Any recommends on an accurate .22 LR?

[sboyajian]

Just looking for something I can take to the range and spend a few hours without having to worry about the cost of the rounds I'm plowing through.

Had originally been considering the Ruger SR22, however I've been kind of moving toward some of the longer barrel's recently (S&W 22A 5.5" or 7", Browning Buck Mark). My buddy has the Mark III 22/45, but I haven't had a chance to try it.

Anyone have any suggestions as to reliability, accuracy, ammo "pickiness" ..

[Jakeiscrazy]

Uncle has a Ruger Mark 2 with a 4inch tapered barrel and I love it. The thing just is so natural in my hand, has a nice broken in crisp trigger, and will eat everything you feed it. It's way more accurate than I am. I managed to hit a 4in x 6in plate at 100 yards pretty regularly. Never put it to a bench rest and shoot it at paper but it's accurate for sure.
I keep telling it that he should sell it to me and he keeps telling me it'll be a cold day in hell when he gives up his favorite gun!

[sdlrodeo]

I JUST got my new Ruger 22/45 Lite and was able to take it to the range two days ago.

WOW.

I'm VERY impressed. With a rest and a burris fast fire reflex sight on top, i was able to EASILY get 1.5" groups at 25yds.

Now, the rest i was using was not great, I was not seated, and I didn't really try hard.

The LITE has it all. Threaded barrel for suppressor (coming soon), adjustable sights, AND included scope base.

Well worth it.

Problem is finding it locally.

I ended up getting mine on Gunbroker for $426 after all was said and done. ($359+$25sh+$42txr)

[Chasbo00]

I have two Ruger 22/45s and a Mark III. All are totally reliable and will function fine with nearly any 22 ammo. Great pistols!

[Tazguy04]

I love my Mark II target model , its a fun gun and if I'm not careful the old lady might steal it from me. I would recommend you go and try out your buddy's Mark III. Just my .02 cent.

[sboyajian]

Well it seems to be a resounding "Yay" for Ruger. I'll try to get out Saturday and take his for a test drive. Thanks for the advice

[M1A4ME]

We got our Ruger's many years ago (3 Mk1 5.5" bull barrels in the family and one or two of the standard 4" skinny barrel guns) and they are great. Like short barreled rifles if you can shoot.

We ain't PC. Never have been. I gave my brother's old Mk1 to my youngest son after my brother left his guns to me. About three years ago while at home in the mountains we were shooting up above the house while on vacation. My son started shooting the Mk1. Found out where he was hitting with it (no sight adjustment needed at usual ranges but he was shooting farther. About 10 yds. past the 25 yd. target stand was a stand of wild flowers the butterflies were working on. My son started shooting the butterflies off the flowers offhand with his Mk1 and Federal bulk .22 ammo from WalMart.

I used to squirrel hunt with mine. Headshots. I had a buddy who was so impressed with my results he went out and bought himself a target .22. A high dollar High Standard. It didn't shoot any tighter groups than the $140 Ruger Mk1 bull barrel I had (Yeah, $140 in about 1981 or 82) and after just over a box of Eley target ammo it would start to hang up and he'd have to pull the bolt off it and clean it and lube it so he could keep on shooting. The Ruger would go all afternoon with no issues on Remington Thunderbolts.

Rugers. Great guns for the money, great guns when compared to other brands, too.

[gunderwood]

+1 on the Ruger Mark series.

[ProShooter]

Ruger SR-22

[CDRGlock]

Accuracy is in the ability of the shooter. However, I'd have to say my Ruger Mark II Target Competition Flatside barrel 6 7/8" barrel with a Clark Trigger is the way to go. I have an Ultradot Matchdot on it. I shoot Eley Target ammunition.

[sboyajian]

Accuracy is in the ability of the shooter.

I definitely hear what you are saying. I think it's three fold (excluding outside elements). It's Gun. Ammo. Shooter. I'd like to eliminate the gun as a factor by getting something proven to be extremely accurate so I know if accuracy is a problem, it comes back to me.

[Palladin]

Just for a lark one evening I clamped my Ruger Mark III stainless target in my shop vise, between several layers of old leather belt. I set up a sheet of cardboard in line with the sights at 30yds, and pulled off ten rounds as fast as I could. You could cover all ten rounds with a nickel. I don't recommend this and don't try it at home, but I'm just sayin', they really are like mini rifles if you can point them straight and hold them steady.

And now I know if I miss, it's my own durn fault!

[sdlrodeo]

Accuracy is in the ability of the shooter.

I would disagree with you there.

The gun has A LOT to do with it. Of course the shooters ability to squeeze/press/pull (whatever) the trigger while the sights are aligned and aimed at the desired target is definitely an important ability. I think the hardware does matter quite a bit.

That is why I won't buy another ruger center fire rifle again.

I bought one of the 6.8spc hawkeye compacts a while ago. 4" groups at 100 yds. And that was with a decent rest (no vice). Also, yes I tried about 8 different factory bullets/brands/weights.

I can do 2" groups with peepsights on my winchester 94 30-30. At 100yds.

I asked ruger about it. They told me 2" at 50 yds was an acceptable accuracy with that rifle. Funny they didn't seem to advertise that on the website. If I had known that, I would not have bought that rifle. In today's firearm industry, 1-1.5 moa is acceptable, not 4.

Anyway, most guns today are more accurate than most of the shooters. But not all of them.

Just my opinion.

