I have a REAL problem when it comes to making a distinction about why some are "better" or more favorites than others... So my post ends up being a love letter to a handful of mine!
My
Ruger Mark II 5.5 stainless Bull Barrel was the first rimfire pistol I bought for myself and I can't remember this pistol EVER letting me down. It runs always, it shoots lights-out and it can improve any range session, no matter if I'm shooting well or shooting poorly before I pull it out. Of all of my "common production guns", this one may be the best handgun I have. As my skills have risen, my desire for a better trigger in this one has appeared, but I can still shoot it extremely well.
My
S&W Model 17-6 was my first handgun and a gift from my Mom. It also happens to be an odd transitional in that it's a dash-6 but without the gangly full barrel underlug which I much prefer to the newer 17's. It's not as much fun to shoot as my pistols, but it is deadly accurate and a genuine pride & joy.
My
'52 Colt Challenger was purchased because my Dad had one and my brother now owns it and I had fond memories of it. The one I snagged a year ago has quite a bit of bluing loss, but WOW, is it a shooter. Pistols built today simply do not "feel" the way this pistol feels, either in trigger pull/break or the feel of the slide gliding across the rails. I am deeply in love with this one.
My
GSG 1911-22 is a modern success story, IMO, because it's a low price-point gun made from cheap materials by a hardly known gunmaker and it's enormous fun and it hasn't yet collapsed under the assault I've volleyed at it. Initially, my goal was to shoot it to destruction within the 2-year warranty period but the rimfire ammo crunch crushed those dreams at 4,826 shots fired. The pistol can go a solid 800 rounds before I need to clean it, which is appalling for a rimfire pistol running bulk ammo, IMO. It simply is -NOT- precision accurate like my other favorite rimfire pistols, but the fun factor is high. I do fully expect to shoot this pistol to failure eventually simply because of the materials from which it is constructed.
All of the above are my favorite rimfires!