cheap .22 plinker?

ninjatoth · June 22, 2009, 02:33 PM

I'm in the market for some sort of .22 plinker to mess around with,I already have a Taurus double action .22 revolver,but i'm looking for something a little different to send some bulk .22s downrange.I thought of maybe a heritage arms single action revolver,or maybe a little taurus .22 auto or beretta bobcat.That's about all I can think of.Does anyone else have any more ideas or do you think one of my thoughts would be a good choice?

SAIGAFISH · June 22, 2009, 02:36 PM

ruger mark II. OR IF YOU CANT FIND ONE OF THOSE A MARK III.

stevieboy · June 22, 2009, 02:47 PM

Depends on what you want. First of all, I assume that, by "cheap" you mean something that sells for under, say, about $500. In that price range, there's the Ruger Single Six and several of the Ruger Mark III models. I understand that the Ruger Mark IIIs (IIs and Is, too) are very accurate and high quality semiautos. If they're not up to bullseye standards they're not that far off. As for the Single Six, it's a fun gun, comes with interchangeable cylinders that let you shoot .22 lr and .22 mag. However, like other "convertible" .22s, it isn't all that accurate. I had one for a year, had fun shooting it, but got a little tired of seeing 4" and 5" groups despite my best efforts.

If you want a revolver and are willing to be patient, look for a used Smith & Wesson model 617 or its predecessor, the model 17. You'll occasionally find examples out there for $500 or less. If you do, jump on it, because it won't stay on the market for long. These are outstanding double action revolvers, as accurate as any revolvers out there. Whenever I want to feel good about my shooting I take my 4" 617 to the range.

Tucker 1371 · June 22, 2009, 03:11 PM

I would try to find a .22lr conversion kit for a gun you already have.

Doodlebugger45 · June 22, 2009, 03:20 PM

I bought a brand new S&W 22A for $270 a few weeks ago. I have shot about 400 rounds through it now and it has really surprised me with its accuracy and functioning.

sheepman · June 22, 2009, 03:35 PM

Any of the Ruger or S&W 22s are great and can be found used if you shop. The TP22 and the Bobcat are a close range back up gun and will not be versatile for all around plinking. For value for the dollar the Ruger standard model (MK I, MKII or MK III) can't be beat JMHO. Good luck: Bill

ninjatoth · June 22, 2009, 04:24 PM

I have the taurus 94 "4,I sent it in to have the misfire problem I been having checked out.

JameyPrice · June 22, 2009, 04:36 PM

Have a look at the Browning Buck Mark as well. Comes in enough configurations to meet most budgets and use-cases. I like my Plus just fine, but I have heard good things about the Target & Hunter. Two different grip styles as well, the URX for those with larger hands and the UDX for smaller hands, like mine. Okay, they're not actually billed that way, but I found the URX to be uncomfortably large.

I don't know how it is elsewhere, but the darn things are hard as heck to find around here.

Good luck,

Jamey

JWT · June 22, 2009, 04:39 PM

If you just want to plink and have fun, not serious target shooting, the Walther P22 is a good little gun. Not very expensive. Earlier ones had some problems the newer ones are fine (mine shoots anything I buy). Just plain fun to shoot.

Ruger Mark III, Bearcat, and Single Six are great plinkers too.

Russ5924 · June 22, 2009, 05:43 PM

The S&W 22a is inexpensive and not to bad a pistol. But please don't get a Taurus 94:barf:

scottaschultz · June 22, 2009, 05:53 PM

Beretta U22 Neos. I paid $300 for one with an Inox (stainless steel) slide, but the blue model is even less. Buds has them in IN STOCK for $243.00! Hurry!!

Scott

Quentin2 · June 22, 2009, 06:01 PM

I bought a Ruger MKI 6-7/8" tapered barrel 22LR pistol in 1975, then a MKII 5.5" bull barrel in 1985 and finally a 2005 MKIII with the same bull barrel. All are accurate and reliable pistols. Nothing has broken in any of them over the years.

If you like the feel of the grip (much like a Luger) you can't beat them. If you don't like it then check out their other model with the 45ACP style grip. Same receiver but a polymer frame instead of steel. There're also fixed sight versions of both if you don't want to pay extra for adjustable.

Lots of good choices so try them all out. I did but keep coming back to Ruger.

CatskillDraht · June 22, 2009, 06:01 PM

Of course, if you already have a 1911, you can pick up a conversion kit and have a bunch of fun with that, and you'll be practicing with the same trigger/action as your defensive firearm. I've had pretty good luck with one on my Kimber.

fast-eddie · June 23, 2009, 01:30 AM

My Taurus 94 only misfires when using the cheap bulk ammo (Rem Golden Bullet) . The Baretta's and other mouse gun type .22's seem to be finicky with ammo. My PT-22 will only cycle 40 grain .22 ammo, but I have never had FTF w/ mini mags.

