Best .22lr Handgun around $500 or Less

[Nanook]

For quite some time, I agreed with those who said the Ruger Mark X were hard to disassemble and reassemble.

It turns out they're really not that difficult. The manual is pretty clear on the method, and there are plenty of You Tube videos that show the steps required.

The only real pain the the hip is the dingleberry as another poster referred to it. Once you figure that out it's easy to do and quick.

I had mine apart yesterday, and it was still stiff. I had to use a rubber mallet to disassemble the barrel from the frame. The gun was pretty gunked up and had started to FTE like every other round. I looked inside, and knew it had to be done.

It is an extremely accurate gun, it won't break the bank, and it's fun to shoot. What's not to like?

 

[j1]

Would a used S & W be in the running because I really love my Smith.

 

[arcticap]

Please tell me where? I have not seen a used 617 selling for much less than a $650.

S&W started making the 10 shot version in 1997 and they weren't always as expensive as their price today. Some gun shops will do some good deals, and it wasn't all that long ago when a new Model 617 was only about $600.

Some dealers here do sell them for $500 - $550 and they usually disappear pretty quickly at that price. I know someone that bought 2 of them within a week from different dealers, one for $500 and the other for $550. One of them had an aluminum cylinder which S&W will swap out if it's sent in to them for work.
I traded with a fellow for mine and I ended up paying under $500 for it.
Before I traded for mine, I also passed another one up that was selling for $500 in a gun shop that had an aluminum cylinder. It was tough to pass on it at that price.
If you know how to hunt for the guns that you want, sometimes you get lucky and sometimes you don't. Just wait for price that you feel is fair and that you're willing to pay.
Some folks really want to sell their Model 617 quickly so that they can buy something else that they want even more.

 

[mdauben]

Some dealers here do sell them for $500 - $550 and they usually disappear pretty quickly at that price.

Thanks for the reply, arcticap!

Unfortunatly, I have not run across any used 617's in my local shops in several months of searching. The best price for a new one I have seen locally is around $680 (at a shop that's known for their good prices), if they could get them in (no luck for quite a while on that, either). Looking at the on-line auction sites, people are asking $650-800 for used guns. Obviously, not many of them are actually selling at those prices, but that doesn't help me.

 

[Guillermo]

mdauben,

patience grasshopper.

work the auction sites and take your time.

I picked up two great .22 revolvers over the last year

K22 for $290 and $410 for a Colt Officers Special

Certainly a 617 can be had with a little patience.

 

[j1]

A comment was made about the inaccuracy of the Ruger 10 22. I have had one for over ten years and find it more than accurate enough. It is not a target rifle but shoots well enough for what it is. I can ring a 16 inch steel plate at 150 yards every time once I get the kentucky elevation (hold over) figured out. it digests the cheapest of ammo too. Rounds so undercharged I calll them "piffers" cause they do not go bang they go piff. Never had one hang up in the barrel though. I love my 10 22 as much as most of my guns. The hi cap mags give it another ability. I can shoot in freezing weather without having to charge magazines. The 10 22 is a wonder. I think that Bill done good.

 

[Guillermo]

I think that Bill done good

I concur

Bill wanted to, and was successful at producing good, reasonably priced guns.

 

[swift535]

I'm genuinely glad that so many people have been able to enjoy their 10/22's, because I think everyone should have a great plinking gun. I guess the differing opinions come down to either poor quality control at Ruger, or vastly different standards for things like "accurate".

For myself, my 10/22 at least has disappointed in the following ways:
-Subpar accuracy - my groups are always about an inch wider at 50 yards with bulk ammo than with the other 2 rifles I shoot. This obviously gets worse at longer distance.
-Consistently stovepipes on bulk ammo. If it was accurate this could be okay, but since I've shot more accurate rifles that fail less, it's another mark against the Ruger
-Finish can't stand up to Hoppes #9, and practically wipes off with RemOil. This is inexcusable to me, and made me quite bitter about the Ruger brand.

Is mine a horrible gun? No. Despite the infuriating problems with the finish, it still mostly serves its purpose of being a cheap gun that usually shoots. Compared to my 10/22 and experiences with other cheap guns like the Marlin 60 and an old Nylon 66 though, there seem to be much better alternatives that cost less, hold up better, and are more accurate.

I grew up on the Nylon 66 and didn't buy the Marlin 60 because I wanted a magazine instead of tube-fed, so I asked for the Ruger. Got it for Xmas and was super excited, but instead have regretted it ever since. And I feel like I have to keep it forever since it was a gift lol.

 

[CraigC]

You know this is a handgun thread, right???

 

[swift535]

Haha, yeah sorry for the threadjack. Had a few other threads open and wasn't paying attention, when I finally decided to reply to some 10/22 claims I should have done it in a more appropriate thread

 

[Gato Montés]

I was raised with the Ruger Mk series, so I'm biased toward them. Have never fired a Buckmark but have no reason to doubt the fanfare sent in its direction.

Take down on a MkII is a breeze, never understood the constant whining. Now the MkIII adds that lovely magazine disconnect, which adds an unnecessary amount of extra steps which can confuzzle anyone. "Put mag in, pull trigger, take mag out, take out assembly, put mag in, pull trigger, release bolt, take mag AAAHHH!" I was a little upset when I couldn't for the life of me figure out why the upper assembly wasn't coming off the frame of my new 22/45 after hitting it with a mallet, only to find I left the magazine in there. I was REALLY upset when I made that same damn mistake two days later!:banghead:

So yeah, I vote Ruger under the presumption the mag disconnect is coming out.

 

[Guillermo]

I grew up w Ruger

Don't care if I ever see one again

Good cheap guns but they have been eclipsed

 

[valnar]

Buckmark. No reason for anything else at that price range.

 

[crawfobj]

Buckmark. No question. With that budget you can have bells and whistles and still have money left over for ammo, mags mad a holster.

 

[anothernewb]

got another +1 for the Buckmark. I wish I could find something in every caliber that has as much value/price ratio, reliability, accuracy, and good looks.

 

[lono]

ruger 22/45. very nice and accurate shooter. Only drawback is they are a pain to break down.

 

[Kynoch]

Unless one wants a more reliable pistol -- the Ruger.

 

[billymarr]

yes they do and I love it.

 

[TAKtical]

22/45 and a speed strip kit. Makes takedown incredibly easy. As far as the buckmark is concerned, the one I had wouldnt run on bulk ammo.

 

[Guillermo]

Unless one wants a more reliable pistol -- the Ruger.

that is the exact opposite of my experience with two rugers

 

[CraigC]

I arbitrarily dismiss claims that a whole line of firearms is unreliable when it's been in constant production for 63yrs.

 

[Guillermo]

I arbitrarily dismiss claims that a whole line of firearms is unreliable when it's been in constant production for 63yrs

Rohm has been in production since the 50s.

 

[CraigC]

Touche, my friend!

 

[Guillermo]

BTW

I am not saying that Rugers and/or BHPs are inherently unreliable.

What I am saying is that I have never been able to make either one run reliably.

If I were a fanboy, like so many 1911 guys are, I would have kept tinkering until they worked.

As such is not the case I just moved on.

I have never said anything bad about either platform. Just my experience.

 

[CraigC]

I moved on because I couldn't stand the steep grip angle, same for Glocks. But all three of my Ruger .22 autos have been accurate and dead reliable. Luckily, I only paid $200 apiece for my MKII Competition model and early MKI and sold them both at a profit.

The 22/45RP is a keeper but I agree that the S&W 41 and Colt Woodsman are definitely "better" guns. I was all hot for the new USFA Woodsman but that project got shelved.