Help me find a .22 Auto pistol to meet this spec:

[Camba]

I am looking for a .22LR semi-auto pistol to be used for the following activities:
1.  Hunting
2.  Plinking
3.  Informal target shooting
4.  Informal personal defense
5.  To take it everywhere (hunting, fishing, business travel, camping, survival trips, etc.)

Pistol specifications that need to be met:

1.  Barrel length: Best fit for the above activities
2.  Action:  Semi-automatic
3.  Caliber:  .22LR
4.  Sights:  Good open sights as well as drilled and tapped for optical/red dot scopes
5.  Finish:  Blue or stainless
6.  Grips:  Wood, plastic, exchange ables.  Good feel type
7.  Firing pin:  To be capable of NOT making marring marks if accidentally trigger is pulled in an empty chamber
8.  Accuracy:  To be able to print easily 1 to 2" groups at 25 yards open sights and the same at 50 yards w/scope
9.  Quality: To use it for a long time and hopefully a couple more generations down the line.
10. Price: Under $1000

Do we have anything like that available off the shelf?  If not what will need to be done to get there?

I can't wait to hear your suggestions!

Camba

[Mikey]

Ruger:  Mark II, T512 bull barrel (T=Target, 512 = 5.5" barrel length), or the Government Model with a 6.5" bull barrel, or the 6" Target model with a slimmer, tapered barrel.  Any of these models in Rugers Mark II series would meet those needs.  JMHO.  Mikey.

[Jim n Iowa]

Ruger bull barrel, 5.5" mk2, the best 22 Ruger ever made.
Jim

[Win 73]

Without a doubt, a Ruger.

[Ken ONeill]

Ruger. I'd try to find a Mk.II, rather than a Mk. III.

[BlkHawk73]

  Ruger!

[StrawHat]

I am looking for a .22LR semi-auto pistol to be used for the following activities:


4.  Informal personal defense

Pistol specifications that need to be met:

7.  Firing pin:  To be capable of NOT making marring marks if accidentally trigger is pulled in an empty chamber

Do we have anything like that available off the shelf?  If not what will need to be done to get there?

I can't wait to hear your suggestions!

Camba

Camba,

The Ruger will satisfy most of your specifies.

#4  There are many pistols better suited to this but the 22 can surfice.

#7  I am not aware of any 22 LR pistol that will meet this spec.

Again, the Ruger will meet most of your needs.

So would a used High Standard.

[John R.]

I have the Ruger bull bbl. with the 6 7/8ths" bbl. Its a great shooter, but you may want to get the bull bbl. with the 51/2" bbl. because its easier to carry and shoots just as good.

[coyotejoe]

Lots of Ruger fans here and they are very good guns, but heavy for long tern carry. For that reason I got the S&W 22a with 5.5" barrel. It comes with good open sights and with a full length Weaver scope rail which permits mounting any scope or dot sight. It is very accurate, has a fair trigger and is much less burden on the belt as well as on the bank book.

[yorketransport]

How about the Kimber Rimfire Target 1911? It's certainly a good looking gun, and if you already have a 1911 it will save you from buying new holsters.

That said, I got the Ruger MkIII Hunter and love it.

[kennisondan]

ruger 5.5 inch barrel one inch diameter has good adj. sights, amazingly accurate gun... I have the mark II and would not spend more nor less... use the rest of the money for bulk buy of ammo, and a good shoulder holster I just use an uncle mike's for that gun... and get a belt holster... extra clips are great to have, too... there are plenty of grips available with and without target shelf, etc.
I looked at very expensive 22s but wouldhave not reason to get one, the money would be greatly wasted as the ruger would put every extra dollar really past the point of diminishing returns...
the gun does not feel that heavy and the barrel length over the years has become my favorite, and most of my longer barrelled guns of any sized bore have been replaced with 5.5 inchers..
you would not be disappointed with the ruger...
there are others out there... but the sheer number of Rugers in that model make it a better choice for after market and other parts, and the proof is in the pudding for me... they last too.... my brother has my first one : a mark I... bought around 1972.. it still shoots and functions perfectly... I got my new one when the mark IIs were just out... and still use it a lot... as good as it shoots and as good as the sights stay aligned in rapid fire I would not feel inept to protect my self with it... I can rain down rounds onto an eight or ten inch metal circle and can head shoot a rabbit or aggressor quick and easy... I assume you intnend to shoot it a lot... a whole lot... if so you will be very happy with it...
dk

[kansas45]

Lots of Ruger fans here and they are very good guns, but heavy for long tern carry. For that reason I got the S&W 22a with 5.5" barrel. It comes with good open sights and with a full length Weaver scope rail which permits mounting any scope or dot sight. It is very accurate, has a fair trigger and is much less burden on the belt as well as on the bank book.

+1 on the S&W. I mounted a inexpensive BSA Red Dot scope on mine & it is a good pistol.

[S.B.]

I'll be the devil's advocate here, and say get a Browning Buckmark? Trigger is much better, accurate, and dependable. They also have a picatany rail to mount anything with Weaver type rings?
I doubt you are going to find any .22LR semi auto factory stock, to shoot 2" groups, even with a scope at 50 yards, even from a Ransom Rest?
With the Rugers, it's possible to spend the rest to your $1000 getting it worked on for you to get your accuracy expectations and trigger work?
Let the flames begin!

[6.5BR]

I dunno, my Comp Govt model w/2x Leupy shoots Quarter size groups at 50 yds.  I believe my last 10 shot ragged hole 25yd group was give take 1/2".

[S.B.]

