The Best 22 Semi-auto Pistol

[Onomea]

Okay, I got my 1937 K-22 and and a 22 Colt OMT from '37 or '36, so I think I have rimfire DA revos covered. There is nothing better than those two in a DA. The end. (Well, shoot... Mebbe an OMS and make it a trio.)

What is the best -- accuracy and fit and finish -- 22 auto handgun ever? Not rarity. Had a K-22 2nd and sold it, so that's not what I am into, tho a K-22 2nd is a beaut. I'm lookin' for the absolute best semi auto, with best defined as fit and finish, accuracy, and, of course, reliability, tho, I s'pose, in a rimfire, I'd probably put reliability last outta those three. Not an SD weapon, to be sure. Anyhow...

1930s Colt Woodsman? That's what I am thinkin'.

I know that High Standards, Browning Buckmarks, and Ruger IFM ("I Forget the Model") fans are out there, so speak on up. And there is an S&W, right? An M41 or somesuch?

(I got that, "Dang! I need another gun" feelin'...)

 

[Smith357]

What about a nice older S&W Model 41 with the cocking indicator? Plus there are a lot of factory extras that make the hunt that much more fun.

 

[m1gunner]

The best 22 semi pistol? That would be the Target model of the Ruger Mk II. Either the 5 1/2 in barrel or the 6 7/8 in Gov't model.

While it isn't near the level of beauty, art, or craftsmanship of a Colt or S&W, it is the most accurate and most dependable Semi available.

Others come close, but the MkII is the top of the heap.

 

[Gary]

I have always had a Ruger of some sort around. The one I have now is the SS MKII Government Model Target. It shoots like a rifle. The fit and finish is pretty good also. I have also had 2-3 Ruger Standard Models over the years that have served me well. I have also owned a High Standard and had access to, (through my brother), both a Browning Nomad and Buckmark. They were good guns and the fit and finish was a notch better than the Rugers. I like the Rugers because I have never had ANY trouble with them. No jams, or failures of any kind.

 

[Bassamatic]

It is on your list but pretty hard to improve on the Buckmark.

 

[Farmer17]

I like the Buckmark over the Ruger but my next .22 pistol might be the CZ Kadet. It seems like everyone who has one has great things to say about them and you can buy a 9m/m or .40 conversion kit.

 

[jimmyj]

Pre-WWII Colt Woodsman Match Target

 

[cmort666]

Best for what?

For an all around .22 pistol, I like the Ruger MkII. It's accurate enough for bullseye competition (Most people seem to start out with one.), but durable enough to shoot high speed ammunition through without breaking anything. There are lots of third party accessories for them.

For a target pistol, at least at a semi-reasonable price, I prefer the High Standards. Since almost everybody uses dot sights now, the Victor is nice to have, but not strictly necessary. You could go with a Walther or a Hammerli, but you're going to pay a LOT more money.

 

[Bullseye 2620]

The Hämmerli 208s. Period. Yes, it's expensive.


Bullseye

 

[Dnovo1]

Define "best". I am an old target shooter and while the 41 is an excellent gun, and the Ruger is hard to beat for price/build/performance, neither are the "best. There are a number of 22s built as Olympic class target guns. Built by Pardini, Feinwerkbau, Hammerli, etc they have features and hand-matched components and build that make them truly "the best".

Olympic rapid fire competition used to be based on the 22 short. I have a Pardini in the collection with a ported bbl, electronic trigger, and meticulously assembled at the factory that will put five match grade rounds into one hole at 25 meters in the blink of an eye. They have a current model 22LR with a specially weighted and reciprocating muzzle arrangement that puts Lapua match rounds down range in the same fashion.

They cost more than a 41 but perform better. Great? Cheap? Pick one. Dave

 

[Jellybean]

.22lr autos that I have owned are Ruger MKI Target, Ruger MKII with 10" barrel, S&W 622 and a Jennings. Currently I only have the Jennings, the others were all sold or traded off and I don't miss any of them, which means they aren't getting replaced, ever.

I'm not saying go out and buy a Jennings, it's just the only one of the group that serves it's purpose. I've been hoping to find a nice Buckmark or older High Standard target model, or better yet a .32 S&W Long match pistol and even a S&W 41, but my plans are on hold for now.

 

[Mule88]

Ive had em all and Id go with the buckmark.

 

[deadin]

I have to agree with Dnovo and cmort, it depends on what you want it to be the "best" of. Accuracy? Fit & Finish? Aesthetics? Price? Dependability? General usability? Etc.,etc.......
Whatever you pick will excel in one or several of these categories but will be a compromise in others.

For pure accuracy( with the main emphasis on match competition), the Euro guns mentioned are the winners. (You don't see world class matches being won with M41's or Rugers.)

For fit and finish, the early M41's are hard to beat.

For price the Buckmarks, Trailblazers and Rugers are all great competition entry level and general plinking choices.

Aesthetics? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. If all guns looked the same they would probably look like Glocks. (Which, IMHO, is a neuter.)

 

[Rule3]

Best for the money is the Ruger MII, not the 1 or the 3.

 

[dkees]

Beauty - Browning Medalist

Function - High Standard (all)

Best of Both - High Standard Victor

 

[sigp220.45]

Go Italian:

 

[boatbum101]

Accuracy +1 for Hammerli 208S , FWB AW93 pretty close 2nd
Fit / Finish +1 for Browning Medalist , pre war Colt Match Target

Affordable option IMHO would be a Hamden made no prefix s/n High Standard ( with good factory mags ) . High Standard only American pistol ever to set an Olympic record .

 

[VAdoublegunner]

The Model 41 is certainly pretty and has a great reputation, even if somewhat finicky.

But I have 2 scoped Ruger MKII Government Competition models and they will outshoot most rifles at 50 yards. Win Dynapoints always turn in <1.5" groups at 50yds from even an improvised rest. From a decent rest with target grade ammo, they are phenomenal. Inexpensive, utterly reliable and super accurate, they are a deal that is hard to beat.

 

[H Richard]

For fit and finish, the Browning Medlist, for function and accuracy, the High Standard Victor (older Hamden gun). For best for the money in accuracy and dependability, the Russian built IZH35M.

 

[cowart]

With my eyesight, a Beretta 70S is as accurate as anything else. Excellent fit and finish, adjustable sights, holds 9 rounds with the factory magazine or 10 rounds with an aftermarket magazine. With the target grips replaced with the earlier small flat sided grips, it is small enough to fit in a coat pocket.

By comparison, a Ruger feels like holding a 2x4. And the Beretta is much easier to strip and clean.