.22LR Target Pistol

C

Carbon_15

New member
I'm thinking about adding a nice competition style .22 pistol to my collection. I have always wanted one, but usualy end up buying a nice centerfire for about the same amount. Whenever I think about the fact that I'm about to spend 600-800 on a friggin .22, I start to wonder if I'm having a laps of some sort, and buy something more "practical" instead.
Well, I think I'm going to do it this time. With my first kid only a month away..its now or never. My only qualifications are ACCURATE, ability to mount a scope, good looking (subjective, I know) and reliable...in that order. It would be nice if its not a brick of lead and isnt a pain to clean. I seriously doubt I would ever use it in formal competition...just plinking, competition among friend, and maybe ever some squirrel and rabbit hunting. A little Bob Mundin card cutting would be nice too;)
My .22 pistol experiance is limited to SAA style revolvers, my PPK .22, and my Uncle's super nice Browning Challenger (Ohhh if I could only talk him into selling that Gem..I have never seen wood and blueing like that). Some pistols that have recently caught my eye are the Sig Trailside and Beretta NEOS, how is the accuracy with these pistols..particularly the NEOS. The MKII's and Buckmarks are great pistols by any stadnard, but they just dont tickle my fancy. Any input you guys could give would be appreciated.



But you know, I never have gotten that .50 Desert Eagle..HMMM :D ;) :D
 
If you are willing to spend that much you can get some very nice guns. I saw some used Hammerli 208S's at the Tulsa show for $800. You can get a Walther KP200 brand new which uses the Baikal frame with Walther top. A S&W mod 41 with a Clark barrel is also within your budget. I don't know prices on a Pardini or Unique, but they might be a possible choice as well.
 
The Beretta Neo's seem to be aimed at the new shooter. Not that they are not good guns - I haven't handled one yet, but they may not be the competition grade .22 LR you are looking for.
There is also the Beretta 87. If I had the money for another .22 LR right now, I would get this one. It has a single action trigger, and looks rather like a 92. There is already a Weaver style mount on the slide, allowing you to mount all manner of accessories. It should be in the low $500's.
My Buckmark plus is highly accurate. I don't know about mounting a scope on it though. With the bull barrel it stays very steady. I can shoot it all day.
 
What kind of practical difference would one see between a pistol in the class of the Hammerli and those in the class of the Buckmark/MKII Target? In fairly competent hands ofcource.
 
Do a web search for IZH-35M - you will find many many hits on this great Russian gun. It is used by many in competition. Retails for $400. Fully adjustable trigger, anatomic grips. Not beautiful, but very functional. Also comes with scope mounts.

Ruger Govt Comp. Model KMK-678GC - Comes with rings. Trigger is OK. Accurate. You will not be able to wear it out. Parts are everywhere to upgrade it. Retail $365

Search for used S&W 41 or Beretta (96?) not common and not cheap.

I have the Ruger and am happy with it. I also have a used Browning Medalist that is a shooter. Paid under $400, but they are hard to find for that price. I may get the Russian gun eventually too. Also on the lookout for a K-22....
 
With your description of possible use.I recommend a Browning Medalist.I have had quite a few .22's and never found one as good as the Medalist.
It never gives any trouble with ammo (John Moses Browning knew what he was doing).
I have had Rugers,a S&W M41,a Colt Woodsman and some others such as Buckmarks etc.I have also shot some of the Euro's.
I always come back to the Medalist.
If you can try one before you buy that is the best way.
 
I have a Benelli MP95E Atlanta .22 target pistol. It is very accurate and has rails for a scope or red dot site. The magazine is mounted forward of the grip, like a Mauser C-96, so the balance is great. The recoil also comes straight back into your hand with almost no muzzle flip. I see them for around $700 now. They were once marketed under the H&K brand also. The Baikal interests me also. If I didn't have the Benelli, I'd get that.
 
Quote: "What kind of practical difference would one see between a pistol in the class of the Hammerli and those in the class of the Buckmark/MKII Target?"