Piper Cub · June 23, 2009, 09:21 AM

That taurus 94 must jam a lot? Is it the magazine?

ninjatoth · June 23, 2009, 09:26 AM

the taurus 94 is actually a revolver.It only really shoots CCI ammo well,I was getting 33% misfires with bulk ammo

chronic · June 23, 2009, 09:33 AM

If you like an older gun an H & R .22 revolver could be a good choice.

ninjatoth · June 23, 2009, 09:38 AM

i'm torn on which way to go.I know I can get a high quality s&w rimfire pistol for like $300,but I use a weaver grip when using my "real" gun .357 revolver,I don't want to mess my hand up or change my grip that works well for me,but that just leaves me with cheap revolvers,and cheap revolvers aren't as good as cheap pistols

PigPen · June 23, 2009, 09:55 AM

I own a number of .22 pistols (no revolvers). I have fired them for years with my wife, sons, grandchildren and daughterinlaws. All of them are accurate, reliable and relatively inexpensive to shoot and maintain. I can't tell that one is better than another in either accuracy or reliability. I own Mark IIs, Mark IIIs, 2 Browning Challengers, and a challenger III, and Buckmark, Colt Woodsman series III and maybe another one or two that I'm not remembering. They are all fun to shoot, relatively cheap to acquire and shoot, and reliable (they last all your life with reasonqable care).

6x6pinz · June 23, 2009, 11:10 AM

the only two 22 revolvers I own are the Heritage Arms and the Ruger single six. Both fun guns to shoot but very slow at getting ammo down range. A lot of nice 22 autos listed in previous post. Every pistol out there will have people tell you that they did not work for them. Find one that strikes your fancy and go with it. I recently picked up a Beretta Neos and while a fun gun to shoot it is no where near as accurate as my Beretta Jaguar with 6" barrel or the SW22 and certainly not like the buckmark hunter. These are of course just my observations yours will most certainly vary.
Remember the fun is in the hunt.

ninjatoth · June 23, 2009, 11:59 AM

I genrally like .22s that are just like the bigger caliber guns,that's why I like revolvers so much.No offense to anyone who loves the ruger MK series,but they look like pellet guns,and I don't like that too much.

chris in va · June 23, 2009, 01:14 PM

I've had two Ruger 22/45's, shot a couple 22 revolvers and semiautos. By far the most fun to date is the Walther P22. They seem to have worked out the feeding issues of previous versions.

My friend bought one a couple years ago and it ate anything we could put through it, including the (then) cheap bulk pack stuff.

Otherwise I recommend a conversion kit if you already have the platform for it. Both should be about the same price.

Piper Cub · June 23, 2009, 01:51 PM

USFA makes a really neat plinker with the weight and appearance of a Colt SAA. The 12/22. 12 rounds of 22lr in the cylinder!!!

Doodlebugger45 · June 23, 2009, 02:30 PM

Yep, that USFA 12/22 is a beautiful revolver. But it sure ain't cheap.

ninjatoth · June 23, 2009, 03:51 PM

Is the SIG Mosquito any good anyone??

June 22, 2009, 02:33 PM	#1
ninjatoth Junior member Join Date: March 21, 2009 Location: sanford,mi Posts: 590	cheap .22 plinker? I'm in the market for some sort of .22 plinker to mess around with,I already have a Taurus double action .22 revolver,but i'm looking for something a little different to send some bulk .22s downrange.I thought of maybe a heritage arms single action revolver,or maybe a little taurus .22 auto or beretta bobcat.That's about all I can think of.Does anyone else have any more ideas or do you think one of my thoughts would be a good choice?

June 22, 2009, 02:36 PM	#2
SAIGAFISH Junior member Join Date: June 14, 2009 Location: portland oregon Posts: 308	The one ruger mark II. OR IF YOU CANT FIND ONE OF THOSE A MARK III.

