Which .22 cal. pistol?

P

paraklete

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I had "inherited" an H&R Model 65 and a Remington Scoremaster 511. My local club has included a "light rifle" category with the small bore shoot to encourage folks to get their "non-target rifle" type guns "out of the gun safe and onto the range". I guess it worked because I am going to start participating.

I said that to say this: since I am going to now stock another ammo (.22 LR) along with my .30-06 for my M1 Garand's (which I shoot in the "sporting", "high power" and "Garand" matches), I am considering adding a pistol for target shooting and "plinking" that uses the same .22 LR ammo (I don’t think I was a .30-06 pistol – at least not right now <grin>).

What do you knowledgeable folks recommend?

Some of my “wants”:
fairly easy to clean
fairly easy to shoot
somewhat easy on my wallet

Some of my “don’t wants”:
a “major competition” type pistol – if I get THAT serious, I’ll get another gun then
something flimsy that will have to be replaced after I put my first 500 shots through it
something that I will have major difficulties finding parts, mags, etc. for it

Thanks in advance for your assistance.
 
I would recommend a Ruger MK III or a Browning Buckmark. Check out rimfirecentral to learn about these and some more .22 choices.
 
I would check out the Ruger MkIII pistols, they come in a very wide variety of finishes, either Bull or Fluted bbls up to 5.5", and either a 1911 or Luger-ish grip angle. May be a little pricey, you'll have to decide that for yourself though.
 
Walther P22, fun, looks like a real gun, you can get a choice of barrel lengths (3 1/2" & 5") (or both in a set) My 5" is pretty accurate :D Never misses a beat on standard ammo (CCI standard solids)
 
Rugers seem un-necessarily complex to me. I thought my P22 was a bit of a PITA (my other pistols are military types, easy to take down) until I took apart my Dad's Ruger MKII

Nice nice pistol. But jeez what a pain in the neck to take apart. Seemed like it was complex for the sake of being complex
 
somewhat easy on my wallet
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I understand the wishes of the OP in that post, but "easy on wallet" is a bit ambiguous.

The thing is, a "real" competition pistol seems called for here, not a plinker like the Ruger or Browning.
Yes, they can be reasonably accurate plinkers, but "bullseye?"; nope.

The bottom end of competitive pistols in price are going to be the S&W Model 41, or a good condition Hamden, or Hartford, High Standard, preferably either the Trophy or Victor.
Of course, those High Standards are only available used (avoid the new Houston High Standards), but the Model 41 is easily found either new or used.
Yes, you can get a Buckmark or a Mark III cheaper, but there is NO comparison if you're talking about serious target shooting.

The great thing about those pistols is that if you do get serious about shooting, you may not even have to spend more for a "more serious" competition pistol because there are a number of competition upgrades including barrels and triggers available to tweak them if you want.

My .02, so don't forget what you paid. :D
 
CDH

Read the OP again.... Op doesn't want a "dedicated" hi-falootin' target pistol, just a quite accurate plinker and occasional target pistol that wont embarrass him if he ever does a bit of half serious paper punching :D
 
I currently have a Smith 22A. Easy to break down and clean, accurate and have seen them advertised for new around $225. I would put it on your list to consider.

When funds are available I would like to get a Ruger Mark III.
 
OP:
Suck it up, lay out some money and buy an old Wolverine. It'll go up in value as it outshoots most other pistols or their owners. Everyone who's shot mine has smiled big-time as they were doing it.
 
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If you like M1 Garand you will like Hi Standard pistols. The ones made in Ct. only. A good Flite King probably starts at ~ $350, go up from there. I own a Supermatic, which was left to me by my father. Super nice.
 
the rugers are great pistols.. however.. i have heard a nightmare to take down. the buckmark is also a very good one.. probably has one of the best factory triggers ever, the walther is fun.. not as acurate as the ruger or browning. all 3 are for the most part within the same price range.. although the walther might be a little cheaper.

good luck with your choice
shawn
 
I have checked with a local pistol range.

They have some .22 LR rentals:
Sig Mosquito
S&W 22A
Berretta Neos
Walther SP22

For $10 rental + $4/50 round box of .22 LR ammo (must purchase ammo from them) + $12 lane fee, I can try all four guns (the $10 rental fee covers any gun you want to try while you are there, provided you purchase the ammo from them, so I may shoot some in other calibers as well, but my “focus” will be the .22’s…).

Also, a friend of mine has a Ruger Mark II that he said I could take and try as well.

They are open till 9pm, so I am going to try to get there one evening after work this week.
 
I do like my Browning Buckmark Camper, but I don't like the plastic sight ramp. I've cracked one by over tightening and if I don't overtighten, the screws back out. The solution is blue loctite on the screw threads. I bought it because it is affordable and much easier to take down than a Ruger. Regardless of this issue, I'd buy it again.
 
What about Hi Standard?

There seem to be a lot of models spread out over a number of years and from more than one "manufacturer"...

I am looking for a "shooter", so too old may not fit what I want.

Someone mentioned them, but they seemed to think it was important to only get one manufactured in Conn. I saw a used "Mitchel Arms" Hi Standard (made in Texas, I think) in stainless steel that looked good.
 
Someone mentioned them, but they seemed to think it was important to only get one manufactured in Conn. I saw a used "Mitchel Arms" Hi Standard (made in Texas, I think) in stainless steel that looked good.
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Nope. Stay away from Mitchel Arms HS's like the plague.

You'd be better off going with a Houston HS.
The Houston company has established a "so-so" reputation for themselves with spotty quality control problems.
But some people have reported good luck with them, so it's entirely possible (but not guaranteed) that Houston may be building better guns than they started with in the beginning.

I've been tempted myself to get a Houston "Shea" Victor just because Bob Shea isn't going to be around forever.
 
I've got a Browning Buckmark that is easy to maintain, and a pleasure to shoot. I had a Walther P22 which was fun to shoot, but wasn't what I wanted in a .22. I like your idea of trying as many as you can, it will give you a good refference as to what you are looking for.
 
I own both a Browning Buckmark and a Ruger MKIII. They are both excellent guns and neither has ever jammed, not one single time using ANY brand of ammo.

I had a Walther P22 and sold it after one outing. It is very ammo specific and I don't like that in a gun. It would not feed Winchester hollow points at all, I had to rack it after every shot. It would jam at least 1-2 out of every magazine of the cheap federal stuff.
 
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