Need some advice on .22 pistols

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Amateur13

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Hey everyone.

Ok so my boyfriend has been wanting to get a .22 pistol for the two of is to shoot together. I'm thinking about getting him one for Christmas but I really don't know that much about guns so I need some advice. He's been looking at High Standards, but those are a bit above my price range lol. I'd like to stay srounf the $300 range. I've been doing some research and have been leaning towards a Ruger MKIII target of a S&W 22a-1. I would really love some opinions and feedback to help me make a decision. I'm not set on getting one of those too either. I'm open to suggestions, just want to stay around $300 :). Thanks!
 
Well, as you acknowledged, you won't find a High Standard pistol anywhere near your $300.00 cut-off point.:( You won't go wrong with the Ruger though-it's accurate, reliable and well-made. Disassembly/reassembly of the Ruger for cleaning is a bit more "complicated" than most other designs but following the manual (with practice) makes the process very doable. My advice would be to get a model with adjustable sights; it makes shooting so much easier, as you get a better sight picture and you'll be able to conform the point of aim (poa) with the point of impact (poi) with nothing more than a screwdriver.
And welcome to The Firing Line!
 
I've got an old High Standard my father gave me, and a Ruger Mk II. The Ruger gets shot more, because I don't have to baby it like the High Standard. One tough pistol!

The current Ruger (MKIII if you like metal frame, 22/45 if you like polymer) comes in a wide variety of barrel/sight options. Most people like the 5 1/2" bull barrel, I bought the cheapest one, a 4 3/4" tapered barrel with fixed sights.

http://www.ruger.com/products/markIII/index.html
http://www.ruger.com/products/2245/index.html

However, if he likes the way the High Standard is put together, the Browning Buckmark would be a natural choice, very similar design, and an excellent pistol. you can get a "camper" model for around $300-$350, I think. The Buckmark is like the High Standard in that the barrels are interchangeable.

http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/firearms/finder.asp?f1=006B

I've shot the S&W a few times, personally don't care for it. The grip feels like holding a bar of Zest, and it just seems like it was designed around a price point, rather than as a great target pistol.

Other options would be:

-Ruger SR-22: http://www.ruger.com/products/sr22Pistol/models.html
-Beretta Neos: http://www.berettausa.com/products/u22-neos-45/
-Ruger Single Six: http://www.ruger.com/products/newModelSingleSix/index.html
-Ruger SP-101: http://www.ruger.com/products/sp101/models.html

Also, if this is your 1st firearm purchase, make sure you budget for the following:

-gun safe!
-ammo
-ear and eye protection
-cleaning kit (oil, patches, brushes, boresnake, etc.)
 
Ruger MKIII

I've had one for about 2 - 3 years and besides the cleaning aspect, there is nothing that I don't like about it. Probably the most fun to shoot out of everything that I have and it's the one pistol that my wife also enjoys shooting.

If you go with it, you may want to also try to find some CCI Mini-Mags for ammo. For me, it's the only ammo I run through her.
 
Basically there are 5 brands to look at,,,

Basically there are 5 brands to look at,,,
Assuming you want new rather than used.

Ruger Mk-III
Personally I would recommend the 5.5" Target version,,,
It's a great pistol with a fairly steep grip angle,,,
They will last a lifetime or two.


Ruger 22/45
Again I would recommend the 5.5" Target version,,,
It's a great pistol with a squarer grip angle.

I own a pair of these fine pistols in stainless steel,,,
I can personally vouch for their performance and accuracy.

Browning Buckmark
There are so many different models of the Buckmark,,,
That I wouldn't dare recommend a single model as the best,,,
What I will say is stay away from short barrels and get at least a 5'5" barrel.

The longer the barrel the easier it is to aim any handgun.

S&W 22A
This is a very nice target pistol with a very fat grip,,,
I rented one at a range and found it to be a fine performer,,,
My gripe is that I have small hands and the fat grip did not fit me at all.

Beretta U22 NEOS
The common complaint about these fine pistols is their space-gun look,,,
If this doesn't bother you then you will find them to be fine performing pistols.

They have very slender grips,,,
People like myself find them to be very comfy.

In my opinion they have the best magazines of any target style .22 pistol,,,
And the guns break down to clean in about 30 seconds.

