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I have both the Ruger and the P-22. For accuracy or hunting I would reccomend the Ruger. For plinking and defensive practice I reccomend the P-22 as it functions more like a carry gun. You will enjoy either one though and of course save a lot of money on ammo.

I have a 5" P22 and love it. It's great for plinking or practicing fundamentals and is great for teaching kids and women. Never had any problems with mine. I've never shot the others so I can't compare it.

+1 on the Browning. If you have money to burn, check out the High Standard Victor or Supermatic. Their grip is meant to mimic the feel of a 1911. http://www.highstandard.com/guns.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

WildBill wrote:+1 on the Browning. If you have money to burn, check out the High Standard Victor or Supermatic. Their grip is meant to mimic the feel of a 1911. http://www.highstandard.com/guns.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I thought that's what the Ruger 22/45 was about.

Howabout the S&W Model 22A?

The Annoyed Man wrote:I thought that's what the Ruger 22/45 was about.

Howabout the S&W Model 22A?

The High Standard did a better job than the 22/25. The Rugers are good pistols as plinkers. They are relatively cheap and reliable. I own one. I just prefer something a little more refined.

I am not familar with the Model 22A. It looks nice. I also like the looks of the P22, but have no personal experience about reliability or trigger pull.

"Refined" is certainly right! Any .22's that start at $750.00 and go up from there are a little bit rich for my blood. I'm sure they're very nice. I just can't afford or justify the price.

The Annoyed Man wrote:"Refined" is certainly right! Any .22's that start at $750.00 and go up from there are a little bit rich for my blood. I'm sure they're very nice. I just can't afford or justify the price.

I don't know if the newer High Standards are as well made as the originals, but the trigger pull is much closer to the 1911 than a Ruger. For the same reason, I suggest that you check out the Browning. I own a Ruger and they are a solid and reliable pistol, but if I were to buy another .22 auto target pistol the Buckmark would be my choice.

Well, I can't comment on any or the other models suggested, but I can talk about my own P22.

I bought mine used from a member here, and have been quite happy with it. In contrast to CompVest's experience, mine runs pretty much any ammo just fine. By comparison, my Marlin 60 (semi-auto rifle) gets stovepipes on underpowered rounds, especially the Remington Golden Bullet trash that I refuse to buy any longer. The P22 has never had any problems cycling that same ammo or any other ammo I've thrown at it, which makes for a much happier plinking experience.

Aside from the slide-mounted safety (oriented opposite of the 1911/Hi-Power), I chose the design partially because it allows practice cocked-and-locked, and acts as a good surrogate for centerfire single-action guns. While it's DA/SA, the safety doesn't act as a de-cocker, so it's possible to cock and lock it. Some people don't like it for this specific reason, but I prefer it. The safety does engage a firing pin block, so the hammer can be dropped with a trigger pull while the safety is on, same as a normal safety/decocker gun does automatically when the safety is engaged. The backstrap is also interchangable, which is nice. The gun comes with 2 separate backstraps. The barrel is threaded, if you ever have interest in equipping it with a suppressor. Also, both models feature an equipment rail for mounting lights/lasers, so that's a plus if you want to practice with such equipment.

Cons for me are relatively limited. First, there's a magazine disconnect. It doesn't particulalry bother me (just as I have no problem with the disconnect in my Hi-Power), but it is a minor inconvenience simply because the foam cutout in the factory carrying case is made for hammer-down storage rather than cocked storage. If I didn't store it in that case, this wouldn't be an issue for me at all. Also, mine is a 5-inch model, and field stripping requires two sizes of allen wrench for takedown. I believe this is not he case in the shorter version, as it lacks the front extension that necessitates the wrenches. They do come with a special tool made for this purpose, but was missing with mine, as it had been lost long before it came to me. The sights are 3-dot sights, which I've found to less than ideal for more precision shooting. This however, isn't a precision gun, and the 3-dots match up to the equipment on my Hi-Power, so I leave them be for training purposes.

WildBill wrote:

The Annoyed Man wrote:I thought that's what the Ruger 22/45 was about.

Howabout the S&W Model 22A?

The High Standard did a better job than the 22/25. The Rugers are good pistols as plinkers. They are relatively cheap and reliable. I own one. I just prefer something a little more refined.

I am not familar with the Model 22A. It looks nice. I also like the looks of the P22, but have no personal experience about reliability or trigger pull.

What price range are we talking about for the Ruger 22/45 ??....

Bud's Guns has them for around $240+ depending on the model number.

OK, I just got back from the Fort Worth Gun Show, and TWO .22s followed me home. . . .

The first is a Ruger 22/45 Mk III Hunter: $388.95 (MSRP $532.00)


The second is a S&W Model 22A: $252.00 (MSRP $324.00)


I think we did OK.

Now I just need to get my hands on a couple of bricks of ammo. . .



{edited to update link to Ruger picture}

I bought my son one of the Smith 22As for Christmas and he has been kind enough to let me shoot it a couple of times. Although it doesn't feel as beefy as the Ruger (lighter), and I'm not crazy about the placement of the mag release button, the trigger is nice and it shoots very well.

I think you will like it. Congrats.

The Annoyed Man wrote:OK, I just got back from the Fort Worth Gun Show, and TWO .22s followed me home. . . .

The first is a Ruger 22/45 Mk III Hunter: $388.95 (MSRP $532.00)

The second is a S&W Model 22A: $252.00 (MSRP $324.00)
I think we did OK.

Now I just need to get my hands on a couple of bricks of ammo. . .

You did just fine. I am looking forward to the range report. I don't see an "envy" smilie, but I am green.

bpet wrote:I bought my son one of the Smith 22As for Christmas and he has been kind enough to let me shoot it a couple of times. Although it doesn't feel as beefy as the Ruger (lighter), and I'm not crazy about the placement of the mag release button, the trigger is nice and it shoots very well.

I think you will like it. Congrats.

IMO, the mag releases for most of the .22s aren't the best when it comes to CC drills or practice.

WildBill wrote:You did just fine. I am looking forward to the range report. I don't see an "envy" smilie, but I am green.

Well I can't wait to go try them. Unfortunately, due other commitments, I can't go shooting until Monday at the earliest, but probably not until next Thursday. I'll say this though, that Ruger is one handy pistol. The S&W, with that 7" barrel, is pretty muzzle heavy. It ought to be accurate, but it doesn't point anywhere near as easily as the Ruger does. I can't wait to shoot it.