I’m turning 21 soon and want to get my handgun license and obviously a pistol to go along with it. I enjoy target shooting and a .22 is prlly the best way to get into it, cheap and fun to shoot. I’ve shot other calibers, worked my way up to a double barrel sawed off 20 gauge the other day. I enjoy .22 pistols though and I know a few of you guys on here are gun savvy. So any input? I enjoyed shooting a walther p22, a bit small for my large hands though. Does this just come with the .22 territory?
I’ve shot and liked both the Ruger Mark III and the Beretta Neos. The Neos looks a bit odd though. Both were quite accurate.
Im sorry for the lack of clarification. I don’t want a target pistol per say, more just a 22 for target practice. Idk to explain it so it makes sense, but I hope you know what I mean. I don’t enjoy shooting the pistols specifically made for target shooting as much I enjoy shooting something like the walther p22. I’m new to this so my bad on the ter,inology
I’ve been thinking about the same thing.
Eventually I’d like to move to a “real” caliber, but after shooting both 9mm and .45 at the range, I’m just not accurate enough at this point. Both of those are expensive to shoot, at least relative to a .22.
I’d like to spend the time working on accuracy with a .22, then upgrade. Obviously it’ll then take time to learn the new caliber.
My thinking is… ironing out things like stance, body tension, aim, etc, can be done with a .22. After that point, I’d have to relearn a new gun and a new caliber, but I’d at least have a lot of the basics in place to work with.
Does that make sense? (Honestly asking, because I really don’t know.)
Ruger is the way to go when it comes to rimfire pistols. They are by far the most dependable with any ammo you feed it. The Walther P22 and the Sig Mosquito are very finicky with regards to bulk ammo. They have a tendency to only like the more pricey stuff. My second choice would be the S&W M&P22 pistol.
I’m a fan of the Ruger 22/45. The grip angle and location of controls are identical to the 1911 so you can build familiarity (if that’s important to you).
The gun is fun as hell to shoot and you can pick one up used for around $325. New will cost a bit more especially if you start looking at longer barrels and different finishes.
The Browning Buck Mark is also a popular .22 although I’ve never shot one.
Lastly, you may also want to check out something like the Sig P229 conversion kit. A barrel change will give you your choice of calibers.
- The gun pictured was sent to Clark Custom Guns and has a #1.75 pull, Bo-Mar sights, and some other internal work.
[quote]Dr. Pangloss wrote:
I’m a fan of the Ruger 22/45. The grip angle and location of controls are identical to the 1911 so you can build familiarity (if that’s important to you).
The gun is fun as hell to shoot and you can pick one up used for around $325. New will cost a bit more especially if you start looking at longer barrels and different finishes.
The Browning Buck Mark is also a popular .22 although I’ve never shot one.
Lastly, you may also want to check out something like the Sig P229 conversion kit. A barrel change will give you your choice of calibers.
[/quote]
The Glock 17 has a similar conversion kit. That way you get the same grip as a centerfire while practicing with .22 ammo. Probably not a bad idea. Unsure of the complexity of the conversion kit though.
If you want a 22 pistol right now, and a .45 down the road, then I can think of no better option than a Sig 220. You can get it in .22 now, and then buy a .45 ACP conversion kit (slide, barrel, spring and magazine) when you’re ready to “graduate”. You can find pistols in both calibers for around 800 dollars, which would be far cheaper than buying two complete pistols, and you wouldn’t have to learn the manual of arms for two different guns.
You can get conversion kits for any 1911-pattern pistol, but I recommend Sig-Sauer for their quality and reliability. If a 1911 is more to your taste, they have that too, but the 220 is a fantastic pistol, available in a lot of different configurations, plus you do have the option of buying the 22 chambering first, then upgrading, rather than the other way around.
Another vote for the Ruger Mark III or Ruger 22/45.
Plenty of ways to sexy them up too (see pic) if you’re interested in that down the road.
