.22 magnum Pistol. Thinking about it....

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Advoc

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So I'm finally sending in my PAL app on Monday. It's taken months to finally get both of my tests done and I'm going through with it.

What I really want most is 2 things. I want to own pretty things, and I think pistols can be a work of art. And I want to be good at shooting them. I don't know what the initiation into competition shooting is like, but for all intents and purposes I'm a complete newb, and I'd love to get seriously into it.

I've read in many places on here, get a .22 first, and learn to shoot well before learning all the bad habits with a bigger gun.

Originally my plan was to get a Walther P22 or an M&P22. I'm also poor, so I started thinking about a Norc M93.

The dilemma is, A decent .22 seems to go around here for a bit more than some of the larger pistols that might still be good as an entry level gun. Like the Norc 1911s or a TT-33.

Since I missed the Canammo deal by about 5 months, the .45 is kind of right out anyway, since I can't get the sweet deal on the ammo. The TT-33 is a cheap ass gun with a bit of character (and I do love the Red stuff) but the ammo is a lot more than I thought it would be at $25 for a box of 50 at canammo. I was expecting crates of cheap surplus for that one. I could go with the ubiquitous 9mm since ammo is rather nicely priced, and my ultimate goal is a nice brand new Hi-Power Standard, but saving up for it when I know I could have an NP-29 and a case of 750 for just over $500 will be a test of endurance.

I'm in that financial situation where I can really screw myself by buying a gun and not having the money to fire it. Which makes a 22 very appealing even discounting the good advice to start with one for the sake of mastering skills.

So since you can't reload a rimfire anyway... why not go for a .22 magnum? Give myself a bit of extra snap to learn with, and maybe go with something a bit more unique?

I thought about a PMR-30 maybe. I like the Kel-Tec designs, but I did see a thread on here not to long ago where somebody had theirs blow up in their face. I honestly don't know of any other automatics that are .22 WMR, but the price is still a bit high for what I'd want to spend on a .22. Would any of you decide to use a .22 WMR over a .22 LR?

My experience with handguns is negligible to non-existent. I have fired an entire cylinder from a .22 revolver (the loudest damn gun I have ever heard in my life) and a total of 3 whole shots from a .38 Special into a 8.5 x 11 sheet of white paper stapled to a tree at about 30 yards. Hit twice. Both of these instances were over 15 years ago. I'm not a big fan of Revolvers, I may be one day, but right now I'm not interested in them, so I'm certainly looking for an automatic. I don't have much experience shooting with open sights even, I can hit a mule deer right behind his shoulder blades at 400 yards with a 60 year old bolt, and a 4x bushnell, but I'm not as great with irons, because I've rarely shot them. I want to be good, and not learn bad habits. That's my story.


Help?
 
I would get a 22lr not a Mag, cheaper means you'll shoot more and get better faster. I Ruger of some sort would be a good choice. If you really want a 22mag maybe get a Ruger convertable in 22lr/22mag.
 
.22 Mag ammo is horrendously expensive. It's a hunting cartridge and hasn't much value for target shooting. Look around for a Ruger.
KelTech's don't get much respect Stateside. High priced toys that aren't terribly accurate.
 
The PMR-30 is expensive and from all reputable accounts - not a good quality pistol.
Go 22lr and get a ruger or browning buckmark for $400-$500.
 
Just get a handgun chambered in 22LR. It's not worth paying a premium to shoot 22Mag. If you're looking to stay on the cheaper end, Smith & Wesson 22As seem to be one of the lower priced options.
 
22 LR is the way to go. 4-5cents a round, while .22wmr is 20-25cent. If you are not in a hurry keep an eye out for good deals on a .22 pistol you will be happy with. The best .22 pistols you can buy are either the Ruger Mark series (II, III, 22/45) or a Buckmark. They will cycle pretty much anything and are pretty reasonably priced. If you want a more modern style handgun, the M&P 22 is the best option. The p22 has problems because of the pot metal they use. Another option is get a Sig p226 in .22(~$600) and then you can get a slide kit for full calibre later on. I would avoid the M93, because it is harder to service it if parts break and i have read quite a few problems about them breaking.

I got my Mark III blued bull barrel for $370 taxes in so deals can be found.
 
rugerss_zps59cee461.jpg


Pretty enough? Try to find a good used Ruger Mark III Target. You won't regret it. It still goes to the range every week, while the others take turns.
 
I wish photobucket wasn't blocked at work.
I didn't realize .22wmr was so expensive.

Is there anywhere that 7.62x25 can be had for cheap?

I think the top 2 .22lr on my list would be a MKIII and an M&P 22, so you guys have certainly confirmed the sentiment.
 
How is .22mag ammo "expensive"? $8~$12 for 50 rounds is well within my meager budget.

If your comparing it to .22lr then ANY ammo is expensive I guess....
 
Advoc said:
I wish photobucket wasn't blocked at work.
I didn't realize .22wmr was so expensive.

Is there anywhere that 7.62x25 can be had for cheap?

I think the top 2 .22lr on my list would be a MKIII and an M&P 22, so you guys have certainly confirmed the sentiment.
Click to expand...

Surplus 7.62x25 from Tradeex. 1000 rounds for $200, free shipping to most places. It's corrosive, remember to rinse with hot water and oil liberally afterward.
 
Norinco M93 were 150$ when retailers had them in stock. It was my first .22 pistol and it served me well until I upgraded to GSG1911. Now that M93's have been out of stock for years people try to sell used ones for $200.

As for .22mag I would only get one if it was a revolver and came with .22LR cylinder. I had H&S one and it was a fun little gun. But .22mag is expensive to shoot so might as well get a 9mm.
 
Armscor has been talking about releasing a .22 Magnum 1911 for a couple of years now. It is on youtube, and now it is on the homepage of their website, but it just says it's new, and can't find it in the listings.
 
If your goal is to participate in the various handgun competitions then look at what the rules allow.

IPSC and IDPA have minimum caliber sizes and power factors that means you're looking at 9mm or .38Special as the minimum size. That means you can't use a Tokarev that shoots the 7.62x25. Sure it's powerful enough to meet the power factor but the caliber is too small to suit the rules. Also Tokarevs normally do not have a functioning safety. They were intended to be carried in the holster without a round in the chamber or with the hammer down instead of cocked. But that makes them a poor choice for most handgun matches.

For the rimfire gun I strongly suggest you keep it cheap by getting a gun that shoots "just" .22LR instead of the magnum. You'll learn more because you shoot more. Also if used in competition where you're shooting at steel you won't be allowed to use .17HMR or .22WMR since the velocity is high enough that your bullets will punch through the sort of steel targets used for handgun matches by many clubs and ruin them.
 
Thanks for the info. I didn't know that about the tokarev. At this point though, mentioning the pistols that I have, I'm just talking about a training gun. When I get decently good and start looking at actually participating in matches, I'll start looking at more appropriate firearms.
 
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