Small .22 Autoloader

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MtnCreek

MtnCreek

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I'm looking for a small .22 pistol that is threaded or at least has threaded barrels available and would be grateful for opinions.

What first caught my eye was the Sig Mosquito, but after searching here it seems many think it's not well made. Any truth to that? I handled one yesterday and really liked the feel. The local shop had one for less than Buds; maybe that's a sign.

After that I searched the Walther P22. I've shot one a hundred rds or so and liked it. Searched here and found many think about the same of it as they do the Sig. ???

The threads I searched had several suggestions to go with the Ruger SR22. Anyone have one? Is there a threaded model available or an aftermarket threaded barrel available? Buds lists them as striker fire? Maybe I don't understand striker fire because it looks like I see a hammer on the back of it???

.22 auto, threaded or available threaded barrels, fits small hands [Edit: ambidextrous safety is a must] . Any other I should look at?

Thanks!
 
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My wife has a Sig Mosquito. We both like shooting it. My 14yo daughter likes shooting it. It is VERY ammo picky, it will run CCI Mini-Mag with no problem. That is my only complaint about the Mosquito.
My wife likes the Ruger SR22 also.
 
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Since you said "Ambi Safety" and factory threaded, or aftermarket threaded barrel available, the two that come to mind are the Ruger SR22P and the Sig Mosquito. I have both, and many other(20+)threaded 22 pistols. Both my Sig, and my Ruger have been very reliable. The Ruger has a better trigger for the Double Action first shot. Its smaller, and lighter, and is constructed from better materials. It comes with fully adjustable sights, and two magazines. I would recommend it over the Mosquito. The SR22P is hammer fired, not striker fired.

If you can get away from the absolute requirement of an Ambi Safety, there are many other fine 22 pistols in the $3-400 price range. The Ruger 22/45 comes in 2 configurations with a threaded barrel and has better accuracy than the SR22 and Mosquito.

The Browning Buck Mark is another excellent pistol, and there is an aluminum shrouded threaded steel barrel available for it, as an aftermarket accessory.
 
Of the pistols mentioned I own and have only fired the SR22 which has been totally reliable with every brand of ammo I have fed it. Highly recommended.
 
As far as size, how would you compare the Sig and Ruger?
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Here are pics of the SR22P and the Mosquito, then those two with a Ruger 22/45, and a Buck Mark. IF you truly want a small threaded 22 pistol, there isnt much smaller than the Beretta Bobcat(21a)that can be threaded. There isnt a factory threaded version, or an aftermarket barrel available. You will have to send your Bobcat to a machinist for threading. Jim Pixley of JP Grips and Machine did my Bobcat.

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I've got a Walther P22 and run Gemtech Subsonics through it all day long with no issues. I've tried a few supersonics just to see the difference in noise, and it fed those perfectly, as well. Round count is about 700 at the moment, love the gun.
 
MtnCreek
Small .22 Autoloader
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Got the SR22 with the threaded barrel. Seriously, nothing special. It's a threaded 1/2 x 28 adapter. It would have been nicer if it was a real threaded barrel because you have one less thing to worry about coming loose. Of the 3 guns mentioned, the SR22 is the best of the bunch. The first 2 have Zamak slides. If I had to do it over, I 'd get myself a Ruger 22/45 with the threaded barrel.
 
Thank you for the pictures. That Bobcat looks fun, but I don't think that would be a good fit for my purpose. I'm wanting a pistol that has a similar feel and function as a larger centerfire handgun for the kids.
 
The threads I searched had several suggestions to go with the Ruger SR22. Anyone have one? Is there a threaded model available or an aftermarket threaded barrel available? Buds lists them as striker fire? Maybe I don't understand striker fire because it looks like I see a hammer on the back of it???
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The SR22 is indeed hammer-fired. It's a traditional DA/SA mechanism. Hammer is left cocked when the slide is cycled, and can be lowered. Once lowered, a longer trigger pull will still draw it back and release it.

From Ruger's web site:

Performance:
Light double-action and crisp single-action trigger pulls. Its external hammer is designed with a rounded spur for easy cocking and single-action shooting.
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Tommy, As far as size, how would you compare the Sig and Ruger?
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I think the Sig is better in my hand, I CCW a P226. I think the Sig handle fits my hand better. My wife has smaller hands and likes the SR22 better. The SR22 is not as picky on ammo types.
 
Wow! I really have been out of the loop too long. Over 30 years ago I picked up a Manhurin PPK/S .22Lr. That's all I have and I thought IT was light!
 
+1 for the Ruger SR22. Mine has been excellent since I took it out of the box. Fired a full 525 round box on the first rip to the range - zero failures.
 
