Well, pretty familiar with the 22 pistols, as I am heavily involved in Scholastic Action Shooting program. Similar to steel challenge stages great program. Any way having 30 plus kids shooting 22 auto pistols you get a pretty good feel for what is working and what is not.
1/3 of the kids shoot Buckmarks. The rest shoot some version of a Ruger. MKII's MKIII's, 22/45 MKIII's, 22/45 MKIII's lites, couple MKIV's, and a couple S&W Victories.
There is good and bad to each. I have seen everyone of these pistols go down for various reasons but by and far operators will limp wrist a .22 yes you can do it. Out of the box most Buckmarks are pretty good, and the kids new to pistols seem to handle them with the most ease. They needed more regular cleaning, and it seem sights are always coming loose, and springs don't seem as hardy. The triggers out of the box are good not great. Can't go wrong with them for a starter. The Rugers well those can be a love hate. The MK II's have good triggers and typically run well for a long time. The MK III's and 22/45 MK III's at a minimum need the replacement hammer bushing to get ride of the horrid magzine safety and what it does to the trigger. The $10 part puts the trigger in line with the Buckmark, a volquartsen sear, makes them great. Other key upgrades that may be needed per specific pistol for reliability is removal of the LCI, and replacing the extractor with the TandemKross Eagle Claw extractor. Each Ruger is a little different. Once they are running they are pretty bullet proof but as you may of detected some may take a little work to get there. I myself have a 22/45 MKIII lite fully redone that I run for steel challenge mine is awesome but I have as much in parts in it as the gun cost. I do cringe when a kid has a lite because I know it could potentially be a challenge. The MKIV's the couple that we have, have been flawless out of the box and the trigger although a bit heavy break cleanly. The Smith and Wesson Victories the two that kids are running have been flawless I don't like the looks but they are easy to handle and they run most every ammo type without issue.
By far high velocity 40grain solids are the best choice. Steel guns need to run they don't need Eley 10X accuracy. Almost all of our kids run Federal Auto Match. It goes bang, cycles the pistols and although not real match ammo, shoots tight enough for steel.
Out of the box, I have to go the Victory. Next would be the BuckMark. If you want to "create" a super 22 open pistol get the Ruger and embrace the journey. Just know what you may be getting into. Many Rugers will run clean out of the box, all can be made to run great.
Hope that helps or at least give some perspective.
