Good .22 Target Pistols?

2

2cats

New member
I'm shopping for a good .22, for the range. Anyone have experience with the Beretta Model 89 Gold Standard?

Any other recommendations? High Standard?

If it has contoured grips, it must be able to accomodate a left hander.

Many thanks!

2cats
 
Ruger MKII Government Model with 6 7/8" bull barrel (MK-678). Very nice simple design with a lot of built-in mechanical strength. Lots of accesories on the market. Cheap magazines. Mine is working great for 4 years, no problems, ate at least 20,000 rounds, barrel still looks like brand new. Just clean it on a regular basis and use VERY modest oil to keep it nearly perfectly reliable.
 
If you have the budget go with the S&W 41.
If funds are short, like myself, look at the Ruger Mark II. I have a KMK-512. Shoots very good with no malfunctions at all.
 
If you have the budget, go with the S&W 41. It was designed to be a true target pistol. As mentioned above it has several barrels available for it. Mine prefers the subsonic loads such as Eley Pistol Match or RWS Subsonic HP. If this is a little too expensive and specialized a gun or if you want to plink and hunt with it, select the Ruger. I only fire my Smith at the range, that's why I bought the Ruger. I have the stainless 5 1/2 HB model(KMK-512). The Ruger shoots well enough that custom smiths such as Vorquesen make custom parts for converting the pistol to a true target grade gun.
 
The SIG Hammerli Trailside (PL-22) is out, but currently only in the short barrel. You don't say what you want the pistol for, but the SIG will be the best .22 around for under $500. The short barrel jobs were at the Dallas show for $366, but one of them did not group very well. The group was less than the size of a nickel at 25 meters, but others I have seen shot pea sized groups. If money is not a concern get a Hammerli 208S (I like it better that the 280) or a Walther GSP. You might have to drop an extra $350 on some left handed Morini grips, but you will have one of the finest shooting .22's on the market.
 
The Ruger P-512 (22/45) is a good sturdy,accurate target pistol. The one that I own has given me years of service without a glitch. Eats what I feed it, and doesn't cough. It can be had for a very reasonable price at almost any gun shop.
 
I own a Ruger 22/45, Bull-Barrel. I always research my gun purchases before buying and the Ruger came out as one of the top .22 target pistols.

In the right hands, it is capable of very small, tight groups out to 40 yards or more.

I like the feel of the bull-barrel as well as the way it sits in my hand.

It really is the only .22 semi-auto handgun I would own.

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Stand against evil, lest evil have its way...
 
The serious shooters on the Bullseye list swear by the S&W 41. They also swear by some of the MUCH more expensive Hammerli and other exotic guns, but we're talking BIG DOLLARS for these other guns. The S&W 41 seems to be the best bang for the buck for serious shooting. I've seen them in the $550 range, new, and you might be able to do better -- or think "used."

The Bullseye shooters also like the Ruger MKII target Competition, but grumble about its mediocre (by serious bullseye shooting standards) trigger. Many upgrade with a Voltquartsen trigger and other supplements. A good gunsmith can get the same results.

The new Sig Trailside has opened to mixed reviews, with some very vocal detractors. Especially among SIG enthusiasts. I've been surprised. (Similar to the Hammerlis mentioned earlier, I think.)

The BuckMark has many adherents, but Gun Tests magazine recently panned it -- observing that taking the grips off can turn routine cleaning into a major production, as key pieces and springs are held in by the grips. Sproing!

I have a Target Competition, and it shoots far better than I can -- and I got it for well under $400. Ruger's no questions asked lifetime warranty is hard to beat.

(Incidentally, I've never met anyone owned a Beretta .22. I've heard from a few who've shot them, and they were not generally overwhelmed. May be a good gun, but there are too few around to know for sure.)

[This message has been edited by Walt Sherrill (edited November 29, 1999).]
 
In the low dollar catagory do not forget the Smith & Wesson 22a and 22s. They are the new kid on the block being about a year and a half old.
I have a 22s target model (bull barrel and oversized grip). It never misses! What more can you ask for?
 
Here in Europe most serious .22 competition shooters use Hammerli or Walther. Rugers and Browning Buckmarks are considered beginners guns, and guys shooting them don't get medals in National or International matches. I think the only US-made .22 semiauto that could be considered a serious shooter's competition gun is S&W 41.

