Best 22 handguns.

[ohioan55]

I am getting ready to buy a Model 41 to round out my collection. I'd love to try the Buckmark, but I hate plastic parts of any kind on guns. (The 1911-22 has a plastic front sight that I have to super glue on, but it is super fun to shoot.) The Ruger is getting a trigger job & new springs, and the 617 will get one too.

I have a Buckmark. I recommend a spring kit out of the box, if you get one.

 

[Modified]

I'm not sure about best, but I can show you the one that I enjoy shooting the most:

There's something about the action being so pleasing, and forcing me to slow down and take my time. With excellent balance, sights, stocks that fill the hand out perfectly, and of course a trigger to die for.

A friend of mine brought his Vietnam vet Army Ranger dad to the range when I brought this one time. He's a far better shooter then I will ever be. I didn't think I would get it back, he was loath to hand it back to me at all, after spending the rest of the range day with it. My buddy says he's been trying to find one to buy ever since.


Although, the truth is that this thing might actually be better;

But I bought it just before our baby came and I haven't had the opportunity to really spend much time with it. The trigger, balance, weight, hell everything, is out of this world. Every time I pull it out I marvel at how modern it is for a 120 year old gun.

It was years before I ever even saw one for sale after learning about it's existence from a cryptic line in one of Walter Roper's books praising it's perfection. Haven't seen one for sale since.


Of course, if we are just talking perfection, my K22/40 King Super target hits that mark too.

I was born 75 years too late...

I might as well edit this post, because now that I am thinking about 22s I should probably include my D.W. King Modified (sights, barrel weights) pre-war Colt Woodsman match target that was worked over by both A.E. Berdon and John Giles (who built and installed the rear sight).

The problem it is hard to say that this is the "best" 22 because it passed through the hands of so many master gunsmiths over the years. The original owner apparently used it at Camp Perry meets (according to his son who I bought it from) for many many years of shooting.

I should probably take some pictures of it with the right handed ropers that I eventually did find for it.

 

[6string]

I'm not sure about best, but I can show you the one that I enjoy shooting the most:

There's something about the action being so pleasing, and forcing me to slow down and take my time. With excellent balance, sights, stocks that fill the hand out perfectly, and of course a trigger to die for.

A friend of mine brought his Vietnam vet Army Ranger dad to the range when I brought this one time. He's a far better shooter then I will ever be. I didn't think I would get it back, he was loath to hand it back to me at all, after spending the rest of the range day with it. My buddy says he's been trying to find one to buy ever since.


Although, the truth is that this thing might actually be better;

But I bought it just before our baby came and I haven't had the opportunity to really spend much time with it. The trigger, balance, weight, hell everything, is out of this world. Every time I pull it out I marvel at how modern it is for a 120 year old gun.

It was years before I ever even saw one for sale after learning about it's existence from a cryptic line in one of Walter Roper's books praising it's perfection. Haven't seen one for sale since.


Of course, if we are just talking perfection, my K22/40 King Super target hits that mark too.

I was born 75 years too late...

I might as well edit this post, because now that I am thinking about 22s I should probably include my D.W. King Modified (sights, barrel weights) pre-war Colt Woodsman match target that was worked over by both A.E. Berdon and John Giles (who built and installed the rear sight).

The problem it is hard to say that this is the "best" 22 because it passed through the hands of so many master gunsmiths over the years. The original owner apparently used it at Camp Perry meets (according to his son who I bought it from) for many many years of shooting.

I should probably take some pictures of it with the right handed ropers that I eventually did find for it.

Colt Camp Perry model single shot! Very Nice.
Lacks the patina of your S&W Registered Magnum, though...!

 

[kennethg]

Besides my mid 50's K-22, I have also enjoyed shooting my 2 High Standards over the years.

 

[Ed Fowler]

Camp Perry Colt like the one in post 83 up for sale in 2 hours on Gun Broker.

 

[Kurusu]

Colt Woodsmans are my love, 2nd series Match Targets preferred. Though my last .22 pistol buy was a a HS Supermatic Citation. It also is a drama queen but I have the mags and correct ammo just haven't invested the time to wring it out.

I have high expectations on a Woodsman target match I bought recently.

But it's not in my hands yet. So, since I still haven't tried it, I still cannot praise it.

But I got photos of it.

 

[6string]

I have high expectations on a Woodsman target match I bought recently.

But it's not in my hands yet. So, since I still haven't tried it, I still cannot praise it.

But I got photos of it.

Very nice, Mario!

