Which .22 plinkers would you avoid? The following are the "negatives" I'm aware of for each model:
1) S&W 22a - Buffer must be replaced every 2,000 rounds.
2) Ruger Mk. II-III or 22/45 - Disassembly challenging (I've done it once).
3) Walther P22 - Early models jam-amatics. Can be ammo picky.
4) Sig Mosquito - Sigforum keeps reporting problems with many.
5) Browning Buckmark - Grips hold parts in place; careful when removing.
6) Beretta Neos - One rail screw may back out over time.

Is there anything else to know about these (like outrageously expensive mags or terrible customer service)? Is there another model I haven't listed. (Forget the S&W 41. I said "inexpensive.") Thanks.

The buffers are dirt cheap for the 22A and couldn't be simpler to replace. The 22A is a great pistol for the money.

As far as the Rugers, put a Majestic Speed strip Kit ($50) in it and it's a snap to disassemble/reassemble. I have the kits in both of my Ruger 22's.

You might look into a used S&W 422. Probably get one for about $250, and they're not bad pistols.

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NRA Benefactor Life Member

I have one of those set ups for the Ruger, NIB, that I am willing to part with.

Bob

My number one choice would be a 22A, with it being a draw between the Ruger and Browning.

From owning all three and knowing owners of all three the 22A is as a rule most accurate out the box and is basically a poor man's S&W 41, in my opinion. The Browning will be close to 22A for accuracy, but the Ruger will need $$$ spent to get close to S&W or Browning and by then you will have twice to three times in the Ruger as you would the Smith.

Now if you just want a plinker that will last forever and never be used for serious punching of paper targets then spend the extra bucks I guess and get a Ruger as it is built like a boat anchor.

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Cranky Old Retired USN Guy

Ruger .22. After you actually dissassemble it a few times, it is a snap.

I have both a Mark II 22/45, and a Mark 3. You just need to learn how to take it apart. That's not disqualifier in my book.

Having a Ruger in my hands since 1959 with a pre-Mk I, and now a Mk II and Mk III Standards and a Mk III 22/45 I am here to say its rare to get one like describe.

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Cranky Old Retired USN Guy

The Rugers are not that hard to dissasemble once you get the hang of it and watch the Youtube demonstrations. The Browning has a better grip angle and ergonomics and the controls are just much easier to reach.

I bought a Ruger 22/45 target model in 2006, paid $225 for it brand new at a gun show and it has been the best value of any .22 pistol I have ever owned. As far as taking it apart, I haven't yet, and have shot easily 10,000 rounds through it since I bought it. I occasionally run a patch through the bore, once sprayed the mag well and trigger area with gun scrubber, wipe the finger prints off it with an oily rag after shooting it, and that's it.

It will shoot into 2" offhand at 25 yards with bulk Federal ammo, shoots better than most people can hold it.

Just recieved today an El Paso Saddlery Model 1927 holster for it, so will start shooting club level Bianchi Cup competition with it, draw and fire at 6" steel plates from 10 to 25 yards....

2" group is what my Mk III 22/45 does from a pistol rest at 25 yards with a red dot mounted and it has the best out the box trigger on any Ruger I have ever seen.

My CZ 452 Lux with aperture sight averages about 1/2" to 3/4" at 50 yards and my Dan Wesson 722 (22WMR) will do same at 25 yards from elbow rest on bench.

My 22/45 is almost impossible to get back together, my pre Mk I I can do in the dark and Mk II is another PIA one and the MK III Standard I just gave up on after enough fights with it and just quit shooting it. I have considered a Speed Strip for it because I sent it out unfired and had trigger job (with over travel screw) all springs replace and Volquartsen Claw installed and took it to shoot when I got it back and was very impressed with way it shot. Down side it usually takes an hour to put it together and I just quit shooting the gun.

The 22/45 is not as bad as the Standard Mk III, but it is why I don't field strip it or shoot it much any more, and will probably end up buying robert0005 Speed Kit if it is the one I want and priced is good. Tried to buy one last year from a guy on Ruger forum and it had been installed and removed and he wanted more then I could buy it new. Then I just kind of forgot about till just today.

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Cranky Old Retired USN Guy

i just bought a Walther p22, i have put 200 rounds though it no jams or fail to feed and i am running cheep bulk ammo in it. in my opinion this is a fun cheep and accurate little gun.