I own two of these and can personally vouch for their performance.
Stay with the 6" barrel models and you will be hitting the target in no time at all.

I have the 4.5" and the 6" barrels,,,
The 6" is for serious target shooting,,,
The 4.5" is for pretending I'm James Bond. ;)

In conclusion:
Any of the above 5 handguns are worth the purchase price.

The Rugers are definitely the strongest of the five,,,
The Buckmark is the one I have the least experience with,,,
The S&W or the Beretta will probably be the least expensive to buy.

Your choice could boil down to being,,,
The one that makes you smile when you pick it up.

I hope this helps you.

Aarond

.
 
So many options

First off, thank you all for the input. It seems that out of the two I was leaning towards, the Ruger would be the better choice. I have actually looked at a 22/45 and held it, felt pretty good. I would like to get it in stainless, I just like the way they look :-p But no that a few of you mentioned the Browning, I took a look at them and they do look a lot like the High Standards. I'm going to have to keep researching.

I had read a few bad reviews on the S&W, so I'm glad I asked about it, you all have pretty much confirmed that it probably isn't the best choice.
 
I've shot in Bullseye competition for the last 30 years or so. FWIW, the only one of the several pistols discussed in this thread that you routinely see on the line in competition is the Ruger, and of those the MK II seems to be preferred, I believe due to the greater ease of disassembly/reassembly (that's a bit of a guess as I don't have personal experience with Rugers). You'll run into the odd Buckmark or 22A from time to time, but they're usually being shot by someone who's just gotten into formal shooting and is looking to upgrade. And the Rugers, particularly with a few relatively inexpensive Volquartsen aftermarket parts, are often winning matches as well.
 
other 22s to consider

For fun shooting, my wife and I have a SigSauer Mosquito and a Heritage Arms big bore 22LR/Mag. The Mosquito has a long break in period but after that it fires everything. Cleaning the Mosquito is a serious part of the break in. The HA is a revolver so it is easier to break in. Both are fun, but I don't think I would trust either for protection.
 
I bought my wife a Beretta Neos a few years back and it is a sweet shooting pistol. Dead on accurate and fun to shoot, as well as easy to disassemble and clean.

I would highly recommend it.
 
aarondhgraham has pretty much said it all about the most popular options.

What makes the main difference is how the guns fit in your hand. This article gives a good description about fit.
http://www.corneredcat.com/article/choosing-firearms/trying-on-a-handgun/

The web site is a valuable resource for any one.
http://www.corneredcat.com/

Get a gun that fits your hand. Unless your boyfriend has extremely large hands, he'll be better able to adjust to a smaller grip than you will to a larger one.

If possible, find a range that rents the guns you're looking for and give them a try.

Don't forget to invest in good hearing and eye protection.
 
Another vote for the Ruger Mk ll or Mk lll the Mk ll will only be found used.

I don't much care for the Addl. "safety features" present on the Mk. lll fortunately the one that can affect function can easily be removed.

Great handgun. A modern classic.
 
I would narrow my decision down to the Ruger and Browning. The Browning wins out for me due to a better trigger action and it has proven quit accurate when I'm focused.
 
I'd also vote for the Ruger. Yes, they can be difficult to take apart for thorough cleaning. I've also found over the years that it's unnecessary to disassemble it for thorough cleaning and lubrication. They are robust and reliable and one of the best values on the market.
 
I can recommend the Beretta 87 Target.
I don't know how much it costs in the USA; it is quite expensive in Italy too for a 22.

Nevertheless I fed it with almost anything and it never failed a single shot (unless fail of the cartridge which happens with low budget ammo in .22LR). No need for HV ammo too.

I have been using it for two years now, in simil-IDPA competition at national level, and got access to the finals both years (and I am not a great shot). Having no jams for the whole season is making the difference.

Have fun!
 
I'm a fan of the Ruger semi auto 22 pistols. First choice is a 22/45 Mk2 with 5.5" bull barrel.
The one I use most has received almost unimaginable abuse and very little cleaning and is 100% functional and accurate. The takedown/reassembly quirks of the Rugers shouldn't be a put-off since most users rarely need to disassemble them.
If you want a cute, modern looking, smaller pistol, the SR22 is nice but much less of a "general purpose" gun than the MK or 22/45 series.
 
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