22LR Pistol Suggestion...

Status
Not open for further replies.

Mystery123

Member
Joined
Mar 11, 2019
Messages
55
Location
Colorado
Thinking of getting a 22LR for building up skills.
I thought about getting M&P 22LR as I have M&P 9 but a lot of you suggested on getting a target 22LR so I read a lot of threads and watched a lot of videos.
It comes down to basically 3 semiautomatic 22LR pistols.
1. Ruger Mark
2. Browning Buck Mark
3. S&W Victory

Here's the summary from my research.
Some like Browning and S&W over Ruger but most used/liked is Ruger.
S&W Victory feels great and shoots great out of the box but looks ugly/plain in comparison.
It is fine for target training and plinking and quite few use it in the competition.
Browning feels better than Ruger and shoots great out of the box but not as much popular in competition as Ruger.
Ruger is the most popular but it is not that great from factory and needs few upgrades out of the box and a lot of upgrades to make it to the competition.
Grip is too thin for many.

I'm not thinking about competition in near futurebut if I can get a gun that also works for competition without spending three times the gun's purchase price in upgrades, I'll buy it.

So here are the questions:
1. Is S&W victory good option? It's around $309.

2. What barrel Browning Buck Mark you suggest? 4" Micro Bull for $269 or 5.5" for $309 or any other model?
Is the 4" Buck Mark as good as longer versions for training?
If it is, I may get it and call it done.
It's cheap and good out of the box for training with no upgrades needed.

3. If Ruger, what model? What barrel? Some models are around $319 like the 22/45 Target but others are over $400 like the 22/45 lite and even over $600 for the competition model.
I'm okay spending little more from the cheapest but I really don't want to spend money on upgrades immediately.

Thanks
 
I'd go with the Ruger Standard first, SR22 second, Buckmark tied with Beretta Neos third. The Victory just looks... wrong somehow.

I own an old model P22 and while there are some who swear by it, I can't recommend it based on my experience. Way too fussy with ammo, too many parts, and is a PITA to field strip and reassemble. Stay away from it unless you get a stupid good deal and be prepared for a lot of experimentation with ammo. Plus mine has the annoying habit of working the barrel loose because it's made to accept two different length barrels. Every 2-300 rounds it needs a full detail stripdown unlike the others I mentioned. The Ruger Marks can literally go for decades with only having their tubes punched and actions blown out with compressed air.
 
If you haven't considered, I would suggest checking out GSG 1911 22LR (Same as Sig 1911 22LR). Bud's has them for $249 with free shipping - https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/62297/Firearms/Handguns/American+Tactical+Imports/ATI+2210M1911+M1911+10+1+22LR+5

German made with many interchangeable parts with regular 1911 and works reliably with even cheap bulk 22LR.

Spare metal magazines for $16.99 - https://gunmagwarehouse.com/ati-german-sport-guns-gsg-m-1911-22-lr-10-round-magazine.html

12 to 16 round mag kits - https://www.taylor-tactical-supply.com/gsg-1911-22lr-s/132.htm
 
Last edited:
the new p22 is much improved over the old one put 1100 round on my dads new p22 the last 2 weeks. not one malfunction.. dad has a first year p22 shot everything good.
 
have you looked at the walther p22, very fun gun. the ruger and browning are nice to. ruger has there 22 stander inspired mark. looks pretty cool.
The only 22LR I'd consider in that format is M&P 22 as I have M&P9.

If you haven't considered, I would suggest checking out GSG 1911 22LR (Same as Sig 1911 22LR). Bud's has them for $249 with free shipping - https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/62297/Firearms/Handguns/American+Tactical+Imports/ATI+2210M1911+M1911+10+1+22LR+5

German made with many interchangeable parts with regular 1911 and works reliably with even cheap bulk 22LR.

Spare metal magazines for $16.99 - https://gunmagwarehouse.com/ati-german-sport-guns-gsg-m-1911-22-lr-10-round-magazine.html

12 to 16 round mag kits - https://www.taylor-tactical-supply.com/gsg-1911-22lr-s/132.htm
I looked at that. It's $199 at some sites but lots of threads mention they are terrible so not sure about it.
 
I've got an older buckmark with a 5.5" slab side, and a 10" railed bull barrel.

I've shot the rugers and don't care for them, haven't shot many of the other .22 pistols.

One major advantage the buckmark has, is that you can swap barrels in mins. I'm still looking for an older 7" non railed barrel.
 
