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.22lr Handguns...

5K views 38 replies 19 participants last post by  NoWake 
#1 ·
Ok, lets talk rimfire handguns. I'm in the market but like everything else, I have a budget I need to stick close to.
My intentions are 3 fold. a)Fun/plinking/burning up ammo. b)Training. c)Hunting small game/varmints on occaison.

I currently have a Taurus Tracker 6" 22lr that has been an excellent gun. very accurate, no issues etc. I have sold my revolvers and would have kept this one for the wife to train with but she prefers shooting her 686. She likes to feel the recoil. I have the Taurus sold so I need to replace it with another rimfire.

Here's my choices...they are kind of all over the board so bare with me.
S&W M&P .22lr. I currently have a fullsize 9mm M&P and a Shield so this is an opportunity to add another M&P to the line up for a cost effective trainer. 2 defensive guns and a cost effective trainer is a pretty good idea, familiarity etc. It's reasonably priced and besides the training aspect, would be a lot of fun. Downside is that it is just another black plastic pistol and while I appreciate the utilitarian aspect, not a lot of soul.

Ruger Mk III 22/45 with 5.5 bull barrel and walnut grips. Reasonable priced. Accurate and fun. Would be a good cost effective training partner for my 1911. The horrow stories about field stripping it have me concerned. It sounds like one needs both a degree in mechanical engineering and pyschology to strip it down, clean, and re-assemble. :dizzy: The other downside is the utilitarian thing again...but at least it would have walnut grips.....:lol:

The same gun in the Hunter format is another option but pushing my budget.

The regular MKIII 22 Hunter or Competition model with the slab sided barrel. Both are beautiful and both would be a top choice but that pesky budget thing. Both are real steel and walnut. Both would give you that warm fuzzy ownership experience that, for many comes with steel and walnut.

The Browning Buckmark Hunter. I like the built in scope rail. I could see throwing a red dot on there for a bunch of fun. I know they are easier to strip than the Ruger. Accuracy is on par, some claim better, some claim worse so? I know they can be finicky but it sounds like every rimfire auto pistol on the market has the potential to be finicky. I don't want to be forced to use cci mini mags to plink with but I know many autos prefer them. Not as beautiful as the steel Rugers but still a nice non plastic gun.

My only hesitation with the autos is the potential for finicky digestion and pain of maintenance.

The other two choices are Ruger Single Actions. My goal is to purchase a Ruger Super Blackhawk Hunter in .44 mag so for practice purposes, the little brother Single Six Hunter rimfire makes a whole lot of sense. But the price is just too much at the moment. Maybe I just wait... I will own one at some point. Like the fact that .22wmr is an option

I also like the 5.5" Ruger Single Ten. Beautiful gun that will last a couple of generations. Fun gun to plink with for sure and as some ofthe autos, would make a fine small game/vermin gun.

Ruger Single Six Convertable....all of the above plus the ability to run .22wmr thru it.

The single actions will function with any ammo, even the real cheap stuff so that is a definite plus. And they are beautiful steel and walnut. Course, steel and walnut comes with a price.

So, what would you buy, say if you $300-$450 to spend?
 
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#4 ·
.22 pistols are like potato chips...


single six is good.

22/45 is good.

A Ruger or better yet in your case is the M&P semi auto. I like everything about the Ruger SR 22 except the safety (also trigger I guess).
 
#5 ·
I have the single 6 convertible and I shoot it better than any other 22 pistol I own. My son has a ruger mk and it is accurate and reliable with any ammo. We have a couple of 22 autos that are fine but have that preference for cci mini mags. Out of the guns you mentioned I personally would chose the single six if you wanted a revolver or the mk in an auto. I wouldn't be afraid of either of these in a well maintained used.
 
#6 ·
Personally, I don't think you would go wrong with either the Ruger or the Browning. It would simply be up to your personal taste.
I don't have either, but have shot both and they are like flipping a coin.
I keep looking at the S&W 617, but the darn thing costs more than my 629 nowadays:( But one of these days.............;)
 
#8 ·
Rugers really aren't that hard to take down and put back together. My mark III Hunter is the most accurate semaiauto rimfire handgunI have ever had, and thats a lot of 'em. It eats just about anything too. I sold my Buckmarks after I got the Mark III because the Buckmarks just sat in the safe. Not that they weren't good, but the Ruger was that much better.
The only rimfire handgun I found that is more accurate than the MarkIII Hunter is my single six Hunter. And it has the added bonus of being able to shoot .22 mags as well. wait if you have to then get one of those two, they will reward you the rest of your days.
 
#9 · (Edited)
Rugers really aren't that hard to take down and put back together. My mark III Hunter is the most accurate semaiauto rimfire handgunI have ever had, and thats a lot of 'em. It eats just about anything too. I sold my Buckmarks after I got the Mark III because the Buckmarks just sat in the safe. Not that they weren't good, but the Ruger was that much better.
The only rimfire handgun I found that is more accurate than the MarkIII Hunter is my single six Hunter. And it has the added bonus of being able to shoot .22 mags as well. wait if you have to then get one of those two, they will reward you the rest of your days.
I agree breaking down the Mark line is waaaay easier than advertised, and the guns are amazingly accurate. I'll never sell my MarkII Competition.

They can also be found for a reasonable price. I paid sub 300 for used.

The most fun .22 I own, is an 8 shot Ruger LCR. Not accurate enough for hunting though, but it's a fantastic trainer.
 
#11 ·
I have never shot the S&W. but I've owned all the rest, and they're all fine guns. I'm sure the S&W is good, too. So I think you're fine no matter which one you pick.

