What's your favorite/recommended .22 handgun?

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  • Crab Bait

    Ultimate Member
    Mar 2, 2011
    1,372
    Pasadena
    I vote Buckmark. My daughter and I shot around 250 rounds today with my this beauty that I picked up 2+ years back from 2A.
    View attachment 164611

    She started getting frustrated with multiple FTEs using Federal "Premium" Target 40 grain 1080 fps ammo.

    Switched her to Winchester 36 grain 1280 fps hollow points and all was right with the world.
    View attachment 164613

    Next purchase is a threaded barrel to kick off the NFA trust. Cabela's has them on sale:

    http://www.cabelas.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=1168632

    sweet
     

    MiddleRiverShootist

    Active Member
    Jan 18, 2015
    642
    Baltimore Co
    6 yr old thread, but i love 22lr and most of my collection is 22lr I have 3 Ruger Mk IIs 2 Wranglers < and a 1963 Single six convertable. My MK II Govt Target is the most accurate, second my MK II slabside. but the most accurate 22 pistol ive ever shot was a S&W 41 and S&W A22 but it was a Jamomatic,, i tried everything.. no use.. sold it to buy the MK II Govt Target. no regrets. The Rugers eat anything i feed them and very accurate. It gets easier to clean once you put them back together a few times.
     

    Mightydog

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Still love my Sig 1911-22 bought almost 7 years ago. Works best with mini-mags.
     

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    Mack C-85

    R.I.P.
    Jan 22, 2014
    6,522
    Littlestown, PA
    My Mom was going through some old paperwork and found the receipt for my S&W Mod. 17 .22cal.

    July of 1976 from Bart's Sports World in Glen Burnie......at a screamingly expensive price of $165 out the door!!!!!

    It was a H.S. Graduation Present......
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    Sent from my LG-G710 using Tapatalk
     

    alucard0822

    For great Justice
    Oct 29, 2007
    17,643
    PA
    Not much beats a tiny braced/SBR running suppressed. Picked up a CP33 and really like it, marvel of engineering, and fun as hell. Hard to pick a favorite, but almost always throw one of these 4 and a rimfire can in my range bag.
     

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    ENDuRUN

    Member
    Jun 13, 2021
    61
    Wow. I really need to get on purchasing a suppressor. How do you like the suppressor on your .22LR? What brand do you use?
     

    alucard0822

    For great Justice
    Oct 29, 2007
    17,643
    PA
    Wow. I really need to get on purchasing a suppressor. How do you like the suppressor on your .22LR? What brand do you use?

    I have a Dead Air Mask and Rugged Oculus. 2 of the best out now, and would definitely recommend them. The Mask is a little smaller/lighter at 5.1" and 6.6oz, Ti tube/steel mount&baffles, really quiet, no first round pop, easy to break down and clean, and all around awesome can. The only real downside is that the mount can unscrew from the tube when removing the can unless you crank down on the end cap, is a PITA when it happens on something like my AR22 where it's tucked under the rail. The Oculus is 5.25" and 6.9oz, all steel, a little FRP, slightly louder, but deeper tone, comes apart to clean just as easy. It's main feature is the modular design, the front 1/2 of the tube can come off leaving you with a tiny 3.25" 4.3oz mini suppressor. It will make most any pistol well within hearing safe limits, and is actually pretty quiet on rifles. The only downside is the keys to line up the baffles are smaller and less noticeable than the mask, they also key into the mount portion of the tube, and it can be tough to turn the stack with a fingertip till it drops into alignment. If it is not keyed in right, the front section won't seat and can come loose, the front baffles aren't keyed to the tube.

    Both are full auto rated for 22, both are rated up to 5.7FN, both are backed by great companies and warranties. Both can be easily cleaned by brushing out tubes and dropping baffles in an ultrasonic, both are around $400. Basically if you want modularity and can use the small config, then go for the Oculus, if you want slightly better suppression in a slightly smaller size, and don't need a short config, go for the Mask. I have shot a few, and considered others, but they all had something I didn't like compared to these 2. The SiCo Sparrow is similar in size/weight to the mask, the monocore makes it easy to clean, and won't come loose from the mount, but it is noticeably louder, and has a LOT more FRP. The Optimus micro is a cool can, and can be run on 5.56 with a taper mount. I have a few Griffin cans, and was looking hard at this, but it's really long in 5.56 config, and really heavy on a 22, like 10oz heavy with a DT mount. The Q el camino is skinny and really light, but a bit long, and like the Mask, the mount cn come loose when taking off a host. I was initially looking at the SiCo switchback for a modular can instead of the Oculus. The Switchback is an awesome can, but the thing is a bit more complex, with 5 separate tube/mount/coupler/cap sections to worry about, where the Oculus only unscrews in the middle and the cap, the shortest config isn't hearing safe on handguns, and the mid and full size are longer than the Oculus, but with similar performance. Looked for a Thunderbeast Takedown, Sig SRD22x and Ruger Silent SR, all look like fine cans, but nobody local carries them, haven't shot them, and they are perpetually out of stock.

