Best entry level .22 host for a suppressor

[sgtdevildog]

So, I've now got my trust formed and about to order a suppressor. Since I don't have a host for it yet I've begun the search. For cost purposes I'm going to go with a .22 host since I don't really have anywhere that will let me shoot any rifles suppressed. I guess the most popular are the Ruger MK II/III and the buckmarks. I've got to do some homework and see if any local smiths will thread the barrel and move the sights on standard pistols or whether I need to look at Tactical Solutions barrels for them. I guess I'm leaning towards the browning for ease of disassembly/cleaning. I don't feel like dropping 500 or so on a Marvel conversion for my .45 as I already have a standard unit 1 and they don't sell just the threaded barrel parts. Am I missing any obvious choices or considerations? Thanks for the info.

 

[ArmedBear]

The Ruger is easy to disassemble and clean if you know how to do it (not the song and dance in the manual). The advantage it has is that you don't need to remove sights or optics to do a full cleaning.

I have a Mark II and a couple 22/45s, and I prefer the 22/45s for general-purpose use. A Herrett target grip really made the Mark II into a serious target pistol, but it's not something you can holster.

 

[KingTiger]

My Buckmark Camper with 4" TacSol has become my favorite .22 host pistol. The 4" barrel helps keep most rounds subsonic, although it cycles CCI & Winchester subsonic rounds fine. It also balances nicely w/the suppressor attached and isn't overly long or heavy. You can do the trigger spring "flip" for free and cut your trigger pull in half. The Ruger's serial # is on the barrel, so if you order a new one it has to go thru a FFL. It is much easier to clean than my Mk II, which IMO is a major plus, since the blow back is greater when shooting suppressed. I just run an optic, so losing the front sight wasn't an issue for me. I was on the waiting list for the Marvel, but after 3 months of waiting (2 years ago) I went other routes.

 

[jmorris]

The Walther P-22 makes a good "entry level" pistol as the barrel is already threaded and adapters to 1/2 28 are everywhere. I found a used Ruger M3 barrel and moved the sight back, threaded the barrel and modified it to work on my M2. If I couldn't do the job myself I would have just ordered a new upper. The host I use the most is an advantage arms .22 conversion for a glock. I had to order the extended barrel, thread it and make an adapter similar to the P22 but it's silly light and really fun to shoot.

 

[Arkady]

Go with the Ruger. Simple, accurate, reliable.

The Sig Mosquito is available with a threaded barrel from the factory, but I ran into reliability issues with mine (very ammo sensitive).

The Walther P22 is popular, but I've seen several slides break in the hands of high volume shooters--I've personally seen two of them, and have read 3 or 4 more accounts of it happening on various gun boards.

The Buckmark is a well regarded host, but you get a little more action noise than with the Ruger.

 

[waterhouse]

If your local smith can't do it, SRT did my buckmark for a reasonable fee. I'm very happy with it.



Nothing wrong with the Rugers, but I prefer the buckmark, so that's what I had threaded. Browning also has a buckmark that comes pre-threaded now, called the Whisper:

http://www.impactguns.com/store/023614067085.html

 

[CoRoMo]

How do you like the TAC 65?

 

[Wahoo95]

I like my TAC65 overall, however if I were to do it all over again I'd get a SWR Spectre for ease of cleaning.

 

[pikid89]

i dont have a suppressor, but i do have both a mkII and a buckmark...and i greatly prefer the ruger...i think its actually easier to clean than the buckmark...and i dont like how my hand gets peppered with gas and powder when i shoot the buckmark

 

[Zak Smith]

Before I bought a .22 pistol as a host for dedicated suppressed shooting, I fired a pretty wide array of designs, suppressed. One aspect that eventually sold me on the Ruger MKII/III was the lack of gas/debris blowback into my face compared to the designs that were more open while the action cycled, such as the various 1911 conversion kits, the Browning, SIG, Walther, etc. The Ruger's breech is almost completely enclosed even during firing, with the exception of the small ejection port, and it has no direct gas path straight rearward from the chamber.

I used the Tac-Sol upper, but for those considerations, it's no different than the factory upper.


For non-suppressed shooting, I strongly preferred the .22 1911 conversion (think it was Marvel- there are newer ones on the market now); but suppressed it had considerable blow-back.

Also, on most of them, there is no need to move the front sight. We've done a bunch of these:

A very clean install.

 

[jmorris]

Also, on most of them, there is no need to move the front sight. We've done a bunch of these:

Is that female threads and an adaptor?

 

[Zak Smith]

Yes, we countersink a new crown and put female threads inside the old muzzle, and then a male "cap" that makes it look seamless when the suppressor isn't used. To mount the suppressor, we provide a male-male "joiner" that screws into the new muzzle threads and the suppressor.

-z

 

[Lightsped]

Ok, I'll play. Here is mine. Runs great with the CCI ammo. The base gun is a used 1986 model. Installed the TacSol upper and added the can.

 

[Prince Yamato]

I used to have a Walther P22 with thread adapter. It worked great with my AAC Pilot. In fact, it's a pretty durable little pistol. The only problem is that it's not super accurate. I sold it for a Buckmark with a Tac-Sol upper. That is SUPER accurate. I went with the Buckmark over the Mark III because the upper is not the "firearm" and I could purchase multiple uppers if I chose to. It's also a cinch to take apart.

 

[garyhan]

I would go with the pre-threaded Buckmark Whisper. Will save you a bundle over the Pac Sol upper, or having another model threaded. The Whisper is available through Lipsey's.

gary

 

[waterhouse]

How do you like the TAC 65?

I tend to agree with Wahoo. I like it, and I'm amazed at how quiet it is, and think it is a good product, but if I did it all over again I'd get something different, namely something capable of handling 17 HMR.

 

[sgtdevildog]

So is blowback enough of an annoyance to consider a more enclosed system? I would think at arms length it would have to be pretty severe to become an issue?

 

[Zak Smith]

It was for me.

 

[waterhouse]

So is blowback enough of an annoyance to consider a more enclosed system?

I don't even notice it. I kind of went the opposite of Zak, I shot several and the Ruger (it wasn't mine, and it may have had too much oil on it or something) built up a lot of crap and sludge, so I wanted to make sure I got something that was open to allow the crap somewhere to go.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

I want to get into this game one of these days.

 

[Prince Yamato]

I want to get into this game one of these days.

AAC Pilot= $350
Tax Stamp = $200

If you have $550 tops, you're basically there.

 

[kentucky_smith]

AAC Pilot= $350
Tax Stamp = $200

If you have $550 tops, you're basically there

...and patience.

 

[cavman]

What does threading do to accuracy shooting?

can I take one of my Model 41s used for Bullseye and thread it for a suppressor? (If I wanted to use one of the back ups will it still shoot as well when the can of off?)

Or get another .22 for the can?

 

[Arkady]

Many people (myself included) have found that a good quality suppressor on well done threads will actually give a slight increase in accuracy.

The presence of the suppressor will change your POI a bit, but as long as the shift is consistent, you're good to go.

 

[Wahoo95]

Dont remember who, but there's a company out there that sells threaded barrels for Model 41's.