Looking for a .22 semi auto, so many choices....

So, I went to another gun store with the best selection. They had some browning buck marks starting at $369 used to just under $500. This was more than I had anticipated so I starting looking further. Ruger mk3s were around $500.

So, I was thinking and went 90 degrees when I saw a S&W bodyguard .380 for $300 new. Totally different I know, but I think my wife and daughter would be able to practice with it. Sort of an impulse buy, but I didn't purchase it yet. Two totally different styles and purposes.

Academy has the browning buck mark for $330. I could go there even though I thought they were out of business.

It's funny the salesman couldn't grasp why I wanted the browning .22 while at the same time I thought it was odd he didn't understand.
 
So, I was thinking and went 90 degrees when I saw a S&W bodyguard .380 for $300 new. Totally different I know, but I think my wife and daughter would be able to practice with it
Click to expand...

Not the gun you want to take to the range for the family to work on their markmanship skills.
 
I used to have a buckmark and I have to say it it had a great trigger, never had any issues running it with every ammo, and was far more accurate than I could ever be. Oh btw i say used to have because once my wife shot it she said it was hers now. So got myself a s&w 22 compact for plinking purposes, so far it's eats everything and is fun to shoot, but it's not a target .22.
 
Looking for a .22 semi auto

I've owned Buckmark since the early 90s. I like mine in it's basic form. It's accurate with a very good trigger, adjustable sights and has functioned with all kinds of ammo for a lot of years. Additionally if you wanted to modify it there are lots of aftermarket parts from Browning and other vendors.
 
The Bodyguard is a nice in pocket or backpack pistol but will immediately turn the wife off with it's sharp recoil, difficult trigger and short sight radius. For plinking fun my Sig P 938 (9 mm) and a Sig .22 LR conversion kit with same barrel length and night sights is a fun pistol in eaither caliber.
 
In my opinion there are two .22 pistol categories:

Plinking pistols, easy to field strip, fun to shoot:
1. Smith & Wesson M&P 22 Compact
2. Ruger SR22

Target pistols, harder to field strip, better accuracy:
1. Ruger Mark III Target
2. Browning Buckmark

Hard to go wrong with any of these quality .22's, more of a personal preference.
 
I've had a Buckmark and all three of the Ruger Mks. I would be willing to don a blindfold and pick any one of the four out of a hat and be happy with any one of them that came up.

My absolute "only can have one" choice would probably be the Ruger but the Buckmark is great also.
 
As much as I like the browning buck mark, it's minimum $370 for a used one.

I have it narrowed down to S&W M&P .22 or a Sig P250 .22. Both are $350 each new.
 
I know, I agree in a way, but I thought the other 2 choices I had were based on expandability as with the sig, and more potential rather than just a target gun.
 
There is a reason that fixed barrel 22's with blowback slides are widely used.
Same type of design in colt woodsman, hi standard,buckmark, s&w 41, and slight modifications of it in the ruger mk series And s&w victory.

Truth to the saying "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery"
 
VADER... PAY ATTENTION to what people are telling you. There's a reason for what they are saying. Go ahead and buy the M&P 22, or SR22, or Sig 250 22. Then when you get disgusted with those because you cant figure out what the problem is, come back here, and ask again, and we will all tell you the same thing again. Ruger, Buckmark, or Victory. Save yourself the aggravation and the money you are going to waste, if you buy something other than one of those last three.
 
Stand back,,,

Stand back,,,
Were gonna try Logic.

Okay, now that I have that out of the way,,,
Lemme 'splain myself here.

First off, I'm limiting this to fiery-arms a normal dude can afford,,,
Of course a S&W 41 is a fine gun,,,
Normal folk can't afford one.

Second thing is,,,
Since you used the word "pistol",,,
I'm gonna bow to modern terminology,,,
And assume semi-auto rather than a revolver.

You said, "... so many choices."

