So I've been wanting to improve my pistol skills, but don't like the idea of throwing $.18 - $.20 down the range with each shot while I'm still very much a novice. Time for a .22 pistol. My gripe with the "traditional" pistols (MK's, Victory, Buckmark, etc) was that they are big...and very heavy. The smaller pistols (P22, SR22) are small (duh) and don't feel nearly the same as my "real guns". I want something that has about the same weight, site radius, etc as my XDM...I just want it to feel the same in my hand weight and size-wise and have very similar sights. I ended up picking up a Ruger 22/45 Lite. It may look drastically different than my XDM but if you close your eyes and pick each one up they feel about the same. If you close your eyes and raise them to a target and open your eyes, they line up about the same...at least for me. I haven't shot it much...just a couple mags to make sure it works as expected, but it seems to be very accurate. Out of the box there are a few things I DO NOT like about this gun. First, the stock front sight post is terrible. It is gray, blends in with the pic rail, and is downright hard to see. Second, the mags don't eject worth a damm...they pop out ever so slightly then you have to pull them out. Third...you can't slingshot the bolt after you insert a fresh mag. I installed a new front sight and some Tandemkross parts to fix all that. Now I'm very happy with how it functions. I don't think I'll ever shoot in a competition...I just want to get comfortable shooting pistols and this seemed like a good way to get there. It may never pay for itself in ammo costs (I figure about 2,500 rounds), but oh well. Here it is. Red fiber front site (same as my XDS). XDM laid on top of it. Sights are in the same position....grip angle the same...trigger nearly in the same position. Mag release is also in pretty much the same position although you can't see it in the picture. With full mags there is only a few ounces difference in weight. The trigger pull is a lot different with a lot more take-up on the XDM, but they break at about the same weight. Bore axis a little taller on the XDM, but not a lot. I will probably get some more aggressive grips for it sometime so it has more bite...the XDM grips feel like mud tires and the Ruger feels like racing slicks in comparison...but my gun $ is all gone for now. Some of you might be thinking...umm yeah that's kinda the point of these things and it isn't exactly a shocker they feel the same...and that's fine. I'm a noob.
I really enjoy my 22/45. I don't have the light version but I did do similar mods for the magazine disconnect and it's a very accurate and enjoyable gun to shoot. My wife enjoys it because it's .22 and it's cheap ammo. I have quite a supply so we can enjoy it without worrying about finding ammo. Although .22 ammo is becoming common around here again. Nice outfit you have there!
I know you've already spent the money, but have you thought about a conversion kit for your XDM? Advantage Arms Secure Online Store: XDM 940-4M Conversion Kit I had one of these for my Glock 23 and really liked it.
