Own Only One .22LR Handgun?

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WOW guys some very very very nice pictures and great recommendations!!!

Well I went to a few shops today and got pretty acquainted with the different options out there and am liking the Ruger 22/45s and the S&W 617, but I still wasnt able to find a Ruger SP101 4" in stock to feel. The 17 is gorgeous, but just out of my price range right now...

To narrow it down a bit more, I know my range has the 22/45s, MKIIIs and 617s to rent and this week I am going to give them a whirl to see how I like them...

I am naturally drawn to revolvers - have 2 S&Ws and a Ruger already so I'm initially thinking the SP101 may be the best all around choice unless I can find a nice used 617 on gunbroker....

Thanks again for all the help!!!

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I've got a Dan Wesson 6" barrel .22 on layaway, I''ll be picking it up next weekend. Since my first kid is on the way, I want to be able to shoot more for less and the .22 fits the bill on both counts. I think the 6" revolver could be perfect as my only .22, but I may sneak in an auto as well.

This pic isn't mine, but it's the same gun (mine has Pachmayr finger groove grips installed):

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I own so many it almost makes me ill to think how much I have spent on them and I still want the new LCR.
- Colt Woodsman
- Ruger Standard MkII & Mk III
- S&W 617
- S&W Mod 41
- Colt Diamondback
- Colt Cadet
- H&R 199, 939, & 999
- NAA mini

I am the best shot with the Cadet, but would never let go of the standard for sentimental reasons.
 
I own a Hawes SAA (peacemaker) clone .22, which is the most accurate .22lr handgun i have, but I also have the kimber conversion kit for my SW1911, which is FUN plinking! I've shot thousands upon thousands of rounds through them and must say I love 'em both. if I could only have one, not sure which one I'd choose, it'd be tough.


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I own one 22LR pistol. A Browning Buckmark Camper. Bought it seven years ago for $200. Great little plinker.
 
But I do want a Ruger Bearcat because I have become convinced, for several reasons, that it would be the ideal gun for introducing new shooters, particularly women and youth, to shooting.
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I agree! Even with big paws, after some practice, it is easy to shoot these little sixguns quite accurately. I only wish it had not taken me so long to warm up to them because I remember seeing plenty of good used ones over the years.
 
I forgot the pictures from my earlier Woodsman-recommendation so here we go.

I like all Woodsmans (Woodsmen? :)), but 2nd/3rd gen Match Targets are my absolute favourites because the way they look and feel. I have plenty of .22:s, other Woodsman series guns too, and more often than not I pick one of the MT:s for virtually any plinking or more serious target practise when I can shoot non-suppressed.

The one on top/right/right is a LNIB 1959 I shoot occasionally, the other one is a well-worn 1957 shooter that has seen more than its fair share of hard use, one I saved from being scrapped last year.

WoodsmanMT1.jpg
WoodsmanMT2.jpg
WoodsmanMT3.jpg
 
Love my CZ Kadet. Eats any .22 ammo out there and shoots like a dream. It also is a real steel handgun that has the feel of my larger caliber handguns. They are pricey but it is an excellent CZ product. If you allready oen a CZ in a larger caliber they also make the conversion kits so you get 2 guns in one.


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TrailWolf, the Ruger SP101-22 is a newly announced gun. THey're just seeing their first appearances on the shelves within the last couple of weeks. You may need to ask around and be a little patient with the gun shops in your area to find one.
 
A .22 handgun is truly a handgun love affair. My choice in a Revolver is the S&W 617, I have one in 6" 10 shot a great gun. My other choice is a Ruger II
5" bull barrel. Had I got into shooting handguns like these seriously I may not have the heavies I also shoot. My wife a novice shooter shot the 617 to help her handle the 4" 686 that she qualified for CCW permit.
Jim
 
Jim, Ruger announced them in June of 2011, and I started seeing them listed in September. I got mine in November and I simply love it. I really think its one of the greatest 22 revolvers, period. The 5.5" barrel balances perfectly, the sights are great, it has "gunfighter grips" which are thinner in the middle compared to the regular Ruger Single Six grips and it helps to fit your hand better. It digestes all different types of ammo, and isnt fussy about grouping or point of impact over the 7 or so different brands Ive tried. I lifted one leg of the trigger spring and it has a trigger release of 1lb 10 oz. with almost no creep. They do have one quirk, when ejecting, you have to turn slightly past the "Click" to line up the ejector rod with the chamber. Some people were complaining about this when the ST came out, but I think its a non-issue. I can unload the cylinder and reload in about 30 seconds, thats certainly longer than a double action or an autoloader, but thats part of the fun with a Single Action.

