Been thinking about a hand gun, want to go with .22 for inexpensive ammo. Are there any good, inexpensive semi-automatic handguns available?
You need to spend at least in the $250-300 range for a decent .22lr semi auto. And they are all ammo sensitive. Buy CCI Stingers and most of them function reliably but don't expect to use cheap bulk pack ammo in a semi auto. I just picked up a pristine 1979 H&R 929 .22lr nine shot SA/DA revolver with a 6" barrel. It sat in a safe unused since 1981. The thing shoots great, eats any ammo.
Yeah, I looked at some prices but I don't want to have to research every gun out there to figure out if they are semi or not, because they don't seem to be very forthcoming with this information. Currently looking at a Walther PPQ.
Bought the wifey a a Ruger SR22 last fall for her safety classes and carry. It's a nice little semi auto that has performed flawlessly so far with about 500 rounds of various manufacture through it. Worth checking out at least.
I'm not sure how much they cost now but I have a Ruger Mark 2 that I've had for a long time. It's performed flawlessly.
And so it begins... I have a Walther P-22, nice light little thing. Love to take it hiking. Not too finicky on ammo, but it's flawless with Aguila SSS. Other end of the spectrum is my Ruger KMK 10. 10" bull barrel, stainless. Great shooter but a tad heavy for packing around. So.. Hit the pawn shops for a decent Ruger MK I/ II if you like the grip profile. Those things are almost impossible to wear out. Just my thoughts, I love .22 handgus.- I have an earlier version of BrianK's revolver, very nice shooter. Start buying ammo.
Walther P22 is what the wife has. It is picky about standard velocity stuff. Mini mag and stingers will cycle great
The Heritage Rough Riders are a decent single action 6 shot revolver that come with both a .22lr and a .22 Mag cylinder so you can fire both types of ammo. They can be found for $180 new. I had one years ago and my sons enjoyed plinking with it. I've had numerous .22lr semi auto, bolt and lever action rifles but never a semi auto .22lr pistol. Revolvers slow down the loading and firing process and are therefore good for training youth.
Grizz- didn't see the Walther PPQ offered in .22lr. Were you looking at the P-22? If so, look for the 3.4" BBL versions, the longer ones aren't really longer barrels, just an add-on weighted thing . More hassle than their worth. Keep it simple. Oh yeah- stay away from anything marked -Jennings, Bryco, or their ilk. Sorry, keep wanting to add everything in my head about these- Look for a Ruger MK/II, with a 5.5" bull or tapered barrel, those seem to be the 'go-to' for .22 pistols. My preference would be the bull barrel, it has a nice balance.
www.waltherforums.com Some dispute about the PPQ .22. I didn't read through all of it, but what I did read gave me pause.
Ruger sr22 hands down. Btw...I knew this thread was coming! Just so you know though, 22 ammo is impossible to find in America. Seriously. Ask around. I highly recommend buying the gun locally and only if they will get you 1k plus rounds to go with it because you won't see any more for at least a year I would bet. People are paying over 10 cents a round which is double normal prices
Same here. I picked one up for the mrs a few yrs ago. Great little gun and fits smaller hands. It is definately picky with cheap ammo. But run some cci's or equivalent through it and . That ruger sr22 that Bo just mentioned is also a great gun for the $$$
Walther makes a great 22 the P22 or the mosquito that fits my big hands just fine and Ruger is my favorite I would recommend one of them. Only problem like others have said 22 ammo is next to impossible to find and the last time I saw it the price was astronomical. Ive heard tell of folks finding a little more readily available and the price coming back down to what it was before the insanity.
OK, so the .22 ammo is pretty rare now? When I first posted re:guns a couple months ago everyone was telling me .22 was the way to go.
I've bought some lately from Bass pro. It was normal priced somewhat. There's been lots of bricks posted for $50-60 so over $.10 a round. 9mm is $.30 a round and readily available. If you reload it can be in the $.14-16 a round.