I personally don't find the Rugers hard to strip. My MK II with a 10" bull barrel is probably my all time favorite.
 
#12 ·
I have a MKIII that is super accurate. As far as tearing them down, it's not that hard but I use a dry lube and haven't taken mine apart in well over a year.

I've taken a few squirrels with it and can hit a 6" plate @ 100 consistently with a 25 yd zero.

BTW I'm not a very good shot with a handgun.
 
#13 ·
i love my 22/45 walnut grips, great shooter lots of accessories holsters etc, shoots a lot of brands of ammo very well... however i converted mine to a mark2 (no mag disconnect and now the mag drops free)
 
#17 ·
I like my M&P 22. Bought new this year and thousands of rounds without any issue on a Mini Mag diet. Shoots high out of the box, and needs new and a higher front site to really adjust right IMO. The Dawson fiber optic or Williams will eventually go on. Nice trigger, only comes with 1 mag, spare mags are hard to find. A blast to shoot and train the semi auto platform. I have introduced lots of friends, family, and kids to shooting with this gun.
 
#18 ·
I keep looking at the S&W 617, but the darn thing costs more than my 629 nowadays:( But one of these days.............;)

Look for a Mod 34. My snubby shoots way better than it should but I think that it is the sights.

One of these days, I will swap out springs for Wolfes and it should shoot even better.

Mine is mostly a safe queen.
 
#19 ·
I have a Smith and Wesson 617. Love it for plinking


Posted using Outdoor Hub Campfire
I didn't mention the 617 but it is one of my bucket list guns. Beautiful gun. I've seen a couple in stock but both places were asking high $700's.

If I go revolver route this time around, I want a single action as it will be a hunting/training firearm form a Ruger Super Blakhawk.
 
#20 ·
View attachment 47182 View attachment 47183
Ruger Hunters with photobomb by BL22.
I knew Esox would come through with some rimfire porn! Those are beautiful. Is that a Weigand mount on the Single Six?

I think I will be going with one of the Rugers. I held a a MKIII target, all blued 5.5" this weekend that felt really good in the hands. $350 seemed like a good price. But I will probably hold out for the Hunter or the slab sided competition model. I like the all steel vs the 22/45.

I did get to check out a Ruger Single Ten with 5.5" barrel as well. Very, very nice. I want that one too! $550. But built like a fine swiss watch. I thought the thinner than normal Ruger gunfighter grips would be too small for my hands but I was pleasantly surprised.

I will own both in time, but now, which on do I buy first??? :lol:

I still want the M&P22 as well.

With the price of centerfire ammo and difficult to find reloading componants, I have a renewed interest in rimfires.
 
#22 ·
I didn't mention the 617 but it is one of my bucket list guns. Beautiful gun. I've seen a couple in stock but both places were asking high $700's.

If I go revolver route this time around, I want a single action as it will be a hunting/training firearm form a Ruger Super Blakhawk.
I know they aren't the most inexpensive one out there. The only reason I even have this one is that my uncle gifted it to me before he moved to Florida about 9 years ago. If I would've had to buy one it would've been a Ruger.


Sent from my iPad using Ohub Campfire mobile app
 
#23 ·
Is that a Weigand mount on the Single Six?

But I will probably hold out for the Hunter or the slab sided competition model.
Yes Weigand mount. Doesn't really fit the Ruger rail properly but it is rock solid.

Hold out for the hunter, the extra barrel length equates to added velocity, which equates to easier long distance accuracy.
 
#24 ·
I love my MKIII 22/45 with replaceable grip panels. I shoot rimfire falling plates every week with it and shoot a .22 bullseye league in the winter with it. I installed a VQ trigger, hammer, and sear. Did the mag disconnect mod and rubbed on just about all the internals. After thousands and thousands of rounds, I've only had it choke on me once or twice. One of those times was because I didn't have the mag seated.

After you disassemble / reassemble a ruger semi auto a couple times it becomes a non issue. A buddy at the range asked me to show him and I stripped his down in about 10 seconds at the shooting bench. Then I told him he was on his own getting it back together. :yikes::lol::lol: The look on his face was hilarious.

I will say I'm not 100% satisfied with it's accuracy though, or at least my accuracy with it. It's acceptable, but I can shoot a friends MKII a fair amount more accurately.
 
#25 ·
I love my MKIII 22/45 with replaceable grip panels. I shoot rimfire falling plates every week with it and shoot a .22 bullseye league in the winter with it. I installed a VQ trigger, hammer, and sear. Did the mag disconnect mod and rubbed on just about all the internals. After thousands and thousands of rounds, I've only had it choke on me once or twice. One of those times was because I didn't have the mag seated.

After you disassemble / reassemble a ruger semi auto a couple times it becomes a non issue. A buddy at the range asked me to show him and I stripped his down in about 10 seconds at the shooting bench. Then I told him he was on his own getting it back together. :yikes::lol::lol: The look on his face was hilarious.

I will say I'm not 100% satisfied with it's accuracy though, or at least my accuracy with it. It's acceptable, but I can shoot a friends MKII a fair amount more accurately.
I was about to send you a PM asking how you were liking it. I knew you would be one of the guys here that has a lot of rounds through one. I still need to get over there and make a fool of myself at one of those shoots.

I will be picking up one of the MKIII's here in the next few weeks once I get some time. Not sure on the exact model yet. Hunter, Competition, or the 22/45 with replaceable grips. It's between those three. After some gentle fondling I'll make a choice.

Then I need another rimfire rifle...... That might be another thread.
 
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