Author Topic: S&W 22A for $199 (Read 1202 times)

Cookiemann · « **on:** February 09, 2006, 11:47:41 PM »

Thinking about a 22 semi auto for first handgun. Is this a good price? Is this a good gun. Always thought of S&W as making revolvers. Just recently heard of the 22A's. Or, would the Buckmark or Ruger be a better choice?

Questor · « **Reply #1 on:** February 10, 2006, 03:05:32 AM »

Go with the buckmark. It's of better quality. Especially if you plan to do some target shooting. 5-6" heavy barrel configuration is about right.

Chris · « **Reply #2 on:** February 10, 2006, 04:24:43 AM »

I own a 22A...for the price it is a fun gun to shoot as long as your not looking for pin-point accuracy. With low-velocity rounds it's pretty reliable...but it must be kept clean.

The Ruger and Buckmarks are a nice step-up..regardless of which model you chose. They both offer models for tin-can rolling and target work...just depends on how much money you want to spend.

Let us know what you deceide on and how it shoots!

Good Luck! ...Chris

Jim n Iowa · « **Reply #3 on:** February 10, 2006, 03:31:35 PM »

Ruger Mk 2 5.5" bull barrel target model. "Mike told me before he retired it was the best they had made "in his opionion", and I believe him. I have no experience with the 21a or 21s models, nor do I on the 41. However I do own a 617 S&W and its like stepping back in history(k-22).
I think the $ is fair, its all in what you want.
Jim

Cookiemann · « **Reply #4 on:** February 10, 2006, 11:46:25 PM »

Thanks for all the input. The price on the 22a is what caught my eye. I also like that it looks a lot like a 1911. But, I have looked at the Buck Marks and read up on them some and I really like them too. I know they are one of the most popular rimfire pistols on the market. I am gonna price them out today. Gander has a big sale going on, so I may find a deal. Thanks all.

Old Griz · « **Reply #5 on:** February 19, 2006, 08:49:46 AM »

:cb2: I have read many posts that would keep me from buying a 22A. I have an old S&W 2206, and it is a fine gun, but I guess it cost them too much money to make it. I do have one friend that has a 22A. He has never had any trouble with it, however, he never has time to shoot it. (Maybe once in the last 5-6 years.)

I had one Ruger Mk.II, and it was a dog, but most folks swear by them. I guess I was the lucky one (?) who got the one louzy gun per thousand.

If buying another .22 automatic, I'd go with the Browning. I've heard good things about them and their owners seem to be just a loyal as the Ruger guys. I just haven't heard too many people singing praises about the S&W.

mr.theman · « **Reply #6 on:** April 04, 2006, 05:06:39 PM »

I was looking at the S&W for a while until I was at my dads and he pulled out his Buckmark camper special and put 5 holes touching at 25 yds (with a rest of course). Around here I can get the Buckmark for $231 NIB. That decision was a no brainer. I also have a Ruger MKI built in the early 50's. That gun is dead on and has the sweetest trigger I have ever pulled.

longwalker · « **Reply #7 on:** April 05, 2006, 03:29:59 AM »

Ruger 512 22rf 5.5 inch bull barrel. It will shoot where you point it. The balance is perfect for me. I put alot of rounds through mine. The only thing it needs, like every semi automatic pistol, is a good cleaning once in a awhile.

In addition if you like to tinker there are all kinds of products you can buy aftermarket to trick it out. I have yet to see the great improvements they propose but they are there if you want to try.

longwalker

jrdudas · « **Reply #8 on:** April 09, 2006, 05:35:25 PM »

I bought a S&W 22A about 5 weeks ago and it's a fun gun to shoot. I put a Red Dot scope on it for target shooting and have fired about 250 rounds through it. No failures to report using Federal 36 gr Wally World ammo. As for accuracy; I can't compare it to either the Ruger or the Browning since I have not fired either one. At this point I think the accuracy of my 22A exceeds my ability as I'm still getting used to the Red Dot scope. This is my first Red Dot and I'm not sure if I like it; I think I perfer traditional cross-hairs. There seems to be little to chose from in affordable pistol scopes. My SA guns are Rugers and I am quite happy with them.

By the way, S&W gets high marks for their customer service and I suspect Ruger does also. I have no experience either way with Browning.

JR

R.W.Dale · « **Reply #9 on:** April 10, 2006, 06:48:22 AM »

I bought one and I regretted it from day one, My example was pure junk misfired jammed stovepiped you name it and it did it, all ammo diffrent mags clean and dirty. But that wasn't the worst, that happened when the little hook at the rear of the barrel ASSY that locks into the reciever broke off, BECAUSE IT WAS POT METAL[

!] so back to the factory it went where it stayed for about 3 months. I got it back and while the reciever was fixed but it still jammed all the time.

At that point I was fed up so I sold it at a huge loss, I now own a Ruger MkII it's three times the gun the 22A was.

In retrospect I wouldn't have been upset if I had bought a Jennings or a Raven that was built and functioned in such a manner, but a S&W come on.

camsdaddy · « **Reply #10 on:** April 11, 2006, 06:46:19 AM »

Well having owned a 22a for 6+ years I must say that I love mine never had any probs. I shoot federal bulk pack and velocitors it is straight deadly on armidillos which is what I bought it for. However goodluck and enjoy whatever you choose and remember nothing is better to teach someone how to shoot a pistol than a 22

Dirigo · « **Reply #11 on:** April 11, 2006, 07:32:33 AM »

remington bulk works better than the other bulk brands for me

Win 73 · « **Reply #12 on:** April 16, 2006, 04:53:07 AM »

I have a 22A. Bought it about a year or so ago. Got it and a leather range bag full of goodies, including a S & W knife, a can of pepper spray, and several other things, for $199. The value of the other stuff was in the $75 to $100 range so I figure I got the gun for $125. So far no problems with it. I put a BSA red dot sight on it. Just this Friday I took it (and several other guns) to the range. At 25 yards it is dead on "minute of squirrel." At 25 yards with it a squirrel is dead.

I also have a Ruger Mk II. I have had it for about 20 years. It has been super reliable even though I don't clean it nearly as often as I should. (I know, shame on me.) But it justs keeps on going bang every time I pull the trigger. It is pretty accurate too, but I just have the non adjustable open sights on it. By the way it cost me $6. I won it in a raffle.

My son had a Buckmark. After having to have it repaired twice, he traded it off. Basically it would become a single shot. After you fired it once, you would have to rack the slide (which would eject the unfired round) to make it fire again. Apparently when firing it, the striker would follow the slide down and would not stay cocked. When you operated it manually, it would stay cocked.

I guess the moral of the story is you can get a lemon in any brand. In fact, one day at the range I had a Beretta, a Browning, and a Ruger malfunction. The only one that wasn't the gun's fault was the Ruger. A cartridge case ruptured in my P89 and blew the extractor out of its slot. When I figured out how it was made, it was about a 5 second fix. Basically just push it back in.