6.5BR, post some pics of those groups will you, please? Been a while since I've seen groups that good from a Ruger?
A quarter measures a little over 1" doesn't it? And this gun is box stock?

[Camba]

I've checked the Ruger site and went to the FAQ and found the following:


Question:  Can I dry fire my Ruger P-Series and .22 pistols?
Yes. All Ruger pistols can be dry fired without damage, and dry firing can be useful to familiarize the owner with the firearm. However, be sure any firearm is completely unloaded before dry firing!

Here is the web page for that.
http://www.ruger.com/Firearms/FAQs?site=Firearm&cat=7#Q60

The question now is:  Is it true?  Had someone tried this?

What other pistol is capable of the same?

[Dand]

I don't really agree with Ruger.  I have replaced my MKII firing pin when it started to misfire. I didn't do a lot of dry firing but it seemed like my pin got peened down or a burr on it - can't remember now as its been a few years since I was shooting it a lot.  But I did buy a supply of firing pins just in case.     A few dry fires no problem but I wouldn't do lots of it.

[buck460XVR]

Ruger??? Browning??? S&W??? The debate rages on and on...........I personally don't think you cab go wrong with any of them.....they're all  popular and have changed little in basic design since their advent. I believe like shotguns, a handgun that fits you the best shots the best......for you. Go to a gun shop or two or three and handle as many as you can play with em....rack the slide and see which one fits your hand and which  one's saftey is to your liking. When all other variables are the same, the one that feels like an extension of your hand will shoot the best and a few more dollars one way or the other shouldn't matter.

10. Price: Under $1000

......for that much, you could probably get one of each.

[Camba]

The fun part is to see, from people who experienced with different .22LR auto handguns, is to bring to the discussion the pistols that closest match the spec given.  The under $1000 amount is to have available parts and or accessories to any of the selected guns to bring it even closer to the spec.  So far, the Ruger 5.5" bbl sst is wining!
Some time back, I had a Hammerli .22LR pistol and I thought it was great and was very accurate (6" bbl).  Then, one afternoon, while plinking, the last round failed to leave the slide opened and I pulled the trigger and did click!  When I checked, there was no ammo in the chamber and I noticed the ding on the edge of the upper part of the bbl.  From there on, I started counting round shot to make sure I did not do that again; but I thought the pistol should have performed fine without me having to worry about that detail.

I have not seen a Ruger MK II for sale lately.  Only MK III's.  I like the looks of the Browning buckmark and the S&W M41.

Camba

[gstewart44]

I had a chance to purchase either the Buckmark, or the ruger MkII/45stainless.   Both were put on a Ransom rest and checked with the same ammo at 25 yds.    Both printed under 1" groups.   I then took each and fired from a rest and offhand.  In my hands the MkII/45 was able to give me better groups than the Buckmark.    I bought the Ruger and have not regretted it.   My buddy ended up buying the Buckmark. That was 6 years ago.   Even today when we are at the camp our informal target shooting shows the two pistols are evenly matched. 

shoot all possible choices if you can before buying. 

[superdown]

what are the difference's between the  Ruger MK1,II and III ? I can't tell any difference by looking at the pictures available on gun broker. seems like you guys like the earlier made ones. superdown

Posted by: Ken ONeill 

Ruger. I'd try to find a Mk.II, rather than a Mk. III.

[SHOOTALL]

# 7 , is that possible ?

[Camba]

I believe that item #7 is true.  A friend of mine did a trigger job and dry fired about 5 times to have a feel of the trigger pull and there was no marks on it.  I had the same experience with the M77/22LR, and the 10/22.  Remember that the 10/22 does not have a bolt stop so some times you do pull he trigger on an empty chamber and it does not make any marks.  How does Ruger do it?  I don't know but I like it!

I am hopping that Ruger is not the only one that does it.  If so, then Who?

Camba

[SHOOTALL]

I would think if adjusted to not hit then reliablity could suffer as the rim is pinched to fire . Guess they got it down pat .

[SHOOTALL]

then to if the bbl steel was harder than the firring pin would it make a mark on the bbl or just flatten the pin some ?

[Camba]

Come on guys!

Is it the Ruger Mark II or III the only pistol that meets most of the spec I described in my first post?  I am ready to buy any pistol that equals or exceed the Ruger.  Otherwise, I will buy the Mark II, 5.5 bbl (slab sided if I can find it).  Question:  Will the Mark III magazine work in the Mark II?

Camba

[Tom C.]

Come on guys!

Is it the Ruger Mark II or III the only pistol that meets most of the spec I described in my first post?  I am ready to buy any pistol that equals or exceed the Ruger.  Otherwise, I will buy the Mark II, 5.5 bbl (slab sided if I can find it).  Question:  Will the Mark III magazine work in the Mark II?

Camba

Of course not. The Ruger MK II and MK IIIs are great guns. I have three myself, but if you want the best, then consider the S&W Model 41. Mine is over 20 years old. It came with the 7" barrel. I didn't like the length and had it cut to 5" because I couldn't fine one of the 5" sport barrels. I also have a 5 1/2" heavy barrel for it. The newer ones are drilled and tapped for a Weaver rail like the Rugers are. My 5" weighs only 35 oz., has a great trigger, great sights, shoots anything very, very well and is just a terrific gun.

[SharonAnne]

Tom,excellent suggestion, except for one thing, the price of $1200. Now if it can be found retail for less that sweetens the pie.
Is there anything wrong with the S&W model 22? They look pretty nice.

[S.B.]

In a word, aluiminum?
Steve

[SharonAnne]

keetos(sp)