Let's narrow that down into categories,,,
Do you want a pistol for:
  • Range style target use.
  • Combat/SD training/simulations.
  • Just to have something to go out and burn some ammo through.

There's no real thought into the categories,,,
It's simply what all of my pistols fall into.

For range/target guns you should look at these options:

Beretta U-22 NEOS,,,
It has a skinny grip and looks like something Buck Rogers would carry.

I own two handguns and one dedicated to the carbine Conversion,,,
I'm a Beretta NEOS Fanboy if you hadn't noticed,,,
I like 'em lots and they perform flawlessly. :)

Ruger Mk-II or Mk-III,,,
They are classic handguns known for their accuracy/reliability,,,
Purists love the Mk-II for the absence of the mag disconnect and loading chamber indicator.

I never was spoiled by the venerable Mk-II,,,
I own a 6" Mk-III standard (skinny) barrel and love it.

Ruger 22/45 Mk-II or Mk-III,,,

Essentially the same gun as a Mk-II/Mk-III,,,
Except for the grip/controls are shaped/configured like a Colt 1911.

I own a matched pair of slab-side 5.5-inchers,,,
They are both reliable/accurate, and fun,,,
I love having a matching pair.

Smith & Wesson 22-A,,,

What can I say about it,,,
It's accurate, reliable, and well made,,,
Many folk hate the fat grip but I don't mind it at all.

It a very nice gun,,,
But it ain't glamorous at all.

Right now they are a bargain on the new market,,,
They have been discontinued due to the release of the next pistol.

Smith & Wesson Victory,,,

I don't own one,,,
My personal opinion,,,
Based on nothing more than an early picture,,,
It looks like a clone of the Browning Buckmark Pistol,,,
Since I already have a very fine Buckmark I decided to pass on one.

Now I say, don't let my personal bias affect your decision,,,
Take look at the Victory and evaluate for yourself,,,
Lot's of folk have bought-em and luv-em.

Browning Buckmark,,,

At the time of this post (because I went to the Browning website and (counted)
There were 17 "Current production" pistols displayed,,,
Ten more California Compliant pistols offered,,,
With four listed as "Limited Availability".

I own a 7" barrel Hunter model,,,
It has way much more accuracy than I can utilize,,,
And in a recent informal ammo test I did it ate 11 different types easily.

Now look,,,
There are many other .22 semi-auto pistols out there,,,
But these are the top five (or six) available.

I {and this is simply a personal bias),,,
I stay away from the 2nd market manufacturers,,,
Lots of people buy their guns and have no problems at all,,,
I'm just one of those guys who say that known brand names are a better bet.

Take a look at any other semi-auto pistols out there,,,
After all, variety is the spice of life.

But if you are just wanting a good shooting gun,,,
Rather than something odd and exotic,,,
Any of these six will do you just fine.

Tomorrow I'll attempt to tackle the 2nd category,,,
Combat/SD training/simulations can wait,,,
It's Saturday night and time for,,,
Cheesy Sci-Fi and Tequila. ;)

Aarond

.
 
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The Ruger MKs are made of steel compared to some of the others made of pot metal. I was close to buying an SR22 but had two friends with a failure on one of the parts which turned out to be a plastic part. I have a close friend that owns a Buckmark and he has been quite happy with it for several thousand rounds. I wanted a S&W model 41 but the prices have went out of sight the last several years.
 
Thanks for the breakdown Aarond. I will admit I am getting sidetracked a bit when I go into the gun stores, but I need to stick to what I am looking for. Really just a range gun to learn how to shoot, esp for my daughter while also learning how to handle, maybe take apart, etc. Not for combat, or self defense.
The buckmark remains at the top with its distant cousins Ruger III and S&W victory not far away. I will admit I do like the sig p250 for its big gun feel, and conversion kits.
I am not trying to beat this to death, and I appreciate all input. I usually stick with my purchases and try to avoid buyers remorse. I do think the buckmark will do the trick.
 
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