Reliable "Combat" or "SD" Style 22 cal. LR Pistol?
I may have asked this question here before, but I'll be darned if I can find the thread if I did.
I recently realized I've quite a quantity of .22 cal. LR ammo.
I've a couple rifles and a couple handguns that'll shoot the stuff, but what I'd really like is something that more-or-less looks, feels, and operates more like my center-fire auto-loaders. Something that would be to center-fire pistols what my S&W M&P 15-22 is to my AR-15.
Problem is: To this day nobody seems to make a .22 cal. LR auto-loader that's as reliable and as un-fussy about ammo as is my venerable old Ruger Mk. I.
Suggestions?
"America is at that awkward stage. It's too late to work within the system,,,, but too early to shoot the bastards." -- Claire Wolfe "If we let things terrify us, life will not be worth living." -- Seneca the Younger, Roman Stoic philosopher
September 02, 2020, 01:31 PM
SSAreGreat
quote:
Originally posted by ensigmatic: I may have asked this question here before, but I'll be darned if I can find the thread if I did.
I recently realized I've quite a quantity of .22 cal. LR ammo.
I've a couple rifles and a couple handguns that'll shoot the stuff, but what I'd really like is something that more-or-less looks, feels, and operates more like my center-fire auto-loaders. Something that would be to center-fire pistols what my S&W M&P 15-22 is to my AR-15.
Problem is: To this day nobody seems to make a .22 cal. LR auto-loader that's as reliable and as un-fussy about ammo as is my venerable old Ruger Mk. I.
Suggestions?
The Walter PPQ 22 in 4" and 5" are great. I have both. The 4 inch balances better but the 5 inch has better sites and gives me a little father reach. I have had very few malfunctions with both of these guns and I have shot 12,000 rounds out of the 4 inch and 2000 rounds out of the 5 inch.
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September 02, 2020, 01:56 PM
RKG
Ruger SR-22. S&W M&P .22 Compact.
September 02, 2020, 02:13 PM
Brian87
I use a Ruger 22/45 mk iv tactical.
September 02, 2020, 02:36 PM
BennerP220
I had an early P22 that just went back to Walther. Still waiting to hear back. I acquired a Ruger SR22 that I am absolutely in love with. I just mounted a red dot on it and love it even more!
September 02, 2020, 02:39 PM
grumpy1
M&P Compact 22 but it is a bit on the small size depending on one's hands/fingers. Also take a look at the Glock 44. I have read tons of threads and almost everyone that actually owns a Glock 44 and has put rounds through one loves it and it works well with a wide variety of ammo. I plan to get one soon.
I can’t tell you how impressed I’ve been with the S&W M&Pc .22lr. I’ve had it a few years and it’s been a really great pistol. It eats every type of ammo I’ve fed it including cheap thunderbolt stuff. I’m going to get a Glock 44 when I find one but really this Smith has been absolutely amazing.
“Everybody wants a Sig in the sheets but a Glock on the streets.” -bionic218 04-02-2014
September 02, 2020, 04:40 PM
ensigmatic
Thanks for the follow-ups, everybody.
So far I have, as candidates:
Walther PPQ 22
Ruger SR-22
S&W M&P .22 Compact
Ruger 22/45
Glock G44
Taurus TX22 - barrel problems persist
"America is at that awkward stage. It's too late to work within the system,,,, but too early to shoot the bastards." -- Claire Wolfe "If we let things terrify us, life will not be worth living." -- Seneca the Younger, Roman Stoic philosopher
September 02, 2020, 05:16 PM
HRK
G44, and you can get spare 18 round mags on Sheedy Ern Ern, just ordered two pro mags to see how they do, $19 on sale each so it's not a big investment.
Also ordered the threaded barrel from GLock, tsc tsc shame on Glock for not having a G44 with the barrel from the factory, still it's fun with the Spikes Lil Buckwheat suppressor...
Only issues I've had is a few rounds not chambering, and it's typically because I didn't get the last round in the mag properly.
My next 22lr will be the Kel-Tec CP33, or P17 if I can locate one.
September 02, 2020, 05:48 PM
jimmy123x
There's also the LCP in .22 LR if you want to mimic a pocket pistol. For normal size the M+P would be my choice.
September 02, 2020, 06:09 PM
Ronin101
quote:
Originally posted by ensigmatic: Thanks for the follow-ups, everybody.
So far I have, as candidates:
Walther PPQ 22
Ruger SR-22
S&W M&P .22 Compact
Ruger 22/45
Glock G44
Taurus TX22 - barrel problems persist
what barrel problems?
September 02, 2020, 06:19 PM
ensigmatic
quote:
Originally posted by Ronin101: what barrel problems?
Type "Taurus TX22 barrel problem" (w/o the quotes) into your favorite search engine.
Very poor production quality and QC, resulting in "chatter" marks, which leads to excessive leading, and chambers not concentric with the barrels, leading to poor accuracy. This has been an issue with these from Day 1. I would've expected they'd have corrected it by now, but nope.