I had a similar one, made in the late 1950s. It showed incredible overall quality, when Colt really cared. Their discontinuing of the Woodsman line in the 1970s came at a time when things were just falling apart for them. Labor problems, QC problems, customer service problems.....what a shame.
My Woodsman shot so well, I won many matches with it. I preferred the grip angle to my M41. The sear gave me some trouble, which was a common problem known to Colt and that they refused to fix. A gunsmith made me a new sear, and the trigger was better than ever.
Some people say the slide mounted rear sight is a design flaw from the standpoint of accuracy. But, the fitting is so good, I doubt that. Mine had no trouble holding the X ring at 50 yds. The lower sight line compared to the bridge mounted rear sights used on the Hammerli 208s/208 and High Standard Trophy is also more to my liking.

I even like the bottom mag release. It is very slick, fast and reliable. I prefer it to the Hammerli 208 release with the stiff, awkward spring.

Jim

 

[824tsv]

SixgunStrumpet,
What is the story on your Adolph-Weber pistol? I can't find very much about it on the web.

 

[Cal44]

A lot of great 22's. Many of which i'd never heard of before.

How about some more 22 mags?

They count as 22's also, after all.

Thanks guys.

Dave

 

[Snowwolfe]

My favorites have been a High Standard Citation and Victor for semi's. For revolvers it would have to be a Freedom Arms.

 

[sodacan]

My two S&W .22 revolvers are a pre-model from 1953 and a 17-2 from 1966. Both are very nice, but my favorite by far is the Colt Officers Model Special from 1949-50. This gun was only made from 1949-52. Top one is the .22 with its .38 sibling.

 

[weatherby]

This is my favorite to shoot.
Then clean up.

 

[ohioan55]

Did I mention that I really like the .22 mag? It is keeping me from getting a Contender barrel in .22 Hornet as I keep leaning to one in .22 mag. Maybe my wife will convince me to buy both.

 

[AzShooter]

My favorite is my S&W Model 617 with a C-More sight with 12 minute dot. I shoot this faster and more accurately for Steel Challenge then I do my Ruger Mark IV 22/45 Lite or my Volquartsen Mamba. Guess it's because I've been shooting Revolvers in competition for the past 50 years.

 

[Quiet 1]

Did I mention that I really like the .22 mag? It is keeping me from getting a Contender barrel in .22 Hornet as I keep leaning to one in .22 mag. Maybe my wife will convince me to buy both.

Unless your wife is a lot different than most...Good luck with that!

 

[Pine_Worker]

I have two for the list. First is (was) my Model 17 no dash 6". Unfortunately, I traded it a get years ago. It was the most accurate revolver I have ever owned. Second is my Colt Woodsman Match Target 6", the most accurate semi-auto I own.

 

[gfors]

My new favorite a Model 53

Did someone say .22 magnum?
I just bought this on Wednesday. It became my new favorite, after the first shot of .22 Rem Jet. It's prolly not as accurate as my High Standard Supermatic is, but close enough, and, those fireballs, WOW!!!

 

[Modified]

SixgunStrumpet,
What is the story on your Adolph-Weber pistol? I can't find very much about it on the web.

I can't really tell you too much. A big part of why I had to own one was because of how limited the information on them was. Pure curiosity.

Any SWCA members can see everything I know about them here: Adolph-Weber .22 Single Shot

Honestly, I'm very glad I own it, despite some damage to the wood. Which I will eventually have repaired.

I did get the chance to put it in the hands of Steven Hughes recently, which I enjoyed. It's really neat to own a particularly well made gun, that old, with so many features present in modern guns. I believe his comment on it was that usually when someone shows him something he has never seen before, it's not very good. Which wasn't the case with this particular gun.

The funny thing about the gun, having owned it for a while now and pondered it, is that the action itself isn't particularly fancy. Just being a tip up. It's the attention to the trigger, balance, ergonomics of the grip, and the remarkably modern sights that set it apart.

 

[MJK-MOD-547]

Three 22 mags in this bunch.
S&W M41 )
S&W M48 ) No intro needed

S&W M650 )
S&W M651 ) These two always get attention at the range. They are very LOUD and spew a large
flame.

Grand Power K-22 These are hard to find! Excellent pistol. 4 sizes of stocks, 3 different front sights
and two sizes of recoil springs included. This one goes with me in the woods.

Colt/ Walther 1911 rail All medal, easy take down, accurate, eats everything. MADE BY WALTHER in
Germany, NOT UMAREX.

 

[OLDSTER]

So many great comments and beautiful guns on this thread I hesitate to show you my simple little MKIII. But 15000 + rounds of enjoyment and more accuracy than I'm worth, places her in my favorites list.