[quote]Chris Shugart wrote:
Another vote for the Ruger Mark III or Ruger 22/45.
Plenty of ways to sexy them up too (see pic) if you’re interested in that down the road. [/quote]
What model red dot is that and do you like it?
[quote]jbpick86 wrote:
[quote]Chris Shugart wrote:
Another vote for the Ruger Mark III or Ruger 22/45.
Plenty of ways to sexy them up too (see pic) if you’re interested in that down the road. [/quote]
What model red dot is that and do you like it?[/quote]
Oh, that’s not mine. I just grabbed a pic for the OP to show him the options. Been thinking of having one built on this platform though.
Glock G17 with a 22LR conversion kit. It isn’t the cheapest or the sexiest but it is an all around awesome gun.
[quote]WhiteSturgeon wrote:
Glock G17 with a 22LR conversion kit. It isn’t the cheapest or the sexiest but it is an all around awesome gun. [/quote]
Glocks are kind of ugly, just another black gun. I do agree though.
[quote]Chris Shugart wrote:
[quote]jbpick86 wrote:
[quote]Chris Shugart wrote:
Another vote for the Ruger Mark III or Ruger 22/45.
Plenty of ways to sexy them up too (see pic) if you’re interested in that down the road. [/quote]
What model red dot is that and do you like it?[/quote]
Oh, that’s not mine. I just grabbed a pic for the OP to show him the options. Been thinking of having one built on this platform though. [/quote]
Gotcha, I have been in the market for one that can take the recoil of high powered turkey loads from a 12ga. Cant bring myself to fork out the $400 for an EOtech though.
Find some sketchy guy at gun show and offer him cash. Money talks…
I found a .22 conversion kit for the H&K USP. It’s only 979 euros ($1321). Oh and the magazines run about $150. Lol.
Thanks for the replies guys. Didn’t know you were a gun guy Chris. That ruger does look awesome. I would eventually just get a separate pistol of a higher caliber, so conversion kits aren’t exactly what I’m looking for. Although it is an interesting idea. I enjoyed shooting a 9mm the other day but ammo is not cheap
Ruger Mark III non-22/45. The 22/45 version, while mimics the 1911, I don’t think is as good as the regular Mark III.
EDIT:
22/45 has a plastic lower. Mine wore down and now it jams and requires a complete teardown to unjam.
[quote]Varqanir wrote:
If you want a 22 pistol right now, and a .45 down the road, then I can think of no better option than a Sig 220. You can get it in .22 now, and then buy a .45 ACP conversion kit (slide, barrel, spring and magazine) when you’re ready to “graduate”. You can find pistols in both calibers for around 800 dollars, which would be far cheaper than buying two complete pistols, and you wouldn’t have to learn the manual of arms for two different guns.
You can get conversion kits for any 1911-pattern pistol, but I recommend Sig-Sauer for their quality and reliability. If a 1911 is more to your taste, they have that too, but the 220 is a fantastic pistol, available in a lot of different configurations, plus you do have the option of buying the 22 chambering first, then upgrading, rather than the other way around.
[/quote]
Same thing with the Kimber Custom II’s.
[quote]Varqanir wrote:
If you want a 22 pistol right now, and a .45 down the road, then I can think of no better option than a Sig 220. You can get it in .22 now, and then buy a .45 ACP conversion kit (slide, barrel, spring and magazine) when you’re ready to “graduate”. You can find pistols in both calibers for around 800 dollars, which would be far cheaper than buying two complete pistols, and you wouldn’t have to learn the manual of arms for two different guns.
You can get conversion kits for any 1911-pattern pistol, but I recommend Sig-Sauer for their quality and reliability. If a 1911 is more to your taste, they have that too, but the 220 is a fantastic pistol, available in a lot of different configurations, plus you do have the option of buying the 22 chambering first, then upgrading, rather than the other way around.
[/quote]
Great gun and recommendation, but unless he is well off that is a pretty serious investment.