22 pistols...school me

[juiceweezl]

What's the best way to go for a semi auto? Use would be occasional plinking, and largely for my kids (8 and 12). I also think it makes a nice add to the SHTF collection as I have a few thousand rounds of 22 and am building up more. Please share your thoughts on which ones you like. I'm looking to get 2 or 3 and would spend up to $1200 or so all together. TIA

-B

[BMCSean]

I have an M&P and love it. I have shot a lot of different .22 pistols and feel like it has a good balance of accuracy and comfort. Mags can be hard to come by for it though.

[CJ]

I went on a campaign a few years ago to attempt to try all the big brand names, and bought a whole lot of .22 semi autos doing it. In my opinion the best .22 pistol out there for reliability, accessories, flexibility, weight, accuracy, and value is the Ruger 22/45 lite.

The buckmarks are good guns as well, but not quite as flexible. There have been a few new additions that I don't have experience with, but for overall excellent everything you can't go wrong with the lite. They are the only pistol I've ever seen that can shoot suppressed indefinitely. A simple rule to follow is guns with more reciprocating mass (larger bolts, slides, etc.) are going to be less reliable. A .22 only has so much energy, and that mass saps the power (and reliability) out of the action, and that becomes much more evident as they get dirty (especially suppressed). The advantage the ruger pistols have is a small, light bolt. They also take 1911 grips so you can have any combination you want, and endless accessories.

[2000 vert]

Another vote for the ruger. I have a mark III 22/45 target model. I bought it after shooting CJ's at a gtg. Never thought i would would spend that much on a .22, but worth every penny. I love the gun. I know several people with this gun and the only negative i have ever heard is, they are a pain too take down the first few times u do it. Also my 13 year old daughter shoots the shit out of it. Its her favorite gun.

[YALE]

22/45 Lite or threaded barrel Buckmark.

[2000 vert]

I am really kicking myself now for not getting the lite. At the time i was "i wont ever get a can". Now i want a can.

[LANTIRN]

Avoid the sig mosquitoe is my only advice.

[CJ]

And anything umarex, and Walther p22's.

[NoClassic]

I really like the 22/45 but for kids I would at least try the m&p 22 compact.

The grip size is really small and it weighs a good bit less than even the 22/45 lite. Mine has also ran like a champ on 15 or so different types of ammo.

[YALE]

And anything umarex, and Walther p22's.

I'm pretty sure those and all the Sig 22's (including the Mosquito, 1911, and 938) are Umarex now, too.

[YALE]

Fuck me! I forgot to warn you off of the 938 .22, OP. Don't do it. They're garbage.

[CJ]

There's a sig 938 .22?

[Cooter]

I've only run a few mags through my 22/45 lite, but it's a sweet little shooter

[YALE]

There's a sig 938 .22?

Yep, and I really hate it.

[CJ]

Yep, and I really hate it.

Lol just saw it. They make .22 conversions too. I was curious to see how much they wanted for the threaded 938 barrels. $238 is pretty f'ing ridiculous for a 3" barrel, that's a shame. I think it would be fun.