The joy of the .22 handgun

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Onmilo

Onmilo

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These pistols have to be my all time favorites.
I believe I shoot these handguns more than any others I own.
Any time I go to the range that doesn't involve competition shooting and even sometimes does, one or more of these pistols always goes along.
When I choose to hunt small game with a handgun one of these pistols will be chosen.
When a skunk, raccoon, or unwanted snakes gets to rooting around the outbuildings or has it mind set on taking one of the livestock home for supper, again one of these pistols is chosen for the task of countering the attack.
When I step out for a little informal plinking at soda cans, Necco wafers, water filled ballons a .22 handgun is always going to be my pick.
Should I be forced to defend myself with one of these handguns I am confident I could accomplish the task.
A lot of folks seem to think the .22 handgun has no real function or serious use.
I beg to differ.
I could get rid of my other handguns but I can and will always have a use and need for a good .22

On top is my S&W model 41.
Clockwise right is a Walther PP .22, one of my all time favorites.
Next down is a S&W 2214 'Sportsman', this gun is most used for unwanted pest removal, very accyrate for a short barrel pistol too.
Below that is my 422, the larger brother to the 2214. I put better adjustable sights and wood stocks on the handgun and rounded the trigger guard, it shoots well but this is my least used .22
Up and over to the left is my K-22 Smith, like the Model 41 what more really needs to be said, Perfection.
In the center of the mess is my 317 Airlight Smith. A gift from my wife and a shotshell shooting mini blaster. this is my barn pidgeon killer, it will never be sold.

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I am always on the look out for something new and exciting.
I have my eyes on a French made Unique target pistol that has been sitting around collecting dust at a competitors emporium, may have to bring that pistol home soon,,,,,,
 
Seconded.

I have a CZ P-01 along with a Kadet 22LR conversion, and I love it!

Last weekend I put a brick of cheap 22LR (550 rounds) through it and had zero failures. On top of that, it's accurate to ping a 12" plate at 110 yards, and knock over 12ga casings at 10 yards.

Now I just have a blister from loading mags, but I consider it worth it. :)

$349 for the P-01, $229 for the Kadet. For $578 I got two guns that are fun to shoot, reliable, and accurate.

I'm tempted to get one of the Izhmash 22LR target pistols, those things just look fun!
 
I have four .22 handguns:

1. A Ruger automatic, MK II -- the MK II version of the old "Standard Model."

2. A Colt Officer's Model Target -- top-of-the-line target revolver in the '30s.

3. An Argentine M1927 mounting a Colt Service Ace Conversion Kit.

4. A Fed Ord M1911 frame mounting a Ciener conversion kit.

Of these, Number 2 is my go-to gun. Numbers 1 and 3 are fine guns, and Number 4 is a plinker.

I consider the .22 Long Rifle one of the four useful handgun cartridges -- the others being the .357 (I include the .38 Special as a subset of the .357), the .45 ACP and the .45 Colt. All the rest could dumped in the sea.;)
 
My Single Six was my first handgun. Still one of my favorites. I shoot almost about a brick a week through my 22/45 just pliniking in the backyard. Yes the .22 handgun is probably one of the best purchases you can make.
 
Ever notice that .22 LR from a pistol always "seems" more powerful than from a rifle -- even though we know it isn't. Bigger bang, a little recoil, ... something.
I have one but keep it busy -- the S&W 10-shot revolver.
 
Had a 422 and traded it. Not sorry because it was part of the deal that brought me my 3" Model 65, my overall favorite. But I did love that gun and miss it sometimes. Very easy to hit with and great for new shooters to try. Nothing fancy just a great, fun plinker.
 
I have an old plain jane Buckmark with over 40 bricks through it and a Kadet Kit for my fairly recent CZ PCR with a few hundred rounds through it. Both are very reliable and more accurate than me. After I got my CCW card I backed way off shooting 22s for a few years but I find myself drifting back to them. Smaller groups, less fatigue, less cleaning of my carry gun, and much less expensive shooting are hard to beat.

The only drawback for me is that our club now requires us to pick up all our brass. Both 22s are inconsistent about where the brass lands and the Buckmark tends to put it in the grass out in front of the concrete. More rounds and more spread means a lot of time and a sore back. I need a good unobtrusive shellcatcher that works. I use a cheap mesh clothes hamper for bench shooting and it works well but it's useless for anything else.
 
Yeah, I really enjoy my 22's too...I have a few
I shoot my 22 wheelgun the most, but it does have company...my HK4 & Ruger Mk II slabside. Oodles o' fun :cool:
 
I have a Ruger 22-45, and a Smith and Wesson M 17. The Ruger goes with me up north all the time. Great for shooting bunnies while I am in the deer blind. The Smith is a great little shooter as well. It's hell on red squirrels.
 
In the past 2 months I have picked up two .22 revolvers. One was a planned purchase and the other showed up at a price I couldn't resist. The Smith 617 that showed up is almost too big to be fun. It weighs as much as a small cannon and has a heavy DA pull. It's an excellent gun otherwise, just too much metal for my hands.

