Please tell me about your .22s

[GKC]

I am considering getting a .22 handgun (I'm not interested in a rifle.) I having been looking at various options: revolver (SA or DA) and pistol (dedicated versus conversion kits.) I've about ruled out the conversion kits. So, I'm looking for recommendations and input from those of you who have .22s of either kind (revolvers and pistols.) My use will be primarily for fun at the range (I won't be carrying a .22, so size doesn't matter) and possibly for varmints: a recent encounter with a skunk in our back yard made me realize that I don't want to use anything I currently have (.45's and 9mm's.) To that end, I want to be able to use shot shells when necessary.

Many years ago, I owned a Ruger Mark I or II (can't remember which, but it was about 1974 or so.) I really don't remember much about it now...and I've read many reports about the current Ruger .22 semi-autos being a nightmare to field strip. I like the idea of a semi for the range, but a revolver (like the Ruger Bearcat, or possibly a S&W DA) for varmints.

So, please tell me about your .22 handguns...thanks!

 

[35Rem]

If you want to be able to shoot "odd" ammo (shorts, CB Caps, shotshells) you need a revolver.

What's your price range is NECESSARY info. The prices range from $100 - $650 and up.

If it were me and I didn't care about cost, it's be a 3" Model 63 with Target grips. 8 shots. $650 range

The Ruger Super Single Six is a great gun, for a single action. ~$500

The low end of the scale would be an H&R double action. Not pretty, but they work. A Heritage Rough Rider can be had for under $200 that will have a 22 mag cylinder also, like the Ruger SS Six, just not as refined a gun.

 

[Andy Griffith]

It is impossible to have too many .22 handguns of all kinds.

I good 41 S&W would be a good target pistol- and is much easier to take down than the Ruger. The Browning Buck Mark also is a good one- both are tried and true designs and contain no pot metal (zinc) castings for slides and such. I'd also suggest a nice North American Arms in .22 Magnum for snakes, varmints, vermin and such.

A S&W 17, 34, 617 or 63 are all good revolvers. I also enjoy the heck out of shooting my Heritage Rough Rider which is far cheaper than the S&W- I've got a 6" dual cylinder model with fiber optic adjustable sights that shoot better than my single six. My single six Bisley is a good looking gun and I put a gold bead front sight on it, and a V-notch rear, and although it shoots ok, it won't outshoot my Heritage or any of the other guns I have.

By goodness- get two or three at least to start with.

 

[Double-O-Dave]

Hi Ken:

I own a Ruger Mk II with the 5.0(?) inch heavy barrel as well as a S&W Model 34 with a 4.0 inch barrel. Both have adjustable sights, and I recently upgraded the Ruger by adding a fiber optic front sight, Hogue finger groove rubber grips, and a speed strip kit. I have arthritis in my hands, and it was a real nightmare to field strip and clean the Ruger, so I finally broke down and installed the speed strip kit. My upgrades made the Ruger a lot more fun and "shoot-able" for me. Over 20 years ago, I used to shoot .22 caliber silhouette, and I won a few ribbons with this pistol while it was box stock. I used to own a H&R .22 caliber revolver, and while it was a fun tackle box gun, the Model 34 is a much better representative of the .22 caliber revolver in my opinion. A plus is that I can put CT laser grips on it for the wife when she wants something for the nightstand. I know, but I can't convince her to use anything larger. I cannot interest my 14 yr. old son in handguns at this time, so I cannot give you any reference there, but when I'm finally able to take him squirrel hunting, I'll bring both with us and see if I can get him interested that way.

Best of luck,

Dave

 

[GKC]

Thanks for your replies so far. I didn't mention price, but in response to the question, price isn't really an issue. Now, that sounds snotty, and I don't mean it that way...I'm certainly not rich, and I can't spend a LOT of money, for sure! What I mean is I'd rather pay a few dollars more to get something I like and for good quality, than to save a few dollars and wind up with something I don't really care for, that isn't good quality, or isn't reliable. So, in that sense, price isn't the deciding factor.

The other thing is, while I do want to have fun at the range, it doesn't have to be an expensive target model...in fact, a general purpose utility gun is more my style.

 

[oldman45]

I have a S&W model 422 that I enjoy shooting. It is a high capacity gun that handles both long and long rifle ammo nicely and just so-so on shorts. Then again, I do not shoot many shorts either. They are reasonable to purchase and over all a pretty fair gun for the price.

 

[dubhelix]

.22

Smith and Wesson model 63-3
Super Reliable, same manual-of-arms as my carry guns, doesn't eject smoothly with waxy ammo, easy to clean, shotshells and shorts are no problem. Typical J-Frame double action and single action trigger. Somewhat expensive and difficult to find.

Colt Woodsman
Shoots beautifully, but has occasional feeding issues unless carefully cleaned, or when run with ammo it doesn't like. Cycles best with standard velocity ammo, but waxed ammo degrades reliability after a while until cleaned. Takedown for cleaning is somewhat complicated. Very accurate, and easy to shoot, short and light single action trigger. I haven't tried shotshells or shorts, and suspect that they may cause feeding issues. Also not available at your local sporting goods store.

I wish I could offer an opinion on .22 pistols made in the last 30 years, but I have none that new. I am not sure that a .22 shotshell would be an effective round for, well, anything, really. But few CCI Stingers would put a skunk down quick. If I had to buy a current production .22, I guess I'd look at the current S&W revolver options for reliability and versatility. Or, maybe a Ruger, if I was also inclined to spend a grand on a suppressor and tax stamps.

