The Gun Digest Book of .22 Rimfire. James E. House
any other mass-produced pistol. Having experience with two of these fine pistols, this author can attest to the fact that groups smaller than one-inch at 50 feet on an indoor range are the norm with factory sights when using appropriate ammunition. There is also a target version that has a 7.25-inch fluted barrel. List prices range from $279 for the camper model to $586 for the target model. The Silhouette version comes without sights but has an accessory rail for mounting optional sights.
Ruger’s Mark II Standard model is one of the most durable and dependable rimfire autoloaders made. It is also a beautiful piece.
Labeled by Ruger as “The number one 22 pistol in the world,” the Ruger Mark II (and the recently introduced Mark III) may well be just that. The Ruger Mark II was introduced in 1982, but its forerunner was introduced in 1949 and the Ruger autoloader has been in production ever since. More than a dozen variants of this enormously popular pistol were available as the newer Mark III went into production. The Standard model comes in either blue or stainless versions with fixed sights and having list prices of $299 and $390, respectively. Available barrel lengths include 4.75 and 6 inches. Several target models are available including those known as Target, Government, and Competition models all of which have adjustable, target-style sights. List prices range from $365 to $555 depending on the specific version. These versions with adjustable sights are furnished drilled and tapped so that a Weaver-type scope base can be attached. One target model that is available in both blue and stainless steel is produced with a 10-inch bull barrel, and it weighs approximately 51 ounces. The Ruger autoloader has established an enviable reputation for reliability and durability in the more than half a century that it has been in production. The onemillionth pistol was produced in 1979 and total production is well over 3 million. Another successful autoloader from Ruger is the version known as the 22/45. This model features a polymer grip frame that has the size and angle that duplicate the feel of the famous Colt 1911.
For target or silhouette shooting, the Brown Buck Mark 5.5 Target is a superb choice. It is equipped with target sights and a scope rail.
The Smith & Wesson Model 41 is the premier autoloader for high-level target shooting.
After production of over 3 million Mark II pistols, the first Ruger Mark III pistols became available in 2004. Major changes include safety features like a loaded chamber indicator, a magazine disconnect, and a key lock system. Late in 2004, the stainless steel Mark III 678 Hunter model appeared that features a 6.88-inch fluted barrel. The receiver is drilled and tapped for attaching a scope rail that comes with the pistol. Another version of the Mark III is known as the Model 512, which has a blue finish and a 5.5-inch heavy barrel (list price $382-483 depending on features). The Model 22/45 (list price $305) is also being upgraded to become a Mark III. The final 1,000 of the Mark II pistols were shipped in November 2004 carrying the “One of One Thousand” logo on top of the receiver.
Kimber markets an autoloader that is a clone of the Colt 1911, and it is available in 22 LR and 17 Mach 2 calibers. The slide is made of aluminum in the 22 LR pistols so the weight is only 23 ounces. In the 17 HMR pistols, a steel slide is used so the weight is approximately 31 ounces. Famous for fine centerfire pistols, CZ also produces a 22 LR version of the Model 75 known as the Cadet.
The SIG Trailside is a sport pistol of convenient size and weight.
In addition to the Model 41 target model, Smith & Wesson has an extensive line of 22 LR pistols in the 22A and 22S series that is available in various finishes with barrel lengths of 4, 5.5, and 7 inches, and the barrels can be easily interchanged. The 22A models have alloy frames and weigh around 30 ounces. They have list prices in the $283-355 range depending on options selected. The 22S models are made with stainless steel barrels and frames which gives weights of over 40 ounces. All of the 22A and 22S versions have scope rails that accept Weaver-type rings so a wide variety of optional sighting equipment can be mounted, and the accuracy displayed by these fine pistols makes them suitable for hunting. With the wide selection of options in finish, grips, and other options available, almost any taste can be satisfied by one of the Smith & Wesson pistols.
Beretta markets an extensive series of pistols known as the Model U22 Neos. Barrel lengths of 4.5, 6, and 7.5 inches are available in several finishes. List prices are in the $310 to $365 range with the target version listed at $440. Beretta also produces the Model 87 Target, a high-quality piece that has a suggested price of $708. Another Beretta model that is more conventional in its appearance is the Cheetah, which comes with a choice of 3.8 or 4.4-inch barrels. The Cheetah can be fired in double-action mode for the first shot. Sigarms markets an interesting pistol known as the Trailside. It is available with 4.5 and 6-inch barrels with corresponding weights of 28 and 30 ounces. Retail prices are in the $350 to $400 range. High Standard has produced rimfire autoloaders for many years. Current models include several target versions known as the Victor, Trophy, Olympic, and Citation, which have retail list prices in the $750 to $800 range. These are pistols that have established an enviable reputation.
With a 3.4-inch barrel, the Walther P22 is a compact, lightweight sport pistol.
One of the recent additions to the lineup of 22 autoloaders is the Walther P22. This pistol is designed with the look and feel of the famous Walther P99 centerfire pistol that is widely used in law enforcement and military work. With a polymer frame, the basic P22, which has a 3.4-inch barrel, weighs only about 18 ounces. The target model, which has a 5-inch barrel and adjustable sights weighs approximately 20 ounces. Both models have many unique features one of which is a replaceable back strap that can be interchanged to alter the grip size. The P22 also comes with a built-in lock that requires a specially designed key to place the pistol in a firing configuration. Dual safety levers are mounted on the top of the receiver at the rear, but they do not function as decocking levers. Moreover, barrels of different length are interchangeable to convert a sport model into the target version.
There are also several compact pistols available in 22 LR that are intended for carry or defense. These include the tiny Beretta Bobcat with a 2.4-inch barrel and a weight of only about 11.5 ounces. The Bobcat has a list price of approximately $265. Taurus produces a small double-action-only (DAO) model known as the PT 22. It has a 2.75-inch barrel, weighs only 12.3 ounces, has a list price of slightly over $200.
Frequently, one reads on the chat room of some internet forum how the writer just loves a particular handgun. In the next post, another participant tells how his specimen of the same model jams frequently. It may be that the first writer owns a particularly good sample while the other got one made on Friday as they used to say. Part of the difference may lie in the types of ammunition being used in the two pistols. Certain types of pistols function much better with some types of ammunition than with others. For example, some older pistols were designed to handle standard-velocity loads by making use of a rather soft recoil spring. Modern high-velocity loads should not be used in such models. Still other pistols seem to function best with high velocity loads. Ammunition such as CCI Stinger and Quik-Shok is produced with a case length that is approximately 0.1 inch longer than the standard 22 LR case. It should come as no surprise that such ammunition might not feed reliably in certain semiautomatic pistols.
If a rimfire pistol fails to function flawlessly, there are four things to check in seeking a remedy for the situation. First, make sure that the action is clean and properly (but not overly!) lubricated. During firing, autoloaders have unburned powder deposited in the action that can result in enough gunk so that the bolt does not cycle smoothly. Second, check the loading ramp that leads into the chamber. It should be smooth and correctly shaped. Third, check the lips on the magazine. If a magazine is dropped on a hard surface, it is possible for the lips to become bent.