[zerodown1]

Just looking for something I can take to the range and spend a few hours without having to worry about the cost of the rounds I'm plowing through.

Had originally been considering the Ruger SR22, however I've been kind of moving toward some of the longer barrel's recently (S&W 22A 5.5" or 7", Browning Buck Mark). My buddy has the Mark III 22/45, but I haven't had a chance to try it.

Anyone have any suggestions as to reliability, accuracy, ammo "pickiness" ..

I have a S&W 22a. It is accurate but it dosen't like certain ammo. Hollow points don't feed reliably and I joke about using it for clearing stoppage exercises. It does much better with round nose lead,but still not 100%. Could be just this gun,I really don't know. I would go with one of the rugers if I could do over.

[CDRGlock]

Accuracy is in the ability of the shooter.

I would disagree with you there.

The gun has A LOT to do with it. Of course the shooters ability to squeeze/press/pull (whatever) the trigger while the sights are aligned and aimed at the desired target is definitely an important ability. I think the hardware does matter quite a bit.

Anyway, most guns today are more accurate than most of the shooters. But not all of them.

Just my opinion.

I don't disagree one bit. Let me elaborate upon my original statement. My statement is just a matter of semantics:

Precision is the ability to have a repeatable result. Most but not all guns are capable. Accuracy is the ability to put the mark in the exact location intended (the bullseye, for example) - only the user can do that through sighting, handling, trigger control, and using the same consistent loads. Changing ammunition can change how the pistol handles, groups or performs for the sake of reliability.

Someone can precisely miss the bullseye each and every time and still make a nice single ragged hole. Someone can be accurate in hitting a bullseye but imprecise by the inability to repeat that accomplishment. I'll sight a gun for my own accuracy (hit the bullseye) and then work on bringing both precision (repeatable result) and accuracy (hit the bullseye) together.

Accuracy is getting the right answer for a specific objective - hit the bullseye.
Precision is the inherent capability to reproduce it - group size.

Guns will have an inherent capability (i.e. 1.5" or 1" group at Distance X). Shooters have their own ability.

---

Anyways, I'd still stick to Target Model 22s for a good intended experience if bullseye or long distance shooting is desired.

[gunderwood]

@CDRGlock

I was wondering if that was were you were going with it.

[Chasbo00]

I agree with the technical distinction between accuracy and precision. But, it's like calling cartridges bullets - done all the time, even by experts. Most folks say; "that's an accurate gun" rather than that's a precise gun.

But don't a call a magazine a clip; that's a gun sin.

[greener]

Which one feels best? That's the one I'd get.

22A: best bang for the buck. Easiest to field strip. Mine hasn't been all that ammo picky but it doesn't like Rem Golden Bullets or highly waxed rifle target ammo. Best 10 round group I ever shot was with a 22A with 7" barrel, Bushnell Trophy red dot. Easiest barrel change. Not many second party parts. The 22A is selling from $209 (Dark Sun) to just under $300. Darn near as accurate as the M41.

Ruger: 5.5" and 6 7/8 are more "accurate" than the 4" due to sight radius. You can spiff up the trigger with a Volquartzen Target trigger and target sear. Drops the trigger weight to jut over 2lbs. I think the Hi-Viz sights cut into accuracy a bit because of the pipe size. Dawson precision sells a FO sight with a much smaller pipe. I like the steel grip frame better than the 22/45 frame. I have a MKIII Hunter 6 7/8" bbl, MKIII 22/45 5.5" bbl, MKII GC (slabside) 6 7/8" bbl, MKII 22/45 and '73 standard 4" bbl. All have the VQ mods. The Hunter either needs a red dot or I need to change the rear sight blade and front sight. Which one shoots best, I'm halfway through a 10 year study. Let you know in 5 years. Rumor is that Rugers are impossible to field strip and reassemble. You'll cuss them on the first attempt. With a practice you can field strip and reassemble in under a minute. Rugers are erector sets, scads of second party improvements. Ruger is the highest selling .22 semi. $350-$500.

Buck Mark: I have a Standard 5.5" barrel. Best out of the box trigger. Easy to shoot accurately. Generally not as picky on ammo, but it doesn't like the highly lubed rifle ammo. (none of mine do). Easy barrel change. Field stripping is a bit strange. I somehow bent the recoil spring guide rod removing the slide. Not sure what I did. According to the manual, you don't need to remove the slide to clean it. Sight base screws tend to loosen up. Not quite as many aftermarket parts. Price the same range as the Rugers.

[sboyajian]

I have now fired my buddy's Mark III a few times and I gotta be honest... I love this damn gun. I'm going to see if Blue Ridge has a Buck Mark I can rent to try that. Also considering the Beretta Neos .. although it looks like a gay alien space gun, seems to get high marks for accuracy and quality.

Greener -- I can speak to the field strip.. the first time he cleaned it, I think it took an hour to get it back together since it didn't go back together correct the first time due to the placement of the pull on the back.

[CDRGlock]

I have now fired my buddy's Mark III a few times and I gotta be honest... I love this damn gun. I'm going to see if Blue Ridge has a Buck Mark I can rent to try that. Also considering the Beretta Neos .. although it looks like a gay alien space gun, seems to get high marks for accuracy and quality.

Greener -- I can speak to the field strip.. the first time he cleaned it, I think it took an hour to get it back together since it didn't go back together correct the first time due to the placement of the pull on the back.

Once you know how, it won't take that long. At the most, I spend 10" which includes taking the slide off.