OP, what are you looking to do with it? I get having a .22 pistol… but is it just for the range? Going to give to new shooters? Use for pests? Any plans for a suppressor? Sort of the insight that would be helpful with recommendations.
I’m personally not a fan of Umarex guns… I mean, they work, but not something I want to buy. I was looking at a Walther PPK/S, mainly for a suppressor host. Nice until I held one. My dad has a Walther P22… same stuff. It works, it will put a round down range… but it isn’t something I’d buy.
I’m not a fan of conversions… with the CZ Kadet kit being a notable exception. I had the Ciener kit for my Beretta, and have experience with some Glock kits. If I’m converting a 9mm to .22… that means I can’t let someone else shoot .22 while I’m shooting 9mm. Kind of an issue of having one frame… which is the one AR lower argument all over again (multiple uppers usually equate to getting more lowers). SIG conversions, I’ve heard a lot of horror stories from. Conversions usually take a hit with reliability due to having to match up with the larger caliber’s frame (changing to blowback doesn’t mean everything else lines up). Going back to the CZ… just an awesome setup. I’m likely going to have mine threaded by Tornado Tech, just for an extra host.
Unfortunately, I’m going to hit trainers hard, too. Sorry, guys. While I get the idea of training with rimfire to cut costs, at a point… I feel shooting the larger caliber will give better returns on investment (time). Even when you go to agency training, something along the lines of Simunitions can give you better range training than rimfire (no lead, similar function, and can use in force on force). For trainers, if you are going to use it with that intent, magazines being similar sized is a very good plus. Putting them in pouches, and training on reloads would be a nice aspect to have. This is sort of where conversions would likely have an edge, because they have to fill the magazine well of frame.
To me, .22s shine with pest control and suppressors. I had the money to do multiple cans on my first buy (three; .22, 9mm, and .46)… but definitely recommend a rimfire can first, if you can do it. They are fun, and make guns noticeably quieter (closer to movie quiet compared to a suppressed 5.56mm).
My favorite .22 pistol currently is the M&P15/22 Pistol. It may not be a traditional pistol, but it is an awesome setup. Lightweight, accurate, and reliable. If you want something between the long gun and pistol… good purchase. Magazines were hard to get for a little bit, but think they have got back into the market.
Where a lot of threads lead to… Buckmark verses Ruger MK… I call Ruger. It’s just a design that has more traction, especially with aftermarket. My father gave me a 5.5” stainless Target MKIII, which I really set up nice. Looking to do a shave/haircut with it… make something like an Assassins pistol with my Rugged Oculus. Originally wanted to get a second handgun or upper, but costs were a little too much for what I wanted. Put the barrel around 2.1”, move the front sight on the receiver, and will be a nice host.
Another one, with much less credit, is the Beretta Bobcat. Small pistol, but really is a nice rimfire handgun. They have the tip-up barrel for easy loading, but also lack an extractor (blowback pressure pushes the case out when the slide is cycled). Bring that up being you can’t just rack a round out of the chamber without creating a double feed. I bought the Covert model, which is threaded from the factory, and have been very happy with it.
Probably the funnest rimfire pistol I own is the NAA Sidewinder. Unlike the traditional revolvers NAA puts out (cross pin is removed, and the whole cylinder comes out for reloading), the Sidewinder has a swing out cylinder. There is the Ranger II, which has a break open design, sort of like a Webley or S&W Model 3. Probably a completely useless revolver, especially the smaller ones, but does put a smile on your face when you mess around with it.
Only other .22 pistol I have is an Iver Johnson Cadet… which I only picked up because it was the same model as Sirhan’s gun from the RFK assassination.
Only other pistol that is close to a .22 in my collection is my .25 Raven. I remembered my dad having one when I was little, and him putting it in his booth when we went to the city. Found a nicer one with the later safety (sort of 1911 style) for about $125… so couldn’t pass up for the nostalgia.