My vote goes to the Beretta Model 70S (All Steel Version) sweetest, fastest, smoothest, and most reliable .22LR Semi-Auto Pistol I ever owned.

It's very simple to compare them, and the $300/400 Ruger Marks win every time over your $800/900 S&W 41.

Sorry if this bothers you, but it's true.

22/45

I have a MKII Comp Slab Side and a MKIII Hunter with the VQ trigger set and red dots on them. With bulk ammo I'm hitting golf balls at 100 yrds @ 1 out of eight shots standing, a 10" plate 9 out of ten times consistently at 75 yrds standing, and 10 out of 10 at 50 yrds. I wouldn't get a different 22 pistol for accuracy.
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Looking at the numbers in the poll, I think the relative percentages of pistols owned is confounding the data.  After all, not many people are voting for an S&W 41, but then not a high percentage of people have ever shot one, let alone owned one.   The Ruger on the other hand picks up votes because more people have shot and owned them and have had generally good experiences with them - but that still leaves them with little to compare them with relative to the other pistols in the poll.   The fact that almost 8% of the responders picked the P22, suggests that probably about 8% of the responders have never shot any other .22 LR semi-auto pistol.  Jus sayin'.

The 1911 conversion is on the bottom of the pile at about 3%, but I suspect that's because there are numerous 1911 conversions out there, from some very high end Day conversions to some very cheaply made 1911 conversions, and lumping them all together is like asking someone if red cars or blue cars are more reliable.  

With well made 1911 conversions, when I hear complaints about reliability, it's more often than not because it is not properly fitted to the frame or to the slide release pin, and/or has a poor quality or worn out magazine.   That's one of the advantages of the Kimber - as long as you keep the magazine clean, it's extremely reliable and durable.

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I like the Ruger Mk I /II / III series as much as anyone, but none of the Rugers I have owned have ever been the most reliable .22LR pistols I have owned.   They are notoriously magazine sensitive and once adequate tension on the feed lips is lost, they start sticking rounds into the corner between the top of the receiver and the barrel.  

I used to use a MK II Target in the .22 LR class at pin and plate shoots, but I got really tired of spending afternoons shooting my way back into the running through the losers bracket after a failure to feed a round.

I switched to a Kimber 1911 conversion kit that I put on a retired 1911 frame.  Once properly fitted to the slide release, it has been virtually 100% reliable.  I can get a failure to fully cycle with a standard velocity round in very cold temperatures, until the pistol warms up, but in warm weather it's relentlessly reliable with SV or HV ammo.

I also have a CZ 75 Kadet that needed a heavier hammer spring to avoid occasional light strikes, but since then it's ran about 1500 rounds or so) with no pistol related failures.

I've been quite satisfied with my Beretta Neos; ugly as sin but eats up any cheap .22 ammo I find.

Ruger Mark I 678 is my most accurate, dependable, and reliable .22 semi-auto.  But then again, it's the only one I own.

Ruger Mark I II III with original grip angle.  Also with Williams fire sights.  Very accurate and totally reliable.  CCI 40 gr bricks with over 7000 round no jams.  S&W 41 is very pretty but just not as good of a shooter.  Big part for me is the grip angle and poor ergonomics fat and uncomfortable grips) relative to the Ruger Mark III with factory hunter wood grips.
Update: If buying today I would try out the Mark IV.

I have a Ruger Mark II but I couldn't vote for it. Nothing beats my Hammerli 208, the most accurate .22LR on the face of the earth.

I do have some very nice Browning BuckMarks.    I prefer them over the Rugers for  their triggers.  

The S&W41 beats them.   They are much better guns.    I love mine.

If I could find a Benelli or  Hammerli, I would grab one in a heart beat.

I need to go shopping with this guy.       That's a great price on a S&W41.

