Pending on what kind of competition you want to get into, a .22 may not be permitted. If you're looking at possibly shooting bulls-eye, I would pass on the P22.

As for looks, all I can say is that appearance should be at the bottom end of the list for requirements but in the end it's your money.

I have a p22 that I shoot a lot. It is not a comp pistol per say. I shoot it a lot because it's cheap to shoot. If you want a accurate reliable .22 pistol and not looking for the bling factor I would get a Ruger.

Browning Buckmark is an exceptional 22 and is reasonably priced.

I can personaly second the Rugers both the MK series or the 22/45. They ALL shoot very well and have a strong aftermarket upgrades if you wish to do so. I haven't shot any of the Buckmarks, but I've always heard good things about those as well.

I'm not sure if they meet your cool factor? But as mentioned the Ruger MK series and Browning Buckmarks have very good reputations.

I own a Buckmark and it's my most accurate handgun. I've fired a Ruber MK and it was very accurate and a pleasure to shoot.

If you are looking to get into shooting competitions. Then I go to the next one at your local range and check out what they are using. Ask them a few questions. I bet they will even let you put a few rounds down range with their pistol too

Might want to look at a S&W 22A priced at a little over 200. and is very accurate with a lifetime warranty as well....

Originally Posted by denner

Browning Buckmark is an exceptional 22 and is reasonably priced.

This would be my first choice too. Ruger's .22 as a second choice. Third choice would be a .22 revolver from S & W.

I've got a Buckmark, it's a nice pistol, but depending on what kind of competition the OP is talking about it may not be a good choice. Without spending a ton of $$$ on a .22 the Ruger Mark II/III or 22/45 is probably the way to go. Gun + Volquartsen trigger parts + good optic = win. If I could justify it, my Buckmark (5.5" Pro Target ) would be replaced with a Ruger MKII with some upgraded guts, but I'm just not that into bulls-eye. I do OK with my Buckmark and that's good enough for me unless I get a little more serious about competing in bulls-eye.

The Browning Buckmark and the Ruger Mark II and III model pistols are highly regarded when it comes to a very well made and accurate shooting 22 pistol. You can't go wrong with these!!

I don't know what your idea is of cool or competitive shooting is... but I'll throw out 2 random ideas for consideration:
- Ruger Single Six guns are single action cowboy style revolvers. I hear they are accurate shooters, are well made, are a lot of fun, and definitely have some style to them. Another great thing about these is that they are safe to dry fire -- which is great for training (most rimfire pistols cannot be dry fired). I'd like to have one myself.
- 1911 style 22s... on the pricier side Kimber makes a 1911 style 22. On the more economical side I hear good things about a GSG 1911 22 pistol as well. There are others, but I've heard the best things said about these models in particular. Again, there's some style to these guns and they would be great for training if you think you'll eventually own a 45ACP or 9mm 1911 in the future.

Personally, I own a Sig Mosquito. It's got a certain style as well. It's picky about ammo and the trigger isn't the best. But, feed it the right ammo and it's a reliable and reasonably accurate pistol.