I have decided I need a .22 handgun. I want one for informal target shooting and plinking. Looking at the Ruger semi's, the Walther p22, and maybe the Tuarus revolver. Woul like to stay around $350

Look around for an older, used Ruger MKII with adjustable sights. You can usually find one for $225-250.

But my favorite happens to be the older Dan Wessons. These are superbly accurate. I have an 8" version that has seen so much use that there is no longer any bluing on the barrel. But it still shoots like a house afire, and when it's scoped and loaded with WW Power Points (or several others, for that matter), it will consistently provide 1/2 to 3/4 inch groups at 50 yards. Sometimes, it will do even better than that.

I picked up this particular revolver along with an extra barrel (long ago sold the "extra") for app. $175 -- and it may have been the best $175 I have ever spent.

Brownign Buckmarks if you want a semi. Very nice fit and very accurate. If you want a wheel gun, pick up a used S&W model 17

This is a frequent question on this forum. My recommendation is always the S&W model 22. Very accurate, and already set up for a red dot.
Peter.

I believe that I've coached more beginning shooters with the heavy barreled ruger than all others combined.

I second the recommendation for the Browning Buckmark. It is a close to my old Colt Woodsman as I could find...and I dearly love that Colt. Too bad they aren't made anymore!

Ruger semi auto all the way. Inexpensive and very very accurate.

I second the Ruger Mark II or III. I perfer the Mark II without all of the lawyer clap trap. There are many after market parts available to improve and customize. Volquartsen sear to drop the trigger pull from about 4 Lbs to 2-2.5 Lbs., extended mag release, adjustable trigger (pre travel & over travel). Parts are availabel from Ruger to build extra mags. for about $10 + 3.50 shipping (per shipment). Check out the board at http://www.markii.org/forum/ and parts at http://www.rimfiresports.com/

I like Rugers. I'm not sure about the new Mk III, I've only heard about them. I don't like magazine disconnects. If it were me I'd buy a (another) Mk II 22/45, I have one and an Aniversarry Edition Mk II. It has a magazine release button not a heal release.

S&W Model 34 Kit Gun...sweet!!

I have own and shot many 22 pistols I hae a browning buck mark that is really nice. A ruger mk1 that I have shot 10 of thousands of rounds out of a old high standard that has the nicer trigger I could think of. I owned and have shot a couple of colt woodsmans but the just never fit me well.

I would go with a good simi auto I just can't stand reloading as much as a revolver requires. But the K22's I have shot have been sweet shooting the single actions are just to slow.

I really like having 4 or 5 maybe more clips loaded and ready to go.

Ruger MK II Government Target Model.

I have a Ruger MKIII and out of the box the second most accurate pistol I own. Great gun.

Edit I only paid $300 for it brandy new. good luck-BEN

Another vote for the Ruger....

Ruger MkII or the 22/45 would be my suggestion.

Best value for the dollar, the Ruger.
Best semi-auto bar NONE the Smith & Wesson model 41. I have a 5" heavy bbl I shot in Bullseye competition, and a 7" bbl for field use. They used to make a 5 1/2 inch "skinny" bbl that would be great for field use also.

Although I am a Ruger fan I have also used the Buckmark with excellent results. I would recommend going to a store that has both and selecting the one that feels the most comfortable to you. If you plan to carry it around in a holster on hikes, etc., I would not exceed 5.5" barrel length. I also have and use with great frequency a Smith Model 63. With its 4" barel it is easy to "pack," but I find the other two more accurate.

I've had Mk I bull barrel, and a GOv't target model. Right now I have a Rossi .22WMR that I load with shotshells and carry just for snakes in the cactus. Should I need to administer the coup de grace on a hog or deer, then I just have to cock it twice to get to the hp bullets. Rugers were too heavy and didn't offer the shot/solid option that the revolver does. So, guess it all boils down to what you are going to use it for.

I gotta vote the way of the Browning Buckmark. Pretty darn good shooting pistol right out of the box. I've killed many a grouse with it...my first .22 pistol choice.

MG

Another vote for the Buckmark. They're well-built, very accurate, and you can pick one up for about $250. I've had mine for 3 years and never had a malfunction with it (unless you count a few dud rounds, but that's an ammo issue). It's easy to clean and maintain, which also gives it points in my book. I guess what I'm saying is if you go with the Browning, you won't be sorry.

So far I am leaning towards the Ruger.

Go with the ruger. I sent mine back to ruger for a trigger job last week. They will have it to me this tuesday. ANd check this out, I told them I wanted Cocobolo target grips and a hi-vis front site....they are doing it all for free. Yes free. It only cost me $20 to ship it to them UPS insured. BUY THE RUGER.

