I have a Browning Buckmark as my only .22 pistol, and am looking for some recommendations for full frame pistols. I am considering buying 2, a hammer and a striker. I've only been shooting handguns for ~ 6 months now and have a couple 9mm and .45 pistols (Girsan, Canik, Para-Ordnance, and will be adding a CZ SP-02 soon). I'd like a couple .22's for cheap practice and they should be easy to strip for cleaning. That is the only thing that I don't care for with the Browning... cleaning is not too simple and requires tools.
Full Frame .22LR recommendations
- Thread starter Taurkon
- Start date
Blastattack
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Winnipeg MB
Ruger MKIV. It disassembles in about 1 second and it’s a fantastic firearm.
I got a buckmark, my favorite pistol, it is hopped up with tandemkross goodies and has a red dot mounted on it. Shoots like a laser. Space gun for the win!
Cleaning not easy? I hear that all the time, 5 screws and a couple allen keys and the gun is totally apart. If you clean it once a month I don't think that is difficult.
The buckmark is hard to beat for the money, has the best in hand feel and best trigger. Ruger MK4 has a 1 button takedown but the trigger sucks. The S&W victory has a weird grip.
Want something even better, go for the S&W model 41, but it will cost you.
I like the buckmark so much, I got another buckmark pistol coming which will be kept in stock form to shoot. I also own the buckmark rifle.
Cleaning not easy? I hear that all the time, 5 screws and a couple allen keys and the gun is totally apart. If you clean it once a month I don't think that is difficult.
The buckmark is hard to beat for the money, has the best in hand feel and best trigger. Ruger MK4 has a 1 button takedown but the trigger sucks. The S&W victory has a weird grip.
Want something even better, go for the S&W model 41, but it will cost you.
I like the buckmark so much, I got another buckmark pistol coming which will be kept in stock form to shoot. I also own the buckmark rifle.
I highly recommend the Grand Power K22S 22 LR. It's a ful size, large frame 22LR pistol with a few grip inserts to accomodate various size hands. It has a steel slide which is uncommon. Hammer fired. A very accurate pistol. It needs 5 seconds to be disassembled. I've had one for a few years. I'm very happy with it. Tenda has one now for sale for a very good price.
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I bought a Sig P226 you can get it in the classic which is a full sized P226 that shoots 22lr the best part is you can swap out the slide/barrel with sig kits to make the same gun into a 9mm or 40sw I bought the classic then the 40sw kit and then i ordered a 357sig barrel because that is a 40sw case with a 9mm bullet so uses same mags and slide as the 40sw so now i have a P226 with 3 different calibers that use the same lower so same trigger and grip its awesome.
I did the same thing, now have a 226 capable of using 22 LR, 9mm, 357 Sig, and 40 S&W. As to the original question, for a full size 22 I would get a 1911, or a K17 if you prefer revolvers. - dan
If you really want to work on accuracy then buy one of the older european guns made for the Standard Pistol event in the Olympics and ISSF competition, with a palm shelf anatomical grip. Not expensive, at least if not if you're right handed. One very good choice is the French made Unique DES 69 -- excellent sights, accepts CCI SV, parts still available in Europe. More accurate than any US made 22 pistol including Model 41 (I own both). They turn up on Trade Ex occasionally and the auction sites (Switzer has one right now I think). I paid $400 for mine, plus another $100 to a gunsmith to make a new extractor. It can hit the 10 ring all day at 25m all day, one handed (not saying I can do that all day, but it sure can). There are other options but the DES seems to be the most durable of the older pistols and takes CCI SV. Other options include the older Walther GSP (costs more), FAS aka Domino (wants european ammo, fussy), Hammerli (expensive, fragile).
~ 300 rounds and usually it is quite dirty. I use a combo of CCI and Federal with it.
I could add a Hi Standard, one button take down, But unless you are a great shot, they all do the same thing, A lot of people clean more then they need to.
A full sized revolver should be on the list, as Alexis said those euro target guns are great, never liked the GSP ,Fas (Domino) is a great gun, I had a recoiless one 601 , I shot a Hammerli for 5 yrs, and never found it fragile and 100% reliable. Only 22 pistol I can say that about.
Kit to me are too much money, you can but a good steel gun for a kit price. Or Less. That is just me.
A full sized revolver should be on the list, as Alexis said those euro target guns are great, never liked the GSP ,Fas (Domino) is a great gun, I had a recoiless one 601 , I shot a Hammerli for 5 yrs, and never found it fragile and 100% reliable. Only 22 pistol I can say that about.
Kit to me are too much money, you can but a good steel gun for a kit price. Or Less. That is just me.
ambishooter
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Southeastern Canuckstan
Ruger Mark IV is the way to go. Get the Target version, 2245 is also good. Browning Buckmark Contour is also a tackdriver. I have one, fitted with a red dot, about 1" group, 1 hand with bulk Federal match ammo. And a little tighter with Federal and CCI SV ammo. The only winning point for Ruger Mark IV is the i-button disassembly. Accuracy, Browning Buckmark. Reliability - EVEN. Overall: TOO CLOSE TO CALL, might boil down to brand loyalty. Remember, both are not classified as Target/Competition pistol. But with the right ammo and shooter, these pistols can be close to the accuracy of an S&W 41, but still not closer against dedicated Match Grade Pistol.
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When she shoots it, she’ll go through 300-400 per range visit. We use mostly Fed 525 bulk, and some CCI SV. .22 gets a bit dirty, but you don’t need to clean it after each range visit. That would annoy me. Lol!
My Shadows are the same. I cleaned them in Feb sometime, between matches. Still haven’t cleaned them yet. I might in August. Lol!
Might I suggest the S&W M&P 22 if you are looking for a full size duty pistol 22LR variant of the M&P 9. They are so close in actual dimensions they fit the same holster. The difference is the M&P22 is an internal hammer rather than a striker. It will run pretty much any ammo and is a breeze to clean, flip the takedown lever down, pull the slide back and up and remove the slide it takes about 3 seconds.
turbo_bird
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Kamloops, BC
I wouldn't be worried about the older Ruger mk2 and mk3 pistols, takedown isn't that hard on them either. Mk3 is the worst, due to the magazine safety, but that's pretty easy to get rid of, then your just stuck with the hokey loaded chamber indicator.
Kristian
Kristian
- Location
- West Quebec
Ruger MKIV then a Smith 41 you won't be sorry
Beauvais98
CGN Regular
- Location
- Greater Ottawa Area
Another vote for the SIG P226 22LR. Mine is as reliable as a 22LR can be.
The Ruger MKIV are also great pistols, but they come in close in price to the SIG and you don't have the versatility of the P226, which can be converted to a centrefire pistol in seconds.
The Ruger MKIV are also great pistols, but they come in close in price to the SIG and you don't have the versatility of the P226, which can be converted to a centrefire pistol in seconds.