I looked at that. It's $199 at some sites but lots of threads mention they are terrible so not sure about it.
Check the dates on the reviews. There are some bad reviews when the pistol first came out.

I made my purchase based on recent reviews (1-2 years) and looks like GSG addressed those early issues. The fact that Sig put their name on the GSG 1911 should say something.

Mine is quite accurate compared to my other pistols using various brand 22LR ammo (Federal, Winchester, Aguila, Armscor, etc.) and has been reliable but I have shot Rugers that were more accurate, if you plan on shooting competition.

Here's Hickok45's review of Sig 1911 22LR (Same as GSG 1911 22LR) which helped me make the decision and he was even using cheapest Federal 36 gr CPHP Value Pack without issues.

 
Last edited:
Thinking of getting a 22LR for building up skills.
I thought about getting M&P 22LR as I have M&P 9 but a lot of you suggested on getting a target 22LR so I read a lot of threads and watched a lot of videos.
It comes down to basically 3 semiautomatic 22LR pistols.
1. Ruger Mark
2. Browning Buck Mark
3. S&W Victory

Here's the summary from my research.
Some like Browning and S&W over Ruger but most used/liked is Ruger.
S&W Victory feels great and shoots great out of the box but looks ugly/plain in comparison.
It is fine for target training and plinking and quite few use it in the competition.
Browning feels better than Ruger and shoots great out of the box but not as much popular in competition as Ruger.
Ruger is the most popular but it is not that great from factory and needs few upgrades out of the box and a lot of upgrades to make it to the competition.
Grip is too thin for many.

I'm not thinking about competition in near futurebut if I can get a gun that also works for competition without spending three times the gun's purchase price in upgrades, I'll buy it.

So here are the questions:
1. Is S&W victory good option? It's around $309.

2. What barrel Browning Buck Mark you suggest? 4" Micro Bull for $269 or 5.5" for $309 or any other model?
Is the 4" Buck Mark as good as longer versions for training?
If it is, I may get it and call it done.
It's cheap and good out of the box for training with no upgrades needed.

3. If Ruger, what model? What barrel? Some models are around $319 like the 22/45 Target but others are over $400 like the 22/45 lite and even over $600 for the competition model.
I'm okay spending little more from the cheapest but I really don't want to spend money on upgrades immediately.

Thanks
Let me start by saying that the only .22 semiautos I've ever had were all in the Ruger Mark line. I'm not knocking the Victory or the Buckmark. I've read lots of good things over the years. With that said, for training purposes, I'd stick with the M&P .22. It's going to mimic your M&P 9 more closely than anything else on your list.

As for the Rugers, it's really a question of what you like in your hand and what you have in your wallet. If competition is in your future, I'd go with something with a bull barrel. Mrs. McGee and I currently have a Standard, a Mk IV 22/45 Lite and a Mk IV 22/45 Target. All great pistols, but each clearly different from the others. I've never cared for the heel mag release on the Standard, but that's really neither here nor there on a plinker. A soup can is unlikely to maul me while I'm trying to reload. I like the grip angle on the 22/45, and the Mk IV simplified reassembly pretty drastically over prior versions. Disassembly was never my problem . . . . I find myself wishing that my Lite had a little more weight towards the front, like the Target does, but I also find that problem is cured when I put the suppressor on. The bull barrel of Mrs. McGee's Target model balances better and is more accurate than my Lite.
 
Personally I think the browning buckmark handles the best, most likely why I bought one. Check around for deals, a few years ago when I bought it I got a package deal for the gun, 3 magazines and a pistol case for less than $300!

I think the 5.5 inch barrel feels the best. Very accurate gun, I can plunk off spent shotgun hulls at 10-15 yards all day
 
Thinking of getting a 22LR for building up skills.
I thought about getting M&P 22LR as I have M&P 9 but a lot of you suggested on getting a target 22LR so I read a lot of threads and watched a lot of videos.

Ruger is the most popular but it is not that great from factory and needs few upgrades out of the box and a lot of upgrades to make it to the competition.
Grip is too thin for many.

If Ruger, what model? What barrel? Some models are around $319 like the 22/45 Target but others are over $400 like the 22/45 lite and even over $600 for the competition model.
I'm okay spending little more from the cheapest but I really don't want to spend money on upgrades immediately.

