What to buy? .22 LR

B

Bill Barrett

New member
I want a decent .22 LR semi-auto to take wife, daughter, newbies and for general cheap ammo fun. Don't want to spend a lot of $$ but enough to get reliability and accuracy.

I've got my Berretta 92FS and Kimber .45 and others. I wanna a .22 for this.

Recomendations?
 
First choice: Ruger MKII or 22/45. Should be able to buy new from $160-300 depending on exact model. Since you already have a .45, you may want to consider the 22/45. Has the same grip angle as a 1911.

Second choice: Browning Buckmark. Like the looks and decent price. Also, quality firearm.

Either way, can't go wrong. Both plenty accurate. Going to pick up one or the other soon. Have had Ruger Government model before, too much money, for a plinker. IMHO


Steve Mc.
 
I taught my son how to shoot using my trusty Ruger Gov't Target. A gun so reliable & accurate helps build the confidence in a new shooter ;)
 
I have a Walther P22, and it is a GREAT gun. Right now, they're about the hottest .22 target pistol on the market. I paid around $230 + tax.
 
Have you considered a .22 conversion kit? Units are made for both your 1911 and 92 by Ciener. I have one and it works flawlessly, and is more accurate than I am.
 
My P22 is very accurate. The rear sight is adjustable, but I've never had to touch it. It is really a small gun--mine has the longer barrel with the shroud. You can order a shorter barrel, but I hear they're pretty hard to find right now. It has a full length grip, and is lighter than the Ruger pistols. Rugers are great guns...I used to own two standard .22's. You have to see and hold one of these Walthers. They're just like a "mini" P99.:p
 
See if you can find a used S&W 617 in 4" or 6". They'll last a lifetime and are easy for new shooters to be comfortable with. They come with a 10-round cylinder so you have just as many rounds as you would with an auto. You'll find that it's generally more reliable as well. And one of the best perks is not having to look all over the range for .22 brass!
 
The Browning Buckmark has the same grip angle as the Browning Hi-Power and the 1911. This is great for your - more of the muscle memory you ingrain through practice is applicable to your Kimber.
The Ruger has a steeper grip angle, closer to the Glock's and, naturally, the Luger. On the up side it seems to have an easier disassemble.
 
Ruger 22/45 w/4" bull barrel or Buckmark

I've got a KMK-678GC and it is a great gun, but looking back, for plinking around, I'd get a bull barrelled 4" model instead. The Mark II is more solid, but after going back and forth between my CZ and Mk II a few times, I'm starting to think that the 22/45 would have been better because of the similarity in controls and grip angle - but I'd have to do something about that crappy polymer grip. Some skateboard tape or AGrip would probably be enough.

The Browning Buckmark is a nice little gun as well, and the buckmark micro looks really sweet. Plus, the grip angle is more familiar. However, some folks claim that the Buckmark is not as solidly built as the Rugers - but the Buckmark's trigger is supposed to be nicer. When I shot the Buckmark and the 22/45 side by side, I much preferred the Buckmark - mostly because the Buckmark had much better feeling grips.

If you want to do some competitive target shooting, the 5.5" barrel versions of both are supposed to be more than adequate, especially if you put a dot sight on them.

If you go with a Ruger, pick up a Volquartsen target sear ($18), an OnTarget trigger shield ($7) and polish the feedramp as well ($1 for sandpaper) - then you're all set.

The Buckmark, out of the box, is probably going to be more accurate, familiar to shoot, and better looking as well - but maybe not as durable. The Rugers requires a little more DIY work to compete with the Buckmark but with reasonable care, you could be teaching your grandkids to shoot with the same gun.
 
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