good .22lr handgun

[colt451911]

Hi all, after deciding that ammo for my .357 is just a little too expesnsive for plinking I have decided to buy an inexpensive .22lr handgun.  I am looking for either a used semi-auto or double action revolver and around $150.  What (if anything) decent am i likely to find in that price range.  Thanks in advance. :-)

[Graybeard]

Better think about adding another $100 I think. For that you should be able to get a pretty good used Ruger Single Six or Mark I or II or a Browning Buckmark. Might even find one for $200 but for only $150 you'll have to luck into a good deal.

GB

[colt451911]

Thanks Graybeard.  Lucking into a good deal is kinda the plan with my current economic situation.  There is a gun store in my city that has a new taurus pt-22 for $160.  I have heard mixed reviews on this pistol, with quality and accurecy issues with the earlier models.  What is your opinion?  I need decent accuracy and something that will hold together (i have owned my 10/22 for two years and have put roughly 15,000 rounds through it, i intend to use this gun about as much) a decent feel and balance would be a plus too.

[les hemby]

dont know where you are but around dallas you can get a ruger 22/45 with 5"bull barrel for 200+tax at academy and the feedback is great on it. imho this is what i would go with it is also really light. used MK2 are about 175-200 both of these should hold up or a used single six

[J.Solo]

Graybeard:
Yes you can still find a deal if you keep looking. I thought my 6.5"  Stainless NMBH .357 for for $200 at a gun show a few weeks ago was it for a while but I was surprised again this week. Walked into my local Gun Shop and he had a Stainless, 5.5" Single Six with .22 Long Rifle cylinder only for $199. I called RUGER and they said it was a KNR5, 260-XXXXX model made in 1983 and was a convertable model.
No extra cylinder, box or papers but the gun looks as new and very tight.  I've bought most of my guns from this dealer and he said he moves a lot of big bore guns at this time of the year for hunting and didn't think he would move this .22 for awhile. We agreed on $175 for the gun and I put it on Layaway until after hunting season. It's too close to Hunting Season right now for me to be buying any more guns, or anything else for that matter, as all my money is going for a weeks stay at a friends cabin for Whitetail season.
All my guns are shooters so I didn't care about the box or papers and I can always pick up a .22 Mag cylinder if I think I need one. I have a 4" S&W Model 48 in .22 Mag that I rarely shoot so I think I will be content with the .22 LR cylinder on the Single Six.  

les hemby:
Keep looking for that "deal", this might be a good time to "wheel & deal" for a .22 as most handguns sold right now are center fires for big game. Good Luck  - J.Solo

Graybeard:
This Single Six has what looks to be a high gloss varnish finish on the Walnut grips. Do you think this is an original finish or do you think the grips were re-finished? I've heard that some RUGER single actions came with this type of grip finish. Thanks - J.Solo

[colt451911]

Well I went to a gun show today and found about 15 guns well within that price range.  The only problem was the fact that they were all pieces of junk, mostly well used jensons, ravens and other cheap brands.  Needless to say I came home empty handed.  There is, however the local gunstore I mentioned in my second post that has the Taurus for $160.  They also have a ruger 22/45 for $188 and a Mark II standard for $190.  Other good deals include a comanche double action .22 revolver for $190 and a firestorm .22 for $190.  I will probably end up waiting untill I have the money to purchase one of these.  Which would be the best deal considering accuracy and dependability?

[Graybeard]

colt451911, I have no experience with the Taurus semiautos but I don't think that model is what you really want for a general use rimfire. For sure none of those cheapies you mentioned are. Get the Ruger you mentioned the store has.


J.Solo, I'm the wrong person to be asking Ruger questions. They just aren't an area I have a lot of knowledge of or interest in. I own a grand total of one Ruger gun right now. Ask your question on the Ruger Forum here on GBO and some of the Ruger fans there should have an answer for ya.

GB

[Jack Gilbert]

I had a 22-A for quite a while but the hook assembly at the back of the barrel broke off, leaving the gun pretty sloppy. Went down to my favorite pawn shop/gun shop a few weeks ago and picked up a Ruger 22-45 for $225, with the 5" bull barrel. Then I had a smith put a decent trigger on it for another $45 and it turned out to scale at 2 and 1/4 pounds. This makes it a joy to shoot--also the thing is real reliable, even with the "picnic ammo" in the bulk pack--Remington brand from Wal-Mart. I think this is the best thing going and since auto .22s seem generally more accurate than a revolver, would definitely consider one of these as they are for the most part cheaper than the revolver.