    Oculus in short config on a tiny Walther P22
    20210618_084048.jpg

    Oculus in long configuration 4.5" barreled AR-22, tucked under a 7" handguard

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    CP33 with the Mask

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    Last edited:

    KRC

    Active Member
    Sep 30, 2018
    615
    Cecil County MD
    Buck Mark Target 5.5.
    Bolt on the 3x Burris and shoot silhouette.
    Take off the scope and sight shroud and shoot steel.
    Embarrass most other .22LR pistols for accuracy.
     

    Atrox88

    Gold Member
    Jan 7, 2016
    1,245
    Carroll County
    My Mom was going through some old paperwork and found the receipt for my S&W Mod. 17 .22cal.

    July of 1976 from Bart's Sports World in Glen Burnie......at a screamingly expensive price of $165 out the door!!!!!

    It was a H.S. Graduation Present......
    2413f180c2ee371f5735af2b4c5a4215.jpg


    Sent from my LG-G710 using Tapatalk

    Still have it? That was a helluva price.
     

    Atrox88

    Gold Member
    Jan 7, 2016
    1,245
    Carroll County
    Yeap, and added his big brother to the stable too!!! Mod. 19 .357 Mag.

    Speaking of pricing, both were bought new and there was less than $500 involved in purchasing both
    10c4e8faf4b1cf8bea9f06d3c645de75.jpg


    Sent from my LG-G710 using Tapatalk

    Awesome. I remember going into a Montgomery Wards back in the early 80's and buying a Model 19 with my Wards card. I bought my first 19 around '76 and a dude at Maryland Small Arms Range name Mike did a little work to it for me. 19's were my favorites.
     

    rseymorejr

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Feb 28, 2011
    26,011
    Harford County
    Awesome. I remember going into a Montgomery Wards back in the early 80's and buying a Model 19 with my Wards card. I bought my first 19 around '76 and a dude at Maryland Small Arms Range name Mike did a little work to it for me. 19's were my favorites.

    The first stainless steel handgun I ever saw in person was in a case at Monkey Wards in Eudowood
     

    tjiann

    Active Member
    MDS Supporter
    Jan 15, 2022
    568
    AACo
    I've shot the 22/45 and the SR-22 a lot, so here's my thoughts on those:

    The only thing I have against the 22/45 is that it's kind of a pain to disassemble for cleaning. It feels great, shoots accurately, and looks very nice, especially if you opt for wood grips.

    The SR-22 is noticeably smaller and lighter, which could be a good or bad thing depending on your preference. You also have the option of firing it in double action, which is nice. I'm not as accurate with it as with the 22/45, which I think has better sights. The longer barrel helps a bit with that, too.

    I haven't shot .22 revolvers a lot, but they are fun. Ruger's Single Six is more expensive than their .22 automatics, but it has that classic Single Action Army style.

    Hope that helps.

    The Ruger MkIV 22/45 Lite is very easy to take apart. One button. Total redesign from earlier models. Just an awesome gun.
     

    Worsley

    I apologize for hurting your feelings!
    Jan 5, 2022
    2,792
    Westminster
    Hi y'all,

    I'm a 24 year old guy in Silver Spring, MD, currently going through the steps to get my HQL, undergo firearm/safety training, and make my first handgun purchase. I decided on a .22 handgun because I have next to no experience and have a relatively small and light frame. I know some will say I could get something like a 9mm or .380, but I would prefer as little recoil as possible - I'm going to be using it 99% for range time and don't plan on using it for hunting or home defense whatsoever. I plan on going to a few ranges in the next couple weeks to test out a variety of .22s before I make a decision on which to purchase.

    BUT.....

    What is your favorite .22 handgun? Any recommendations as to what I should be trying?

    I'm leaning more towards something in the 22/45 / MKIII / Buckmark design, but am also somewhat drawn to those based on the centerfire models (SR-22 comes to mind, for example). I have no experience whatsoever with revolvers, but would be willing to give them a shot - bad pun intended!

    My favorite new .22 handgun is Ruger’s Wrangler.

    https://www.ruger.com/products/wrangler/specSheets/2015.html
     

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