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Please Name Some Of The " BEST 22lr Pistols Ever "

20K views 60 replies 53 participants last post by  Two shot 
#1 ·
Hi Guys/Gals

This newbie would like to read what you think the BEST 22lr pistols ever made and
what's your reasons why ?

Thanks You Guys/Gals
Schooner :cool:
 
#3 ·
Hi, and welcome from Sitka, Alaska! Assuming you're interested in an affordable target pistol, my vote would be for Ruger's classic, the MkIII in its latest incarnation. In my experience - which goes back to the vintage MkIs - they're virtually indestructable, not particular regarding brands of ammo, accurate right out of the box, and easy enough to maintain. Complete take down and reassembly can be a bit exasperating at first, but you'd get the hang of it soon enough.
 
#4 ·
I have to agree with nmckenzie in that I believe the Ruger MK III in the Competition Model is the best .22lr for the money.
In the past the ones I have owned that stood out to me were a Colt Officer's Model Match, Smith and Wesson Model 17 and a Smith and Wesson Model 41 but all three of those are becoming quite pricey and I believe you would have to be a very qualified marksman to see any better groups than you can get with a nice MK III Ruger.
 
#5 ·
my vote goes to the ruger MK II .. while the MK III is likely a better target gun. I find i like the small bbl profile o fthe mk II.

good gun. i've nver had a jam.. nice mag capacity.

If the stuff ever hits the fan. it will be one of the guns i choose to use. heck. a brick of ammo weighs the same as a 20rnd box of 30cal type rifle shells..
 
#7 ·
Once upon a time I bought a Ruger .22 pistol, that was back in the 70's. Can't help you with the Ruger Mark III, but my choice for the best .22 pistol ever made would go to the Colt Woodsman Match Target.
 

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#12 ·
I would love to have me another Single Six Convertible, blued, with the 5 1/2" barrel! I really liked that gun!
 
#15 ·
High Standard Model B...heck, any Hi-Standard from pre-1990's.

Only USA Gun MFR to EVER win Olympic Gold...or ANY Olympic medals period.
You want real quality, great-shooting .22lr's, that's where to find 'em :)
 
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#17 ·
If I can put my Mk II back together anybody can. It isn't super easy and I don't do it often enough so when ever I do the manual comes out, I follow the Ruger instructions and it goes back together. The quality of the gun makes that little issue a non-issue.

My vote is the Mk II.
 
#20 ·
Interesting Question: Best ever made? or Best you can get without going broke or searching forever? My favorite is the one I own - a 1970 Colt Targetsman. It was bought new by a friend's father - he fired 2 rounds and put it away until I bought it in 2013. Designed by John Browning and built by Colt. It fits me perfectly in every way. It is 100% reliable. It is more accurate than I am. It is a bear to disassemble and reassemble (but then, you don't really need to). That said, finding a 43 year old, new in the box and unfired Colt Woodsman or Targetsman is like winning the lottery; and will cost you a lot of money. Money better spent on an excellent Ruger Mark or Single 6. Heck, you can get a Mark AND a Single 6.
 
#22 ·
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#23 ·
Although I have a Browning Buckmark and several Ruger MK series pistols, I had the chance to shoot a Beretta Model 87 and it was the best I ever shot personally. Very smooth, Clean precise trigger break, although a bit long, and very heavy, but it was a tack driver as they say! The guy who owned it claimed it was the closest he had found to his old S&W Model 41 his father gave him and he later sold. He claimed the model 41 to be the best (they are awful expensive now, if/when you find one), but I have read that some of the later built models fell victim to less than stellar QC at the S&W plant. By the way, the Buckmark was better out of the box, but the Rugers are better (and way easier to takedown/reassemble) after you put the VQ upgrade parts on. Just my .02...
 
#25 ·
Best US-made by Olympic standards are the old Connecticut Hi-Standards...
they're the only US firearms company to win Gold in the pistol division.
Ever.

Fortunately there are plenty still around, they made millions :)
 
#26 ·
Best US-made by Olympic standards are the old Connecticut Hi-Standards...
they're the only US firearms company to win Gold in the pistol division.
Ever.

Fortunately there are plenty still around, they made millions :)
They did not make millions of semi-auto pistols.

High Standard's advertising about winning the gold medal is very misleading.

First Olympic gold medal won by an American handgun was in about 1908 where a Colt Revolver was used. The next Olympic gold medal was with a S & W single shot in 1920 in the free pistol event. Next in 1932, an Italian Major won a gold medal in the rapid fire event using a Colt Woodsman. The 1960 gold medal won by a modified Supermatic Trophy was in the free pistol event.
 
#28 ·
I would have to say it all depends on what you want out of the .22 handgun. As for me I would vote the S&W M41 as most accurate, but a little large and heavy for field use, the Colt Match Target Woodsman as best made and best looking, the S&W M34 and first generation Colt Woodsman Sport as the handiest for field use, and the Rugers for most pistol for the money
 
#32 ·
I believe it depends on what you want it for and how you're describing "best". For strictly target work there is the Hammerli and some other Euro and American semi-auto & single shot pistols that probably very few can extract their true potential.

Among revolvers my first choice is the S & W 22's either the Mod. 17 or any of its predecessors. Mine is from 1947 and it's....just perfect for me. The Ruger Single Six...it's a Ruger. Usually needs a little finish work on the internals but they're bullet proof and accurate enough. Semi-auto's, as one poster said, any High Standard from before 1970, I believe, which I agree with completely and I would not turn up my nose at a Woodsman. The newer semi-auto's I have no experience with but really...have you ever seen a 22 handgun of at least reasonable quality that wasn't "accurate enough"? Back in the late 60's I had a previously worn out RG Rohm and that cheap thing still shot minute of rabbit and squirrel.
 
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