In search of accurate 22LR semi auto . . .

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Prof Young

New member
Shooters:
I've owned a Buckmark Camper, a S&W 22A and now a Beretta Neos. All three had the longer barrel. I tried all kinds of ammo through all three and shot all three off a rest. I put a scope on the S&W and the Beretta. With all three, after about ten yards, the groups turn into patterns. Is it too much to expect a decent group from a 22LR semi auto at about 25 yards?

Live well, be safe
Prof Young
 
I've had much the opposite result with .22LR semis--at least after doing enough experimentation to find ammo that the gun likes.
 
Sure it's not you? Even off a rest. Just can't see those results from a Buckmark. Even the lower level Camper
Or maybe your expectation of a "group" is unrealistic. Five holes touching each other @25 yrds, doubtfull. Hitting pop cans, busting clay pidgeons, then breakig up the pieces, and cosistanty spinning a 1/2 size woodchuck at 25 yds is perfecty acheivable
If you want those five holes touching, better be prepaired to pay 3, or 4X the price of the guns youtried for a S&W 41.
 
New Texas made High Standard, just over 1/2" group at 50 yards:

TrophyTgtSK.jpg
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I had a 7" 22A when they first came out. Accuracy was rifle like. With a Leupold 4X on board it was no great trick to shoot a 10rd group the size of a business card at 100 yards.

I had another, a 4" or 5" that wasn't near as good, but not as bad as what you describe either.

A friend had a Buckmark that he shot rabbits and gophers with out to 60 paces.

IF YOU ARE SURE that is isn't you, then Ruger MkII and MKIII pistols are pretty accurate, as is the S&W M-41, Hi-Standard and others. Really though, all the guns you've tried are usually good shooters.

Even my 3" Walther P-22 shoots better groups than you describe.:(
 
Sure it's not you? Even off a rest. Just can't see those results from a Buckmark.
Click to expand...

I can.

I just had to have one when they first introduced them in the 80s.

After a few trips to the Everglades, I just had to get rid of it because the accuracy was mediocre at best, and a general disappointment.

The other two I can't attest to having stayed away from them.

My most accurate .22 pistol is the CZ Kadet, followed by the SIG Trailside.
 
My Buck Mark is extremely accurate.

My FiL has a Ruger Mark II target model with a long barrel is that he is absurdly accurate with. Hint: don't bet him that he can't hit a postage stamp with it at 15 yards.
 
I'd look for an old Hamden, CT made Hi-Standard.
The Olympic model would be a great choice...Trophy or Citation great as well.
Pretty much any of the old Letter-Model gals will impress also :)
hscollection1.jpg


Let's be real, they were the ONLY US Pistol MFR to ever win Olympic Gold.
(1952 & 1960) Nobody else even gets close out of all the MFR's in the USA.
That's actually kind of embarrassing...that its been 55 years since a Gold Medal
in pistol shooting, and in the USA we LOVE Pistol SHOOTING!!


That being said, it still make me wonder about the Trigger Nut...
or perhaps what sorts of sight adjustments you may have made to them...
or even worse, are ANY of the scopes a Tasco??
TASCO causes more issues than than I care to spend time listing...they truly suck.

I'm seeing more & more of the Texas High-Standard's doing well, looks like they've
finally got a handle on their initial issues as well :D
 
Not made anymore...I think...however, I've heard great things about the accuracy of the Colt Woodsman. While I haven't searched, perhaps there are used ones available.
 
Texas High-Standard bought all the CT rights & machinery before finding out
that it was all worn slap out...still, they've come a long way in twenty years...
their first models kinda bit butt...as new MFR'ing tends to do these days...
(the Marlin/Remington debacle in Ilion, NY, comes to mind,
their best move was going to Kentucky & Alabama)
But now, I'd have no problem buying a new High-Standard or AMT pistol from Texas :)
 
Big Shrek and bigmatt nailed it (IMhO). (Maybe having 'big' in your name makes you smarter...).

S&W Model 41 would be my personal choice if I had the money and desire to get a real tack driver but my Ruger Mark something works fine for me.

Hammerli IIRC used to be an Olympic level pistol...but you'll REALLY pay for Olympic quality. Here's a Hammerli but there are many models and styles.

http://www.champchoice.com/store/main.aspx?p=ItemDetailOptions&item=2742752

http://www.champchoice.com/store/Main.aspx?p=ItemDetailOptions&item=35570
 
A decent Ruger Mk II will do close to 1/2" 5 shot groups with a scope at 20-25 yards. My Mk II slabside will average under 1 1/4 at 50 yards for 5 shots. It will average a little under 2" (3 shots) at 100 yards. They are very accurate pistols.
 
Thanks . . .

Thanks for all the thoughts and suggestions. I'll look into all the models mentioned. Maybe I need to go back to the Buckmark. I had that gun when I was first learning to shoot and probably didn't give it much of a chance.

Live well, be safe
Prof Young
 
Maybe I need to go back to the Buckmark. I had that gun when I was first learning to shoot and probably didn't give it much of a chance.
Click to expand...
Both of mine are "rifle accurate" with even half-decent ammo.
The Target model (circa 1991), in particular, has put me to shame on more than one occasion. --Me shooting a .22 LR rifle, and a (family member) better handgunner running the Buckmark on targets at 50-150 yards. :rolleyes:

The other one, a circa 1988 Standard model, has seen far more use (over 130k rounds) and is probably approaching the end of its useful life. I don't think it'll live to see 150k. It just has too many parts approaching 'irreparable' status at the same time. But it's still just as accurate as ever.

Both are bone-stock, but the Target model did run a red dot sight for a few years (tons of fun, especially for long range shooting).
 
S&W just came out with a new target 22 at the shot show. They also partnered with volquartsen (sp?) To produce aftermarket higher grade match barrels. May be worth a look.
 
Prof. Currently, Buckmark has a sterling reputation and for a reasonable price too, I'm not aware of endemic problems in that line. Nor with the other two you mentioned. So I'd suspect problems with your sights, sight picture, trigger manipulation or grip technique. Use of the scope off bags as you mentioned, however, should show you that telltale flip as the shot breaks that spreads groups out...indicative of a flinching problem.

Here are some thoughts on some older models that have always earned their keep on competitive firing lines. Back in the day, when I was into Bullseye shooting over the NRA 50' and 25/50 yd courses, I saw two types of pistols on the 22 lr firing lines...and that includes the Colt factory team...they were invariably Hi-Standards of one model or another, S&W M41's, or rarely, even then in ca 1977-1982, Colt Woodsmen. Any of which would be suitable now, though some of them are truly collector items.

Personally, I shot a Victor model HS for a year or two, but found that the grip angle didn't suit my style, and I switched to the Smith 41 which more resembled the 1911 Gold Cup that was my center fire and .45 gun for the longer venue.

As others have said, check your present gun off the bags to see if it's a shooter, gun, or some combination of gun, mount, scope problem.

Best Regards, Rod
 
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