June 22, 2009, 03:11 PM	#4
Tucker 1371 Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2008 Location: East TN Posts: 2,649	I would try to find a .22lr conversion kit for a gun you already have. __________________ Sgt. of Marines, 5th Award Expert Rifle, 237/250 Expert Pistol, 382/400. D Co, 4th CEB, Engineers UP!! If you start a thread, be active in it. Don't leave us hanging. OEF 2011 Sangin, Afg. Molon Labe

June 22, 2009, 03:35 PM	#6
sheepman Senior Member Join Date: November 26, 2007 Location: Moses Lake WA Posts: 395	Any of the Ruger or S&W 22s are great and can be found used if you shop. The TP22 and the Bobcat are a close range back up gun and will not be versatile for all around plinking. For value for the dollar the Ruger standard model (MK I, MKII or MK III) can't be beat JMHO. Good luck: Bill __________________ The best gun is the one you have when you really need one

June 22, 2009, 05:43 PM	#10
Russ5924 Senior Member Join Date: February 18, 2005 Posts: 1,874	The S&W 22a is inexpensive and not to bad a pistol. But please don't get a Taurus 94:barf: __________________ Russ5924

June 22, 2009, 02:47 PM	#3
stevieboy Senior Member Join Date: March 14, 2008 Posts: 1,695	Depends on what you want. First of all, I assume that, by "cheap" you mean something that sells for under, say, about $500. In that price range, there's the Ruger Single Six and several of the Ruger Mark III models. I understand that the Ruger Mark IIIs (IIs and Is, too) are very accurate and high quality semiautos. If they're not up to bullseye standards they're not that far off. As for the Single Six, it's a fun gun, comes with interchangeable cylinders that let you shoot .22 lr and .22 mag. However, like other "convertible" .22s, it isn't all that accurate. I had one for a year, had fun shooting it, but got a little tired of seeing 4" and 5" groups despite my best efforts. If you want a revolver and are willing to be patient, look for a used Smith & Wesson model 617 or its predecessor, the model 17. You'll occasionally find examples out there for $500 or less. If you do, jump on it, because it won't stay on the market for long. These are outstanding double action revolvers, as accurate as any revolvers out there. Whenever I want to feel good about my shooting I take my 4" 617 to the range.

June 22, 2009, 03:20 PM	#5
Doodlebugger45 Senior Member Join Date: April 15, 2009 Location: Wyoming Posts: 1,717	I bought a brand new S&W 22A for $270 a few weeks ago. I have shot about 400 rounds through it now and it has really surprised me with its accuracy and functioning.

June 22, 2009, 04:24 PM	#7
ninjatoth Junior member Join Date: March 21, 2009 Location: sanford,mi Posts: 590	I have the taurus 94 "4,I sent it in to have the misfire problem I been having checked out.

June 22, 2009, 04:36 PM	#8
JameyPrice Member Join Date: April 29, 2009 Location: Wayne County, Michigan Posts: 60	Have a look at the Browning Buck Mark as well. Comes in enough configurations to meet most budgets and use-cases. I like my Plus just fine, but I have heard good things about the Target & Hunter. Two different grip styles as well, the URX for those with larger hands and the UDX for smaller hands, like mine. Okay, they're not actually billed that way, but I found the URX to be uncomfortably large. I don't know how it is elsewhere, but the darn things are hard as heck to find around here. Good luck, Jamey

June 22, 2009, 04:39 PM	#9
JWT Senior Member Join Date: March 16, 2007 Location: Southern Arizona Posts: 3,888	If you just want to plink and have fun, not serious target shooting, the Walther P22 is a good little gun. Not very expensive. Earlier ones had some problems the newer ones are fine (mine shoots anything I buy). Just plain fun to shoot. Ruger Mark III, Bearcat, and Single Six are great plinkers too.

June 22, 2009, 05:53 PM	#11
scottaschultz Senior Member Join Date: February 27, 2009 Location: Missouri Posts: 392	Beretta U22 Neos. I paid $300 for one with an Inox (stainless steel) slide, but the blue model is even less. Buds has them in IN STOCK for $243.00! Hurry!! Scott __________________ "I don't like repeat offenders, I like dead offenders!" Ted Nugent Last edited by scottaschultz; June 22, 2009 at 06:10 PM.

June 22, 2009, 06:01 PM	#12
Quentin2 Senior Member Join Date: June 18, 2009 Location: NorthWest USA Posts: 1,996	I bought a Ruger MKI 6-7/8" tapered barrel 22LR pistol in 1975, then a MKII 5.5" bull barrel in 1985 and finally a 2005 MKIII with the same bull barrel. All are accurate and reliable pistols. Nothing has broken in any of them over the years. If you like the feel of the grip (much like a Luger) you can't beat them. If you don't like it then check out their other model with the 45ACP style grip. Same receiver but a polymer frame instead of steel. There're also fixed sight versions of both if you don't want to pay extra for adjustable. Lots of good choices so try them all out. I did but keep coming back to Ruger.

