Certainly one of the best .22 auto loading handguns of all time, you cannot go wrong with any version of the little Ruger. This thing is going down as one of the greatest firearms designs of all time. There are many versions to choose from; find the one you like and go for it. You will never regret it.

Not to be argumentative with some of these guys, but longer barrels are not more accurate. The longer sight radius provides an advantage, but the difference there between the 4 1/2" and 6" is all but moot. The most noticeable difference a longer barrel makes is in the balance and feel of the gun. It will shift the balance forward, making the gun muzzle heavy. Some shooters prefer that, some shooters do not. Some will shoot better with a muzzle heavy gun, some will shoot better with one balanced a bit further back. It's a very personal thing, and one that will make a bigger difference in your shooting than the sight radius will. So, if you can handle a few different examples, try to do that before making your choice.

A .22 for home defense? Why not? I know a few seasoned shooters who will keep one loaded around the house. Face it, no one wants to get shot by anything, even if it is "just" a .22. And - here's the kicker - not many burglars are going to say "hey, is that just a .22?" followed by "pffft... that don't scare me...." And if you can shoot it well enough to hit the bastard, a hit from a .22 counts for a lot more than a loud miss from a .44 mag. And besides, (to paraphrase Thom, our own "widebody") "you go to a gunfight with the gun you have, not the gun you wish you had."

"DONT TAZE ME BRO!"

"DONT .22 ME BRO!"

man i know what .22's do to a human. offroad racing buddy of ours was doc at scottsdale memorial hospital one too many full moon nights and hes got some gun shot stories.

worst wounds are .22's. freeking things if ya get shot in da head end up coming out your feet they dance around so much bouncing off bone here and there. lots of collateral damage despite obvious organ damage!

zombees and myself NEVER WANT TO BE SHOT BY A .22!

why would you carry a .22? just looking to piss off the perp?

It's a fine choice - especially as a 1st handgun.

On self-defense - The only pistol I currently own now is a 22. Rest assured, 6 accurately placed 22 bullets are better than 1000 missed large caliber bullets. 22s are easy to shoot fast and accurately. Not long ago stats were that more people died from 22 and 25 caliber bullets than any other caliber. Probably different these days. Also, when it comes time to defend yourself in the courtroom after defending yourself at home, I suspect you look a little more "innocent" when they hear you used your puny 22 target pistol vs a 40 cal Glock with hi-cap mag. Something to consider.

I had a .25 Colt auto. Nice little gun, but you would be better off just throwing it at the perp for as accurate as it was. My carry is a Colt 1908 in .380.

Great type of handgun to learn with. I learned with an old High Standard Dura-Matic and taught my children with a Browning Buck Mark.

You need to step up to a targed pistol. That short barrel thing is going to limit your accuracy. The Mark III Hunter is very nice. You should look at it at the store and handle it next to the short barrel gun. This pistol shoots as accurate as a .22 rifle. The trigger is very nice out of the box.

http://ruger.com/Firearms/images/Products/258L.jpg

Have fun.

George

i shudder at the thought of buying match grade ammo for it.

right now since we have been shooting like the zombee killers we are getting ready prior to our elk hunt, the best deal we found on cheap ass ammo was WALLY WORLD (walmart). federal 550rds for 13.47 a box.

man if i had match grade ammo, nothing would be safe.

i traded an old 6x leupold that had gone blurry for a bushnell red dot scope for it.

it was a blast to shoot times x 10 w/out scope.

now with that stupid ass red dot on the supplied weaver rail....................

NOTHING IN FRONT OF THE BARREL DOESNT GET VENTILATED!


during our elk hunt a coupla days after son got his 3x4 bull and the wind was running out of our sails one day we pulled over on the quads at a waterhole we had been watching. sat there and glassed it for a while and finally after a while got bored and whipped out the 22/45 stainless w/red dot.

man the day just seemed brighter after blasting off 200 rds in no time with a natural safe backdrop and noone around in the middle of bfe.

took about maybe 10 rds adjusting for elevation and we were beaning the POO outta targets a 100yds off that we had lazer ranged.

we could have done that all day had we enough ammo.

add a 12 pak and you have instant targets to dance all over hells 1/2 acre.

thanks for the comments. ive been reading alot and watching the youtube videos etc... seems like a great gun

as i said, im not looking for a protection gun. i wanna shoot paper targets at a range. i live in a city and cant just walk around the back yard shooting beer bottles or i would do that all afternoon

my priorty is an accurate target pistol that is FUN to shoot, cheap to shoot and easy to clean and that will last a lifetime.

i wish santa would bring me this
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That's what I use. I think I paid a hair over $8 for them a year ago. My Ruger .22's seem to like it the best (for cheap ammo). I'd get stovepipes and FTFs like crazy (even on my 10/22) with Remington.

yeah go figure on the remingtons. the bumble bee/wasp/hornet color picture werked like crap in my 10/22's. 22/45 seems to gobble everythang feed.

i am sick and damn tired of figuring ammo for multiple weapons. i think im being a dumass. i am trying to RIGHT THIS WRONG by buying :

ALL FEDERAL AMMO for each of everythang i own to get the FAR PAGE DISCOUNTO!

on quanity purchased and on freight. when i purchase in bulk.


i HAD to narrow the caliber insanity down to a chosen few:


.22lr
9mm
.45
.44mag
30/30
.308
.338
.45/70
12ga
.410


with those rounds there aint a damn thing walking on this PLANET that wont DROP!


tired of wazoo wildcats/tired of looking for wierd rounds. getting too damn old.

all i want to do is shoot game as i need it. birds/deer/pigs/ELK! maybe a big horn sheep, or some antelopezzzz. maybe a few squirrels, maybe snake, maybe a mtn lion, a bob-kitty.

just gave the maids several of them some elk chorizo for navidad felizzzer(xmas) made me feel good they wanted it and they respected the animal for its supurb taste!

srandallf, that would make an excellent target pistol.

They are a royal pain to take apart and put back together. Good news is you only have to do it every 4 or 5 thousand rounds thru 'em... :)

I'd find a MK II if I were you - they are out there. The Mk III moved the mag release to where it should be (good) but added a magazine safety (bad - it messes with trigger pull).

One can buy these guns used all over the place...for cheap

Ditto with Higgy...

Ruger 22 Auto is one great gun for the price point.

Bull Barrel 5 inch...

I prefer High Standards but that is my eclectic taste.

HD military, GD, GE, Supermatic 100, 101, 102,103,104,106, 107 (military grip). Prefer Trophy models.

Also like the Revolvers..Colt Officers mdls, Diamond Backs & S&W mdl 17's aka K22's. For esoterica a little Colt Police Positive Target or S&W mdl 34. They look like little kids cap guns...smal frames.

Freedom Arms makes the most accurate 22LR SA with their Mdl 83. If ya run outa ammo you can use it as a club.

Ok then... Ruger MkII or Browning Buckmark Plus?
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1229723103.jpg

I have fired a friends newer Mk III and liked the heft and grip but did not like feel of the new style trigger that much. I own a 1954 Hi-Standard Sport King passed down from my Dad and I can still shoot better groups with it than the Ruger even after 1,000's of rounds through it.

That's a very handsome gun Graham. Do you like it?

MkII.http://forums.pelicanparts.com/support/smileys/uzi.gif

It's not mine, unfortunately. My uncle has one though, and it's even nicer in person than in the photo. He owns several Rugers in addition to the Buckmark, but I couldn't get him to confess his preference for one or the other.

I own a buckmark and it is a very nice pistol. I have nothing to compare it to because it is the only pistol I have ever owned but the quality is very good.