Please compair Sig Sauer Mosquito and Smith & Wesson 22A-1

[Ghost Dog]

I'm looking at two .22 semi-auto pistols the Sig Sauer Mosquito and Smith & Wesson 22A-1 for my teen and I to do some target shooting with. The price is the same for both so I'm asking for your knowledgeable opinions on pro's and cons of each.

Thanks, G D

 

[montgomery381]

I have a the mosquito and it is a good gun. Mini-mags and bulk Blazer have been completely reliable. It is plenty accurate. You can easily hit 6 inch plates at 15 yards. The only major con is that the double action is just too heavy to use. I have a Sig 226 and it has a very nice double action that is no problem to shoot with. But the mosquito's double action is unusable. That is my only real complaint. You will read alot of negative reviews about it but I have been happy with mine.

 

[JDGray]

Of all the 22s I've shot, the mosquito was the most unreliable. This was with two different mosquitos, both were picky little princesses!

 

[Fishslayer]

I only have the SIG Mosquito. Wife loves it, I don't care for it. It is definitely not a target pistol. The trigger is absolutely horrendous.

Kept clean & with the right ammo and magazines it isn't particularly unreliable. Just don't let anything near it that says "Federal."

 

[CSG]

My Mosquito has been fine with a variety of bulk .22. Its issues are the crappy trigger and plinking quality accuracy (meaning it's only reasonably accurate). For a Sig owner, there may be some benefit as a trainer and it sure fits my hand well but for *target* shooting, there are better choices. Mine is a Bucmark Practical URX with an Aimpoint Comp M red dot sight.

 

[Inebriated]

I like Mosquitos a lot. My local range has one, and it is actually VERY reliable. I considered buying it from them. I went with a Ruger 22/45, but I still want a Mosquito when I see one. As I understand, the unreliability issues are due to most target ammo. CCI stuff is supposed to run great. My experience showed that the gun was fine with target stuff, though.

I guess it's a luck of the draw kind of thing.

 

[Walkalong]

Of all the 22s I've shot, the mosquito was the most unreliable.

Mine was as well, with a poor trigger. I traded it in on a Trailside and the Trailside is 10 times the gun. Better accuracy, far better trigger, etc.

A friend has the Smith, and it seems to be a good dependable gun, but the trigger is very average.

If I could find a Buckmark or Ruger Mk I, II, or III for equal money, that is the way I would go. Used Trailsides come around at good prices from time to time.

 

[Bushpilot]

First of all, at least in my view, comparing the Mosquito and the 22A-1 is a little bit of an "apples vs oranges" type of situation. One is a 22LR version of a “duty/carry” gun and the other more of an informal "target" gun. You can certainly plink, practice/train and shoot targets with both but their "style" is completely different. JMHO.

As far as the guns themselves are concerned, the Smith 22A-1 is a decent gun with lots of features. It's probably not going to be as long lasting as a Ruger Mark series but it doesn't cost as much either. Smith 22A’s shoot very well, have good, adjustable sights and, having a full length rail, are easy to mount optics on. I've had one ever since they first came out and am very satisfied with it. I would however recommend against shooting hyper velocity ammo through it as it is a bit hard on the slide/action. However, this is true for a lot of 22 semi autos that are out there. Some people make a big issue of the fact that the Smith has a nylon "buffer" in it that may need to be replaced periodically. It's purpose is to keep the slide from banging into the frame at full travel. The Browning Buckmark has a nylon buffer, as do lots of other 22 semi autos so it's not really a big deal. I shot my gun for years and never had the buffer break. Finally, I replaced it while I had it apart just because it was getting old, but kept it as an extra spare to have on hand just in case.

As for the Mosquito, the bottom line is that it seems like I’ve heard more complaints concerning function/reliability from Sig Mosquito owners than from the owners of all the other “quality” 22 pistols currently on the market today put together. If you want a “duty/carry style” 22 auto pistol I’d get the Ruger SR22, the Walther P22, or the Colt 1911 Government Model. I don’t know enough about the S&W, M&P 22 yet to comment on it. The Walther doesn’t have a de-cocker which I personally think every DA/SA hammer pistol should have. Walther, of all companies, should know better…. think P38. Also, although it doesn’t bother me, some people don’t like the trigger guard mag release. The Ruger SR22 works very well and has a de-cocker built right into the safety where it should be, unlike the Mosquito. Yea, I know, that’s the way Sigs are and they don’t have safeties…still… The Colt 1911, well, it’s 1911ish and I just find it to be the most fun to plink with of all the duty style 22 pistols……

 

[k_dawg]

I believe the Ruger SR22 is the best 'Like a duty/carry gun" 22 out there.

 

[Kiln]

Just don't buy a Walther P22. Only gun I've ever wanted to throw against pavement.

 

[JERRY]

considering the price on other guns i over paid for my daughter's P22, but it has been a winner so far.

 

[carbonyl]

I haven’t shot either of the pistols you mentioned but if you would consider a third option at the same price point I highly recommend the Ruger SR 22. I have one and it reliably eats quality and junk ammo.

 

[Kiln]

considering the price on other guns i over paid for my daughter's P22, but it has been a winner so far.

I keep hearing good reports from people but I can't bring myself to give them another shot after the one I had. It honestly had 3-4 failures per magazine with various ammo and different mags.

It looked great, felt great, but shot like crap and malfunctioned constantly.

 

[wally]

M22A (7.5 in fluted bull barrel) is my favorite .22LR pistol by far. We've got the Ruger MKII & 22/45, Buckmark, Neos, and Walther P22.

 

[nathan]

Get the one that eats all types of ammo . The Ruger 22/45 does it very well. It holds its value quite well , too.

 

[silicosys4]

The only positive experience I had with the 22A1 I owned was making $50 when I sold it.
I would never own another one. There are too many better guns for the same money.
If you get one, don't forget to pick up a supply of the plastic buffers. The gun eats one every 1k rounds or so, and they are necessary to keep the gun from battering itself to death.

 

[USAF_Vet]

I've shot both, and really consider them to be entirely different animals.

I look at the Sig Mosquito as an inexpensive .22 trainer. It has the same ergos and functions just as most of their service caliber pistols. The company I got my CPL with uses them as rentals for those who don't bring their own. They are ammo picky, but I saw only one serious jam.

The Smith 22A-1 appeals to me as a target gun, comparable to the Browning Buckmark and the Ruger Mark II/III.

I would consider buying both as options for different uses.

As the OP stated, the intended use would be target shooting, so I would go with the 22A-1. It's capable of being vastly more accurate than the Sig should ever be.
As a target gun, out of the box accuracy goes with the Smith. Slap a decent red dot on there and you've got an entry level competition gun. I dot know of anyone who would compete with a Mosquito. It was hard enough for some folks to qualify at 15 feet with the mosquito, I dread to see what they can do at 50.

 

[Sun Tzu warrior]

I have a Mosquito, it will shoot bulk ammo as long as you give it a sufficent oil bath before fireing, I know people who swear by Eanos slide rite lite for this purpose.
You may want to check rim fire central, rimfire handguns. You will surely get more feedback there on rimfire weapons.
As stated I don't think there is a good comparison, niether is going to be a "target shooter"