June 22, 2009, 06:01 PM	#13
CatskillDraht Member Join Date: March 24, 2009 Location: Catskill Mtns, NY Posts: 22	Of course, if you already have a 1911, you can pick up a conversion kit and have a bunch of fun with that, and you'll be practicing with the same trigger/action as your defensive firearm. I've had pretty good luck with one on my Kimber. __________________ "I think we have more machinery of government than is neccesary, too many parasites living on the labor of the industrious" Thomas Jefferson 1802

June 23, 2009, 01:30 AM	#14
fast-eddie Senior Member Join Date: March 10, 2009 Location: Tigard Or, Posts: 342	Taurus and the like My Taurus 94 only misfires when using the cheap bulk ammo (Rem Golden Bullet) . The Baretta's and other mouse gun type .22's seem to be finicky with ammo. My PT-22 will only cycle 40 grain .22 ammo, but I have never had FTF w/ mini mags.

June 23, 2009, 09:21 AM	#15
Piper Cub Junior member Join Date: February 5, 2009 Location: TEXAS Posts: 491	That taurus 94 must jam a lot? Is it the magazine?

June 23, 2009, 09:26 AM	#16
ninjatoth Junior member Join Date: March 21, 2009 Location: sanford,mi Posts: 590	the taurus 94 is actually a revolver.It only really shoots CCI ammo well,I was getting 33% misfires with bulk ammo

June 23, 2009, 09:33 AM	#17
chronic Member Join Date: April 23, 2009 Posts: 97	If you like an older gun an H & R .22 revolver could be a good choice.

June 23, 2009, 09:38 AM	#18
ninjatoth Junior member Join Date: March 21, 2009 Location: sanford,mi Posts: 590	i'm torn on which way to go.I know I can get a high quality s&w rimfire pistol for like $300,but I use a weaver grip when using my "real" gun .357 revolver,I don't want to mess my hand up or change my grip that works well for me,but that just leaves me with cheap revolvers,and cheap revolvers aren't as good as cheap pistols

June 23, 2009, 09:55 AM	#19
PigPen Senior Member Join Date: June 28, 2000 Location: CSA Posts: 230	.22 I own a number of .22 pistols (no revolvers). I have fired them for years with my wife, sons, grandchildren and daughterinlaws. All of them are accurate, reliable and relatively inexpensive to shoot and maintain. I can't tell that one is better than another in either accuracy or reliability. I own Mark IIs, Mark IIIs, 2 Browning Challengers, and a challenger III, and Buckmark, Colt Woodsman series III and maybe another one or two that I'm not remembering. They are all fun to shoot, relatively cheap to acquire and shoot, and reliable (they last all your life with reasonqable care). Last edited by PigPen; June 23, 2009 at 10:08 AM.

June 23, 2009, 11:10 AM	#20
6x6pinz Senior Member Join Date: February 24, 2009 Location: Arizona Posts: 152	the only two 22 revolvers I own are the Heritage Arms and the Ruger single six. Both fun guns to shoot but very slow at getting ammo down range. A lot of nice 22 autos listed in previous post. Every pistol out there will have people tell you that they did not work for them. Find one that strikes your fancy and go with it. I recently picked up a Beretta Neos and while a fun gun to shoot it is no where near as accurate as my Beretta Jaguar with 6" barrel or the SW22 and certainly not like the buckmark hunter. These are of course just my observations yours will most certainly vary. Remember the fun is in the hunt. __________________ Friends don't let friends shoot Glocks

June 23, 2009, 11:59 AM	#21
ninjatoth Junior member Join Date: March 21, 2009 Location: sanford,mi Posts: 590	I genrally like .22s that are just like the bigger caliber guns,that's why I like revolvers so much.No offense to anyone who loves the ruger MK series,but they look like pellet guns,and I don't like that too much.

June 23, 2009, 01:14 PM	#22
chris in va Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 13,806	I've had two Ruger 22/45's, shot a couple 22 revolvers and semiautos. By far the most fun to date is the Walther P22. They seem to have worked out the feeding issues of previous versions. My friend bought one a couple years ago and it ate anything we could put through it, including the (then) cheap bulk pack stuff. Otherwise I recommend a conversion kit if you already have the platform for it. Both should be about the same price.

June 23, 2009, 01:51 PM	#23
Piper Cub Junior member Join Date: February 5, 2009 Location: TEXAS Posts: 491	USFA makes a really neat plinker with the weight and appearance of a Colt SAA. The 12/22. 12 rounds of 22lr in the cylinder!!!

June 23, 2009, 02:30 PM	#24
Doodlebugger45 Senior Member Join Date: April 15, 2009 Location: Wyoming Posts: 1,717	Yep, that USFA 12/22 is a beautiful revolver. But it sure ain't cheap.

June 23, 2009, 03:51 PM	#25
ninjatoth Junior member Join Date: March 21, 2009 Location: sanford,mi Posts: 590	Is the SIG Mosquito any good anyone??