Looking for a nice, inexpensive .22 target semi-auto pistol

[andrews10]

I know this is a S/G forum but we also shoot pistols and rifles.
My trusty Browning Buckmark target pistol was stolen last year and the S&W model 22 replacement proved a disaster. S&W is going to repair it for free as it is under warranty. (I recommend registering new guns with the manufacture, it makes things a lot easier when they frack up) I am selling the S&W after I proof-test it.
I am in the market for a new .22 semi-auto target pistol. Currently there are several mass-marketed pistols of the type available. I have a candidate in mind, but am open to ideas. 500 bucks is about the price point I am looking at. Does anyone have some suggestions?

[GOST]

Hey Andrews this thread may get a better response here:

http://www.weaponevolution.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?22-General-Weapons-amp-Weapons-Related-Discussion

Why not get another Buckmark? A Ruger Mark III is also very nice.

[SpydrMan]

Ruger Mark IIII if you can tolerate the "joy" of reassembly. Accurate guns with lots of upgrades available.

[voodoo_man]

get a ruger 22/45 and call it a day - you'll have that pistol forever.

[Thompson]

Ditto on the Ruger Mark III - and yes disassembly [bash]:confused: :mad:

Sorry to hear about your Buckmark.

[jymbeux]

Get a ruger and swap out the hammer bushing, sear and trigger (volquartsen) and you'll be set.

[markm]

Search Gunbroker for a used Mk 2 or Mk 3. Forget taking it apart. Just scrape out the large clups of lead every 5000 rounds.

[Pyzik]

I can't any anything that's not already posted.

22/45 or a Mark II/III

[UWone77]

What was wrong with the S&W? I love my M&P22, so I'm curious what kind of issues you may have had.

[toolboxluis00200]

no love for the SIG/GSG 1911
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x151/toolboxluis/badgunpaint2of2.jpg (http://s183.photobucket.com/user/toolboxluis/media/badgunpaint2of2.jpg.html)

[MoxyDave]

M&P22, M&P22 Compact, and here's one that probably wasn't on your radar: Browning 1911-22.

The Browning is a wee bit small for my hands, but damn is is accurate! I shoot it better than any .22 I've owned, and I'm kind of a .22 fanatic. All 3 are super reliable, at least the ones I've owned.

[cagekicker204]

Love my 22/45, It is way more accurate than I am. Not exactly a training gun but it is a great plinker. I have taught my wife and kids to shoot with it and when .22 ammo is hard to find it will eat whatever you feed it. I had a Sig Mosquito that i traded off because it was very picky about what ammo it liked and the cool looking suppressor sights were about useless. I would avoid the Sigs and stick with a pistol designed to be a .22 not look like a full sized 9mm. I have heard great things about the Walther P22, the dealer i bought a can off of uses it for his demo gun, but have never owned one.

[nobodyspecial]

I need a .22 pistol, will probably make it a 22/45.

[UWone77]

I need a .22 pistol, will probably make it a 22/45.

I need a 22/45 in my life. However, that's more money than the $398 M&P9 with night sights that are on sale at Quantico Tactical. Argh. Choices Choices.

[Computalotapus]

I need a 22/45 in my life. However, that's more money than the $398 M&P9 with night sights that are on sale at Quantico Tactical. Argh. Choices Choices.

Same place you can pick up a 22/45 for $349 :)

[UWone77]

Same place you can pick up a 22/45 for $349 :)

I've had both in my cart for the last 3 days. :o

Even when I save up for purchases, it's hard to pull the trigger.

[KW900A]

I'm looking at the M&P 22 myself. The local co-op here does 0% for 12 months over the holidays. Tis the season to go gun shopping :)

[GOST]

M&P 22 for $259.99.

http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.php/catalog/product/view/id/8999/

[KW900A]

M&P 22 for $259.99.

http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.php/catalog/product/view/id/8999/

Wow that's a helluva deal. Less than my wife just paid for her #%*+ coach bag

[MoxyDave]

That price is sick! I'd be all over that if I didn't have one already [:)]. What a great pistol.

[WHSmithIV]

I like the Rugers for that. Used to have a Mk II - loved it.

[XACT_ABORT]

Picked up a 22/45 Lite about a week ago. I like it a bunch. Got a range trip in to mess around with the reflex sight I bought for it a couple days ago. Seems like a great gun so far and a fun setup. Can't say anything bad at all about it.

[gatordev]

Can't say anything bad at all about it.

Then obviously you haven't tried to field-strip it and clean it! The horror...

[jymbeux]

Replacing the hammer bushing simplifies the field strip process a ton for mk3 and 22/45s. It also takes some slop out of the trigger. Easy $15 part to swap and well worth it. It gets rid of the magazine disconnect feature, which means you can fire a chambered round without mag in the pistol and also means that you don't need a magazine to field strip the pistol. It makes it behave more like a mk2.

[XACT_ABORT]

Then obviously you haven't tried to field-strip it and clean it! The horror...

I had read the horror stories. Broke it down to lube up and such, actually did it 4 or 5 times just for kicks. I didn't have any trouble to speak of. It's more cumbersome than anything else I have taken down for sure but I didn't think it was that bad.

[Hmac]

I've had a Ruger MkII for over 30 years. It's been a great gun. A couple of years ago I put a VQ trigger in it, replaced the hammer bushing, all that other stuff. Made it into a really great gun. Field stripping is cumbersome, but not a big deal. From an upgrade and accessory standpoint alone, I think the Rugers pretty much lead the pack.

http://ssequine.net/rugermkiis.jpg

[gatordev]

I had read the horror stories. Broke it down to lube up and such, actually did it 4 or 5 times just for kicks. I didn't have any trouble to speak of. It's more cumbersome than anything else I have taken down for sure but I didn't think it was that bad.

Yeah, I know some are okay. Mine was pretty horrible but a little "fitting" made it much easier. Definitely more complicated than most, though.

[Thompson]

Definitely more complicated than most, though.
Without a doubt - but considering it was based on last century's design, not bad.

[KW900A]

Even when I save up for purchases, it's hard to pull the trigger.

I understand


M&P 22 for $259.99.

http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.php/catalog/product/view/id/8999/

Well I talked my wife into buying me this for Christmas. Crappy part is I have to go to my FFL and pick it up, then hand it over for a month :(

[UWone77]

You won't be disappointed with the M&P22. Great pistol, have 4k rounds through mine. Extra mags are sometimes tough to find, and spendy. In fact, I liked it so much, I will finally pull the trigger on getting the compact version.

[KW900A]

You won't be disappointed with the M&P22. Great pistol, have 4k rounds through mine. Extra mags are sometimes tough to find, and spendy. In fact, I liked it so much, I will finally pull the trigger on getting the compact version.

I'm looking forward to it. This will be my first .22 pistol, if you don't count my ruger charger.

If it wasn't for the 0% I was talking about in my AR post, I wouldn't be looking at any such thing right now. $$$ easily goes out the door faster than it comes.

[greenlineaz]

I'd go with a Ruger 22/45. Its been out for a good amount of time, and it's not picky on ammo. If you don't like anything about it, there are a ton of aftermarket parts for it.