Guns, Cars, and Tech

.22 selection

Written by

oddball

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So… I currently have a hole in my collection.  Namely, I don’t presently own a .22 semi-auto pistol.  I have plenty of .22 rifles and a neat little Heritage arms .22 SA revolver, but I’ve been without a pistol since I traded the Walther P22 back to WizardPC for his WASR.  I could buy that back, since he’s still trying to sell it.  While that would make an already funny story (which I might recount at some point here), it’s not really what I want.

I think I’ve narrowed it down to a couple.  I’m looking at either a Ruger mark III or a Beretta Neos.  I know the Ruger is kind of the industry benchmark, and has been for quite a while.  I don’t think I’ll get the 22/45, since I really like the way the standard grip feels over the 22/45’s.  Of course, if I choose the Ruger, there’s then the seemingly unending configurations to choose from.

The other is the Neos.  Which I think I’m looking at mostly because I think it looks cool.  I know others think it’s ugly, but I kind of like the raygun look.  From what I’ve read, it looks like it’s dependable and accurate.  Of course, I would be surprised if it wasn’t and Beretta decided to stamp their name on it anyways.  I’d probably go with the 6″ barrel.

Anybody have any thoughts or suggestions?  Is there another plinking .22 I should think about?

By the way, I’ve been told that I have to wait until National Buy A Gun Day for this specific purchase, so that’s when I’ll make the decision.

Comments

16 responses to “.22 selection”

  1. ZerCool Avatar
    ZerCool

    I’ve a 22/45 that I’ve been quite happy with, but you may want to take a look at the Browning Buckmark and the GSG 1911-22. Both consistently get good marks from shooters.

    Reply
  2. Sean D Sorrentino Avatar
    Sean D Sorrentino

    I too have the .22/45 and love it. If you like the regular Mark III, get it. First thing, though, replace the trigger with a Mark II trigger from Volquartsen. It’s a perfect trigger, plus it removes the annoying mag safety. Unless you are a gunsmith, have a gunsmith do the install for you.

    Reply
  3. Dave Avatar
    Dave

    I’ve had a 22/45 and currently own a S&W 22A. Both are somewhat disappointing – failure to feed, failure to fire, failure to extract…

    I’ve avoided Walther P22 because I’ve seen how difficult it is to field strip.

    The newly-announced Ruger SR22>/a> has caught my attention, however. I’m still working on the Kitchen Pass to acquire one myself…

    Reply
  4. Dave Avatar
    Dave

    I’ve had a 22/45 and currently own a S&W 22A. Both are somewhat disappointing – failure to feed, failure to fire, failure to extract…

    I’ve avoided Walther P22 because I’ve seen how difficult it is to field strip.

    The newly-announced Ruger SR22 has caught my attention, however. I’m still working on the Kitchen Pass to acquire one myself…

    Reply
  5. EchoVictor76 Avatar
    EchoVictor76

    Plinking 22?
    Bersa Thunder 22 LR – looks like a Walther PPK/Makarov only in 22 and under $300
    GSG 1911 or Chiappa 1911-22 in 22LR – any 1911 clone in 22 is a great fun (I enjoy shooting a 22 conversion kit on a 1911 frame the most)

    Only problems with these types of guns is the “pot metal” construction.

    Ruger is the most solid of them all and the safest bet for something that will last for a long, long time with constant use.

    Reply
  6. Oddball Avatar
    Oddball

    I’ve thought about that at times. I own a Thunder 380 and love it. I just kind of have a desire for a more target style gun right now.

    Reply
  7. EchoVictor76 Avatar
    EchoVictor76

    Ruger MkII/III with a 5 or 6″ barrel makes a nice target pistol.
    Or you can go back to a Walther (SP22 series) for almost Olympic style.
    http://www.waltherpistols.com/category/1185-Walther_SP22_Pistol.aspx

    Reply
  8. B Avatar
    B

    We own both here in our household…

    The Ruger is great. I agree with the suggestion for the Volquartsen trigger, but it isn’t necessary. Those who say it is hard to assemble after disassembly apparently can’t read a manual….You do have to follow the steps, but if you can’t do it blindfolded after 10 takedown/reassembly cycles, then you shouldn’t ever bother, just take it to a gunsmith for cleaning….

    The Neos is a nice firearm, but it does have issues…for many, the grip thinness is an issue. The screw which holds the barrel in place has a tendency to work loose, even with blue Loctite. This affects accuracy after 30 or so rounds. It is easy to clean, and field strip.

    There are accessories for nearly anything you wish to do with the Ruger…not so with the Neos. If you buy the Neos, you’d better think it is perfect right out of the box, ’cause it is hard to find decent accessories.

    I’d go with the Ruger, were it me.

