Recommend a .22 Pistol

I have a Mark II 678 Target model and love it. I have tens of thousands of rounds through it with no issues. I am an Basic Pistol Instructor and CPL Instructor and our club bought several Mark III for use in First Shot classes and other instruction. They have been less reliable (picky on which ammunition they like) and much more difficult to reassemble after cleaning. I believe this is due to the extra links in the magazine disconnect.

That said, If I was buying a .22lr for a personal plinker or inexpensive training, I would not hesitate to get either a Mark II or III.

The only .22 I have seen that consistently has issues is the Sig Mosquito. There may be exceptions and i love to shoot it, but it seems to have Failure to feed issues no matter how you clean and lube it, and no matter which ammo you use.

Every one should have a rimfire pistol, great practice and you can shoot all day for less than a box of centerfire ammo.
 
Yo EDINK

I may be a tad bias but I'd put my money one the Mk1 or Mk11. Depending on what state you live in the prices vary. Out west here you can still find these going for under $250.00 used in a+ condition. Or go on Auction Arms or Gunbrokers & look. I've had my Mk1 for around 25 years, countless rounds-every kind- and never a problem. And I bought it used. 'Course I do clean 'em.
 
In order of which i like:
Buckmark
S&W .22a
Walther p22

the best value is the S&W that can be had for $225 locally to me and is as accurate as any gun i could shoot.With a $30 red dot and bulk ammo i can do 2" groups at 75'
Its kinda gotten boring blowing out bullseyes at the range so i hope to get it out in the woods where i can shoot something other than paper.
 
Bill, I've bought two MK III 22/45's and a MK II 22/45 in the last 2 years for less than 300.00.
Click to expand...
Ruger doesn't make the MK III and Mk II in 22/45 NEW. The 22/45 is it's own model now. (That's why I recommended the 22/45.) Add, IIRC, Ruger hasn't made the MK I or II NEW for some time.

I do believe one can get the MK III STANDARD NEW for the price mentioned or less though. But, probably not the other MK III models. I'm only talking new here.

My 22/45 is the 5.5" Bull Barrel and I paid $249 for it in November 2008.
 
Last edited:
I have decided to go with the ruger 22/45 can someone tell me the difference between the mk2 and mk3 versions
 
Buckmarks are the only way to go in this price range. I have a 12 y/o Buckmark 5.5 Target that will run with the best of them.
 
Sorry Brian - I don't think any of the guns you mentioned can be purchased for $325 or less.
Click to expand...

Where are you shopping?

Beretta neos goes for $250 at most.

Browning Buckmark campers can be purchased for right at $300 or less.

Smith .22A-1 can be purchased for $300 or less too. :)

Rugers are more expensive unless you get them used.
 
EdInk said:
I have decided to go with the ruger 22/45 can someone tell me the difference between the mk2 and mk3 versions
Click to expand...

The Mark 2 has a heel-mounted magazine release; the Mark 3 has a grip-mounted release right behind the trigger on the left grip. The Mark 3 has a loaded-chamber indicator on the bolt. Magazines are not interchangeable between the two. Mark 3 also introduced a "magazine safety" - you cannot fire the pistol unless a magazine is in place.

You mentioned earlier that you wanted to buy a new pistol. You may have trouble finding a Mark 2 in unused condition.
 
Ed, I have the Ruger MKII Bull Barrel and the Beretta Neos. I like them both and right now I think I like the Beretta a bit more. It is very accurate and is a big gun that is a good handful if you're a big guy like me (6'5" & 300 plus lbs.). I am also a traditionalist as far as looks on my guns go, but there is something about the Neos that screams WAY COOL! I don't have the model with the changeable grip inserts, so mine is plain black. If you liked the Matrix series, it's a gun with a lot of character. Plus it is the most inexpensive .22 auto that you can buy new. I'm not trying to change your mind, but the Beretta has taken a lot of undeserved criticism for not being a serious firearm. It is and very well engineered with some very nice features for the price.
 
I've had a Ruger Standard since 1967. Lost a lot of it's blue, but it still shoots, and very well at that. (I paid $37.50 for it.)
 
I guess I should have said .22 has LITTLE defensive use oppossed to not defensive use.

Beretta does make good products used to really like the 92fs but as stated earlier I just don't want it.

The Mk3 22/45 is what I will probably buy. I like the location of the mag release. Too bad they added the disconnect to it. I hate any type of safety that involves more than keeping your finger off the trigger.
 
I guess I should have said .22 has LITTLE defensive use oppossed to not defensive use.
Click to expand...

What gives the lowly .22 fairly good potential defensive use is that it is easily controlled during firing and a lot of multiple shots can be put in the same area.
 
The Mk3 22/45 is what I will probably buy. I like the location of the mag release. Too bad they added the disconnect to it. I hate any type of safety that involves more than keeping your finger off the trigger.
Click to expand...

I prefer the location of the mag release on the Mk3, too. I picked up a LNIB Mk3 22/45 and swapped out the Mk3 hammer bushing and mag disconnect safety hook/spring with an Mk2 22/45 hammer bushing from Clark Custom as described by Bullseye. Now there is no mag disconnect feature, so my mag drops free and I don't have to insert a mag into the well while disassembling. I also replaced the factory hammer, sear, trigger, and extractor with the Volquartsen pieces as described by Citizen Carrier. Whole process took me between an 1 and 1.5 hours.
 
It has zero defensive use
Click to expand...


People successfully use .22 LR for defense all the time. But that's not what keeps .22 rimfire in business. It's a plinking and hunting cartridge. The world is not mainly inhabited by elk and tigers.
 
For fun, I think you gotta go semi auto in 22. I've had several revolvers and still have one but to me they are more like tools. I currently have 2 semi's. A Ruger MKII Govt with a 7" bull barrel and a Walther P22. The Rugers have been well documented already. Mine is tack driving heavy chunk of steel. Great gun. BUT, for fun and ease of carry, the P22 is a blast. It is in my truck right now in a Fobus holster. I love taking it to the country with a couple of the 22 steel plate target set-ups and running "action" pistol type courses with it. I have several hundred rounds through mine without problems. It is also very light and easy to pack. For punching paper or shooting clay targets at 50 yards the Ruger wins. For blasting the Walther is just fun.

If I could only have one 22, it would be the Ruger possibly with a shorter, lighter barrel. But, if the SHTF, I'd want the big long heavy barrel that I have.
 
I stopped at Gander mountian last night. The Browning, S&W and Beretta were all in the 300 dollar ballpark.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top