Any .22 pistol to stay away from?

FLYBYU44 said:
Ruger sells millions of 10/22's as well, also one of the worst rimfire semi's I have ever owned. I am a fan of Ruger as well, I have had several of their revolvers and they are amazing firearms. The 10/22 and Mk3 I owned were both massive disappointments. Maybe I did something wrong, but both jammed constantly, and weren't at all accurate.
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Maybe you were unlucky enough to buy a couple of lemons but the fact remains that guns which literally sell by the millions over many decades have to have something good going for them. Firearm history is littered with examples of poorly designed/inaccurate guns and invariably they have short life spans. When word gets out that they are undependable and/or inaccurate people quickly stop buying them. I have a Ruger MKII that is at least 20 years old. I can't remember the last time I had an FTF or FTE with it and that is with thousand of rounds of Federal bulk pack ammo through it. I put a red dot on it and one day at the 50 foot indoor range put 53 straight shots freehand in the black (9 & 10 ring) on 50 foot bullseye targets & I'm a 73 year old average shooter. I built two two bull barrel target 10/22s, one with a Butler Creek barrel and one with a Green Mountain barrel (neither of which cost me $100) and Boyd's thumbhole stocks. Both consistently shoot into a 1/4" ring at 25 yards and again, FTFs and FTEs are virtually non-existent. I have several friends whose whose MK I, II, IiI and IVs and 10/22s do the same thing so mine aren't a fluke. Again, maybe you were just unfortunate enough to get a couple of duds but history and my personal experience says for the money they are both excellent designs that are both dependable and accurate.
 
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ted_dent said:
Maybe you were unlucky enough to buy a couple of lemons but the fact remains that guns which literally sell by the millions over many decades have to have something good going for them. Firearm history is littered with examples of poorly designed/inaccurate guns and invariably they have short life spans. When word gets out that they are undependable and/or accurate people quickly stop buying them. I have a Ruger MKII that is at least 20 years old. I can't remember the last time I had an FTF or FTE with it and that is with thousand of rounds of Federal bulk pack ammo through it. I put a red do on it and one day at the 50 foot indoor range put 53 straight shots freehand in the black (9 & 10 ring) on 50 foot bullseye targets & I'm a 73 year old average shooter. I built two two bull barrel target 10/22s, one with a Butler Creek barrel and one with a Green Mountain barrel (neither of which cost me $100) and Boyd's thumbhole stocks. Both consistently shoot into a 1/4" ring at 25 yards and again, FTFs and FTEs are virtually non-existent. I have several friends whose whose MK I, II, IiI and IVs and 10/22s do the same thing so mine aren't a fluke. Again, maybe you were just unfortunate enough to get a couple of duds but history and my personal experience says for the money they are both excellent designs that are both dependable and accurate.
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I must have got duds like you said. Kind of sours you to the brand though, as I am a little leery about buying another one.
 
I adore my ruger mkiii, now that it is 25% volquartsen. If I had to do it again, I would look elsewhere. I didn't start out looking for a project gun.
 
Another option for a totally reliable and easily cleaned pistol would be a Beretta model 71. Works with both large and small hands and takes most ammunition happily. CCI Quiets do not have enough recoil to operate the mechanism, but most everything else works. Stingers result in a huge flame from the muzzle which is great fun. Site sponsor S & J Hardware used to carry them, as Israeli surplus.
 
I have an old High Standard - awesome pistol - affordable, accurate a breeze to clean, and I've never seen one that didn't look perfect. Walther (Umarex) makes/made a 22 copy of it's 9mm service pistol (P99?), avoid it like the plague, the slide breaks in two.
 
I have the .22 226 exchange kit and it is a decent set up. The mags aren’t set up for last round hold open unless you buy 3rd party. I get some rounds that require 2nd strikes. I also like the Advantage Arms Glock .22 conversion. It devours cheap Remington golden bullets by the bucket.
 
FLYBYU44 said:
I must have got duds like you said. Kind of sours you to the brand though, as I am a little leery about buying another one.
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I know what you're saying and sympathize. Sometimes even the best companies crank out a lemon. I had an $800 Sony camcorder that lasted exactly 70 minutes of video before it pooped the bed. The best part was that it was less than 18 months old and Sony no longer stocked parts to repair it. I also had a $600 Aimpoint scope that lasted exactly 1 (ONE!) shot before the dot permanently disappeared. Luckily that one was fixable. Bottom line is that it happens to even the highest quality products. You just have to hope you're not the 1 in a thousand who gets the turd.
 
I've been shooting a Ruger SR 22 for the last year. It's a great pistol and shoots any ammunition. My 11 year old son shoots it very well.
 
I've been shooting a Ruger SR 22 for the last year. It's a great pistol and shoots any ammunition. My 11 year old son shoots it very well.
 
Dave in Calgary said:
Another option for a totally reliable and easily cleaned pistol would be a Beretta model 71. Works with both large and small hands and takes most ammunition happily. CCI Quiets do not have enough recoil to operate the mechanism, but most everything else works. Stingers result in a huge flame from the muzzle which is great fun. Site sponsor S & J Hardware used to carry them, as Israeli surplus.
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With a Beretta Model 71 , you have the same pistol Israeli Secret Service used to bump off terrorists, also used by Israeli sky Marshall’s
 
Late in the game, but I have shot a few 22 pistols over the years.

Owned:
Ruger Std (be called tje MkI)
Ruger MkII Bull Barrel
Ruger MkIII Hunter
S&W 617
Ruger SP101
S&W 41
Colt Frontier Scout
Colt New Frontier Scout Convertible

Shot:
High Standard Duramatic
Ruger Single 6 and 10
Ruger Bearcat
Browning Buckmark
GSG 1911
Sig 226 22

Ones I own now are the S&W41 (my father taught me to shoot one when I was 5 so have a soft spot) and the 2 Colts. Colts are really my daughters for CAS but the old man gets to try them from time to time.

I liked the Ruger MkI and II. Did not like the magazine disconnect on the MKII but it was as accurate as all the rest. Only problem I had was with the Std where the firing pin was rolled over after previous owner dry firing it; Ruger replaced the firing pin for free. A good shooter with a Ruger can beat a half decent shooter with a S&W 41 IMO. As mentioned, they ain't easy to put back together, but do it a few times and you can do it with your eyes closed.

Only one of the ones I have tried that I felt I would like to buy was the Single 6, but we have the Colt New Frontier Scout that fills that spot.
 
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