Heres a link to gunblast.coms review of the Single Ten. If I violated a rule for posting a link to another forum... ooops sorry

http://www.gunblast.com/Ruger-SingleTen.htm
 
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If I had to keep but one .22 handgun, it would be my S&W Model 41 with both barrels.
It is capable of doing anything a .22 is designed for.
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Been very intrigued by the new Ruger SP101 4" and the SR22 pistol just announced
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I might just sell my only .22 pistol (ruger 22/45 w/bull barrel) to get the SR22 instead. It might not be as accurate, but my use 95% of the time for a .22 pistol is target shooting (not so much the bullseye type).

If it turns out the be a great gun the SR22 might end up as my only .22 pistol. The 22/45 might be better if you were to use it for hunting or bullseye shooting because of the lighter, shorter trigger pull and other characteristics that make it more accurate and easier to shoot.
 
I had an H&R Sportsman 999, liked it so much I sold it to my aunt. To this day it's her only handgun.

I'm gonna +1 the S&W 22A since I own one of those as well. It hiccups a bit on bare led ammo like Winchester, but it loves the bulk Federal.
 
If I could only have one 22 handgun and price was not a significant issue, it would be a 4" blue Colt Diamondback. If price is a strong issue, the S&W M18 or a 4" M617 are both very nice and some consider superior to the Colt. I like 4" revolvers the best which is why I didn't mention the S&W M 17 (a classic) even though there are a few 4-inchers during the transition to the M617. They are just handier for carrying out plinking, as a side arm in the woods, or in a worst case situation, self defense.

If you want something smaller, the S&W M63 is hard to beat. The original one in the last couple of years was a 5"; now they make only a 3". Hard to find a good holster for the 5".

The Ruger 22/45 is nice and I am considering picking one up down the road. But I think I am going to get the new Ruger SR22 first. I have a 5.5" Mark II which has served me very well for years.

The new Ruger SP-101 22 might be one to consider, but it is not high on my want list. I do have a Ruger LCR-22. Fun little gun. It is pocket sized if you aren't familiar with it.

But if I could only choose ONE, it would be either a S&W M18 (or current 4" M617) or 4" Colt Diamondback. Both would be the very last handguns I would get rid of when the time comes to sell off stuff. But I'll see what my priorities are when the time comes.
 
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after i bought my buckmark - i sold my Ruger Mrk II - several thousand rounds - not one failure - loads of fun - i have the fiber front sight and rubber grips - it's really my 13 yr old daughters but i'm so fond of it i usually claim it as my own
 
I don't own any .22 handguns now. I will by the end of the week though. We've got this 7 day waiting period here... I will be picking up my Ruger 22/45 (wood grips) shortly.
 
Getting my first .22 pistol next week as well, since the wife said I could use this year's bonus for guns. Picking up a Ruger 22/45 RP later next week. There are some NICE grips for it out there, if the stock ones don't suit you. Good luck in your search, sir.
 
Since you're drawn more towards revolvers, I recommend a conversion kit for your Glock. When you realize that isn't floating your boat, get a revolver. Then, you'll effectively have two .22lr pistols...

My favorite platform is the 1911, so I have a modified Ciener conversion on a dedicated host frame. Its my only rimfire pistol, the most fun pistol I have, has the cheapest appetite, and therefore gets the most use. I don't require boring reliability out of my rimfires, its nice to actually run through a real clearance drill rather than having to put a snap cap in my magazine.
 
I do have only one .22, and it's a Browning Buckmark. I'm sure I will acquire others as time goes on, but finite resources and all that.

BTW, if you haven't spent much time shooting a .22 pistol, prepare to learn a lot about your shooting. The lack of recoil and blast makes it really easy to see everything that's happening through the entire shot process. And seeing is the basis of good pistol shooting, if numerous experts are to be believed.
 
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