You will love it. I picked up the SR22 last year and it has not failed once. I've actually shot it quite a bit, with the 22lr shortages and all, and I love it. Takes any kind of ammo I've put through it. I like CCI, but it's handled whatever I load it with.

Jeff
 
I'm wanting a pistol that has a similar feel and function as a larger centerfire handgun for the kids.
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Buy a Walther P22. Most .22 autos have the same issues. One of those issues is being picky with ammo. The Walther suffers from this in some regards, but it isn't a problem once you find the ammo that works, you just simply keep buying that ammo. Some people say P22's will only reliably feed high velocity ammo (the manual from Walther says the same) but that's not the case. My P22 feeds some bulk ammo quite well. The best standard velocity ammo I've used so far is the Remington "Golden Bullet" bulk packs. I have about 98-99% feeding and ejecting reliability with that ammo.

No .22 auto is going to be 100% reliable, but the Walther is about the best of them. I prefer it over the Ruger and the Sig and yes, I've shot all three. Once you find the right ammo, having SOME malfunctions when firing can actually be a good training tool to work on your immediate action drills. I have many thousands of rounds through my P22 and I'm still in love with it.
 
I've looked at the SR22 several times. The only reason I haven't gotten one yet was that the .22 shortage made purchasing one kind of a pointless thing. I've heard a lot of great things about it.

I've got a solid polymer frame fix sight .22/45 with a 4" bull barrel that I love. No frills, points like a 1911, eats pretty much anything as long as its powerful enough to cycle the slide.

My next .22 is probably going to be either the SR22 or the .22/45 LITE with a threaded barrel. I don't really need to suppress my .22, but that would be a lot easier to pack around in the woods than the relatively heavy bull barrel one I have.
 
03teufel said:
Buy a Walther P22. Most .22 autos have the same issues. One of those issues is being picky with ammo. The Walther suffers from this in some regards, but it isn't a problem once you find the ammo that works, you just simply keep buying that ammo. Some people say P22's will only reliably feed high velocity ammo (the manual from Walther says the same) but that's not the case. My P22 feeds some bulk ammo quite well. The best standard velocity ammo I've used so far is the Remington "Golden Bullet" bulk packs. I have about 98-99% feeding and ejecting reliability with that ammo.

No .22 auto is going to be 100% reliable, but the Walther is about the best of them. I prefer it over the Ruger and the Sig and yes, I've shot all three. Once you find the right ammo, having SOME malfunctions when firing can actually be a good training tool to work on your immediate action drills. I have many thousands of rounds through my P22 and I'm still in love with it.
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I have owned both and had exactly the opposite experience. I had a Walther P22 and it was never reliable with any brand of ammo. Sold the Walther, purchased a Ruger SR22 and in addition to it being reliable with every brand of ammo I have fed it I like EVERYTHING else about it much better than the P22.
 
The Walther P22 is garbage. One of the few guns I've sold because it was unreliable with every ammo type, multiple mags, and Walther won't warranty them after a year. I would NEVER buy another P22 because even if you get one that works, slide failures are common at 7k rounds or so.

I just don't see why anybody would pick a $400 zamak pistol when there are quality steel guns in the same price range.
 
What about the Ruger 22/45 lite. Available in all black as well

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Had a Walther P22 and it had more negative things going on with it than positive. Lots of jams with any kind of ammo, needed to be cleaned frequently at the range (like every 100 rounds or so), or it wouldn't function properly, front barrel extension came off every time out (finally bought a normal length barrel), terrible trigger, and so-so accuracy.
 
It's the final conclusion in this thread, and almost any other thread on the internet up to date right now on the subject of a resaonably priced small .22 autoloader.
We all should know by now that you do not buy a Sig Mosquito or Walther P22. If you do then you are just gambling that you get one of the few that seem to exist without multiple failures.
We all know the drill. Somebody will ineviably come in to one of these threads and explain how a Mosquito and/or a P22 isn't that bad of an option while the remaining 99% warns to stay away from them.
I know after reading countless threads in here and any other gun site, the conclusion is always the same. After going over the same subject in must have been 50+ conversations about this before my purchase, I also bought the SR22.
If you want a .22 autoloader that is a little larger, you get a Ruger 22/45, Mark II/III or a Browning Buckmark. Then if money is not a matter you get a S&W 41 or something else that is 3-4X as much as the cheaper options.
It seems the only way somebody would get into a bad situation like a Mosquito or P22 is out of brand loyalty when a SR22 exists. I don't even really like Ruger guns all that much but in this category, they have it locked down.


So in summary: Need a functioning small .22 autoloader, buy a Ruger SR22.
Ruger in the works. Thanks for all the info!
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:what: It can't be. I would never have guessed it.
 
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