My other .22 revolver is a Taurus 96 that was purchased off the classifieds here, and I love it. I have not tested it for accuracy compared to the 617 (which will be hard to beat) but the gun is a lot nicer to shoot overall. Smoother action, more comfortable trigger, and better balance. The other examples of Taurus guns that I handled were unimpressive but this example shows that Taurus can match S&W on a good day at the factory.

I've only been shooting about a year and will strongly suggest to any new shooters that you really do want to get a .22 as your first gun. Ammo prices went up just as I began shooting. If you're starting any later than me than this advice is even more poignant.
 
I've owned and/or shot dozens of .22 handguns of all types: 41's and lots of other Smiths, Mark II's, High Standards, various Colts, Beretta Cheetah, Star Sport, many Ceiner & Marvel conversion units on top 1911 frames, yaddayadda.

But what I've kept, after all the others passed on: my thoroughly delightful CZ Kadet and four S&W full lug .22 revolvers. They've erased everything else from my want list.

The CZ, unlike most .22 pistols, is the same weight and manual of arms as my centerfire guns (CZ 75's), and is the most reliable semi .22 I've owned. Its ergonomics and trigger are perfect.

The Smiths - three 617's in 4", 6", and 8 3/8" and a 4" full lug 17 - are comfortable accurate and a joy to behold. Their extra weight steadies the hand for precise shooting.
 
I've had a bunch of .22's...always a 'fun gun' to shoot.

First was a "Kit Gun" S&W revolver...oldest son owns it now.

Had a couple of cheapy Colt SAA knockoffs over the years.

Ruger Bearcat was fun, but a bit too small for my ham fists, complete with sausage fingers...AKA "Fat Hands Syndrome" :evil:

Residing in Foggy's Artillery Locker right now...a Single-Six Convertible and a MK II both way up on the Fun Gun list. :D :D :D :D
 
I learned to shoot handguns with a Ruger 22 automatic that was my dad's. I really liked that gun.

My .22 handgun collection now consists of:

Colt Peacemaker 22
Colt New Frontier 22
Kimber Rimfire Super
Ruger Mk II 50th Anniversary
Ruger Single Six Convertible 50th Anniversary

The Colts are my favorites. They are basically downsized Single Action Army revolvers, complete with case hardened steel frames and black hard rubber grips with the "Rampant Colt" or whatever it's called. The Peacemaker 22 has fixed sights, and looks just like a Single Action Army, but is smaller and lighter. The New Frontier differs only in that it has a flat top strap and adjustable target sights. They are fun to shoot, accurate, and easy for kids and others with small hands to handle.

The Kimber Rimfire Super is fun, too. It's the Kimber Custom Shop version of the 1911 Rimfire Target model. It has an aluminum alloy frame and slide, so it is incredibly lightweight, but it is the exact same size as a .45ACP 1911. It's a great practice gun, for that reason. While Kimber only provides plastic 10 round mags, I bought a couple of Ciener aluminum 15 round mags for it that work great.

The Rugers have never been fired, and probably won't be for some time. I bought them for my boys. My first son was born in 1999, which was the year Ruger offered the 50th Anniversary Mk II. My second son was born in 2003, which was the year Ruger offered the 50th Anniversary Single Six. They will each get "their" guns when I decide that they are mature and responsible enough.

Incidentally, my baby girl was born in 2005. Ruger didn't have a 50th Anniversary .22 model that year, but it did have the 50th Anniversary .357 Blackhawk. So my two boys have .22's waiting for them, and my little girl will be getting a .357 magnum. I think the boys are going to be jealous....
 
I have a Smith M18, but tend to shoot my .357 and .41 Magnum revolvers more.
Every time I take the M18 to the range I wonder why I don't shoot it more.

Reloading your own ammo makes the .22 handgun a bit less alluring IMO.
 
Brian had to bring them up...

A Colt Woodsman Match Target has been my dream .22 for 45 years.
It's the only gun I ever really, really, really wanted that I've never owned.
Maybe someday I'll finally get one.
 
I bought a Taurus 941 .22mag for my wife and it's one of my favorites to shoot. It's very accurate, just feels right in my hands, and I love to shoot it. I don't have a handgun in .22lr yet, but I plan on getting one soon. The .22mag ammo is a little pricey so I'm looking forward to being able to shoot 500 rounds of .22lr for $10.
I take it with me every time I go shooting, and my wife has yet to shoot it. She's not upset.....yet.
 
A Colt Woodsman Match Target has been my dream .22 for 45 years.
It's the only gun I ever really, really, really wanted that I've never owned.
Maybe someday I'll finally get one.
Click to expand...

look for a 2nd series I think they're the best.
 
22's are a Blast. Picked this one up years ago to shoot in a 22 class at our local pin matches. Supposed to be for my son but I gotta keep it in tune for him. ;)
 

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Ruger Single Six 22lr/22wmr (fun, very accurate)
Ruger MK III (more fun, more accirate)
Magnum Research Mountain Eagle 22lr (hate this gun)
Taurus 941, 22wmr (real tack driver for a 22wmr)


Want; S&W 6" 22 revolver, S&W Mod 41, FA mod 83 22lr/22wmr

I'd shoot these even if ammo wasn't cheap.
 
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