I would like a .22 Handgun, what are some reliable options?

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Artilery92

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Hello everyone,

Ok, so long story short whenever I brought a guest to my range I would start them off with the club's .22 pistols just so they could build a bit of confidence before I bumped them up to my 9mm. The club let guests use their guns free of charge but I have switched ranges this year and unfortunately my new range does not offer the use of club guns. I would like to purchase a relatively cheap .22 pistol which I can use to introduce new shooters to the wonderful world of shooting. I am looking for .22 pistol that is cheap and reliable (i understand .22 pistols are not as reliable as a centerfire pistol). The reliability issue is more for myself because I would also use it to shoot on a budget and I wouldn't want to get a stoppage every magazine.

I have been looking at a Colt .22 1911 and a Chiappa .22 1911. The colt is in the $500-$600 range which is kind of pushing it for me. The Chiappa is $300 but I have never heard of this company before and I am worried about the quality control. If anybody can weigh in and tell me something about the Chiappa .22 1911 or suggest another .22 handgun it would greatly be appreciated.

Oh, and I am aware of the Ruger .22 but I am not a fan. I know it is cheap and well functioning but I just can't stand the look and ergonomics of it. I know it's stupid, but I want to have a liking for something that I am going to spend hundreds of dollars on.

Thanks in advance guys!
 
Your two main options seem to be (for semi-auto) the Ruger as mentioned or the Browning Buckmark.

I'm curious as to why you feel the .22 is not as reliable as a center fire ...? While much .22 ammo is notoriously cheap and dirty which causes miss-fires and feed problems if your firearm is not properly maintained .. a properly maintained .22 pistol with decent ammo is (in my opinion) no more prone to issues than centerfire semi-autos.

Having said that ..I've heard the Buckmark is an easier firearm to clean than the Ruger ...
 
When looking for a .22 I tried the Mark III, but like you I didn't like the way it felt in my hand. I ended up buying a Browning Buckmark which felt great to hold.

I've had about 300 rounds through it with 1 failure to eject. This was early on before the gun was broken in.

While I liked the 1911 style, be careful of any .22 where the whole slide moves. The .22 cartridge doesn't have a lot of energy and it can be hard to cycle the whole slide. I think some of these guns are specified for high velocity ammo only to get the energy to work the slide. I think they will be less reliable than guns with a smaller reciprocating mass.
 
I've read many posts about GSG being a heck of a lot more reliable than Chiappa for only a few bucks more ($400 total). Based on the CGN experiences, it's a no-brainer in my books. Now, I'm just waiting for my PAL/rPAL
 
Artilery92 said:
Oh, and I am aware of the Ruger .22 but I am not a fan. I know it is cheap and well functioning but I just can't stand the look and ergonomics of it. I know it's stupid, but I want to have a liking for something that I am going to spend hundreds of dollars on.

Thanks in advance guys!
Click to expand...

Ever handled a 22/45? Feels like a skinny(ish) 1911, shoots fantastically well, can be had for ~$325 on the EE and they come up regularly.


TRaTSeRiF said:
I've read many posts about GSG being a heck of a lot more reliable than Chiappa for only a few bucks more ($400 total). Based on the CGN experiences, it's a no-brainer in my books. Now, I'm just waiting for my PAL/rPAL
Click to expand...

+1. If it has to not be a Ruger, I would go with the GSG without a second thought.


Mark
 
deadman said:
What is your 9mm? Is there a conversion unit available for it?
Click to expand...

I have an M&P9, as far as I know a conversion kit is not available.

I'll look in to the Browning Buckmark and the GSG. Thanks guys!

Edit: I can't seem to find a dealer for the GSG. Does anyone know where I can get my hands on one?
 
I have a sig issc s&w and a gsg i like the gsg because of the frame clip and it dose not jam often i would say that the issc is par with the gsg but if you want bang for buck s&w 22a-1 is a great buy.
 
I've been looking at 22 pistols as well, and seem to have similar aesthetic tastes.

Here's what I like so far, but they're a wee bit more pricey:

CZ Kadet

CZ_75_KADET.png


Kimber Rimfire Target

Kimber_RimfireTargetB.jpg


...and of the Ruger stuff (which I also don't particularly care for), I like this one best:

Slab sided 22/45 with 4.5 barrel

10119.jpg


Much better angles on the 22/45 than the regular Mark III (imo)

Also, I've gotta admit; all the semi-auto conversion kits I've seen, seem really easy to use. For about the price of the above (aside from the Ruger), you could probably get a Glock and the 22 kit.
 
Give us a writeup on it on how your guests / students like it for a entry pistol. While I dont know that a pistol is in the short-term works, I did qualify for an RPAL so I won't discount getting one. I always enjoyed my non-PAL air pistols.
 
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