Recommendation for entry level Target Pistol in 22LR

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

Thanks for pretty much nothing!

Sorry you couldn't learn from RCT's post. He gave you some excellent advice that could save you a lot of time and a few hundred dollars.

I wonder how many lurkers here don't bother posting because it's too much work to get something like your response.

 

[skywag]

Dump the new junk. Buy a used Colt Woodsman!

 

[teletech]

I've bought/sold and borrowed many .22s looking for something I liked better than my M-41. The Hammerli Olympia gave me a lot faster followup shots and the Walther GSP was slightly more accurate, many were more reliable, but none gave me more joy on the "good days" than the 41.

 

[robrossk]

Sorry you couldn't learn from RCT's post. He gave you some excellent advice that could save you a lot of time and a few hundred dollars.

I wonder how many lurkers here don't bother posting because it's too much work to get something like your response.

Funny but what advice? There is nothing offered about either the choices in the poll or what he would buy. My takeaway is he a race care driver. I get your last point and I don’t reply to posts unless it adds to the conversation. Just my opinion though.

 

[SnidelyWhiplash]

As I said before...High Standard and Colt made some awesome .22 pistols...too bad they're no more outside of the used and collector markets.

Regardless of the awesome guns High Standard and Colt produced...the most accurate .22 I own is this Smith Model 41...

If you want to consider revolvers...you'd be hard pressed to find better than Colt's new King Cobra Target models...ten rounds of .22 and a great action.

 

[Tanners Owner]

I have a Ruger MK II- always reliable, laser accurate.

A good simple gun with lots of aftermarket support

 

[Imissedagain]

At 15yds the gun/you should be able to shoot a ragged hole,
or a least a cloverleaf offhand.... one or both hands.
That's a goal to work for.
Have read on this forum that some have had issues with
the newer M41s. Check the archives.
If your budget permits, get one of the all steel Ruger MKIVs.
My Air America buddy bought two of the all steel MKIVs.
Forgot if they were the Hunter or Competition versions.

The Colt Gold Cups are considered an entry level
Bullseye gun.
A BT99 is also an entry level Trap gun..... but can always break
24/25 if you pay attention.

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

Funny but what advice? There is nothing offered about either the choices in the poll or what he would buy. My takeaway is he a race care driver. I get your last point and I don’t reply to posts unless it adds to the conversation. Just my opinion though.

I understood his advice to be that one should approach target shooting with the best equipment possible, and that the concept of entry-level, meaning some kind of lower-grade equipment, was NOT appropriate to entry. Many years ago, I went the way he advocates. It's cheaper that way.

 

[Bruceboy]

A Ruger Mk. II but plan on adding a trigger kit and decent stocks. A Browning Challenger if you can find one with the heavy barrel or a S&W model 41 ( The 41 is pricer but sometimes there's economy in getting a better gun first time around.)

Happy shopping,

Al

 

[robrossk]

Entry level would be some kind of Ruger MK-IV. Considering cost, performance , magazines and Ruger CS. The best bang for your buck.
That’s coming from solid S&W 41, Hi-STDs and Browning Medalist shooter.
Entry Level is where a shooter decides if he wants to get into a category
and how much he wants to spend. That is what I would recommend for new shooter buying NEW gun.

Very helpful. Thanks.

 

[hardluk1]

I notice the lack of comments on ammo used and if you feed a s&w 41 or some other higher end pistol some bargain priced bulk fodder do not expect it to shoot as good as or as reliably as many other 22lr pistols with the ammo it likes best .

I use to be able to shoot 8 out of 10 12ga hulls on sticks at 25 yards with a colt 6" huntsman . Ammo years ago was federal 771b today its sk pistol match in a dot optic equiped 6" ruger mk3 with only a old clark customs trigger kit . But even this pistol is costly today.

HEY ROBROSSK If your own a steel 1911 you already have a good platform to start with so check out Marvel 1911 22lr kits.

UNIT 1 FORM — MARVEL PRECISION by fcw

 

[AJ]

I have a "few" 22's... but for target shooting... it will be a Ruger MkII... moving up the price scale... a Marvel 22 conversion on a 1911...

I can and do mount a .22 Colt Conversion Unit on my National Match Gold Cup frame once in a while.