Hey guys and gals, first post here though I've been reading through topics for quite some time.
I have my grandpa's old second series Colt that I LOVE. Sweet shooter, great handling, awesome trigger break and reset, shoots like a laser from God's finger.  The best 22 handgun I've ever held.  
That being said, I'm looking for something to replace it with.  My grandpa's had it since new in 1950.  I remember seeing him carry it holstered in a US Army leather 1911 holster since I was a little kid.  This pistol really means a lot to me.  I shoot the heck out of it and I use it to teach new pistol shooters and get more experienced pistoleers (and myself) back on target after hours of shooting bigger centerfires when we start to notice misses.  I want a new 22 pistol just to keep this one from wearing out before I decide to pass it down to my daughter.  My girlfriend has a Ruger SR22 that has been utterly reliable but its just too small for my hands and i hate its trigger.  My aunt has a little Llama 1911 22 that is pretty sweet too but has way too many stoppages even with CCI mini mags and stingers.  I don't mind burning more expensive ammo for plinking.  I would like to get something a little bigger, all metal and with adjustable sights.  Thinking Buckmark target, CZ Kadet, or the Browning 1911 22.  Any recommendations?  I have a Sig P220 and a CZ75B SA I could throw a conversion kit on but I've always been one to buy another gun rather than replace the opportunity to do so by getting a conversion kit.  

Who has the M&P 22?  I know they exist but have yet to see one in person.

For anywhere near their cost; I believe it's  the Ruger MKlll Competition or MKlll Hunter.

You'll need to replace the front sight on the Hunter with a MKlll Comp. sight and the Vee type rear sight blade with a notched blade to shoot with any great precision, but those pistols can consistently put rounds into an extremely tiny hole at 25 yards.

IIRC, the sight parts cost me about nine bucks.

I mostly shoot Aguila 40 grain copper plated solid round nose in mine with excellent results.

After several thousand rounds, the trigger becomes very good to excellent, but not superb.

S&W 41, but right behind it is the Sig/Hammerli Trailside and it's about half the price. Very cool pistols.

Reliability wise I haven't found a 22 pistol that touches either of the M&P22c's I have owned. They are by no means target pistols though.

I've had both the Ruger, High Standard and S&W 41, needless to say the Smith has been with me for 30 years the 3 Rugers are gone. All you have to do is try to break down and reassemble the Rugers or High Standard, then the Smith. As for Reliability, accuracy and ergomics I don't think many people have truly gave the 41 a good run. My sons (4 of them) all used it and a conservative estimate of rounds down it's pipe is probably over 20,000. Was it worth the 3Xs over what the Rugers were when purchased, to me it was. It's one of my hand down to one of my sons when it's time for the dirt nap guns.

Is it made of unubtanium?

Ruger Mark III for the win.  Tried other but they were not as reliable as the Ruger. Also I like the grip angle of the steel frame Mark III.

High Standards are awesome. However, they have to be cleaned every so often (300 rds for mine). They're not Glocks in that sense.

Hands down Ruger MK IV.

Just picked up MKIV Target so I hope it carries on the torch and legacy, also picked up the LCRx .22 as my lgs had one and I couldn't resist when I saw it.  Going to take them out tomorrow with my P320. Hopefully I can shoot the MK as accurate as my Buckmark.  The mk feels so solid, rugged and very well made.

I'd have to vote for my Ruger Mark ii.
I got it from my wife's grandfather shortly before he passed away. The serial number is a 1983 production. Has a lot of wear, has been shot and taken apart so many times the disassembly is very easy. It's very accurate, I mainly put CCI mini mags through it but have not problems with other brands either.  Very impressive accuracy have shot it out to 75 yards. Has the Volquatrsen Accurizing kit installed.

my p22 sucks.  I cant get thru a mag without some kind of hang up.  I  stupidly bought a veridian laser for it and had to adjust it all the way to the left.  the laser points one way and the sights point another.  The sights and the laser dont align.  It has sucked to the max.  I love the feel of the gun.  They are either good or bad.

Ruger MK lV

MK IV

My experience with a SIG/Hammerli Trailside is it was puchased brand new in 2006. It was the worst handgun ever owned by me and I advise not buying one.

Mark IV with a volquartson trigger kit and you have the best of the best.
The Ruger Mark series is the industry standard and the after market is there to support it.

