I'm in the market for a semi-auto plinker and these seem to be the best for me esp. pricewise. I'm really torn as these seem to be equal in overall strengths/weakness. I'd like to stick with Smith, but am keeping an open mind.

Any suggestions? All opinions expressed have my gratitude.

all 5.5" barrels, unless there's a good reason for a different length.

S&W M22A

Ruger 22/45 or MkIII

Browning Buckmark

I always enjoyed my Ruger MK II target model. Wish I had never sold it. Isn't that the way it always goes?

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Misty

I have the the S&W (22S) and Ruger 22/45. Have shot the BM many times. They are all fine plinkers.

I am partial to Ruger .22 pistols. Some will tell you that the Ruger is horrible to take down. I have many tens of thousands of rounds through mine and have never had the need to do so. Lot's of information and opinion in the semi-auto pistol Forum.

The Ruger or the Browning Buckmark would be great choices. They have different grip angles,so you should try them both out. There are several variations of each one.

I have a Smith 22A, with the bull bbl, wood grips and put a red dot sight on it. I couldn't ask for a more fun gun for the money. It is hands down the best investment I ever made. It would be one of the last guns I would ever sell. I've shot the MKIII, and I prefer the Smith, no real reason why just a personal preference I guess.

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Cheers -Jeff

Why a semi auto? Why not a quality revolver?? I've moved away from my two autos and shoot nothing but the K-22 and a M-18 for quarry plinking duty.

Then again...neither of the three autos are the WRONG choice. All of them fine. Win/Win!

FN in MT

I am kicking myself for not buying a Brwoming with the GREEn fiber optic front sight that was offered to me at a NICE price last year ...

All three are great plinkers.

Bekeart

I like my S&W 22a. It shot great right outta the box.

CB

I'd suggest the Browning. It feels the most comfortable, and there is very little to go wrong. We have nearly worn out the one I got about 13 years ago- or at least, the disconnector, not the whole gun. I figure it's had over 100K rounds through it...the outside wear on the grip frame is worn down to the aluminum in places where it's been gripped so much, and there is no blue left on the slide where it has to be gripped. It's handled every other day.

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Lost it all in a boat accident

I would vote for the Ruger MKII.

Look around for a Ruger M II. The best 22 for the money ever.

The Buckmarks are nice also but not as solid as the Ruger. The Ruger M 3 is not the same gun as the M 2.

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Still Running Against the Wind

+1!

The Mk II is head and shoulders above the Mk III.

+2 Especially with the Bull Barrell.

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I drank what? - Socrates

I've got one of these and can't say enough about it.

Brian~

I have a Ruger Mark II stainless slab side - a super fine 22. I picked up a Ruger RST 6 - standard pistol 6" bbl (only the target models were stamped Mark I) this weekend traded a M66 6" and got the pistol and cash.

I shot it today Ruger reliable, and great with Win 333s and Rem Target.

I would not give up my 5 screw K22 or M18-2 easily but if the right trade came along - maybe.

C/R JPG

I have a Smith 41, A Buckmark 5.5 Bull BBL, and am in the market for a Mark II. The Ruger's trigger pull isn't up to the others, but it is all around the best plinker, IMHO

Yes.

Joe

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Wisdom chases me; I'm faster

I'm looking for the same thing as the OP. Something a little less expensive to practice and target shoot with. Why is the Mark 2 head and shoulders above the the Mark 3? How about the Mark 3 Target model # 10103 catalog number KMKIII512 ?

Tech23

We have a few .22 semi autos. My favorite is the Colt Huntsman. The others we have are: Ruger MkIII, Colt 22 Auto, Browning Buckmark. I've not used the Browning yet as I just received it for my 13th Anniv.

I've had a Ruger and a Buckmark and I liked the Buckmark a lot better.

You can't go wrong with any of your choices. Just go with which ever one fits you the best.

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Mike
USMCR 84-87, USAF 87-07

Id vote for the Browning Buckmark

Ruger Mark II bull barrel. IMO the only 22 semi that your child will pass down to their children other than a high dollar S&W 41, Browning Medalist or the like.

My father has a Mark I that's still going strong after 40 years.

I love my Ruger MKll Government and will never sell it. But I also like my S&W 10 round 617 in 4". Both fun plinkers. Same number of rounds, but different.

Then there's the Diamondback. But it's so nice that I worry about using it. Better trigger than anything else.

The MK lll is a step more complicated than the MKll. Different mag release and loaded chamber indicator, I think, are the main differences. The MKlll has a 1911 style mag release that doesn't make sense to me since it's not a combat gun. The MKll slab sided Gov't target model seems like the best of the best.

My favorite semiauto plinker is a Ruger MkII 22/45 with a 4" bull barrel. The manual of arms is very similar to the 1911 .45 pistol, so using it reinforces muscle memory for the larger gun. Takedown on this one is quite easy, much smoother than on most of the steel-frame models. Therefore easy to clean in a few minutes.

Although I have a couple of MkIIIs, I'll never buy another. The loaded cartridge indicator and the magazine safety make the takedown way too complex and neither device really serves an important function if you're aware and observe the standard safety precautions. The more gadgets, the more possibility for failure. I've also found the quality control on the MkIIIs to be spotty. If you have or can find a MkII, those are the guns to get.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

I have shot these pistols. If you are just looking for a plinker, the Beretta U-22 neos is one that fits a smaller hand and they are accurate and reliable. I have had one for a couple of years and I shoot it quite a bit. I have never had a malfunction while using CCI ammo, either mini-mags, or stingers. It does not really like the cheap bulk ammo I bought for it though. I think they were Remington "golden bullets" some didn't have enough oomph to blow the bolt all the way back.
If you don't like Berettas the Ruger is excellent. I hit better with the beretta than I do with my Ruger though. the beretta I have has a 6" and the ruger has a 4". I need all the help I can get when shooting handguns.
Peace,
gordon

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better have that checked

Ditto the Ruger 22/45 vs. MkII/III. While they are basically the same pistol, they each have a significantly different "feel" due to the grip shape and angle.

I have the 22/45 (MkII) which mimics the 1911, but I have no problems with the traditional Ruger grip.

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