Need recommendations for a 22 cal target pistol please .

Hammerli

Please state your parameters. Saeed's recommendation is great if you're intending to shoot ISU competition (and have pockets as deep as the Marianas Trench. However, if by "target" you mean tin cans and little swinging dillies, then the recommendation would be quite different.

Tell us how you intend to use your target .22 Rimfire and what you wish to accomplish.

Good question- i intend to use to improve my pistol shooting skills and to particapte in a monthy 25yd pistol match at my club . Nothing too serious.

Smith 41, older HS Victor or Supermatic, or Ruger 22/45 or Target bull barrel(Volquartsen would be even better if you want to spend that much).

Unless you are a serious competitor with unlimited funds my recommendation would be the Ruger Mark III Competition, slab sided barrel, mounted with an Ultra Dot sight. I have been shooting one in Bullseye competition for many years and it is accurate, reliable and reasonably priced. I found that I (with my ability) did as well with it as with my Smith 41 (not downgrading that fine pistol) and sold the Smith.

The pistols Gato recommends are good ones and will likely shoot better than you can. I've owned both the S&W 41 and the High Standard Victor and they're great pistols. That said, a Browning Challenger usually has a pretty good trigger and makes a good starter for informal matches.

Most solid frame (fixed barrel) .22 LR autos are surprisingly accurate -- the differences in them will be mostly in the trigger and the angle/comfort of the grip.

I see used 41s starting around $800. By comparison, you could outfit one of the best Rugers with a VQ trigger and red dot and still have a pretty good chunk of change left over.

Thanks for the feedback ; any recommendations on the Browning Buck Mark 22cal ??

quote:

Originally posted by swaincreek:
Thanks for the feedback ; any recommendations on the Browning Buck Mark 22cal ??

I guess I'm stuck in a previous decade. When I said "Browning Challenger" in a previous post, I was meaning to say Buckmark. It is a U.S.-made pistol. I like the one I have, which I carry on my ATV for small varmints. I've never used it for target shooting, but it seems accurate enough.

quote:

Originally posted by billinthewild:
Unless you are a serious competitor with unlimited funds my recommendation would be the Ruger Mark III Competition, slab sided barrel, mounted with an Ultra Dot sight. I have been shooting one in Bullseye competition for many years and it is accurate, reliable and reasonably priced. I found that I (with my ability) did as well with it as with my Smith 41 (not downgrading that fine pistol) and sold the Smith.

I've retired my High Standard Victor and other High Standard target pistols and shoot a Ruger Mark 111 with a few Volquartsen upgrades. Ultradot is the only way to go IMHO for a target pistol. I shoot club level falling plate competition with mine.

quote:

Originally posted by Bill/Oregon:
I see used 41s starting around $800. By comparison, you could outfit one of the best Rugers with a VQ trigger and red dot and still have a pretty good chunk of change left over.

Agree...

(Modified to be less confrontational!) In my experience:
Among 40 some shooters there are NO Rugers in my club's monthly Bullseye matches.
I bought 5000 rounds of Rem 22lr ammo from the CMP about 1 month ago. Does not do too well at 50 yards, but at 25 it is just fine.
For just under $500 the OP can buy a Marvel conversion for his 1911 (assuming he has one). It will shoot as well if not better than most Bullseye target pistols except perhaps a Hammerli.
Having said that, the word "target" has multitude of meanings, as seen from the above posts. That is why I used "bullseye target". The OP may not need that level accuracy, trigger etc. I have a S&W M 22A which is VERY accurate from a rest and a red dot sight, but is NOT a bullseye gun.
Peter.

Peter, I only shot bullseye for one winter season about 23 years ago. I ran a stock Ruger Government and did OK. There were a few other Rugers, but the serious guys had Smith 41s or Hi-Standards of one sort or another. Seems there was also a Colt Match Woodsman in the crowd. Red dots and such were just coming on the scene.

What about a revolver? S&W makes some nice ones.

Like billinthewild, I shoot a Ruger MkIII Competition, just not in matches. it really did need a trigger job, but the Volquartsen accuracy kit did a good job making it lighter and cleaner of a trigger pull. Accurate enough for me to practice with.

Guys, many thanks for the feedback . Still have not pulled the trigger on the purchase. It's between the Ruger and the Browning right now based on budget. I am hearing some issues with disassembly , cleaning and reassembly of the Ruger Mark 111 .

Any feedback on disassembly of the Ruger Mark 111 would be appreciated.

again, thanks for feedback.

I've got a Ruger MKII, 5.5" heavy barrel, purchased 1986.

Trigger was awful. Managed to polish the original Bits & Pieces of the trigger to an acceptable pull but couldn't get rid of all the slop. Eventually (easily, too I might add) installed a Volquartsen, IIRC @$47.00 for the adjustable trigger only w/o the additional cost of the spring kit which made the terrible trigger pull a thing of the past. Now adjusted to a light (but reliable) pull without the slightest hint of slop.

A Tru-Glo red front sight really improved the sight picture as well. The black/black sights made target aquisition on dark background impossible. Also the undercut on the original front sight hung up 100% of the time on an Uncle Mike's Cordura holster.

Yeah, the re-installation of the long plunger can be a bit of a PITA; but once you've done it a coupla times you'll get the hang of it. I'm pretty handy with a Dremel Tool so a bit of judicious part polishing has it apart & back together in no time at all now but initially it was a bit of a challenge.

As far as I'm concerned the Rugers are one of the best value for money in a 22 pistol on the market (1986 $$$'s) if you want to invest in a coupla aftermarket items, grips (Hogue, but the original very servicable, simply wanted something more hand filling) sight, trigger & an extra magazine. Remarkably accurate and reliable (never had an ammo hickup w/it) pistol that's digested all ammo loaded although had to do a bit of testing (like all 22's) to figure out what it liked best.

An inexpensive Red Dot in a barrel clamp mount would be the way forward IMO but Rules in the discipline I shoot - not allowed.

I have a very early SW 41 for an autoloader and a SW 18 with the 3T's for a revolver. I'm very happy with my choices.

There are some very good instructional videos on the internet on dasassembly/assembly of the Rugers. It's easy when done properly, impossible when done improperly. IMHO the Ruger is hell for stout. Much more solidly built than the Browning.

Ditto on the Ruger. It is the most bang for your beginning buck. And when you think it's holding you back, then spend 2X to 4X more and move up.

I recommend the S&W Mod 41. I am still shooting the same one I bought in 1966. Back when I shot Bullseye competition I was shooting over 1000 rounds per month.

They best buy for your buck is one of the Ruger semiautos.

Guys, thanks for all the input. Friday I found a Ruger Mark 111 target model with heavy barrel and wooden grips so I pulled the trigger on the deal.

Hope to get to the range any day now and try it out. I have about 100 rounds of CCI min-mags, after those are spent not sure about the ammo situation.

quote:

Originally posted by swaincreek:
Guys, thanks for all the input. Friday I found a Ruger Mark 111 target model with heavy barrel and wooden grips so I pulled the trigger on the deal.

Hope to get to the range any day now and try it out. I have about 100 rounds of CCI min-mags, after those are spent not sure about the ammo situation.

Be sure and try CCI Velociter ammo. They gave me the tightest groups in my MK III.

s-creek,

Good on Ya; have fun with your Ruger and Good Luck locating the appropriate amount (lots) of fodder for your new Toy.