a inox neos 4.5" barrel on consignment for $199. After thinking it over all night I ended up going to turners when they opened this morning and paying for it. $250 otd. The gun is a post recall and looks unfired. Atleast I have the 22a to hold me over for another 10 days

[donw]

I've had mine for quite a few years. it IS ammo picky and needs frequent cleaning.

it is accurate and functions fine when clean and using proper ammo.

few, if any, upgrades available for it that i'm aware of.

for what i paid for it...i'll keep it,

[JoeinLA]

I have to poo poo the 22a. I have one and after just a couple of months and 5,000 rounds, the lower frame cracked in half. S&W took their sweet time with it, and I had to chase it down. S&W eventually replaced the lower frame, but it was a real hassle. After all the hassle and time of dealing with it, and being without it for 2 months, i didnt save anything over any of the slightly more expensive 22's out there.

Ive got one that I'd sell for cheap if anyone wants it, but i wouldnt feel good putting it up in the marketplace.

[92greenyj]

But for only a couple bucks more the neos seems to be a better option from beretta. To be honest that part replacement thing is the only issue i have with this gun. And that it's kind of ugly....

only issue there is that Beretta let the NEOS certification lapse. you can no longer buy them in CA. I know because that was what I had wanted originally but its now off roster.

[loose_electron]

No complaints with mine, its a lower cost plinker, yes.
Got mine with the larger wood grips, and it fires bulk ammo
without pain or problems.

There is a little plastic square in behind the recoil/slide
spring that they gave me some extras for. Got a few bricks thru
it and have not needed to replace it yet.

[BSlacker]

I was thinking about buying one. And then I heard about how you have to replace some internal parts every couple thousand rounds or so (as recommended by SW).

The gun will run without the little plastic buffer part. I think most people will want to clean or at least field strip and wipe down the gun after a few hundred rounds some clean after each session. The little plastic buffer comes out when you field strip it. The part is a slip fit onto the end of the recoil rod. I shoot standard velocity stuff below 1080fps and have thousands of rounds on my buffer. I don't even clean it just shoot clean ammo. If this stops you then you will be left out of a bunch of fun inexpensive guns.

[10101100]

I was thinking about buying one. And then I heard about how you have to replace some internal parts every couple thousand rounds or so (as recommended by SW). Some may have no problem with this, as it is not expensive to do, but I am a rugged, reliable, durable AK47 kinda guy where if I'm going to buy something I want it to function properly at all times no matter how much it has shot. Good price though. But for only a couple bucks more the neos seems to be a better option from beretta. To be honest that part replacement thing is the only issue i have with this gun. And that it's kind of ugly....

[JoeFaz]

I am interested in a .22LR semi auto pistol and was wondering if this is a "good" gun. Are they accurate, reliable, function well? I am comparing it to Ruger and Browning. Any thoughts?
Thanks!

I LOVE mine! Got it on G/B a couple years ago for an excellent price ($165 new!) and have never once had an issue with it. Never FTF or FTE, have fired numerous mags at rapid fire through actually trying to get some sort of malfunction and it has performed flawlessly thus far. Oh, did I mention the accuracuy of it? In a word, amazing. And I'm talking even out to 50 yards, draw from the hip and fire. I would not sell nor trade this for either of the other models you're considering.

[BSlacker]

I am comparing it to Ruger and Browning. Any thoughts?

They don't compare.
The Browning is a good pistol with a good aftermarket support with parts and people and a fine record in bullseye.
The Ruger is a known quality pistol. In free states it has good aftermarket support but in CA is lacks due too the sn being on the receiver not the frame. Barrel changes are difficult and are your only choice in CA for a barrel upgrade. Clarks will take your Ruger and make it shoot. Get a MKll if interested.
The 22a is a fine pistol that offers a entry level person a decent, accurate and reliable pistol for a low price. You have to like what it is out of the box. There is no reason to put 100.00 grips on a 180.00 dollar gun. So most of the grip companies have past it by. If the factory grips are ok for you then you go for it.
I have one with both barrels. The long barrel has a cheap scope and is a good shooter that goes with me every range trip. I try to shoot every week so it gets thousands of rounds a year. The short barrel has a cheap red dot and hardly ever gets shot.
I bought it used and after about 80k rounds the frame broke at the trigger pin going up to the slide rail. The breach end of the long barrel had receded so much that the slide hit the ramp and left a ding that caused jams. Called S&W they sent a return slip and after two weeks I got it back right at my door for free. New long barrel and frame with the same sn. They even put my modified rail on the new long barrel. I have never cleaned it I try not to shoot cheap/dirty bulk ammo. It never jams with SK Pistol Match and anything else I have tried. It has a little plastic recoil buffer that will need to be changed if you shot high velocity ammo otherwise it will be fine. You can get free ones from S&W just call them and have your sn handy they will send a couple. Brownell has them for a buck or two get a few and shipping will be more than the part and it is easy to change. It is easy to field strip. Barrel changes are quick and easy. But it isn't a Buckmark or Ruger. If it helps I have been a Ruger owner since 1959.