Pistol companion to the 10/22

[Podmonkey]

Been wanting to get a .22 pistol for a while now. Whadda y'all think, Ruger MkIV or SR22? What's out there for .22 revolvers that don't cost $700? And finally I've read that the S&W M&P and Walther PPQ .22s are made by Umarex ( the airgun/soft manufacturer) and are "airsofty" in quality. Is this true? Or a total crock?

 

[Calculon]

I have the SR22 and it's a terrific pistol. Accurate and eats any ammo I feed it. Can shoot it all day. New shooters like it as it's easy to load, rack and shoot. You can use the safety as a decocker so first round is DA.

I don't own any of the others your list but I'm sure you can't go wrong with the Mark IV. I've heard good things about the M&P22 but don't know much about the Walter.

 

[NYGuns]

I also own the sr22 and really like it. I would highly recommend it and it shoots anything I load in it. I am waiting on my permit for the S&W SW22 Victory.

 

[Podmonkey]

Yeah, I've never heard anything bad about the SR22, well other than a few minor quibbles about controls and what not. Being a range gun I don't really care about the way the saftey works or DA/SA issues. The Mk IV is soooo faaawncy though.
But as I think about it the SR22 is the proper companion to a 10/22. They are both simple, inexpensive, unpretentious, well built and reliable firearms with a few ergonomic quirks.

 

[cardinalny]

I have an SR22 and really enjoy shooting it. Eats all kinds of ammo, no malfunctions. I think of it as a great plinker.
For bullseye, the Mark IV is widely used

 

[VietnamEraVet]

I have the Ruger SR22, and like it except for the backwards safety. It shoots fine, and has a nice weighted feel to it.

On the other hand, I had an M&P22, and got rid of it. It felt like a toy, and had zero heft to it. It felt strange.

My favorite 22 handgun to shoot is a 10 round S&W Model 617 stainless revolver! Of course, it is a lot more expensive than either the Ruger SR22 or the M&P22...

 

[Bananabandit]

I have a Mark III 22/45. Any of the mentioned are nice. Just preference to your needs.

 

[minderasr]

I too own an SR22. Now I'm in the market for a Mark IV Hunter (love the fluted barrel). I think either would be a fine companion to the 10/22.

 

[Mk44]

I'm also considering the sr22 after shooting a friend's sr22. It's a SWEET 22 pistol. Has good weight to it. Feels good in the hand.

The mark lV is a very nice pistol as well. Seen a bunch of guys use it in .22 target matches.
Would love to get one in s/s fluted.

I have too many wants. Lol

 

[togmaster]

If it's strictly a range toy I would go with the Mark IV. The guys that use them for bullseye do it for a reason.

 

[nortatoga]

The sr22 is a very popular 22 pistol at my Club! I myself have a Ruger MK II for about 10 years now, really good shooter bitch to take apart to clean ( I hear the MK IV's are easier now) But my Bullseye pistol is a Browning Buckmark Contour with a 7.25" barrel, really like shooting this pistol!!

 

[HEX]

There's so many people touting the SR22 these days, and I honestly have to say that I don't really 'get it'

What I mean is, I'm all for people having whatever gun makes them happy, but guns like the SR22 sort fall into a category of somewhat nebulous purpose to me personally.
I say that simply because it doesn't match any other gun's ergonomics directly for less expensive training purposes. Of course shooting any gun is good for training overall, but if I was going to get a .22lr that wasn't really classed a 'target' gun then it would probably be something that specifically mimics another gun I had in a larger caliber. For instance, I do have a full size 1911 in .22lr , which I consider decent for training on handling other 1911 style pistols and is much more affordable than shooting .45acp all day.

I'm not saying the SR22 can't be accurate, but it just doesn't have 'target/competition/etc' style features and trigger and such. For me, I'd be far more interested in 22s more suited to 'Bullseye type' precision shooting over something like the SR22.
My go to is the Beretta Neos but that's because mine is extremely modified (as I was once sort of internet famous for doing the work on it to a glass crisp trigger under 2#) and I don't think I'd be as apt to recommend that one anymore though to others because the post-recall models are much harder to do the trigger work on effectively and the stock triggers are kind of blah. Still though , even a stock Neos trigger is built for more target accuracy type shooting than something like the SR22.

If I was buying a .22lr pistol today and had a high budget , I'd go for something like an S&W Mod 41. In a lower budget Something in the Ruger MKIII series. To each their own though.

 

[Phazer]

If you're interested in something that can be used to train for the form factor and most of the size of a compact SD pistol (like the S&W Shield), take a look at the M&P Compact 22. It's a fun pistol to play with. It isn't a target pistol. But, it is certainly usable as a trainer:

Product: M&P®22 Compact

 

[Phazer]

I do have a full size 1911 in .22lr , which I consider decent for training on handling other 1911 style pistols and is much more affordable than shooting .45acp all day.

That is exactly why I acquired my "Colt" Walther 1911 Rail Gun 22LR pistol:

COLT GOVERNMENT 1911 A1 RAIL GUN - Walther Arms

 

[HEX]

@Phazer : The M&P22 compact has a smaller form factor overall than the standard M&P line, right ? That always struck me as an oddity and a missed opportunity because if they just made if the same size/ergos it could be more specifically designated as a training gun.