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heroes don't die, they reload.

I love my 22A. My gun came with a couple extra plastic white buffers, they are cheap and easy to replace. I clean mine off when I clean my gun. My 22A shot great right out of the box. My wife has a Walther P-22 and really likes it. My vote is for the 22A, like someone else stated, it's a poor man's S&W41.

I have the P22...great .22 can be picky, but a couple of bucks more on ammo and no problem. I also have the Mosquito. It is great. same as P22 on ammo. Now that I have said that. I have a S&W model 41. It likes CCI's and lead .22's. Couple of extra bucks is not an issue when you can get the enjoyment they give. They all field strip easily.

The Ruger has long been an outstanding buy. Jim Clark once won the Nationals using a stock Mk I (he wasn't very picky about triggers). 1958, I think.

After a while, you'll get the knack of holding the gun at 58.5 degrees from horizontal, or whatever the proper angle is, while closing the whatchamacallit.

I've owned two Mk I pistols, and they were both fine guns.

I had a 22/45 once and even though it can be a pain cleaning it, they are fun and accurate pistols. I have a buddy who has a buck mark and swears by it. I think any of those on your list would probably work just fine.

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J.D. Roy

Mine started having aluminum shavings after shooting at about 200 or 300 round count so I turned it loose.

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Cranky Old Retired USN Guy

I have a smith 422 I am selling in the classified section right now.

WTS/T Smith 422 6"

Mk I didn't happen till late 60's or early 70's and were stamped Mk I, prior to that they were just Ruger Standard, Target or what ever like Government model. In '58 that would be a pre Mk I just called a Standard at the time. My '59 model Standard is not stamped Mk I, I'm not even sure it is stamped Standard. It hasn't been shot in about 15 years.

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Cranky Old Retired USN Guy

Browning Buckmark.

No issues.

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GO NAVY!

I learned how to field strip the old Ruger standard autos as a teenager in the 1950s. There wasn't much to do up on the prairies in the winter those days and I got pretty good at it...

Some can be stinkers but the procedure is pretty straightforward if the gun is not excessively tight. The factory instructions aren't the greatest, and there are a couple of tricks to make it easier.

As to suitability for plinkers, I have picked up a few used ones for family members. About 50% of the time I have been able to put decent triggers on them myself, and when I couldn't I put in Volquartsen hammers and sears; Clark steel triggers in all. Having very foolishly sold the first one I had I ultimately replaced it with an ugly beater and rehabilitated it as described. Best shooting .22 pistol I own.

I have 2 S&W 41's, a 22A, Ruger Standard, Browning Challanger III, and a Walther P22.

As the old saying goes "the best bang for the buck" is the 22A.

I vote with the Ruger owners who see no need to disassemble the pistol...boresnake for the bore, squirt of BreakFree, some toothbrush action in the breech area, followed by cotton patch /Q-tip clean up, that is good enough.
No other downside.

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Ed

Hands down......

Ruger OR Browning

Not that theres anything wrong with the rest

I'm not sure, but I think that Mark I is what they called the target model, to distinguish it from the Ruger Standard, which had fixed sights. This, from a 1967 Gil Hebard catalog. BTW, I was wrong about 1958. That year, Clark won the National Open Championship with a modified Ruger. According to Hebard, in 1953 Clark broke seven National records and won the National .22 Championship using a Mark I Ruger with a Ruger muzzle brake, as it came from the factory.

The Government model wasn't made until quite some years later.

Ruger Mark III and a bore snake

If you asked over at rimfirecentral, you'd get a overwhelming response of Ruger MK II/III then Browning buckmark are the best all-round .22 handguns. Having owned both, and several of the others you list, I'd have to agree. These two are head and shoulders above the rest when it comes to accuracy. ( Check your local Bullseye/Gallery Team leagues if you doubt it.) Within those two, the Ruger is easier and cheaper to find accesories, trigger parts etc for.

That said, if you want to spend even lass, then a S&W 422, 622 isn't a bad little gun and plenty accurate enough for plinking.
Just stear clear of the p22 and 22A.