 

[loutent]

I have a few of them and to be honest, I like them all - it seems like my favorite is the one I take to the range on any particular day. My latest purchase (just a few weeks ago) is the Sig 1911-22 - here's a link to a thread I started about it:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/lounge/213736-picked-up-sig-1911-22-pics-10-27-range-report.html

Here's a pic:

I also have a Ruger Mk III Hunter which is super accurate - I added a red-dot to it which makes it even more so.

Also have this 3rd gen Woodsman (1957) but it is a bit finicky - only have one original Colt mag so that sort of cuts into the fun - I have tried some replica mags (Triple K) but they are not the same. Still, it was my dad's so I put up with it! Someday I have to take a better picture of it.

This 18-4 revolver is just 6 shots and feels like a 357 (except the recoil) - after putting some rounds through it, the cylinders get tight and need to be brushed out at the range - kind of get used to that. It's worth having a 22 revolver:

In summary, you can't have enough 22's - good luck with your decision and I hope this helped a little.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

If you're thinking about a Ruger don't get hung up on difficulty of field stripping. First of all it's not that tough, but really there's no need to. I've had a 22/45 for over a decade and have put many tens of thousands of rounds through it. It's only taken apart once and that was to thread the barrel for a can.

This is my new Ruger range toy. It came from the factory with a threaded barrel so it will likely never be taken apart.



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

 

[GKC]

If you're thinking about a Ruger don't get hung up on difficulty of field stripping. First of all it's not that tough, but really there's no need to. I've had a 22/45 for over a decade and have put many tens of thousands of rounds through it. It's only taken apart once and that was to thread the barrel for a can.

How do you clean it?

 

[tripledipper]

I would start with a shooter grade revolver, a 4" j-frame kit gun, Mod. 34 or 63. If you enjoy shooting that then step up to a k-frame 4" Model 18 or a 6" Model 17 for even more accuracy. Plenty of folks have cheaper guns like a Taurus 94 and they have little or no problems with them.

 

[feralmerril]

This HDM is my most interesting .22. It`s a "blood gun." I had a friend /co worker, frank magnin. Frank was retired military. Then he was a deputy I think for the county around Ft. Collins Colorado before I knew him. I suspect this was in the 1960s. He got a call of a shooting at a filling station where either the owner or a employee was killed. He said they were hot on the call and caught the shooter but couldnt find the weapon. He knew it had to be at the scene, got a ladder and found the gun on the roof. After the trial the judge gave frank the gun. I had a old savage 1899 in .303 savage and we traded. Later I found the old carved ivory grips at the pony express shop in reseda. They have a flying goose on one side and a mountain lion on the other.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

How do you clean it?

CLP and Q-tips. Lock the bolt back and clean the bolt face, breech, chamber and receiver area. Every once in a while I'll drag a bore snake through the barrel. You'll have a reliable well operating pistol for life.

Here's the 22/45 I mentioned. She's seen a lot of use... quite a lot. AR flash hider makes for nice cheap thread protector.



S&W 22S has been great pistol for many years.



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

 

[gregintenn]

Here are some I have. My favorite of the bunch is a well worn model 18 Smith and Wesson revolver. I also like the GSG 1911-22.

 

[7shooter]

My favorite 22s are a five inch Browning Buckmark and a S&W model 17. The Buckmark is a great gun to teach kids with after they get the basics down. The model 17 is a 10 shooter with a 6" barrel which is also fun to shoot. I recently bought a model 317 light weight 3" which has started to grow on me and that my grandkids love to shoot. Fun little gun.

 

[Len]

Lot of neat guns, and great reasons stated so far for each.

I'd have to give an additional recommendation, if you have no other 22's, to the Ruger Single Six.

With the conversion kit/extra 22WMR cylinder, it's quite versatile.

Mine has been, among other things, a varmint gun, a very cheap-to-practice-with gun, and more than anything else, the best gun I have to introduce new shooters to the sport.

IMO, there's not a better way to get someone you know started in shooting than by teaching them the basics with a SA 22.

Have fun making your final choice!

Len

 

[cochise]

There has been allot of good sugestions. I will add since you have centerfire handguns, buy a .22 that closely ressembles your favorite one. I shoot my S&W model 18 quite a bit because I shoot a S&W .44 also. Redundancy is good training.

 

[Smith357]

The only .22lr handgun I currently have in the safe is a Model of 1953 22/32 Kit Gun sometimes called a pre-34. She is well used with a lot of wear but no scratches or dings in the metal. The little revolver is a good shooter and is often my walking companion while in the hills of southern Ohio. It is also my go to training gun for new shooters.

It's built on an Improved I frame, it uses a coil mainspring whereas the original I frames used a leaf spring and strain screw setup, and the overall length is a tad shorter than the J frame. The J frames are lengthened a bit so that .38 Special cylinders would fit in them.

 

[David LaPell]

I have owned lots of .22 handguns, let me tell you the ones I have and then I will tell you the one I come back to every time. A pair of Ruger Single sixes, both old Models, a K-22, a Smith 22A, I know there is more but right now I am having a memory lapse (brain fart). The one that I keep coming back to and the one that will outshoot the rest is my 1950 vintage Colt Woodsman Sport that was my grandfather's. As he used to tell me, "I've taken more game with this than any other gun." I believe it since I have taken alot game with it myself. It just doesn't quit.

 

[bgrafsr]

Did someone say you can't have enough .22's?

1952 K-22:

Model 48-4:

1953 K-22:

Pre Model 18:

1948 K-22:

Model 617-1:

Model 17-6: