Any .22 Pistols worth buying? I'm reading mixed reviews. Are they all junk?
- Thread starter st1264
- Start date
browning nb
Regular
- Location
- Riverview nb canada
The cz cadet shoots anything. I have over 5000 rds through mine with only a couple FTE's. I shoot the cheap bulk ammo from Walmart.
- Location
- SW Ontario
I have an S&W 22a, my wife has a Neos. I really like them both, and although the 22a is a little rougher around the edges than the Neos I like it a little better. I prefer the traditional appearance and the fit in my hand. Also, although they are both super easy to break down to clean, the S&W is the easier of the two.
Inexpensive and dependable?
Can't go wrong with either a Browning Buckmark (I have the Camper model), Ruger Mark III 22/45 (so-called because the grip angle matches that of the 1911 style pistol), or the GSG 1911 .22.
I would recommend a GSG 1911 .22 because, according to the reviews I've read, and that I've handled the pistol, it's very much like a 1911 .45 in fit, feel, and operation. In fact, I'm buying one (trading in the Buckmark) for cheap practice to go along with the 1911 I'm buying in the new year.
I don't recommend conversion kits because they often cost more than a good .22 pistol, and since Chiappa and GSG have come out with .22's in the 1911 style, why not have both pistols?
Can't go wrong with either a Browning Buckmark (I have the Camper model), Ruger Mark III 22/45 (so-called because the grip angle matches that of the 1911 style pistol), or the GSG 1911 .22.
I would recommend a GSG 1911 .22 because, according to the reviews I've read, and that I've handled the pistol, it's very much like a 1911 .45 in fit, feel, and operation. In fact, I'm buying one (trading in the Buckmark) for cheap practice to go along with the 1911 I'm buying in the new year.
I don't recommend conversion kits because they often cost more than a good .22 pistol, and since Chiappa and GSG have come out with .22's in the 1911 style, why not have both pistols?
We were out in the cold shooting a ruger mark 3 at the range yesterday and it was FTF or FTE regularily with subsonics, it was cold, it was a new pistol and suspect wrong lube or still tight tolerances from being new, like all pistols it requires a break in and should be shot with hot round 500 times or so before shooting light loads. All in all it was an absolute delight to shoot and we could group 2 inches at 25 yards with it. I don't own one and in spite of my first experience with one would highly recommend it, CZ cadets are great, SW k22's are great for wheel guns, but your idea of shooting 22's is right, trigger time will increase your skills overall and training is cheap and flat out fun. you will enjoy what ever you buy.
Nuff said...
It's not the gun, it's the ammo. I never use subsonics in a semi. They sometimes work, sometimes don't. Why bother with it. Just use the ammo that the gun is designed for and there won't be an issue!!
Brutus
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I have a Ruger MkII, 5.5 inch bull barrel and its great. But I don't use subsonics with it anymore, as it only works with them when it's shiny clean, and it doesn't take much for it to start to jam with them as they lack energy to cycle the action when dirty. I save the subsonics for rimfire rifle shooting. A friend's Browning Challenger is pretty darn stellar in performance too.
I have several centrefire S&W revolvers so, Sandroad's list get's my nod of approval too.
In regards to the Walther P22, I've two aquaintances that had slide issues
(cracking) after not much use, myself I would avoid them.
I have an inexpensive Star Model F in 22 LR, as once upon a time my daughters did not like the weight of the Ruger.
With the right energetic ammo, it kept them very happy for many sunny summer hours at the range @10 yards. It rarely jammed, and usually just needed an occassional teardown/cleaning to resolve this minor issue. IMHO, a fine little pistol for brand new handgun shooters. (parts aside!)
TacticalTrunkMonkey
CGN Regular
- Location
- Edmonton, AB
I picked up the GSG 1911 last week after reading the reviews on it and handling it at a local shop, couldn't be happier.
I just love it when someone posts a topic that strikes a raw nerve. And no topic is much more picked at or as raw like an itchy mosquito bite as the topic of .22 handguns. We're onto the fourth page of replies in just over 2 hours ! ! ! ! ! 
First off just accept that you're going to get a few more jams with .22 semis than with most center fire semis. Issues with flakey bulk ammo and the lower recoil energy available for cycling the gun tends to ensure that you'll get some jams with any gun once it is dirty enough. Add to this that .22 ammo's powder seems to leave more soot and particles and you have a recipe for dirty jams at some point.
