Help me choose a .22lr plinker

PVolk · 02-07-2013, 14:01

I've been wanting to pick up a .22lr handgun for a while now but I haven't been able to make up my mind on which one to get.

I got it narrowed down to the Beretta U22 Neos, Ruger 22/45, and Smith & Wesson 22a.

I've shot the Beretta about a year ago and I liked it alright. I've never shot the Ruger, but it gets great reviews. And the Smith is the cheapest of the 3, but I know very little about it. My LSG has all three in stock and they are all $300 or less, which is the budget I'm giving myself. I'm leaning toward the Ruger or Beretta.

I'm open to opinions and suggestions.

Pics because I'm a picture whore:

cysoto · 02-07-2013, 14:16

The Beretta and the Smith and nowhere near on the same league as the Ruger...

Get yourself the Ruger (or a Browning Buckmark) and you will be happy.

BTW finding .22LR ammo to shoot your new gun will be no easy task.

PVolk · 02-07-2013, 14:34

Thanks for the input.

I probably should have also mentioned that one of the most important factors needs to be reliability. I'd like one that cycles just about any brand/type of ammo I could throw at it. I recently rented a Buckmark at the range and it was very picky about what I fead it. I had extraction issues about every 4 shots and it was really annoying.

I already have a small stockpile of various brands of .22lr because I also have a 10/22. And my LGS still has a bunch in stock as well.

PVolk · 02-07-2013, 14:36

What sets the Ruger ahead of the Beretta?

kooman · 02-07-2013, 16:16

i would bet you had problems with the buckmark because it was an abused range gun, both the buckmark and ruger are top notch firearms, the neos is just plain ugly as hell and the smith doesn't live up to the smith and wesson name.

**Jason D** · 02-07-2013, 16:32

The Ruger is greatly upgradeable.
Mine newer MKIII had some teething problems when it was new. That was traced to the casings ejecting off from the magazine. It was a quick fix. Now the Ruger will feed and fire any ammo on the market but the mexican ammo with no powder in the casings.

It will fire both high speed and regular velocity ammunition with no problems.

oneuglygun · 02-07-2013, 16:42

Just my opinion, the Buckmark and Ruger are equal in quality and accuracy. The Smith 22A would be next in line and lastly The Beretta. Easy to clean, the 22A. More dissasembly required for the Ruger and Browning. Best used, or trade in value , 1 Ruger. 2 Browning. 3 22A. The only one I no longer own out of the 4 mentioned is the Beretta. Just never could grow on me. The one we shoot the most is the 22A.

vafish · 02-07-2013, 17:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by cysoto

The Beretta and the Smith and nowhere near on the same league as the Ruger...

Get yourself the Ruger (or a Browning Buckmark) and you will be happy.

Agree completely.

Quote:

BTW finding .22LR ammo to shoot your new gun will be no easy task.

Disagree. I just ordered a case of .22LR, it was in stock at several dealers. As long as you want Ely Red or Lapua Midas.

oppi27 · 02-07-2013, 17:08

I love the ruger, I've put thousands of rounds through mine.

never enough · 02-07-2013, 17:30

Ruger all day!

PVolk · 02-07-2013, 17:36

I'm really surprised the Beretta is ranking last. I was dead-set on that one like a week ago...

I'm going to check out the Ruger again tomorrow. I'll probably be taking it home.

KingWalleye · 02-07-2013, 17:41

One more vote for Ruger MKI-II-III's.

You can configure these guns ten different ways to Sunday and they are built to last a lifetime. (or two)

caponec2 · 02-07-2013, 17:54

smith 617?

kooman · 02-07-2013, 17:55

fat chicks and mopeds and the neos are in the same catagory if you get my drift.

jucs · 02-07-2013, 17:56

S&w m&p 22

JaPes · 02-07-2013, 18:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by jucs

S&w m&p 22

The S&W M&P 22 is a great training analog for it's center fire 9mm & 40 S&W cousins. Mine has been 100% reliable with multiple brands of bulk .22lr ammo. It's easy to field strip & reassemble. I really like mine. That being said, it's no Ruger MK-series .22lr. The Ruger MK-series .22lr is inherently more accurate than the M&P 22.

