Poll: Which 22lr semi auto should Vinnie 'rent' next?

[VinnieBoomBah]

I have a complicated relationship with 22lr pistols, I want to love them, I enjoy shooting them, but they always find their way down the road sooner rather than later. Over the years I have owned almost all versions of the Ruger, a couple Buckmarks, a Beretta Neos, S&W Compact, a J A Ciener conversion, a Jennings (ok, not real proud of that one) S&W Victory, Walther PPK (don't think I shot that one, flipped it in a trade) and I think a couple others I have forgotten about. Most have been fine, not the Jennings obviously, the Ciener wasn't great and the Ruger Mark II 22/45 was just *wrong* . . . like almost a 1911, but NOT a 1911, maybe just an Uncanny Valley response on my part?

Anyway, time to try a new one and I have tentatively narrowed it down to a S&W 422/622 or a Browning Black Label. I haven't shot either, the S&W feels good in my hand and the size of the Browning reminds me of the 1911 style roll cap gun I had as a kid in the 70's and has served as Platonic Ideal for the last 50 years
Runner Ups would be a full size 1911 copy, a better conversion kit then the Ciener, the S&W 22a, but they suffer from broken frames, the Beretta 76 / 102 or who knows.
This was so much more fun before 114

Also, I'm not feeling the polymer these days, so yeah, I have heard good things about the KelTech and others, but they are not high on my list

Any suggestions?

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[Cavedweller]

Get a revolver. No problems. Last a lifetime. (I know, not what you wanted to hear).

 

[VinnieBoomBah]

Get a revolver. No problems. Last a lifetime. (I know, not what you wanted to hear).

I have had a bunch of them over the years as well, all the way from a Dan Wesson to a High Standard Sentinel. With the slower firing and loading of the round ones I like centerfire better and am kind of looking for a Cimarron Model P Jr or Lightning in 32 H&R

ETA: have looked at these before but from what I have read the QC on them can be spotty

Ruger SP101 KSP2428 Revolver Gun 22LR Double Action 4.2" Barrel

Buy your Ruger KSP2428 SP101 22LR Revolver Gun at Target Sports USA with free shipping available. Enjoy great deals on all guns for sale online!|^||^|

www.targetsportsusa.com

 

[1911Fanatic]

I have a complicated relationship with 22lr pistols, I want to love them, I enjoy shooting them, but they always find their way down the road sooner rather than later. Over the years I have owned almost all versions of the Ruger, a couple Buckmarks, a Beretta Neos, S&W Compact, a J A Ciener conversion, a Jennings (ok, not real proud of that one) S&W Victory, Walther PPK (don't think I shot that one, flipped it in a trade) and I think a couple others I have forgotten about. Most have been fine, not the Jennings obviously, the Ciener wasn't great and the Ruger Mark II 22/45 was just *wrong* . . . like almost a 1911, but NOT a 1911, maybe just an Uncanny Valley response on my part?

Anyway, time to try a new one and I have tentatively narrowed it down to a S&W 422/622 or a Browning Black Label. I haven't shot either, the S&W feels good in my hand and the size of the Browning reminds me of the 1911 style roll cap gun I had as a kid in the 70's and has served as Platonic Ideal for the last 50 years
Runner Ups would be a full size 1911 copy, a better conversion kit then the Ciener, the S&W 22a, but they suffer from broken frames, the Beretta 76 / 102 or who knows.
This was so much more fun before 114

Also, I'm not feeling the polymer these days, so yeah, I have heard good things about the KelTech and others, but they are not high on my list

Any suggestions?

Well, I have a few 22's and my favorite is the Ruger Super Wrangler. It is 22LR/22 Mag and it was less than 300 bucks. The sights are good. Adjustable rear. Mine is black Cerakote. It is a tack driver as well. I have it sighted in with Winchester 22 Mag right now.

 

[spookshack]

S&W model 41
Marvel .22 conversion kit
Beretta 87 Target

 

[Spitpatch]

Classic Rimfire Handgun Shootout!