Welp, polls over.  That means I can name whatever gun I want :D

As much as it pains me to say it, my $250 sig P250 in 22lr is the most reliable 22lr I've ever shot.  Its a long and smooth double action.  Trigger doesn't compare to a single action 1911 or Ruger with an aftermarket trigger kit in it.  The P250 is not picky about ammo and mine has never had a single malfunction.  I enjoy shooting the Ruger 22/45 more, but I gotta give credit where its due.  Fucking Sig is more reliable.

I used to have a Sig Mosquito.  Damn thing malfunctioned on me somehow at least once a mag.  Usually failure to extract.  I sold it for what I had in it after lots of time fiddling with it.

I know have an M&P 22 compact.  It eats everything I feed it for about 250 rounds, whereupon the slide starts getting gunked up and it short-strokes.  A simple cleaning and it's good to go for another 250-300.  One of these days I'll put a suppressor on it.

I'm so happy to have a good .22 pistol now.

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ruger mk 1 target 6 1/2 tapered barrel
I had one 40 years ago and got rid of it
since then I've owned probably 10 handguns in 22lr and got rid of all of them for various reasons
recently I found one 1972 unfired and snatched it up
I'll keep this one because it is the most accurate of all of them

I won’t own an of the umarex pot-metal garbage guns. I know that many people like the p22 and other umarex made 22 LR but I won’t buy one.

Now this leaves you with little to choose from unless you want something that looks like a Ruger mark IV. The Ruger SR22 is aluminum, as is the Taurus TX22 (if you can find one with a barrel that wasn’t rifled with a wood chipper. You can also go with a Keltec P17 is you can find one.

I bought a TX22 and like many reports the barrel rifling is awful. Waiting on a replacement barrel. I also found a Keltec P17 but haven’t been to the range yet.

For me it is my Ruger MKII Standard. Has fed&fired anything I have put in it so far. I can usually pop fist size dirt clods on the 50yd berm about a third of the time with it.

I love my S & W Compact in 22LR


https://www.2a.email/post/2a-email-reviews-my-s-w-m-p-22-lr-compact-recommended

I have a Ruger Mk II Government.  It is the last firearm I would ever get rid of.   It has been totally dependable for over 35 years.   It has been fired thousands of times.  If you saw it, you would think it was brand new.  Trigger is outstanding.  With CCI ammo, it is 100% reliable.   With other brands, not so much.  

I also own a Mk II  22/45 for doing 1911 practice sessions.  It too is 100% with CCI ammo.  

They are a pain in the ass to reassemble, but they always go back together eventually.

New grips for my 71

Attached File

S&W Victory is way underrated compared to the Ruger models.

As far as pure fun, my TX22s are a ton of fun, as is the Sig .22 I'm sure.

My Ruger MK II bought in 1986, is dead-nuts reliable and very accurate. I don't have much experience with any other .22 pistols. I have never done anything to it but shoot it and clean it.

Have owned and used the
Glock 17 with the Ceiner conversion
Beretta 21A Bobcat
Smith & Wesson M&P
Ruger Single Six with changeable cylinder for 22Mag
Charter Arms Pathfinder Target
Ruger Mark I
Ruger Mark II
Ruger Mark III
Ruger 22/45 Mark II 5" Bull Barrel
Ruger 22/45 Mark III 5.5" Bull Barrel
Ruger 22/45 Mark IV 5.5" Bull Barrel

The Ruger Mark IV is hands down the easy one to take down and clean and probably the most accurate of the semis.
The Charter Arms Pathfinder is the best one to teach new students and easy to clean for revolvers, and very accurate.
The Ruger Single Six and the Charter Arms are stone dead on reliable and have never had a problem that was not the ammunition and will work with the cheapest wax coated lead round nose ammo.
The Ruger Mark series has always been very reliable with maybe one in a thousand ammo related issues unless you dont keep them clean and oiled.

I passed down my Ruger Mark III 22/45 to my youngest son, with my only dislike was the safety and bolt release that were hard to manipulate with the factory parts.
I boughtt the new to me Ruger 22/45 Mark IV for the easy takedown and the newer safety and bolt release now being easier to use and much improved.

Have never used or owned the Browning or the Colt, but have seen them in my pistol classes and never had a problem with them.
Have used the Ruger Mark III Target 5.5" Bull Barrel with hundreds of students and never had an issue.