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ronin.45 · 02-07-2013, 19:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by cysoto

The Beretta and the Smith and nowhere near on the same league as the Ruger...

Get yourself the Ruger (or a Browning Buckmark) and you will be happy.

BTW finding .22LR ammo to shoot your new gun will be no easy task.

Agreed.

uaengineer · 02-07-2013, 21:58

Buckmark FTW. Never had a problem with it.

BenjiEDF · 02-07-2013, 22:19

Go with the Ruger and if you get the 22/45 try to get one with the replaceable grip panels because it's way more comfortable.

http://www.ruger.com/products/2245Target/models.html

The MKIII is great too (same gun but with metal frame and more aggressive grip angle). I have the standard MKIII with the tapered barrel, I love it.

JohnP82 · 02-08-2013, 07:32

Another vote for the Ruger. Great gun!

PVolk · 02-08-2013, 19:50

Well, I bought the 22/45 today.

First thing I did when I got home was disassemble it just to learn how to do it. It came apart fairly easy, but wouldn't go back together at all. The hammer kept interfering with the top of the mainspring housing. I finally got it back together, but now the gun is non-functioning. And the mainspring housing won't come back out. It's been a bit of a nightmare to say the least. I'll probably be taking it to a gunsmith tomorrow.

bac1023 · 02-09-2013, 02:07

I have the Beretta and Ruger.

While I like the Neos, I feel you made the right choice. Congrats!

CajunBass · 02-09-2013, 03:14

Duplicate post

CajunBass · 02-09-2013, 03:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by PVolk

Well, I bought the 22/45 today.

First thing I did when I got home was disassemble it just to learn how to do it. It came apart fairly easy, but wouldn't go back together at all. The hammer kept interfering with the top of the mainspring housing. I finally got it back together, but now the gun is non-functioning. And the mainspring housing won't come back out. It's been a bit of a nightmare to say the least. I'll probably be taking it to a gunsmith tomorrow.

What you have done is fairly common. The hammer strut is out of place in the recess where it's supposed to go. You didn't get the hammer far enough forward probably. I've done the same thing, not once, but twice. I even scared up the housing prying on it with a screwdriver. Don't do that.

But I never had to take them to a gunsmith. I just kept "fooling with it" until I got the mainspring out. Turn it over, shake it, wiggle it, and eventually it will open back up. I can't tell you exactly what I did, because I don't know myself.

Then when you get it apart again, follow the direction to the letter. When you get to the part about the letting the hammer fall forward, remember it will not "fall" anywhere. You'll have to push it. Take a pencil or a screwdriver and push the hammer into a more or less vertical position. There is a little strut that dangles down from the hammer. (If you don't get the hammer far enough forward, that strut will get hung up behind a pin in the frame.) In the mainspring there is a little cup shaped recess. That strut has to fit in that cup. Get it out of position, and it will lock up as you described.

Once you get the hammer forward, and get the mainspring back in, point the gun vertically, so that strut dangles loose, then start to close it up. If you don't feel a slight resistance, the hammer strut is out of place. And it should be just a slight resistance, not hard, but not easy. Just a little.

Good luck with it. Once you understand how they work it's a snap to put one back together. It's that first couple of times that get you.

grg3d · 02-09-2013, 05:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason D

The Ruger is greatly upgradeable.
Mine newer MKIII had some teething problems when it was new. That was traced to the casings ejecting off from the magazine. It was a quick fix. Now the Ruger will feed and fire any ammo on the market but the mexican ammo with no powder in the casings.

It will fire both high speed and regular velocity ammunition with no problems.

This^