 

[Dvus]

I have tried several Smith 41s, Rugers of all MK #s, Browning and multiple other kinds. I keep going back to my High Standard Citation/Trophys. The 41s shoot almost as well for me but cost twice as much. A Ruger won't even come close without a trigger upgrade, ( a Ruger Government Target with a Volquartsen trigger is VERY hard to beat.) The most accurate "other" pistol I have found is, of all things, a Chinese SP-01. Only about 250 of them in the states, but if you can find one, snag it. It shouldn't be as accurate as it is, trigger isn't the greatest, hammer fired with a long lock time, but I can't argue with the results. It's a copy of the Russian Margolin. But my recommendation is one of the High Standard Citations or Trophys. Magazines CAN be finicky, but is generally overemphasized. The adjustable triggers more than make up for it and they can be found for around $600.

 

[Octagun]

I went with a Ruger MKIV because it was more affordable. Unfortunately that did not last very long!

 

[AJ]

I went with a Ruger MKIV because it was more affordable. Unfortunately that did not last very long!

And I thought only High Standard made a "Space Gun"!

 

[gunbarrel]

I competed in NRA Bullseye pistol 30 years ago; so, I still use my favorite, a Hi-Standard Model 107 ("Military") Citation made in Hamden, CT. But the new shooters in my Club really like their SW22 Victory Target Models. If you like Rugers, I recommend a Mark IV. It's very simple to take down in comparison with the Mark I - Mark III.

https://www.smith-wesson.com/product/sw22-victory-target-model

 

[Fishinfool]

I would agree with most posters that a Ruger or Buckmark will serve you well as an introductory gun for local club bullseye type shooting. For serious competition, 6string was spot on in his earlier commentary.

Personally, for the kind of use you are most likely considering, I would look at the used higher end HS .22 target pistols. Beautifully finished, great triggers, and almost all are accurate shooters. I have several, and both are more accurate off a bench than many good .22 rifles.

Reliability can be an issue, but magazines are not hard to "tune", and that is where about 99 percent of issues occur. Otherwise, these are all steel pistols that operate reliably like a sewing machine. Good ones like a Victor or Supermatic should come in at less than 1K.

Larry

 

[yeti]

I voted Buckmark.

Cost effective, reliable, magazines readily available, good aftermarket support, easy to mount an optic, good balance.

Ruger would be my backup selection for some of the same reasons.

 

[BE Mike]

I started off in NRA bullseye pistol competition with a Ruger MKI. I then went to High Standards, finally settling on the Victor. When I got reasonably good, I bought a Hammerli 208s. I also have a Marvel .22 conversion. The Ruger and Hammerli were the most reliable and accurate at 50 yards with the right ammo. The Rugers have a huge amount of aftermarket parts available and the magazines are reasonably priced. To start out, it is hard to beat them. The newer ones come predrilled for a scope mount. The only thing that the Rugers lack, out-of-the box, is a decent trigger. The High Standards and Marvel can be tricky to get to make reliable. Mostly it revolves around magazine adjustments, but it can try one's patience. S&W model 41's have a reputation for unreliability, especially the newer "Performance Center" offerings.

 

[jareds06]

Not exactly entry level but my philosophy with .22s these days is buy once, cry once. .22 is the only caliber in which it's pretty much always worth it to go straight for high quality since high quality ammunition is so inexpensive. My .22 of choice is going to be a Hammerli International 208/211. Somehow they're cheaper on the used market than S&W 41s, I guess the name recognition isn't as great here. I have a U22 Neos, I hate that gun. I also have a Beretta 87 Target. It seems Beretta can't make a target .22 anymore. I would probably need to buy an older Olympia or 89 Gold Standard to redeem my opinion on Beretta Target Pistols. And that's not to say I'm a Beretta hater, I own more guns from Beretta than any other brand.

The Hammerli 208 below, with the larger Morini grip ran me about $900 something. The 211 with the small field grips, about $975. Both are by far my most accurate handguns. The Hammerli 208 also has the distinction of holding the world record for Men's 25M Standard Pistol, and also held the record before it. The best place to find one would be Simpsonltd in my opinion. Their prices are on the high end of fair but they have great selection, and their import mark is basically invisible. They also have Hammerli 215s which are similar pistols.

If that is out of your price range, I would say buy a used (not abused) S&W K22. If you can find one for $600, that is a worthy target pistol. Of course if you intend to use it in competition understand that you are going to being handicapping yourself in the timed and rapid fire stages, especially for the .22 EIC match where you start from a 45 degree angle with the gun down before the targets turn.

Life is too short to shoot cheap .22s.