"America is at that awkward stage. It's too late to work within the system,,,, but too early to shoot the bastards." -- Claire Wolfe "If we let things terrify us, life will not be worth living." -- Seneca the Younger, Roman Stoic philosopher
September 02, 2020, 08:30 PM
craigcpa
I have an early model Walther P-22 that has been flawless through countless rounds - both 5” and 3” barrels, but I won’t recommend that due to stories of later models and troubles (supposedly). With that stated, I also have an SR-22 that has equally been reliable. For current production guns I think that recommendation is solid.
========================================== Just my 2¢ ____________________________
Clowns to the left of me, Jokers to the right ♫♫♫
September 02, 2020, 08:36 PM
T.Webb
I recently picked up the Glock 44 in .22 LR. It's identical in size (but not weight) to my G19. My only changes to the gun was the installation of sights identical to the sights on my G19.
On my initial magazine, I had 1 FTE, but no issues since.
Today, I put 180 rounds through the gun flawlessly.
************************************************ "Tonight, we are a country awakened to danger and called to defend freedom. Our grief has turned to anger and anger to resolution. Whether we bring our enemies to justice or bring justice to our enemies, justice will be done". {George W. Bush, Post 9/11}
September 02, 2020, 09:12 PM
hrcjon
what I can say for sure is G44 is out (its fussy), SR 22 is out (even more fussy). No opinion on the walther or the ruger. But a modern ruger 22/45 or the S&W victory will shoot anything and everything all day long for as long as you want to pull the trigger. OK combat style probably doesn't apply but who cares? I can't exactly say how many rounds I've shot since in .22lr I don't count but its in the tens of thousands. I have conversion kits for many of my carry guns, and those are great for training and I accept the limited reliability. But go bang every time, get one of those two.
“So in war, the way is to avoid what is strong, and strike at what is weak.”
September 03, 2020, 01:38 AM
Excam_Man
Beretta 87 Cheetah
September 03, 2020, 02:44 AM
egregore
If you shoot 1911s, the Ruger 22/45 has a similar grip angle and control locations. The thumb safety pivots at the front instead of the rear, but is still up for safe, down for fire. I have one, a Mark IV Lite, and it has been 100% reliable (referring to the gun, not the ammo). A steel receiver/heavy barrel model would come a lot closer to the weight of a 1911.
September 03, 2020, 09:37 AM
myrottiety
quote:
Originally posted by SSAreGreat:
quote:
Originally posted by ensigmatic: I may have asked this question here before, but I'll be darned if I can find the thread if I did.
I recently realized I've quite a quantity of .22 cal. LR ammo.
I've a couple rifles and a couple handguns that'll shoot the stuff, but what I'd really like is something that more-or-less looks, feels, and operates more like my center-fire auto-loaders. Something that would be to center-fire pistols what my S&W M&P 15-22 is to my AR-15.
Problem is: To this day nobody seems to make a .22 cal. LR auto-loader that's as reliable and as un-fussy about ammo as is my venerable old Ruger Mk. I.
Suggestions?
The Walter PPQ 22 in 4" and 5" are great. I have both. The 4 inch balances better but the 5 inch has better sites and gives me a little father reach. I have had very few malfunctions with both of these guns and I have shot 12,000 rounds out of the 4 inch and 2000 rounds out of the 5 inch.
My PPQ has been bomb proof. Only time it starts to fail is when I don't clean it after about 1K rounds. Then the slide starts moving slow. But It eats everything I've ever fed it.
Train how you intend to Fight
Remember - Training is not sparring. Sparring is not fighting. Fighting is not combat.
September 03, 2020, 10:01 AM
ensigmatic
Thanks for the additional comments/suggestions.
Here's my current thinking:
Walther PPQ 22 - some concern about reported reliability issues
Ruger SR-22 - not real fond of the appearance
S&W M&P 22 Compact - may be too small for my large hands
Beretta 87 Cheetah - way too expensive!
Ruger 22/45 - too expensive, IMO
Glock G44 - reportedly ammo-sensitive and I'm not fond of Glocks
Taurus TX22 - barrel problems persist
Of the remaining four three, the Walther and Beretta are is currently the front-runner, but I haven't discounted the Ruger SR-22 or S&W M&P 22 Compact.
It's really too bad Taurus can't seem to get their act together regarding the barrels . That little 22 is said to digest just about anything, has a nice trigger, and is very affordable.
quote:
Originally posted by egregore: If you shoot 1911s, ...
I shoot most everything. I even still have a single Glock, a G34, in the stable.This message has been edited. Last edited by: ensigmatic,
"America is at that awkward stage. It's too late to work within the system,,,, but too early to shoot the bastards." -- Claire Wolfe "If we let things terrify us, life will not be worth living." -- Seneca the Younger, Roman Stoic philosopher
. That little 22 is said to digest just about anything, has a nice trigger, and is very affordable.