Having said this I've been more than happy with the performance from a number of the guns you mentioned in your list. But by far the one that is toughest and most difficult to jam are the Ruger Mark series of pistols. I've seen them work well even in a rental situation shooting up over a thousand rounds before needing to be cleaned. And talk about longevity! You just can't wear them out!
But I'm not a fan of the Luger angle grip so I don't actually have one. And I don't like the balance of their 45/22. For me happiness was found with a S&W 422. It was so nice that when I got a chance at a companion stainless 2206 with the shorter "just longer than prohibited" barrel I jumped on it. Between the two of them I'm a very happy .22 semi shooter. They still get the odd FTF but that's just the regular issue with bulk rimfire ammo. Turn then slightly and hit them again and they go off just fine. I only begin to get jamming when somewhere around 500 to 600 rounds have gone through them. Or perhaps more since I don't really keep track and the cleanings are few and far between but they get used often.
Your best bet is to look at reports of any of the guns you're interested in and judge for yourself given the pro and con reports. For example there's enough reports of trouble with Walther/Imarex P22's to put me off even if I didn't hate the ray gun look of the thing. On the other hand while there are a lot of reports of issues with Sig Mosquitos there's enough good reports and some spring solutions that if I really liked the gun I'd probably go for it and work my way through any small mods or spring swaps to tune the gun to work well.
As much as I really like the Buckmark some of the guys I shoot with have had enough troubles with them jamming that I'm a bit hesitant.
As for Rugers if you like them you can't go wrong. They just keep on working like the Energizer Bunny.
First off just accept that you're going to get a few more jams with .22 semis than with most center fire semis. Issues with flakey bulk ammo and the lower recoil energy available for cycling the gun tends to ensure that you'll get some jams with any gun once it is dirty enough. Add to this that .22 ammo's powder seems to leave more soot and particles and you have a recipe for dirty jams at some point.
Having said this I've been more than happy with the performance from a number of the guns you mentioned in your list. But by far the one that is toughest and most difficult to jam are the Ruger Mark series of pistols. I've seen them work well even in a rental situation shooting up over a thousand rounds before needing to be cleaned. And talk about longevity! You just can't wear them out!
But I'm not a fan of the Luger angle grip so I don't actually have one. And I don't like the balance of their 45/22. For me happiness was found with a S&W 422. It was so nice that when I got a chance at a companion stainless 2206 with the shorter "just longer than prohibited" barrel I jumped on it. Between the two of them I'm a very happy .22 semi shooter. They still get the odd FTF but that's just the regular issue with bulk rimfire ammo. Turn then slightly and hit them again and they go off just fine. I only begin to get jamming when somewhere around 500 to 600 rounds have gone through them. Or perhaps more since I don't really keep track and the cleanings are few and far between but they get used often.
Your best bet is to look at reports of any of the guns you're interested in and judge for yourself given the pro and con reports. For example there's enough reports of trouble with Walther/Imarex P22's to put me off even if I didn't hate the ray gun look of the thing. On the other hand while there are a lot of reports of issues with Sig Mosquitos there's enough good reports and some spring solutions that if I really liked the gun I'd probably go for it and work my way through any small mods or spring swaps to tune the gun to work well.
As much as I really like the Buckmark some of the guys I shoot with have had enough troubles with them jamming that I'm a bit hesitant.
As for Rugers if you like them you can't go wrong. They just keep on working like the Energizer Bunny.
Yea and end up with a kimber POS like mine fuc^ed from the factory ..Waste of money buy a gsg
Danimal247
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Toronto, ON
M93, off hand @ 25yds, Fed Bulk, no issues per date (2 years old)
That's a cake plate not a dinner plate!
not the poor bunny!!
I'm considering the p226 classic 22 myself ... tagged for interest
- have a Ruger Mark II since nearly twenty years now, very reliable and accurate, never had an issue with it.
- most fun to shoot is without any doubt my Ruger Charger, extremely accurate as well.
- how about a Hi Standard Supermatic Military 106 from the 60ties, this is my most accurate handgun ever, carves a 1 inch hole at 25 meters all day long.
- Browning Nomad from the 60ties as well, very reliable and very accurate; this guns are extremely well made.
I have a ruger mark ii i use for bullseye and it feeds anything reliably. i have used nothing but cci std vel as my target load and it has had no ftfeed, fte, or ftfire in the last 4 bricks or so. not all semi's need high vel ammo, keep it reasonably clean and oil it and it will run.