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Dave

Nope, my Target model was just stamped Target and not Mk I in 1962 when my dad let me buy ($67 IIRC) it with my money, I got rid of it that fall for a Hi Standard because the Target was a jamamatic and not as accurate as my Standard. The accuracy thing was probably just me, but I didn't think so at the time. The Mk I stamped frames didn't come till the first frame change IIRC and the Mk II with the big change. Now I have also heard that Ruger had a lot of Non stamped models that were pre frame changes that were dumped on the market even after the Mk I & II models were out.

The High Standard was lost on a boating trip with dads boat a HS friend and I took w/o ok of my dad. That was a bad month to say the least.

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Cranky Old Retired USN Guy

Your supposed to disassemble a Mk1 for cleaning? I have my Dad's 6" Mk1 that I gave him for Christmas in 1980. He shot it, my kids and I all shoot it regularly, and I know it's has never been taken down for cleaning. Don't know what the round count is and yes, there is some ammo it likes better than others. Isn't that true for most 22's though?

The Ruger is the most durable of that bunch.I'd pass on the European offerings there(not because of their heritage)The Browning would be my second choice.

"Just stear clear of the p22 and 22A."

Are you kidding me??? The 22A is one of Smith's best efforts. Reliable, accurate and very reasonably priced. I have 20,000+ rounds through mine over the last 10 years without a problem. So just what is your problem with the 22A? Do you own one? Have you ever shot one? I like Ruger's as much as the next guy but to bad rap the 22A without further explanation dims your credibility big time.

Since you've asked.

I've owned a 22a and several dozen of other .22 handguns ( including Ruger MK 1/II's, Buckmarks and more than a few S&W 422, 622, 2206, 41, 17, 617, 317.....) to compare it to. ( I collect and shoot rim fire handguns as a hobby.) I had regular reliability problems with my 22a. I was also unimpressed with it's trigger, accuracy and availability of affordable accessories and mods. A fellow local gallery league shooter also had a 22a that suffered in the performance department. ( Same guy had the P22 while we're at it.) Beyond that, I didn't have to go far on dedicated .22 forums to find other disappointed 22a owners. I sold mine at and never regretted it. There is my explanation.
I'm glad yours has been good to you but that doesn't change my mind, experience or credibility. Based on my experience and research, I'd pick the Ruger, Browning or S&W 422/622/2206 over the 22A any day for my dollar. The 22a isn't junk, and I don't mean to infer it. Just that there are more reliable and accurate guns in the same /lesser price range.
Over and out on this one.

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Dave

I have a Walther P22 also AI date code and "B" series mags not the 1st issue with it.

If my 22A was any more accurate, I would be a world champion! =)

I don't know why these guns aren't more popular. In the short time I've had one, I've really enjoyed it.

That being said, I'm a huge fan of the Ruger. I've had a Mark II since dinosaurs roamed the earth and it's been a real workhorse.

Brian~

Mk II since before Dino's, man my pre Mk I must really be older then dirt.

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Cranky Old Retired USN Guy

Well....OK....I may have exaggerated a little bit since I think I bought the Mark II in the early eighties, but that's coming up on thirty years now and I've used the heck out of it over that time period.

Brian~

Ok, I will let you pass on that one since I have had mine since 1959, and have no real idea how many rounds fired. Probably 3000 to 5000 is all, but could be twice that amount.

It hasn't been fired but once or twice since the mid 70's, but has been cleaned once a year on average. I may take it to the range this year, it has had the recoil and firing pin spring replaced last year with Wolff springs and I believe I replaced the extractor with a Volquartsen Claw, but don't remember for sure.

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Cranky Old Retired USN Guy

also have a 2009 DOB P22 with "B" series magazines no problems at all using only CCI Mini Mags. Wife loves shooting it but prefers her model 34-1 wheel gun if given the choice. The P22 is a fun little plinker.

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Jumpin Gee-hoss-a-fat..Bob

The Rugers are EASY to dis assemble... folks usually have trouble gettin them back together

It is easy once you figure out how to...

I like the ruger MkII's and have several...

the guy who said they are innacurate is simply wrong... a trigger job is usually needed for best accuracy but several of my mkII are as mechanically accurate as my smith 41'salthough the ergonomics may hinder some.

I use several smith 41's and the rugers and like em fine. Someday I may grab a buckmark but I don't need it.

I buy about any MK II I find under 200 anymore... I grabbed one off of a local internet add for 150 last month- a stainless standard model... if your patient deals are out there and ifin yer in a hurry they still are reasonable.

