How about a good .22 for plinking?

C

Clarence8

New member
I'm looking for a decent .22 to go plinking /target shooting with. Like to spend between 200 and 300 I think. I own an old S&W 422/2206 that unfortunately was a lemon and had many problems, are their new models any good?

Who should I check out?
 
OLD S&W revolvers; in the last 10 to 15 years the quality is missing.

OLD Rugers; ditto.

OLD Berrettas; ditto.

OLD Colts; ditto.

OR any Taurus or Rossi.

My favorites are any of the old Iver Johnson pistols or revolvers they were and are inexpensive reliable and accurate in almost all cases.

Have fun!



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Talk is cheap; Free Speech is NOT.
 
I really like the Browning Buck Mark line. They have several models that start (here in Texas) at $200.

I own three different models and am keeping my eyes open for a fourth. :D

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Make mine lean, mean, and 9x19!
 
I was in a similar position about a year or so ago. I narrowed it down to the S&W 22S, Ruger Mark series (didn't care for the 22/45, but that's just my preference), Colt .22 (doubt it's still being made), and the Browning Buckmark.

It came down to the Ruger and Smith just because they felt better in my hand, and I ended up with the Smith. I've actually shot all four, and they all shoot very similarly; .22's are a light round and absorbing recoil isn't a big deal. Topped my 22S off with a ProPoint 3, and have been very happy with it.
 
A Ruger Mk II would be my first choice. Although my personal favorite has the 5 1/2-inch bull barrel, Ruger offers enough variations on this model to suit practically everybody.
 
I own a Ruger MKII in stainless with a 5 1/2 inch barrel. I can't even estimate the number of rounds that I've put through it. It looks like new both inside and out. There is a trick to reassembling it after field stripping it but if you follow the instructions it is not difficult.You will not be able to wear one out.
 
For fun, accuracy, quality etc at an affordable price, I would go with K-22, preferably pre 70 or so. No feed problems with the wheelgun and if it is in tune and you find the food it likes best, it will outshoot the shooter right up to the National level. Ruger MKI would be my second choice only cause it doesnt always feed the ones with pocket fuzz on em.

Sam....follow me, I know a shortcut.
 
Ruger MKII's are hard to beat. Real fond of my stainless MKII 6 & 7/8 barreled target. Old K22's are a joy to shoot as well. Picked up an old 1955 vintage K22, New In Box for $375 not to long ago. Terrific sixgun with beatiful double and single action trigger pulls. Used and in good shape older K22's can be picked up for under $300. GEE! It's kinda hard to think of an American made 22 handgun that would NOT make a good plinker. Even the single action revolvers are fun when I'm feeling a little nostalgic.

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Just one of the Good Guys
 
I've fired a lot of Ruger .22's, personally don't like them. Quality was lame and man they're UGLY :D

If I had not gotten a deal on an S&W 22A ($99 bucks, I am still VERY happy with it), I would have gone for the Browning Buckmark. Love the grips, beautiful design, accurate as well. I don't know enough about the company to comment on their customer service, lemon %age, etc.

OTOH, try the S&W 22A. They are inexpensive and mine fires like a charm. The magazine release is AWESOME, I only wish I could get that on my Glock!!! (It sits in the grip about 3/4 inch under the trigger - you tap it with your middle finger and out it pops)

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"Freedom is that instant between when someone tells you to do something and when you decide how to respond."
-Dr. Jeffrey Borenstein

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."
-Martin Luther King Jr.
 
High Standard Citations are a joy to handle and shoot if you can find one...buy it! I have a 25 year old Ruger Mark 1 in 6" barrel with fixed sights which is still a favorite, and a great training pistol for young uns. Remember, training youngsters is as important as any other shooting you will ever do!
 
I've been lucky, I guess, in that all the .22's I've owned or my brothers have owned have worked well. I like my old High Standard Sportking (1950's vintage), my Ruger MKII stainless bull barrel and my H&R 1871 Model 999 Sportsman (an underated .22 in my opinion...9-shot, top break, adj. sights). My brothers have had good luck with their Ruger Single-Six convertibles as well as their MK IIs. If there is one .22 handgun I've been disappointed in, it's my Taurus 941 .22 mag...accuracy doesn't seem too good and it gums up with powder after just a couple of cylinders. I'm still experimenting with different brands of ammo to find one which leaves less powder unburned and which groups well.
 
Greetings Clarence8,

I've got a Ruger Mk II stainless slabside 6 7/8" barrel, which I love for it's accuracy and reliability. It's the target model and comes with scope rings; I put a 2X scope on it.

It's great for targets or small varmints, but it's so heavy that I recently bought and am waiting to pick up one of the smaller, lighter Browning Buck Mark models for fun and for the youngsters. The Browning Buck Mark owners' manuals are available on line at their web site.

As stated, finding the right .22 ammo for your gun is crucial to accuracy and gun cleanliness.

Regards,

Ledbetter
 
Ruger MKII for semi-auto. Taurus 94 for revolver.

How come everyone makes .22 revolvers w/ full lug barrels...makes things kinda heavy.

I'd love to get my hands on a 4" bbl S&W model 18, which I believe was discontinued in 1985.
 
All the semi-autos that the previous posters have mentioned are good guns, and would make a good choice, with the possible exception of the S&W 22A and the Colt 'Cadet'.
For an informal plinking/target gun, I believe you'd get the most for your money with a Ruger Super Single Six revolver. I have several high-end autos and a treasured K-22 in the safe, but for a casual outing, the SSS is the one I often pick. This is a tough, accurate, durable and versatile revolver, that can handle any commercial rimfire ammo from shotshells and CB caps to .22 Magnum. Get one in stainless, and don't look back.

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If they take our guns, I intend to let my hair grow long and acquire the jawbone of an ass.
 
sorry slabsides, I agree with shooter, and take exception to your exception, except the colt cadet exception. :)

Seriously though, my S&W is pre-agreement as well, in fact it was a range gun before I bought it, so god knows how many rounds have gone through it.

That's precisely why I bought it - that many rounds and it's still accurate and a pleasure to fire.

Can you be more specific as to why you don't feel they are good plinkers?
 
just bought a s&w 22a target today. put about 300 rounds threw it without any major problems. good gun for the price.
 
Well, maxi, remember it's 'opinion', not divine law, here.
I think the Ruger SSS revolver is just the best plinking/target value for the money today. It offers accuracy, versatility and quality in a single attractive package. It's a superb gun with which to learn pistol shooting, or train a novice. Its durability is legendary.
I don't have much enthusiasm for any new Colt or S&W product these days. When the Cadet was introduced as being '...the gun you've been wanting if you miss the grand old Woodsman', I gagged, retched, and rejected.
The nicer old guns that many posters mentioned are generally pretty scarce, or going for higher prices than Clarence wanted to pay, otherwise my recommendations might have been different.
I'm glad that in the S&W you found a good-shooting pistol that you like for so little money, and wish you much enjoyment with it.

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If they take our guns, I intend to let my hair grow long and acquire the jawbone of an ass.
 
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