Silver Lake, Oregon, 40 years ago: A roommate and I "bailed out" of town for a three day weekend in the winter desert. Datsun station wagon (with chains), nylon tent, and guns. The second afternoon there, exploring in the little car, I saw a stretch of rimrock about 3/4 of a mile long and...

www.northwestfirearms.com

 

[Bobbygun]

I'd go old school with a Colt Woodsman or High Standard of some sort. Definitely not the S&W 22a. While I like the Victory a lot, the 22a was one of my least favorite .22 pistols.

 

[Koda]

Wildcard....
Pick any offering from North American Arms.

Id recommend a pug, as those will take a while to learn to shoot accurately they are do small but fun once you get used to it. The larger offerings they have look really fun too if a tiny pocket gun isnt your style.

 

[ron]

I have several modified 22 pistols with dot sights. You can sure put some money into these 22s.
My favorite is SW22 Victory. It is modified with Tademkross trigger, hammer and grips. Plus a
red dot sight. But you already rejected the Victory? I like the different grip angle of the Victory.

How about the Beretta 87 Target? Made in Italy. After some trigger work I like it a lot.

 

[Dirty Cary]

Good luck finding one p938 22lr,
Mine has been converted to 22 from 9mm but they sell them in 22lr as a complete gun.

 

[ilikegunspdx]

I have a complicated relationship with 22lr pistols, I want to love them, I enjoy shooting them, but they always find their way down the road sooner rather than later. Over the years I have owned almost all versions of the Ruger, a couple Buckmarks, a Beretta Neos, S&W Compact, a J A Ciener conversion, a Jennings (ok, not real proud of that one) S&W Victory, Walther PPK (don't think I shot that one, flipped it in a trade) and I think a couple others I have forgotten about. Most have been fine, not the Jennings obviously, the Ciener wasn't great and the Ruger Mark II 22/45 was just *wrong* . . . like almost a 1911, but NOT a 1911, maybe just an Uncanny Valley response on my part?

Anyway, time to try a new one and I have tentatively narrowed it down to a S&W 422/622 or a Browning Black Label. I haven't shot either, the S&W feels good in my hand and the size of the Browning reminds me of the 1911 style roll cap gun I had as a kid in the 70's and has served as Platonic Ideal for the last 50 years
Runner Ups would be a full size 1911 copy, a better conversion kit then the Ciener, the S&W 22a, but they suffer from broken frames, the Beretta 76 / 102 or who knows.
This was so much more fun before 114

Also, I'm not feeling the polymer these days, so yeah, I have heard good things about the KelTech and others, but they are not high on my list

Any suggestions?

IMO the main thing in common with all the pistols you listed except the ppk is they are somewhat boring. Perhaps you are like me and boring .22s just sit and then are sold.

If it were me I would go with a subgun such as Stribog .22, hk 416 pistol, or mp5. Or a rifle such as hk g36 or hk 416 (cheap at cddn). Of those the Stribog is the most accurate, especially when shooting fast. With mcarbo trigger spring kit trigger pull on mine is 1lb 14oz. It did take a bit of breakin before it cycled subsonics reliably but now it's 100% reliable. Love that gun really fun plinker.

IMO the most important feature (assuming 100% reliability of the gun -not the ammo) is a threaded barrel. I will not consider any .22 without a threaded barrel. Shooting suppressed with .22 is a joy.

As far as a handgun I can recommend the Colt/Walther Umarex 1911. Full size and weight. Threaded barrel. Pretty nice trigger. $264 at locked/loaded. There are a whole bunch of others I can recommend but the list would be pretty long to put here. Fe the grand power k22 which has a wonderful trigger but it's best use is as a trainer for the almost identical other grand power pistols. Also suggest do yourself a huge favor and check great deals section for the universal brace that can be used on any pistol, including .22s.

i woudl take the g36 and Stribog over any of them for being fun to shoot. But thats for my preferences. I enjoy shooting the pistols also. Walther Colt sp22 I woudl take over the 422/622 because I question reliability of 422 with subs when I did a lot of research on them. Quick review of gallery to show some of the guns I mentioned fyi.