Thanks

I would avoid the Ruger MKIII and the MKI. The MKI's are probably collectable anyway, the MKIII was so bad that Ruger had to come out with the MKIV. Most of the guys I know who have MKIII's, bought enough aftermarket parts to convert them back to the MKII configuration. I bought my MKII's before the MKIII or MKIV and it is the best of the series till the MKIV. This is a blued 5 1/2" version. I installed Hogue target stocks.

H3zQPWb.jpg

But, I would only take a MKII if it was a great deal as , decades later, I still have to puzzle out each and everything time to disassemble and reassemble. For example, which direction do you knock the upper from the frame? You can't tell by just looking at the assembled pistol, unless you have X Ray vision. (Unlike the other guy, when my spaceship landed on earth, I lost my X Ray vision! ) Sure, if you remember, you know which way to knock the upper, but I don't remember. Why should I have to remember? Disassembly and reassembly should be obvious and intuitive. But, with the Ruger, I have to puzzle it out. And then the hammer strut always gets jammed under a frame pin, and once it is free, it takes fumbling to get the hammer strut to align with the mainspring housing. It is poor design practice to create an item where much of the part alignment during assembly or disassembly is blind to the maintainer.

However, my MKII's are accurate and very reliable.

I have handled a number of the MKIV's and that pistol is a better design. In so far as Ruger triggers, do what I did. I drove around to all of the gunstores and found the Ruger that has the best trigger pull. Ask to handle more than just the display sample. Best out of three sort of thing. None of my Ruger MKII's need aftermarket trigger parts because I started with a trigger that came crisp from the factory.

If you plan to add an Ultra Dot, such as I did, I think the 5.5" bull barrel is heavy enough. I don't see many 6.5" versions on the line during Bullseye matches.

This shooter's pistol is stock box, (maybe the grips are not) the barrel is fluted, and he regularly out shoots me

YaP8Rba.jpg

Due to the vast quantity of Rugers made, there are buckets of aftermarket parts, magazines are available and reliable (try buying a High Standard Magazine!)
 
In your original post you didn't mention what you wanted to use your .22 pistol for? Is it a general plinker, CCW practice gun, or a .22 that covers all the bases? If it is for CCW practice I would suggest going with the M&P22 since you already have the M&P 9mm. They are well-built guns and have good accuracy for a non-target style pistol. They held up very well in our rental case at the indoor range with tens of thousands of rounds through them. For a target pistol/range plinker the Ruger Mark series or Browning Buckmark are hard to beat. They are both quality target-style guns that will serve you well. I didn't include the S&W victory only because I have no experience with them but have heard they are very decent guns. For an all-around pistol the Ruger 22/45 with a 4" barrel or one of the Lite series would be a great choice. Below is a list of .22 pistols I have experience with and my two cents take on each one:

Beretta 21A bobcat- Decent gun, ammo sensitive, marginal accuracy
Beretta 87 Target- Excellent gun, fed most anything, excellent accuracy
Bersa Thunder 22- Good gun, ammo sensitive, decent accuracy
Browning 1911-22- Good gun, feeds most anything, average accuracy
Browning Buckmark- Great gun, feeds most anything, excellent accuracy
ISSC M-22 pistol- Poor quality gun, feeds most anything, average accuracy
Ruger Mark II & Mark III- Great gun, feeds anything, excellent accuracy
Ruger Mark III 22/45- Great gun, feeds anything, excellent accuracy
Ruger SR-22 pistol- Great gun, feeds everything, good accuracy
Sig Mosquito/GSG Firefly- Okay gun, ammo sensitive, decent accuracy
S&W M&P22 full size- Great gun, feeds everything, excellent accuracy
Smith and Wesson Model 41- Great gun, standard velocity ammo only, excellent accuracy
Walther P22- Decent gun, ammo sensitive, decent accuracy
Walther SP2022- Poor quality gun, fed most anything, decent accuracy
 
The Ruger's are more popular in competition because there's such a large aftermarket for them. If you don't plan on spending time and money tweaking the gun, all three of your listed choices (Ruger, Browning, S&W) are VERY similar. Go fondle them, shoot each if you can, and pick the one that speaks to you.

Barrel length is dependent on what you want to do. 5.5" is probably the best all-around. A shorter barrel will balance better if you add a suppressor. A longer barrel will help because of the improved sight radius if you will only use iron sights.

I have a Mark I and a Buckmark. If I HAD to pick I like my Buckmark slightly more because of the grip angle and the way the saftey sweeps, but really it's a wash. Now if Ruger made the 22/45 with a steel or aluminum frame as opposed to polymer I might give the nod to Ruger.
 