The favorite pick of my students has always been the Smith and Wesson M&P, Ruger Mark III 5.5 Bull Barrel and the Charter Arms Pathfinder Revolver.
Its hard to go wrong with any of these time tested handguns.

So my recommendation is to try either a friends or rental handguns and see what fits your needs and your grip the best and practice.
Avoid the waxy lead only ammo in semiautos, but it works fine in revolvers and better ammo usually works better in all guns.

Good luck and God Bless!!

I have been shooting 22 pistols for about 38 years.  22 is probably my favorite caliber just because I can spend an afternoon at the range and not take out a second mortgage.

I have owned and put a decent amount of rounds thru the following:

Ruger mk I, II, III, Iv lite models/ volquartsen uppers, and tac sol uppers, and 22/45
Glock 44
Ruger lcp lite
Sig mosquito
Beretta Neos
GSG firefly
GSG 1911
Colt umarex 1911
Browning 1911
Advantage arms g17 kit
Tac sol Glock kit
S&w victory
high standards
The fake Glock that I can’t remember its name
Taurus tx22
CZ 75 Kadet
Buckmarks
M&P 22
Walther p22
All the varieties of 22 revolvers
S&W 617
And some I’m sure I have forgotten.

I’ll summarize my experiences briefly.  One dudes experience, so doesn’t mean much. But, I shoot *alot* and mainly 22-9-38-223.

Ruger mk series ~ they all have issues.  I flatly don’t believe people when they say theirs has never mucked up.  It’s rimfire ammo. It screws up, period.  That being said, if the pick of the list they’re good and usually functional fine.  It’s 22 so it will misfire, not work the slide, be OOB, stovepipe and all that jazz. It’s expected with 22, but the rugers it seems to happen less. If I’m picking one series over the other: mk IV.  

The Glock conversions - all have issues.  But they’re fun for the range.  I’ve never found one that will run reliably at length.

GSG stuff is pot metal.  If you shoot it at the range a few times a year- great. Any serious use it’s going to break. But you didn’t buy is for durability, you bought it to mimic a full size gun.

All the other ones I listed a substandard to the Ruger mk series.  Just my opinion.  If you’re going to buy a semi auto- buy a Ruger mk.  Just don’t expect it to be 100% all the time.  With one big exception- the Taurus Tx22 was actually pretty rad when I owned one. I had about 1200 thru it with not a lot of hiccups, but ultimately I sold it to fund something else.  I probably should have kept it and will pick up another one day.

After market crap-
Is usually just that. Crap.   Some guys marketing gimmick.  You don’t need all of that to shoot well.  If you want to shoot well, shoot often.   Most of that stuff is just garbage and then people posturbate to justify spending tons of money on crap.  All the accuracy kits in the world won’t fix you not shooting your guns a bunch. Most of the Ruger mk stuff is just garbage, or over hyped. The exception I’ve found is the extractor.  Most of the mk extractors are bad and need to be replaced.  

Ammo-
Federal, wolf, and Eley.  I don’t bother with much of anything else except the occasional boxes of minimags if I can find them on sale.  All the federal stuff is usually good. Wolf and Eley are always good. Half the joy is experimenting with which Eley fits best with what gun you like to shoot.   I really enjoy Eley.  I know it’s pricey but treat yo self.  Wolf, greasy as it is, is tops as well.  

For me the absolute best hands down 22 pistol- is a s&w 617.  I’ve got one with over 14k on it, and another because I wanted two.  It just works.  Change the front sight out, buy grips your hands like, and get some speedloaders.  It will be a fun you’ll pass down to a kid.  

To people who have chosen to buy a Volquartsen .22 Scorpion Mini or Black Mamba mini (for suppressor host), what are the differences?  I'm not seeing much but maybe missed something.

I wanted to buy a threaded barrel but alas, no joy.  Agree it is a great little gun.

Biggest difference is how they're field stripped.  The Mini Mamba uses the MKIV platform which is a simple pushbutton to take it apart compared to the Scorpion that's a little more involved to take apart and assemble.

Just what I needed to know..thanks