    YMMV

    Reply
  9. EchoVictor76 Avatar
    EchoVictor76

    Besides, you can always sell it if you don’t like it. It’s not a big deal (for most.) I, on the other hand, live in New Jersey, with an uber-retarded permit to purchase requirement. For me buying a handgun is a very big deal because I have to first go to my PD, apply for permit, pay $18 for background check (plus $2 per permit), wait at least 30 days for approval, pick up the permit, then pay another $15 for a NICS (done through NJ State Police). Add to that one gun a month law, and purchasing a handgun becomes something akin to buying a new car. Because of that, I really have to be sure of what I want to buy and usually plan ahead for months.
    For you lucky folk, all you have to do is go to the gun shop and sell it if you don’t like it. The price difference can be treated as a long term rental fee.

    Reply
  10. ChrisJ Avatar
    ChrisJ

    Another vote for the Buckmark. I happen to find the grip of the browning more comfortable than the Ruger and the bolt easier to grip/operate. Mine is accurate and easily disassembles with an Allen wrench.

    Reply
  11. Rob Reed Avatar
    Rob Reed

    Get the Ruger Mk II or Mk III. It is the standard for function, reliability and accuracy that the other .22 pistols are judged against.

    Skip the Ruger SR22. It’s another Ultramax gun, and I’ve yet to be impressed by the reliability or durability of any of those.

    The Buckmark is the “other” choice. Some guys prefer them and they are not bad at all. I just like the Ruger better myself. Either one would do.

    One last thought: If you happen to own a CZ 75 the .22 Kadet kit is a nice piece of gear.

    Reply
  12. B Avatar
    B

    I disagree with the suggestion for the Buckmark. It is a decent pistol, but is a pain to strip, and you have to replace the buffer every 5k rounds or so. It takes 2 different allen wrenches to fully field strip, and you can’t upgrade the trigger.

    I own one, and shoot it often. But if I could do it over again, I’d have gone with the Ruger first.

    Your mileage may, of course, vary.

    Reply
  13. ZerCool Avatar
    ZerCool

    B – with respect, have you ever disassembled a MkIII? Or re-assembled it?

    No gun – and I mean NO gun – has ever flummoxed me quite like that did. In point of fact, I have STILL not completely stripped it for thorough cleaning.

    Reply
  14. Bobby Avatar
    Bobby

    I have quite a few and one of my favorites is the S&W 22A. One of the guys I shoot with has the Ruger 22/45 and even he agrees the 22A is a sweet shooting handgun. Plus, the 22/45 was a pain to reassemble the 1st time. If I HAD to go buy another .22 pistol…I would probably get either the Walther P22 or the Sig Mosquito. BTW, the 22A’s are usually around 249.00 @ Academy Sorting goods.
    Also, I’ve had the Ruger Charger and the SR22, sold them both.

    Reply
  15. Jake Avatar
    Jake

    Go for the Ruger. MkII if you can, MkIII if you can’t (in addition to the stupid mag “safety” the MkII also doesn’t have the loaded chamber indicator). If you get a used MkIII, make sure it’s not one with the original LCI (either not from the initial production runs, or one that had it replaced in the recall). The original design was flawed and could cause a chambered round to fire if the LCI was struck (theoretically at least, I’m not aware that it ever actually happened), but that was fixed.

    The Ruger is dead reliable and well made, very accurate out of the box, and the number of accessories/upgrades/parts available is effectively limited only by your budget. Assembly and disassembly can be a little tricky and mildly annoying, but it’s really not the horrible ordeal that some make it out to be.

    Reply
  16. B Avatar
    B

    Zercool….Seriously. You really have issues with disassembly/reassembly of the Ruger MKII/III? It was confusing ONCE. I read the frigging manual. Did it again. Then I did the dis/re assembly. I generally do so at least once a month, or once every thousand rounds or so.

    My 12 year old niece can do it. I hadda show her ONCE.

    If you can’t learn after a time or two, then you should never fieldstrip any firearm. In fact, you likely shouldn’t even touch a firearm.

    Yeah, the above is a little insulting, and I am sorry about that. But it isn’t that hard, and it isn’t that complicated, and even children can do it. I’m no genius, but I can (almost)strip/reassemble a Ruger 22 blindfolded….it is no more complicated (but different) than stripping/reassembling a 1911. You just have to follow the steps…in order.

    Learn to read the manual and follow the steps. It is actually easy after the 3rd or fourth time, and is one of the easiest firearms to assemble/disassemble….and it takes no tools. You do have to think, but if you can’t think, then you needn’t be handling firearms. Reading your stuff I’d have thought you’d be smarter than what you appear here.

    You can find easy tutorials on YouTube, fer chrissakes.

    Again, my suggestion, in order, Ruger, Buckmark, Neos.

    Oddball: Perhaps go to a store/range that rents firearms. Get them to show you the assembly/disassembly process before you make a decision.

    Reply

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