I have an old Ruger MK1 and a S&W M&P. I use the M&P more for training as it mimics the Glocks that are my normal general purpose handguns.
 
If I was just getting started with a .22 pistol I would consider the Ruger Mk.IV Target with the 5.5" bull barrel or the Browning Buck Mark Field Target (or the Buck Mark Contour URX), also with a 5.5" bull barrel.

if you just want a fairly basic .22 plinker then the Ruger Mk.IV Standard, the Ruger SR22, or the Browning Buck Mark Camper UFX would all do quite nicely.

As it is I have a Ruger Mk.II which gives me a great .22 target pistol right out of the box and a couple of incredible .22 plinkers by way of my Beretta Model 70S and my SIG Trailside. All of them have great triggers and with the right ammo capable of some amazing accuracy!

8oubloU.jpg

Cqr6BsX.jpg

w1OygTn.jpg
 

Attachments

  • w1OygTn.jpg
    w1OygTn.jpg
    208.3 KB · Views: 0
Last edited:
Thinking of getting a 22LR for building up skills.

I really don't want to spend money on upgrades immediately.
I use the M&P more for training as it mimics the Glocks that are my normal general purpose handguns.
+1.

I made my suggestion of GSG 1911 based on OP's criteria of "Building up skills without having to spend money". I find GSG 1911 relatively close to Sig 1911 I have and allows me point shooting drills with much cheaper 22LR ammunition. I had thought of getting Fusion Firearms 9mm slide/barrel/ejector and mags to convert 45ACP Sig 1911 to 9mm for lower cost training but decided to buy GSG 1911 22LR instead and train with both. Cost of GSG 1911 and 5 factory mags at $16.99 each was less than the 9mm conversion and I can readily switch between two pistols for training purposes.

If looking to shoot competition, I think a target platform with additional cost would warrant looking past "combat/recreational" plinkers.

index.php
 

Attachments

  • GSG Sig 1911.jpeg
    GSG Sig 1911.jpeg
    51.2 KB · Views: 1,018
Last edited:
This kind of thread always gets a little convoluted between the myriad of 22LR pistol models. The difference in a target-style 22LR and a combat style 22LR is better defined in this thread than most, but it bears repeating:

There’s enough differentiation between target style and combat style 22LR’s, the two can hardly be compared. As @FL-NC mentioned, there’s relevance in using combat style 22LR’s as practice pistols for defensive or combat pistols. I have thoroughly enjoyed Sig Mosquito, Ruger SR22, and S&W M&P22 pistols in this class for years, as well as 22LR Glock uppers and 1911 uppers.

Alternatively, target style 22LR’s like the Ruger 22/45 and Mark Series, S&W 41 and Victory, Beretta U22 NEOS, or Browning Buckmark really are the pinnacle of practice firearms for fundamental development, and of course, competition.

Personally, if I were to only have ONE of these types, it would be a target style pistol. The opportunity to practice critical handgun fundamentals with these pistols is absolutely invaluable. I’m a Ruger Mark Series fan.

I like to tinker inside my firearms, of all creeds, and while it IS popular to retrofit Ruger Mark Series pistols, I think it is an unfair stretch to claim the Ruger’s need modifications to equal others in their class. I haven’t been happy with the S&W Victory triggers either, nor the Buckmark. Assuredly, the loaded chamber indicator of the Mark III entry into the series do need abated, but these were a temporary mistake of Ruger’s, attempting to play nice in a growing anti-gun environment, and were largely only an aesthetic detractor, without influence upon function or reliability.
 
I have a 5.5" Buck Mark and a 4" Ruger Standard. As far as I know, neither has had any work done on them. Their triggers are great. The Browning has a longer sight radius, but the Ruger is quicker to point. Those details are mostly due to barrel lengths. They are both excellent pistols and easily more accurate than I am.


 
Last edited:
I've shot all three, they are all good choices. I currently own a MKIV Hunter and a Victory. I recommend the Victory over the MKIV hands-down. It requires minimal tweaks OOB to make it a great shooter, and take-down is easy. The MKIV is a beautiful pistol, and I really want to like it more, but alas the trigger requires another $100 to $200 to an already pricey .22LR to make it a decent shooter...a real shame. I think I saw a super simple mod for the Buck Mark on the internets that helps the trigger significantly, but I dislike the take-down. You won't go wrong with selecting any one from your list.
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top