No offence, but I bet that if you check what the US Olympic Shooting Team members use you don't see many Rugers or Buckmark's in their range bags, at least when they are going to competitions. If you shoot for fun or are new in serious shooting take a Ruger or a Buckmark. If you want your gun to be good enough for championships in ISU disciplines buy a high quality gun and you don't need to trade it for better later.

Ossi
 
Hi, 2cats,

If you can find a good used S&W 41, go for it. It takes a lot to wear one out and they will retain both accuracy and value. As others have said, Ruger is a good second choice, but IMHO, the triggers are never (even the custom) as good as the S&W.

Jim
 
Gee Ossi, you say nice things about my Hammerli 208S yet ignored my SAKO Triace Kit. Being from Finland I would have thought that you would speak highly of the fine Triace.
 
I spent <$150. at a show a coupla months ago for a Ruger .22/45 and have had a blast at the range ever since. I bring the .22 and another pistol with me every trip with 100 or so rounds for the .45, .40, or 9mm and 300-500 rnds. of .22 from Wal-mart or some other major outlet which sells .22 ammo really cheap for the Ruger. No, I am not going to be internationally famous for my shooting ability, and have never aspired to be. I shoot well and have a good time. It is a real joy to plink cans or bottles flung up on the backstop at the range when paper gets too boring, usually smacking the target before the boys with the REAL target weapons can hit it! It's fun to watch it dance. Go ahead spend $600 on a .22 pistol, I'll be at the other end of the range having just as much fun!!
paull
 
Jeff OTMG, the reason I did not mention Sako TriAce is that to my knowledge it is now out of production, and also I did not know if it was available in the USA. As far as I know Sako TriAce is comparable to best Hammerlis and Walthers, and TriAce shooters have won international competitions as well. Jeff, sounds you own one piece of most quality models made.

Rugers and Browning Buckmarks (as well as some less expensive European .22s) are quite popular here also as more affordable alternatives to top accurate (and expensive) guns. Many .22 shooters use Rugers and Brownings first, but those who want to win competitions buy another gun for serious competitions later.

What I have heard here about Beretta 89 is that it is quite good, ranked somewhat better than a Ruger or Browning Buckmark, but not as good as Hammerlis, Walther GSP or Sako TriAce. But this is a subjective evaluation based on second hand info.

As some others have said if you shoot for fun just take the gun you like (and that does not cost too much for the fun it gives). But on the other hand, if you want to have a gun that is good enough for medals in ISU competitions (consistent 10 ring shooter when the shooter does his/her part) it costs more, and Rugers and Buckmarks do not belong to that group.

Ossi
 
Since you're left handed, you prolly don't want one of those whiz-bang furrin models with the thumb rest, hand sculptured grips 'n'all. So I would recommend *drum roll* ...

A Colt 45 Automatic pistol with a Ciener 22 Conversion kit. Then you have a tremendously versatile pistol, cheap practice with the 22, which by the way, shoots more accurately than the 45 on all examples I've seen. The cheap fixed sight model is fine, no need for adjustables as it shoots to point of aim.

A point about rimfires: try several brands to see what your gun likes best. They usually have a preference. HTH

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Be mentally deliberate but muscularly fast. Aim for just above the belt buckle Wyatt Earp
45 ACP: Give 'em a new navel! BigG
 
Ossi, they only imported 200 Triace pistols and only a few were the complete 3 caliber kits. They were brought in in 1985-1986, in fact it was featured on the front cover of the 1985 Shooter's Bible. It is a neat pistol and the .22 short is the most fun, but the .32 S&W is the most accurate centerfire that I have ever seen. I also have a SIG P210, Bren 10, Steyr GB, H&K P9S Target in .45 ACP, Browning GP Comp, High Standard 10B shotgun, and a Calico 9mm carbine with the collapsable stock. I have some odd firearms, but I sure do like having something that I don't see on the range everyday I go out there.
 
Someone mentioned the S&W 22s earlier. Is this a good/accurate plinker/target pistol? I'm not into competition shooting or anything. I just want a small accurate pistol that I can mount a scope on.
Has anyone heard of any problems with this model? Also what is a good price for it? Any other ideas?

Mikolapi
 
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