Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Favorite 22 handgun

I’ve had mine for 35 years also. Bought it when I was 21 for around $200. I took mine apart and smoothed up the internals too,at the farm kitchen table.

I have several, and they all have their place. It'd be hard to choose just one.

My Browning Buckmark Camper has been flawless. It's plenty accurate. I wish it was threaded. If it was, and I had to go with just one 22 handgun, this would be the one.
I bought a cheap GSG 1911. It's great with full power ammo, but is picky with sub-standard.
I have Glock 44 with a threaded barrell. It has been perfectly reliable unsuppressed but is picky about sub-sonic with the suppressor mounted.
My Taurus 942 revolver may be my favorite. It has a decent single action trigger. It is a lot of fun with CB longs. No noise and if I do my job, it's accurate.
My Ruger Charger doesn't really count as a handgun.

That's good shooting!

I like all the ones I currently have. They're all balls-on accurate. My problem is I don't give them enough love or carry time. I occassionally put one in my pack when I'm deer hunting in case the urge to switch over to squirrel hits. I carry my Browning most. Mostly though, they go to the range a couple times a year. Now that I'm getting older, they are becoming more appealing again. And now that I wear glasses full time, the sights arer easier to see. I've thought about using the Ruger Single Ten on fall turkeys. Up close it would be perfectly adequate, and they tend to get close in the fall, and less wary.

My M-63 no dash. My son bought it for me as a retirement gift. I installed the Hogue grips. I installed some end shake washers. My Ruger stainless MKll 5.5" bull barrel is a close second. I've killed a few squirrels with it.

The only 22 handgun I own.

1953 K22, Ruger 6 1/2" Super single six, Colt second model Sport Woodsman, Ruger MKI (the real MarkI, not the standard).

I have an old Smith and Wesson k22 6 inch that's probably my favorite. I have pre lock 617 4 inch that is pretty close.

I have several. My favorite is an old 5 screw K. Bought from my old trap shooting buddy. Also a couple other Ks but they don't get much use. Also a couple single six s. One with a9 1/2 " barrel. I carried one just like it for 25 years, mostly as a truck gun foolishly sold it and a 4 5/8 replaced both. A 2" kit gun is also on top of my list as I often put in in my pack or holster for forest grouse. I have had it the longest of any of my current crop. Only on auto a Ruger heavy barrel, I bought it years ago at a trap club in Az. Never shot it much, but it is a dandy.

I am in exactly the same boat, but I get by with a Browning Challenger III and a dam Ruger

Regrettably I don’t have one right now, but a New Bearcat was my constant companion for several years. Easy to carry despite its all-steel construction. My last one shot to point of aim, not always the case. I replaced it with a S&W M63 3”, another good one, for the double action and extra two rounds. Only downside of that is that technically it’s not legal here for hunting, 4” being the legal limit. A case could be made for adding the cylinder length in, and if I ever get caught that’ll be my “story”.

Another favorite is my Victory, with a Tandemkross trigger, slide loop, and FastFire mount, inspired by Don’s guns. I’ve let some others try it out and all were really impressed with how easy it is to hit with. I suppose if limited to one, it’s be that one, good for everything, if a bit heavy.

My constant companion, even in my comfy pants sitting on the couch, is a Ruger LCP2. That one almost got tossed in the Shenandoah because it just wouldn’t consistently function, even after a trip back to the factory and considerable futzing with by me. I finally fixed it by grinding off the empty magazine detector tab and now it works all the time, even after months of riding in my pocket. It saved my bacon last week when a stray Cane Corso came for me in my yard but ran off after I cracked one into the dirt, thankfully😥. Never go unarmed!

I bought one of those in 2023 when they had a rebate. Cute gun, but the slide cut my hand unless I shot it with my left. It also held fewer rounds than my LCP2 and was less reliable. Still think they’s very cool, just not for me.

Hands down my S&W model 41, mine is the shorter heavy barrel. Got it at a gun show back about 1990. It shoots lights out with CCI SV, but handles CCI subsonic HP perfectly well for small game.

I used to shoot high velocity stuff in it all the time, it really did well with an old brick of the Winchester Super X hp for example, only about 150 rounds left of that. But I'm not going to beat it up anymore, that's what the 2 Ruger Mark ll are for. One has a red dot Burris on top, I'm seeing if I like it over the open sights as my eyes aren't what they once were

Also have an old S&W model 18-3 that I really enjoy pulling out and bouncing tin cans around with. Killed a Montana mule deer with it, one well placed hollow point thru the ear hole & DRT. I was in the thick stuff and couldn't get my 270 off my shoulder, wouldn't recommend it as a regular practice thou.


41

I have a number of fine .22 pistols. If I had to go with just one, it would be this '60's vintage Kit Gun. It's handy, it's accurate and I can shoot it pretty well. The larger S&W grips are more comfortable than the smaller ones that come with the gun.

DF

Ruger Single 10, Browning Challenger II, Buckmark, Ruger Charger with binary trigger..
All fun to shout

Jim, we have a II and two III’s, I put the Volquartsen trigger kits in all three……WOW, what an improvement! 👍 memtb

Agree and not that hard to install.

DF

RHClark: PLEASE let me have JUST three "favorite handguns"!
#1: Ruger MK-II heavy barrel all stainless Target model with 5 1/2" barrel and "red-dot" sight. I have killed Ground Squirrels out to 75 yards with this rig (lasered ranged and shooting off of window bags). Favorite to shoot afield for Varmints!
#2: Smith & Wesson Model 63 all stainless revolver with 4" barrel. I carry this in Grouse and Rattlesnake country and general "woodsloafing" duty. Favorite to carry!
#3: Smith & Wesson Model 17-4 revolver with 8 3/8" barrel - new unfired in the box. This revolving "22 handgun" just looks super-cool and feels great in my hand! Plus it has greatly appreciated in value since I bought it new 48 years ago (1977). Favorite to fondle!
#4: (Runner-up!) Smith & Wesson Model 617-1 with 8 3/8" barrel - just a super cool revolver that also shoots and looks great.
Long live "22 handguns".
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

I kinda want a Ruger LCR 22 that holds 8.