IMG_3619.jpeg

• ilikegunspdx
• Apr 12, 2025

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• ilikegunspdx
• Feb 3, 2025

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• ilikegunspdx
• May 24, 2024

 

[VinnieBoomBah]

Well, I have a few 22's and my favorite is the Ruger Super Wrangler. It is 22LR/22 Mag and it was less than 300 bucks. The sights are good. Adjustable rear. Mine is black Cerakote. It is a tack driver as well. I have it sighted in with Winchester 22 Mag right now.

View attachment 2092396

I have had more than a few Ruger SA's over the years and still have a Single Six. I used to think I didn't like SA's but then I got a Colt style SA and discovered I just don't like Rugers version of the SA grip frame

 

[VinnieBoomBah]

S&W model 41
Marvel .22 conversion kit
Beretta 87 Target

The 422/622 is the "41 we have at home". The 87 target is looking like a strong contender, magazines look to be a bit pricey though.

 

[VinnieBoomBah]

Wildcard....
Pick any offering from North American Arms.

Id recommend a pug, as those will take a while to learn to shoot accurately they are do small but fun once you get used to it. The larger offerings they have look really fun too if a tiny pocket gun isnt your style.

Yeah, see the thing is, I also don't go to restaurant pop-ups in the middle of semi deserted warehouses where the chef has curated a menu to push the boundaries of what the dining and and food expectations are

 

[VinnieBoomBah]

I like the different grip angle of the Victory

The grip angle of the Victory was OK. There was just something about the shape of it that I couldn't totally warm up to. I tend to recall I even got some aftermarket grips, but they didn't help.

 

[Jade Falcon]

I know you said no polymers, but I bought my Kel-Tec P17 .22 based on mixup98's videos:

That's just one, he's done a few videos about this gun and he has never had a problem with it. You can find them for $179 right now if you shop around, but I think they are normally about $199. That's what I got mine for, and no regrets.

Now I'm looking for a .22 rifle to go with it. I kind of want a lever gun, but I'm also looking at a 10/22. I've got enough magazines to keep track of though and I don't want more, so I'll probably just stick with a lever gun.

 

[Duneblaster]

https://battlehawkarmory.com/product/cmmg-bravo-.22lr-conversion-kit-w-1-25rd-black-magazine

 

[Koda]

Yeah, see the thing is, I also don't go to restaurant pop-ups in the middle of semi deserted warehouses where the chef has curated a menu to push the boundaries of what the dining and and food expectations are

NAAs are definitely an acquired taste..

 

[VinnieBoomBah]

IMO the main thing in common with all the pistols you listed except the ppk is they are somewhat boring. Perhaps you are like me and boring .22s just sit and then are sold.

I don't know that boring is the correct word but at the same time it's not exactly the wrong word, if you know what I mean.
I haven't run into anyone talking about reliability issues with the 422 with subs but it's entirely possible. I just missed that. Not a huge concern at this point because I don't have a suppressor yet but the full size colt 1911 style is on the list and the price is attractive.
I have a conversion kit I run in a AR pistol and that's quite a bit of fun and kind of scratches the sub gun itch.

 

[ilikegunspdx]

I don't know that boring is the correct word but at the same time it's not exactly the wrong word, if you know what I mean.
I haven't run into anyone talking about reliability issues with the 422 with subs but it's entirely possible. I just missed that. Not a huge concern at this point because I don't have a suppressor yet but the full size colt 1911 style is on the list and the price is attractive.
I have a conversion kit I run in a AR pistol and that's quite a bit of fun and kind of scratches the sub gun itch.

I have to go with what I read and saw in videos. Some people say 422/622 is fine with subs and others have had problems. Many said it has to be kept clean as you go to avoid malfunctions. Not worth the risk to me in a used gun. Not when I can get for the same money a sp22 6" with matched red dot, scope, multiple grip models and sometimes even an integrated laser. Also for the same money you can get a Walther x-esse sport target pistol as shown below (used).

This gun sold for $525

Also about same $ a browning buckmark with co-witnessed red dot but there is snoring territory again.

This gun sold for $655. I got outbid on it at the end which is fine as I don't need another really.