Jack

[ZSPOOK]

HI don't know where you are from but (here in the Dallas Tx area) I have seen several Mk 2  Rugers in that price range. Always go to the shows on Sunday and always take cash. Lots of trading and dickering on the last day. Pawn shops are also a good place if you know a little about the handgun you are looking for. Like I said take cash.

[Savage]

I found a neat little Taurus mdl 94 with a 4" barrel at a local gun show this weekend. I have plenty of 22 autos to play with and wanted a DA revolver. The little gun shoots well, but my, my the sights and grips are small! Overall I'm pretty well impressed with the little gun. It was like new in the box -. Paid $180 for it.
Stay Safe,
Savage

[colt451911]

Thanks all, I will probably hold off untill I have the money to buy what I want but I will keep looking in the meantime.  Once again I appreciate the good advice.

[Tacoma]

You might get lucky and find a slightly beat but functional Ruger Mk11 or  Browning Buckmark for that kind of $ ( or SLIGHTLY higher.)  Either of these will be very accurate and dependable. There arn't too many other well made semi-autos around in that price range. As for revolvers, it's the same situation. You should be able to find a nice Ruger single six in .22 lr for $175 or so. Great gun for a lifetime but not DA. In DA your probobly limited to older Taurus, Rossi ,H&R's,etc. All are OK beaters but not in the same class as a Ruger MK !! or single six.

[Tankmurdock]

Try to get a Ruger 22 Mark II preferbly the target model or a Ruger Single Six..  See my post on the S&W Model 41 paid over $500 and the Ruger works better!!!!

Never had a problem with a Ruger handgun and I have a several. Pay a little more and get quality. Hmm..

Tank

[Steve in Michigan]

I've had about three standard autos with the 4-3/4" barrel, a 6-7/8" target version (all Mk 1 series) and a stainless 5-1/2" stainless bull barrel. The guns that were the most fun were the little 4-3/4" standard autos. They always were accurate, shot to point of aim and never misfed and you don't have to shuck out the empties like you do on a single-six. If you are going to shoot a lot of rounds, the Ruger will shoot for a long, long time. Get a good holster and it is a great packin' gun too.

[Loozinit]

You ask about a good .22 handgun for a bargain.  Well, they can be had if you look and wait.  And if you look and wait, you just might find a S&W M17 revolver.  I have one in 8-3/8ths from 1983.  It is superb.  Of the Rugers I can say that they are just fine but not like the Smith.  Mind you, I love my tuned Vaqueros but we're talking .22's here.  

There is no comparison between a Ruger Single-Six when shooting the S&W in single action.  And, most of us shoot single action when plinking, I think.  You can improve the action on the Ruger somewhat but then you have spent more money and you still won't even come close to the M17 right out of the box.

What about a semi-auto?  I own a Ruger MkII Stainless Target.  Very accurate but it will still jam every now and then.  So, when I head for the gravel pit, my M17 usually goes with me.  I am going to guess that it's the same with the Buckmark.  Not that I ever owned one but I watch to the left and right at the range and notice what's going on.  Sooner or later, every auto jams.  I think there is nothing wrong with the autos.  I believe it's the ammo.  Those little things are made by the gazillions, and, well...  

If you go with a DA revolver, bring a .006" feeler gage with you.  Cock the hammer and slide the gage between the cylinder and the barrel.  It should not be overly loose as you check each postion.  Better that it not go in at all.  After countless bricks my M17 measures .003" when locked up.  The point is this:  The M17 was so well made that I don't think .22's will ever wear it out.  This is a K-frame revolver upon which many .357's are built.  So, your chances of getting a good one are high.  

Look for badly worn cylinder notches which indicate the idiotic practice of "spinning" the cylinder "cowboy style".  A light line going from notch to notch indicates normal wear.  The line should be pretty uniform all around which is an indicator of good timing and decent machine work.  Open the crane and check for deformatiom on mating parts.  Normal use will not have any measurable effect on these areas in a .22.  If you see a gap when the cylinder is closed at the front of the crane/frame (just under the ejector rod), try to shove in a corner of a piece of writing paper.  It is .003" and should just go in.  This is normal mechanical clearance.  If it's sloppy and you can see excessive wear around the crane, then someone has probably spent idle time slapping the cylinder open and closed.  Very much a no-no.

Lastly, check the rear of the cylinder where the cartridge rims seat.  If there is damage such as mushrooming and nicks then you can be sure that the previous owner dryfired it.  Again, a no-no for any .22.

Good luck,
Loozinit