Well just got back from a gun show and I brought home a Ruger 22/45 with 4 inch barrel. My daughters boyfriend bought a Walther P22. We are both happy.

Do you own a 1911, or other pistol with the controls in a similar place? If so, the Ruger 22/45 is the way to go.
If not, then try the standard ruger self loader and the 22/45, side by side in the shop, and grab whichever one appeals the most. They are both great guns.

Cheers, Dave.

A Ruger and one of those compact red-dot sights!

I've got an Optima....

I have a sig(HAMMERLI) trailside target and I loved it but the wife has took it over. I just bought a Kimber rimfire target haven't shot it yet but I'll let you know.

The Ruger single six is a great plinking gun. Great for squirrels too! The .22 mag cylinder that comes with it is a bonus.

What? None of you even got close! The S&W K-22 is hands down first (older 50's) with Dan Wesson coming in 2nd. Both are more accurate than the guy using them and they are all steel to last 3 generations of daily use.

Gun reports says walther P22 3.4" barrel is a best buy for .22LR pistols.Price here in wis is $235

Berreta Neos with a red dot. Not the best trigger but for $225 all said and done not a bad little rig.

quote:

What? None of you even got close! The S&W K-22 is hands down first (older 50's) with Dan Wesson coming in 2nd. Both are more accurate than the guy using them and they are all steel to last 3 generations of daily use.

My Ruger MKIII is all steel and shoots like it should.

CDNN is closing out SIG trailsides for about $250. They're not match guns but you may want to fondle one before buying the ruger or taurus.

I have an early P22. They are a fun gun but not much for target practice. Reliability has improved in recent years.

Definitely give the Sig Trailside a look before you plop money down on Ruger. Ruger's are way over-rated and hyped by folks who haven't shot anything else.

quote:

Definitely give the Sig Trailside a look before you plop money down on Ruger. Ruger's are way over-rated and hyped by folks who haven't shot anything else

I would no pay for the Sig. Costs more than the ruger.

I bought the Ruger almost a month ago.

quote:

Originally posted by Jacobite:
I bought the Ruger almost a month ago.

I know,.....I just love The Ruger line of .22's. Cant let people trash them....

My Ruger MKII (and every other one I've shot) was reliable and accurate but the breed is a booger to take down and if you shoot a lot you have to take it down to clean all the crud the breech drops into the trigger linkage. Sold mine to a buddy who didn't shoot as much; he's been happy with it for 20 some years now. Had a M34 Kit Gun once but it didn't like to eject fired cases; sold it. The S&W M41 is a joy to hold, shoot, and own, but way outside your price range (and worth every penny). The Ruger Bisley Single-Six makes a nice trainer for the larger Bisleys but it's pretty heavy for a 22. The Buckmark seems to be a good value but those I shot were not as accurate as the Rugers. The SIG Trailside is handy and very accurate but the one I shot didn't feed reliably with every brand as was its rep in its early days. The Walther 22 is accused of indifferent accuracy but if one shot well it is certainly light, handy, and cool to look at. I have been resisting the urge to buy a Ruger New Model Bearcat since they were reintroduced. Since Ruger never got around to making them work with the 22 WRFM cartridge as originally intended it's a small shame the New Model is longer and heavier than necessary, but one of these days one of these pocket-sized stainless jobs is going to follow me home from the gun store...

I started with a first year production Mark II Ruger 5.5 bull.

Trigger job, shoots .75 for 10 at 25 yards.

I have owned, no longer, S&W 41 (nice but harder to grip the slide everytime you want to put in a new mag), also the buckmark=micro, but I just did not like the plastic parts, nor the harder to grip slide.

The dog ears on the Ruger are Nice. They SHOOT. And shoot. Likely could use some Carb cleaner and spray them out and never strip one.

Esp. a stainless model, just watch the grips don't get it.

Oh, my gov,t slab side Mark 2 (REFUSE to buy a Mark 3), will shoot quarter size groups at 50 yards when I do my part.

I've got a 5-1/2" ruger Mk2 also and while others may claim
that this semi-auto or that is more accurate or more reliable, but I know that if whatever I want to shoot is bigger than a quarter and inbside of 25yards it's gonna have a hole in it....

Another vote for the Ruger is that unlike many other "big" 22 Auto's the rear sight isn't mounted to a moving part
(the slide) like it is on a Colt/High-Standard or similar "clone"

If my HighStandard fed as reliably as my Ruger does
I'd still have it.

But I live in PA and can't use the Ruger for Small Game, so I got a little stainless 4" Taurus Revolver.

AllanD

Years ago at a Houston gun show, I walked away from a 4" six shot Smith 617 that looked as if it had never been fired. I still regret that move. Probably the best $300 flat I could have ever spent. No papers, nothing but me and a new plinker...