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. 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?
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. 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?