I used to have a Ruger MKII. I still own a Woodsman Match Target, a Pardini .22LR, and a Walther .22 Short. There are definite practical advantages to the European pistols:
  • Superior ergonomics. The magazine-forward style Walthers and Pardinis permit better stock design.
  • Better balance. Weight forward means quicker recovery in rapid fire strings.
  • Excellent triggers, adjustable for weight, take-up, creep, overtravel, cant, and centering.
  • Bore axis lower than the top of the hand. Again, better controllability in RF strings.
  • Purpose-designed sights. Huge difference.
  • Designs permit stripping and/or barrel changing in about 10 seconds. No more slamming the Ruger on the table edge.
It's funny. My Colts all have at least some customization done to them, but my europistols are box stock. And yes, they are very accurate.

'coach
 
Kindlyoldcoach is right, and so is Makarov. The high-quality europistols are in a class all their own. And the Baikal is in that class, at the price of a good Ruger.
 
*&* is making M41s again, IINM. Saw a new one in the gun store last weekend anyways. Not that I would buy from them, but FYI.

What is this Baikal you speak of? Also, does no one recommend the Sig Trailside?
 
Futo, the reason that I ignored the Baikal and Trailside is that they are $400 guns and he is looking to spend $800. For someone wanting put money on a Ruger they would be a good alternative, but no competition for a 208S.
 
Jeff OTMG and Shmackley. thanks. But Jeff, I will still continue to assume that someone as knowledgable and helpful as yourself, when asked about a good gun in X price range, IF you in fact happen to know of a gun of the same quality in X minus a few hundred price, then you will surely mention this fact. :) Therefore, I will infer that the Baikal and Trailside are NOT on an equal par with the others you mentioned, quality-wise, IYO, without regard to price. Surely you wouldn't encourage people to throw away money just for the sake of throwing away money?

Quick story: I have wanted a 22 pistol for some time. After reading this thread and researching a little yesterday, I decided I wanted a Walther TSP200. Called Champion's Choice and ordered. Got the LAST ONE left ($700.00). Said they are "discontinued". Me: "does that mean CC discontinued importing/carrying them, or Walther quit making them?". CC Rep: "I dunno". So, maybe you'd better snatch one up if you want one??? ...... Oh, the Walther has no scope rail, unlike the Baikal, if that matters to you.
 
I recently sold my beloved Model 41 and upgraded to a Pardini SPE. The M41 is very good, but it's not worth paying retail for. I only purchased one because I got a very good deal thru the club.

A Pardini will set you back about a thousand bucks. What you are buying for that is:

- Light weight (ignore people who say that a target pistol should be very heavy; they're wrong) and excellent balance.
- A very nice orthopedic grip, adjustable for your hand size and position.
- A two-stage fully adjustable trigger that the Model 41 could never hope to approach (to say nothing of the Ruger MkIIs and Buckmarks, which are really plinkers rather than target guns.)
- Unequalled quality of workmanship.

As to practical accuracy, if a Pardini were benched in a Ransom Rest with good ammo, it would shoot ragged 10-shot holes at 50'. The Smith might shoot a bit wider, but maybe not. A Ruger or Buckmark will be a little less accurate, but we're talking quarter-size groups rather than dime-size. All three guns are theroetically capable of ten-ring accuracy.

The differences come out in offhand slow and rapid fire. With my M41, I can keep twenty shots inside the 8-ring of a standard NRA 50' pistol target. With the Pardini, I shoot 9's and 10's. The Pardini (and most other euro guns) are not any more accurate than an M41, but they are much easier to shoot accurately.

Give the Pardini a try.

- Chris
 
I'd also recommend the Walther KSP200. It is a step above it's russian twin (IZH-35) in quality. I've shot a few and they aren't bad, they are no GSP (then again, what else can compare?), but they aren't bad.
 
luv my Beretta 87 target, the integrated slide rail made mounting optics a snap, the stock sights are nice too though
 
my personal favorite is the hammerli 280...convertible to .22short and .32 long. also the pistol briget fonda used in "point of no return" :cool: ...:D :D

i've heard many good thing about the IZH and the Baikal
 
I realize that this is the semi-auto section, but...

The S&W 617 is a heckuva target pistol. The 8" barrel is wonderful. The cylinder holds 10 rounds and the accuracy is superb.

If not that, the Ruger MKII is a good inexpensive target gun. Mine has over 10,000 rounds through it.

RKD
 
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