I need a Mk I Standard to finish out my collection. I have the pre Mk I, Mk II & Mk III all Standards and the odd ball is 6" Mk III and then there is the 22/45 that I shoot some. But just having to use a mallet to knock apart or to put together and then the center punch to knock the top oin loose and then the hammering it back in is PIA and reason I haven't shot it but maybe twice for a total of 200 rounds at most.

It just may go the way of other PIA guns I have owned then got rid of for what ever reason, be it service or reliability. Other then the take down and put to gether it is a real nice shooter. I have a Millet Red Dot installed and sighted in and it was doing about 3/4" at 25 yards after sighted in that day.

Sad part is before I even shot the gun after buying it NIB I sent it to a GS that is about the best on Ruger Mk's their is and he replaced all springs in the Bolt and installed Wolff springs, and Voltquartsen STEEL EDM extractor then Jeweled the bolt with Mk III Hunter. I think I said Claw somewhere else, but he said he used the EDM extractor. Now I really can not sell with out loosing my $$$$ on that deal and the fact it is "used" now. SO I will probably buy the Speed Strip from a fellow memeber here and keep it, but who knows what will happen between now and first of the month.

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Cranky Old Retired USN Guy

I bought a 22A six or seven years ago and I've only had to replace buffers in it. With bulk Federal it shoots like a champ, with match grad RWS or Aguila it does around an inch at 25 yards if I do my part.

The only problem I've had with my 22A is the total inability of it to feed hollow point ammo like the bulk Remington stuff. I've tried and tried, but just can't get it to function for more than a couple of rounds of ammo. I think the number one problem is the short of hump you have going into the chamber from the steep feed ramp angle, the HPs always hang at the top of the chamber.

-Rob

I have the Beretta NEOS, I love it, looks funny but is a tack driver. Disassemble is a breeze also. It eats anything you feed it. Extra mags can be bought from CDNN for only 10 bucks. I have had it set up with a red dot and a cheapo laser and highly recommend it.

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Dom

Walther had to out do them and came out with the strangest looking pistol I have ever seen, the SP22.

But the people (2) I have talked to just love them and say they are tac drivers and w/o any problems.

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Cranky Old Retired USN Guy

I have the S&W 22A. It's a very nice pistol. The buffers are easily replaced. I also once had a Ruger MK 2 . it also was a nice gun, but hard to disassemble.

Here's another vote for the Browning Buckmark - inexpensive, accurate and reliable. Lots of fun at the range.

Good Luck with your decision,

Jerry

The Ruger because of the Ultimate Loader. Field stripping is easy once you get the hang of it. The gun with the UL can't be beat.

Al the Gunsmith keeps reminding me, "You got to be smarter than the gun." Assembling Ruger 22 autos is simple: 1) point gun down. 2) Pull trigger and flop hammer forward. 3) Insert latch thingie and snap shut.

My wife loves her Walther P22 with the dot sight. It just eats the X-ring when she is shooting -- real confidence builder. Light and easy to hold with 2 hands. Ruger Mk II with dot sight is a little heavy but is steadier to shoot. She hates both my M 41 s because grips are "clumsy" (her word). 1980 model has Burris 2X pistol scope and newer one has Clark barrel with CMore dot sight.

Why would anyone remove a Ruger barrel when aerosol spray cleaners are available? Three pull-throughs with a Bore snake after a 1 minute scrub with a tooth brush and its clean.

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S&WHF 366

Ruger MKII I have one since the early 1980's when the MKII's came out.

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Protected by Sigma 40VE

I'm going to look at a S&W 22A tonight. I wish I'd have the chance to try one first but my range doesn't rent them. I've tried a Walther P22 and a Ruger MKII. I didn't like the Ruger but loved the Walther. How does the 22A compare to either, are they similar at all? The 22a is $220, is that a reasonable price? I think it is NIB.

I have a 22a and couldn't be happier. I put a red dot scope on it and have a blast shooting it. Nice trigger too.

have not had mine long but it is allready a fav.
first 10 rnds of cheap rem golden hollowpionts in the bullseye at twenty yards off hand right out of the box
and it just seems to get better everytime I shoot her
I love this thing, going out today with some macth ammo and see how she acts
she will see some squirrel hunts for sure
Doc