22 Handgun Recommendation

[DDMac]

My eyesight and anti-mechanical curse drove me to consult with JumboFrank about the Ruger speed strip. Really saves me time in cleaning my .22/45. Thanks again Frank!
Mac.
ps. Love my Browning Nomad (bought new,1970).

[SigShooter]

I have a Beretta Neos. I bought it because I've read the manuals for the Ruger and decided that I didn't want something that complicated. I love the toolless takedown of the Neos and I love the magazine release, which is located on the right side of the firearm, above and slightly behind the trigger, where your finger rests when you're not shooting. I've never had it accidently activate, but I've got less than 500 rounds through it.

I have a problem with my Neos though. I likes to jam during feeding. I've tried several different types and I want to try some Federal Automatch from Midway. That might fix it. I hope it's because it's a new gun and not because it's something I should have stayed away from.

I also have a Ruger Single Six, which does exactly what it was designed to do. It came with a .22 Mag cyclinder as well, but that cyclinder fits a little tighter and with less than 30 rounds through it, issues with the cyclinder timing occurred. I hope this will work itself out, because when I switched back to the .22lr cyclinder, it ran like a bunny.

[tombogan03884]

I have a Beretta Neos. I bought it because I've read the manuals for the Ruger and decided that I didn't want something that complicated. I love the toolless takedown of the Neos and I love the magazine release, which is located on the right side of the firearm, above and slightly behind the trigger, where your finger rests when you're not shooting. I've never had it accidently activate, but I've got less than 500 rounds through it.

I have a problem with my Neos though. I likes to jam during feeding. I've tried several different types and I want to try some Federal Automatch from Midway. That might fix it. I hope it's because it's a new gun and not because it's something I should have stayed away from.

I also have a Ruger Single Six, which does exactly what it was designed to do. It came with a .22 Mag cyclinder as well, but that cyclinder fits a little tighter and with less than 30 rounds through it, issues with the cyclinder timing occurred. I hope this will work itself out, because when I switched back to the .22lr cyclinder, it ran like a bunny.

Check the Neos magazine for play in the follower. If the follower can tip back it will feed the rounds at to steep an angle to chamber.  I have this problem with a replacement mag I bought for my Buckmark.

[PegLeg45]

Check the Neos magazine for play in the follower. If the follower can tip back it will feed the rounds at to steep an angle to chamber.  I have this problem with a replacement mag I bought for my Buckmark.

+1 on the magazines.
I bought some no-name cheap mags for my Buckmarks out of Sportsman's Guide. They would not feed properly. I got to checking and the mag body had a different recess at the front where the cartridge feeds out. Now I spend the extra $'s for the Browning mags. They function flawlessly.

[hollandm]

Back from the gun show with prices:

MK III Bul 4"               $250
MK III Bull 5.5"            $260
MK III Bull Fluted 5.5"  $280
Buck Mark 5.5"           $290
P22 3.4"                    $309

I've decided on the pistol instead of the revolver.  The best single six was $325.

So here I am, decision time.  Grandson thinks the P22 is the one.

I like the MK III Fluted but then I think of the cleaning problems and if I have to spend another $50 to make it easy to clean......

Any final ideas before tomorrow?

[Sponsor]

[MikeBjerum]

Back from the gun show with prices:

MK III Bul 4"               $250
MK III Bull 5.5"            $260
MK III Bull Fluted 5.5"  $280
Buck Mark 5.5"           $290
P22 3.4"                    $309

I've decided on the pistol instead of the revolver.  The best single six was $325.

So here I am, decision time.  Grandson thinks the P22 is the one.

I like the MK III Fluted but then I think of the cleaning problems and if I have to spend another $50 to make it easy to clean......

Any final ideas before tomorrow?

If you don't like the gun you will never shoot it enough to make any of the easy to clean.

Buy the one you like and you will shoot it more.  If you like the Ruger you'll shoot it, and you'll learn to clean it.  It isn't the easiest thing to do, but it is doable and learnable.

[addict]

your choices are a bit of the apples and oranges comparison. The Ruger and Browning are good entry level target pistols. The Buckmark tends to have a beeter trigger out of the box, but the Ruger has drop in internals available.
I like the Ruger disassembly better as the sight base is not removed and potentially returned slightly differently upon reassembly as the Buckmark design requires. The Ruger is not difficult to field strip or reassemble, but does require you to follow about 10 steps in the correct order clearly laid out in the owners manual.
The rake of the grip varies significantly between the Ruger and Browning. Pick them up and see where the sights are. That should tell you which one is best for your hand.

The Walther is a cheap, not inexpensive, plinker. The trigger will be bad. It is too small for my hand. It will not even compare with the accuracy of the other two. If you want to consider a DA/SA plinker I would suggest the CZ Kadet. A bit more pricey at $500 but it is a milled steel copy of the CZ75 and at least has the accuracy and class that the P22 lack...

Good Luck!
Addict

[Hazcat]

I can echo an excellent recommendation for the Ruger Mark II/III, the Ruger Single Six and the Browning Buckmark.  Stay away from the Sig Mosquito...they are "cheap" for a reason....

Yes Haz...mine has morphed into a POS after 100 rounds and no cleaning.

I would like to add if you can find an old Colt Scout in 22...they have really fine and slick actions.....to pick up one of those as a "good deal" used gun.  I like them better than the Single Six.  Also....the Ruger Bearcat is a fine 22.

Sorry to hear  that Rastus.  After the factory rebuild on mine, if you dunk it in oil iwill run a mag or two before it jams. 
 REAL FINE GUN!

[Hazcat]

If you go with the Single Six it will be the best investment you will ever make.  In 50 years when your gandson is teaching his grandson it will still shoot like it was new with zero problems.  A true family heirloom and the perfect gun to inroduce new shooters of all ages to the sport.

[hollandm]

M58 & Addict, thanks for the comments.  Two real objectives here, keep the grandson interested in shooting and get the wife interested enough, so they are the top priorities not me.  I was just talking to the grandson about the short barrel on the P22 and it might not be as accurate as the other two but there's probably more to it than that.

At the moment the ranking is MK III, Buck Mark and then the P22.  We'll go back and handle the MK III and Buck Mark tomorrow.