Recommendation for entry level Target Pistol in 22LR

[BE Mike]

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.

Yeah, I'm looking at a target on my desk that I shot in competition with my Hammerli 208s. It is 100-3X fired outdoors at 50 yards. The biggest benefit to me is the 2 stage trigger. The biggest drawback to the Hammerlis is that they haven't been made in some time and extra magazines are over $130.00 each!

 

[jareds06]

Yeah, I'm looking at a target on my desk that I shot in competition with my Hammerli 208s. It is 100-3X fired outdoors at 50 yards. The biggest benefit to me is the 2 stage trigger. The biggest drawback to the Hammerlis is that they haven't been made in some time and extra magazines are over $130.00 each!

that's got to be an awesome target. I've been trying to look for a 208s. The 2 stage trigger on my P210-6 is amazing and I want something like it for 22. And for the magazines, both of my hammerlis came with 2 magazines each so I'm up to 4! It's kind of like buying power tools and batteries lol

 

[AJ]

For some of the European target pistols check here: https://www.champchoice.com/mc-firearm/target-pistols/?count=40 Hold on to your wallets tight!!!

 

[erikpolcrack]

I have both a Ruger and a BuckMark and like them both very much. IMHO, you can't go wrong with either of them. However, I've recently acquired a gun I think would be a much cheaper and very practical option. It's the GSG 1911 imported by ATI. It's a full-featured 22 LR M1911 45 clone with nice sights and an ambi-safety. As a lefty, that last feature is much-appreciated, and I love shooting my M1911s, so....

 

[Bullseye Smith]

Where am I at? I thought this was the S&W Forum? Start with a 617 and go from there in the Smith line. all the others are second place or worse. My two cents!!!!

 

[BE Mike]

Where am I at? I thought this was the S&W Forum? Start with a 617 and go from there in the Smith line. all the others are second place or worse. My two cents!!!!

That's hilarious. No S&W revolver or semi-auto made these days, can compete with any decent semi-auto .22 for precision pistol matches.

 

[Imissedagain]

Here's the MKIV with the DPP mounted.
The Mrs is not fond of fixed power scopes,
so this is for the next range trip.
She'll punch some holes at 25 yards, and I'll
enlarge them with a scoped 460.

 

[Imissedagain]

Pic of RMR and DPP.

 

[Oldsalt66]

I'd recommend one of the Ruger MK IV target models purchased new.

 

[BE Mike]

that's got to be an awesome target. I've been trying to look for a 208s. The 2 stage trigger on my P210-6 is amazing and I want something like it for 22. And for the magazines, both of my hammerlis came with 2 magazines each so I'm up to 4! It's kind of like buying power tools and batteries lol

Yes, it is the accessories that get you! My 100-3X target was the first ten shots at a Canton-McKinley, Frank J. Bickar Memorial NRA regional match. IIRC, I followed it with a 98. That was a long, long time ago. This old fart hasn't been able shoot one-handed worth a hoot, at those distances, for many years. I still think the Ruger MK IV is a great choice for someone starting out in bullseye pistol shooting. There are a plethora of accessories/ upgrades available. Once the competitive shooter has competed for a while and knows that it is the sport for him or her, he or she can start looking for something else to try to buy more points, although there have been some really great scores shot with a Ruger MK .22 pistol.

 

[rct269]

I may have missed it, but I didn't see a response to the question about what kind of target shooting. Given almost everybody starts with Bullseye/Precision Pistol, I'll presume that's the game.

Given that, the several responses recommending a revolver (K-22) most assuredly have not used one for the timed and rapid fire segments. That's where the target appears, and then disappears either 20 or 10 seconds later----that being how long you have for your FIVE shots!!

Now I've heard tell of folks who shoot revolvers double action, and do fine----heard of them---never saw one.

Bottom Line: Any autoloader with adjustable sights will do you just fine. If memory serves, that means you're going to buy a new Ruger or a used something else if cost is a consideration---and if cost is a consideration, know you'll be going up against folks where it isn't!!

Ralph Tremaine

 

[GnarlsR2]

The KelTec P17 is by far THE most fun gun I own or have shot!

I take it to the range every time.

It is a $199 toy gun. I can shoot the heck out of it for a long time, it is extremely accurate, ammo is cheap, it shoots everything, it makes lots of smoke, and the rechargeable green laser is a blast to target with.

It is probably not considered to be in the same category as a Sig P322, Ruger Mark IV, HK416, Walther P22, Browning Buckmark, or S&W SW22.