 

[Phazer]

@Phazer : The M&P22 compact has a smaller form factor overall than the standard M&P line, right ? That always struck me as an oddity and a missed opportunity because if they just made if the same size/ergos it could be more specifically designated as a training gun.

You are correct.

It is about 85% the size of the Shield.

My middle-school aged daughter really enjoyed using one in Florida (since I cannot shoot with her here in the not-so-great state of New York).

 

[VietnamEraVet]

If you're interested in something that can be used to train for the form factor and most of the size of a compact SD pistol (like the S&W Shield), take a look at the M&P Compact 22. It's a fun pistol to play with. It isn't a target pistol. But, it is certainly usable as a trainer:

Product: M&P®22 Compact

I had this one in addition to the SR22. I liked that it followed the same style as the other M&P's I own, but honestly, it just didn't feel good when shooting. For me, it just felt strange. Too light, and unbalanced? So, I sold it off along with a couple of others, and picked up an S&W Model 460XVR instead.

 

[Saltwater60]

I like those new browning 1911 .22. I think I'll buy one of those next.

 

[JohnD13]

The Ruger MkIV looks really interesting. I have a MkII, which is a great .22, but disassembly is not as smooth as the new model appears to be.

 

[meketrefe]

Walther P22 has been around for a number of years and it is very reliable with all kinds of ammo.
I also have the S&W that is also made in Germany like the P22 and I can tell they share a nr. of parts.
Because I shoot the walther I barely shot the S&W but I had zero problems with either one of them.
I had other 22LR pistols but these have been reliable and most fun specially because they have
the same feel and features as the larger caliber counterparts. And they are accurate too.
They say they are made in Germany by Walther including the M&P. Not sure what umarex has
to do with it but if they do something it must be good German work that is for sure.

 

[Podmonkey]

From what I've read, and again I have,not verified this for my self, the walther p22 and s&w m&p 22 are actually produced by Umarex whom manufacturers air guns and airsoft stuff. I have read that the .22s the put out are on the chintzy side in quality. I do completely get what HEX has to say regarding the SR22. For my purpose though I'm looking for a strictly recreational .22. I don't need it to be a training aid, I can afford to practice with my defensive guns. And to those that have the above mentioned guns I mean no offense, Thats just what I have read on the interwebs. Maybe its bull crackers, that's why I'm asking folks here who know.

 

[Phauxtoe]

i am big Fan of the Ruger 22/45, can't go wrong with it.
TONS of upgrades and shares parts with your 10/22

 

[Catskillkid]

Get a Sig Sauer Mosquito. Just kidding avoid that like the plague. The one gun that Sig really did screw up on.

 

[Kwalsh]

The sr22 is to pistols what the 10/22 is to rifles, my wife has both and loves them

 

[Different Drummer]

Don't think I saw a revolver mentioned. I owned a SR 22 and it was a fine pistol. I did not sell because I had complaints or problems with the pistol.
However, at some point I took a turn and felt that a .22 handgun should be a revolver. No worries with a revolver in regards to what will cycle and eject as with a semi. They virtually fire anything. Mini Mags, sub sonic including snake shot. So my choice would be whatever 9 shot revolver floats your boat.
I am partial to my made in 1956 High Standard. 3 inch .22. It is 9 shot, aluminum frame, quality steel barrel and cylinder. Functions just as it was designed to.

 

[Bananabandit]

What did @Podmonkey g with

 

[Podmonkey]

Nothing yet. I haven't been home yet! I'll probably go with the SR22 since it's a cheap and reliable plinker, just like my 10/22.

 

[Darth]

Walther P22 has been around for a number of years and it is very reliable with all kinds of ammo.
I also have the S&W that is also made in Germany like the P22 and I can tell they share a nr. of parts.
Because I shoot the walther I barely shot the S&W but I had zero problems with either one of them.
I had other 22LR pistols but these have been reliable and most fun specially because they have
the same feel and features as the larger caliber counterparts. And they are accurate too.
They say they are made in Germany by Walther including the M&P. Not sure what umarex has
to do with it but if they do something it must be good German work that is for sure.

Umarex owns Walther. They have 2 plants. One in Ulm, and one in Cologne.

Ulm makes the "real" Walthers like the P99, P99c, PPQ, PPS, etc.

Cologne makes the "others", like the P22, PK380, CCP, etc. As well as the Sig Mosquito and M&P22 and other "branded products."

Not a fan of Cologne Walthers.

 

[Podmonkey]

Umarex owns Walther. They have 2 plants. One in Ulm, and one in Cologne.

Ulm makes the "real" Walthers like the P99, P99c, PPQ, PPS, etc.

Cologne makes the "others", like the P22, PK380, CCP, etc. As well as the Sig Mosquito and M&P22 and other "branded products."

Not a fan of Cologne Walthers.

Built to airsoft standards is what I've heard, that is to say, light and flimsy.

 

[Uzi]

My Walther pk380 is built just fine. I bought it because I like the way the two tone model looks very much, but It's very reliable and shoots anything I put in it. It was my first handgun and has seen much use. No it's not built like an airsoft gun wtf?... and it has Walther along with their ULM markings on my pk380 as well. I could give a shit what factory it's made in. If Walther represents a product with their own name and markings and sell it, They're representing those products for what their brand as a whole is. Deeeerrrrppp.