What do you suggest for a handgun

Browning.

I own two Ruger MKIII pistols. Both are great. However the triggers could be a bit better and taking them apart is a pain. If you do go with a Ruger MKIII the most practical is the 5 and 1/2 bull barrel version. I bought mine in blued, but should have waited for stainless. It's a great overall pistol. The stainless ones however have the more durable finish, and the fit seems slightly better.

I've shot a Browning pistol and I hate to say this but I liked shooting it better than the Ruger. It felt more like a real pistol. Pointed a bit better and I preferred the trigger.
 
Get a Ruger Mark, or, if you want to spend even more money on ammo, get a Norinco M93 "Woodsman" Copy from Marstar or one of the other dealers...cheap...like $150.....
 
I've had a few .22 pistols, including the Sig Mosquito and the Ruger mk3, now am down to two: a Colt 1911 .22 conversion and a S&W model 17. I paid approx $400 for the Colt conversion and it was worth every penny. That being said, I already had the 1911 to slap it on.
 
Williams Lake eh! Going to the Mediaeval fair this weekend?

For the first time buyer I would recommend the Ruger. I had a Ruger Mark III Hunter Stainles (fluted barrel) and regret selling it. I also had a Mark II and it was great. Yes, it takes a bit to take it apart but, once you have it figured out it is no big deal. The Ruger will eat anything you feed it and will just keep tickin'. A bit heavy being all steel, but this reduces the recoil. The internal bolt doesn't move the sight when firing (if this really makes a difference after pulling the trigger?).

I like the Brownings, but I've heard a lot about jamming issues (just like the one my dad has, it stove pipes, could be the Remmington ammo?). They are also a little strange in how the barrel is held on to the frame, but I know a team of engineers made it and it should work for a lifetime.

If you want to get into the older ones a Colt Woodsman would be excellent. I found my Colt Challenger (similar to the Woodsman, but with plastic grips) for $250 with two mags. What a great pistol. Or, there is the Smith and Wesson 422/622 which I don't have any personal experience with (got a 422 and a 622 coming in the mail), but they seem like good little pistols. Nice and light (aluminum frame like the Brownings). I'll find out soon how good they are.

Really, I'd go for the Ruger. Find one for under $300 and abuse the crap out of it. Feed it everything you can and just keep shootin'. Now if they made a target version that was blued with a fluted barrel...hmmm...nice. If you clean it regularly (with the blowback design the burnt powder cakes up like sand and will wear things faster) and only shoot lead out of it (not copper plate) it will last several lifetimes. I may be wrong on the copper part because I think it is used for a lube, but it is one more thing to clean out of your barrel.

As far as a place to buy...get it from a place in Alberta so they don't charge you the tax.

SB.
 
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Scott Bear said:
Really, I'd go for the Ruger. ...
As far as a place to buy...get it from a place in Alberta so they don't charge you the tax.

SB.
Click to expand...

I agree with you about the Ruger. However, now that we have the HST you can't escape it by buying from another province (unless you go there in person.)
 
Without any experience on the subject, the ones I'd want would a 1911 style one and a S&W revolver(617?). Followed by a single six.
 
What's with all this tinkering, hard to take apart, shoot the dam thing and keep on shooting, everybody on this site seems to think you have to take the godam things apart after every round , just about, Have shot for yrs and I think most of my guns have had the stocks off once or twice and they are still clean and ex. shape.
 
I love my Ruger MKIII with the fluted barrel as for taking it apart Rugers web site has a video and after a couple times no big deal. Real though just run a bore snake down the barrel you don't have to take it apert very often
 
Consider a Browning Buckmark they come in entry level and target models,I have a Camper and like it a lot, looks good also.


051379lBrowningBuckMarkCamper.jpg
 
Buckmark are great pistols, probably best choice in their price range. Norinco M93
(or something like that) is another good one, can't beat the price and very accurate and reliabe. Ugly though, very much.
 
Im sorry to say but I think the Rugers, woodsman, M93, etc are ugly as sin :D

And before anyone gets mad Ive shot one of those types before, good pistol, just damn ugly :p
 
I have a Buckmark and it's reliable as long as it's well tightened down the one thing that is a pain is cleaning it. Like on most .22s the recoil spring is trying it's best to zip across the room.
 
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