Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Which 22lr pistol?

OK I want a new 22 pistol to plick with but also to shot squirrels with while I am deer hunting (they get on my nerves & i usually shoot my meat early and spend the rest of the season out there getting away from it all).
I have been looking at the Taurus tracker and the Model 94 for revolvers because I really want a revolver.
I am not against semis though I have looked at the Neos, S&W22A, Ruger Mark III.
I want to stay under $350 what do you guys suggest?
Accuracy is a biggie to me.

Browning Buckmark

it can cut nails with the right ammo and practice

I will second that one. The S&W 22AS is also a good shooter.

I like the Ruger autos. The 5 1/2" Bull barrel target (mod 512) is my favorite.

I just bought a Ruger single six 4 5/8bbl, about 10 years old, like new for &350.00. I intend to subsonics for rodents and small game.pak

Accept no substitutes,...K-22 revolver.

My experience is limited. Having only the Ruger single six, S&W, and the MKIII.

The single six is surprisingly accurate. And a joy to shoot. Its beauty lies in the fact that it is at least 35 years old, probably hasn't had a good cleaning in 10 years and still shoots every time the hammer is cocked and the trigger is squeezed. And shoots accurately I might add.

I know guys LOVE the MKIII's, but I find the Smith (mine is the target with the laminate grips) to have a much better trigger and to be more accurate. That's not just in my hand either. Everyone that shoots the 22a shoots it better than the MKIII. Both digest anything you put in the magazine without a hiccup.

I won't own a mosquito unless they get things ironed out.

Have never shot a buckmark, but would like to.

In a .22 I wouldn't have a problem with a Tuarus. However, one doesn't have to look hard to find QC issue reports with the Taurus line, even in revolvers.

Used M-17 Smith and Wesson for accuracy alone. For packing, a used M-63. If you prefer Single-Action, a Ruger Super Single Six also will give you the versatility of a magnum cylinder. It is available in either blued or stainless. If you decide to go with a semi-auto, I'd get a Ruger Mk. I, II or III.

Taurus 941 has served me well for a couple of years and thousands of rounds!

What Bristoe said....K-22's are hard to beat. I spent years shooting a Ruger Mark II and was hesitant to change over to the Model 18 Smith but after I did I was very happy I made the jump. Very accurate, solid and a perfect match for my Model 19 .357.

Jeff M.

Buckmarks, fantastic
Ruger Mark II's Great guns.
Smith mod 17/k22's, Really fantastic, but gonna be out of your range price wise.
The newer Taurus guns are getting good reviews, so probably will fit the bill nicely also.

All of those are good choices so just go with the one that you like and fits your hands. I tend to lean toward the Ruger and the K-22 though.

Ruger MKII....just be sure to use OE Ruger mags...all the others suck..

For serious revolver accuracy, the S&W 17 and 617 are tough to beat.

In .22 autos, I like the Ruger MK II & IIIs. I like my MK III Hunter best.

There are certainly other choices. I just have no experience with them.

For your price range the Taurus would be hard to beat.

In your price range for new, I would consider the Taurus 94 or the Browning Buckmark, or possibly the Ruger MK.

If you go with the Taurus, make sure you check the cylinder gap closely before buying. They tend to make them pretty tight, and some have been found to drag on fouling after a couple cylinders or so. DA trigger pull isn't great, but SA is quite good. And accuracy, on mine at least, is right up there with the Buckmarks and Ruger MK.

Even the cheapest Buckmarks come with better triggers than the Ruger MK pistols and need no modification. But if you like to tinker, you can bring the Rugers right up to snuff. It just adds some $ to the cost.

Accuracy amongst the three is comparable and I've used all three to kill many ground squirrels.

I know you said new, but a used Sig Trailside is a lot more gun than a buckmark or ruger IMO.

A S&W Mod 17 would be nice, but General Stewart hauled them all away.

I concur on the Browning Buckmark, I own one. Here's Mine:



But he said he wanted a revolver in 22 LR. my brother had one but I can't remember who made it, but it had two cylinders one in 22 LR and the other in 22 Mag. I kind of liked it so if was to look for a revolver I think I would like one of them as it would be nice to have the two interchangeable cylinders as you would have the best of two worlds.

Hello Croldfort
I haven't Bought all of them, There are Many Hundred of Thousands left out there to be discovered, But at the Price the Poster want's to spend he would be Hard Pressed to Land one with the Prices of today...Thegeneral.