I voted charger before I read your intended use. The charger is a blast but I wouldn't call it a plinker. Mine goes to the range every time I do but that's off a bench. It now wears a Kidd barrel and the trigger has been upgraded. You can cover 5 shots with a quarter at 50yds.

For your intended use I would go with either the Mark III or 22/45, whichever one fits your hand better. I'd also get a bull barrel. Makes a good plinker & for target practice.

If you own a Ruger 1911 (or any other), then I'd go with the 22/45, since the ergonomics are supposed to closely match a 1911; otherwise, go with the one that feels best in your hand ...

In my case, it was the one that felt best in my daughters hand; which was the SR22

thanks for the input! keep it coming!

Just picked up my SR22 tonight. NO range time yet but this weekend for sure. Got some federal (1240fps), and remmington(1255) to start with. Get some CCI mini mag as well I guess. Don't know what is actually recommended yet just try a bunch and see who does best.

Recommendations?

Have not shot .22 in many years but looking forward to it.

I would expect it to shoot all of them, if not that its not a .22 I want to buy :S

The Ruger. I'm biased I've owned one for years and shot thousands of rounds through it and have never had a jam or any other issue with it. Very reliable and accurate.

Originally Posted by plinker56

The Ruger. I'm biased I've owned one for years and shot thousands of rounds through it and have never had a jam or any other issue with it. Very reliable and accurate.

lol, which Ruger? there is more than one on the list!

I like the MkIII, but field stripping and reassembly can be a real bitch. I've got a MkII I purchased in the early 80s. If I had it all to do again, I might buy a Browning Buckmark instead - much easier to maintain and customize.

You may consider a Sig (GSG) or Colt (Umarex) 1911-22. They are very accurate and, as far as the Sig is concerned, it breaks down much like a true 1911 and has the same feel and weight as it's bigger brother. My Sig 1911-22 is super fun to shoot and cost under $350.

Originally Posted by trevorlay

lol, which Ruger? there is more than one on the list!

Yuuuppp, guess I messed that one up trevorlayl, good catch. The MKIII. Thanks LOL

Originally Posted by plinker56

Yuuuppp, guess I messed that one up trevorlayl, good catch. The MKIII. Thanks LOL

Correction: trevorlay

The Mk III is as tough as a T-34 tank.

Thanks for all the input folks!

Thanks for all the input folks! My wife saw a Sig that was a pink .22 today at the store she said she wanted... lol

I'd vote for the 22/45

If I'm limited to Rugers only, it would be Mk III or 22/45 for range/plinking and the SP-101 22 for camp/trail gun.

That is all.

Find yourself a Browning Challenger III . It will be well worth the effort.

I recently compared the Mark III, 22/45, and SR22, knowing that I was walking out with either one of those, or a Browning Buckmark. I ended up getting the SR22. After I installed the larger grip and the magazine extensions, it fit my hand perfectly, and was a joy to shoot. It weighs next to nothing, and because of that, it will likely get carried when and where others wouldn't. Two Thumbs Up.

I have two Mark III 22/45's and I am very happy with them. They are inexpensive and can be modified very cheaply to become very good shooting pistols which then become very easy to disassemble and reassemble.

I'd go with the MK3 or the 22/45. They will do everything you need them to do, quite well. Which one will boil down to personal preference.

Ruger Mark III
Ruger SR22
Ruger 22/45
Ruger 10/22
Ruger 22/45 Lite

depends on what you want to do with it, target, hunting gowith the MKlll, if you want a pure fun gun to dhoot that is pretty accurate go with th SR22. The MP22 is a nice gun but it will never compete with the MKlll and I love Smith & Wesson guns.

I didn't vote because you didn't list some of my best .22's

I own several and like several of them (different brands)

My personal favorite in my

Browning Buckmark



And my Sig Sauer 1911/22 (made by GSG)

I went to get my first .22 pistol in several years, and was leaning heavily towards the mkIII and that Lite version with the funky green barrel. I used to shoot a MKII in competition and really liked that gun. The dealer and I were talking about what a PIA it was to disassemble/reassemble, I started having flashbacks, and he showed me a Buckmark Camper. That was all she wrote. I'm really liking mine! Feels fantastic and shoots just as well as the Ruger IMO.

The Rugers are the best if you like to modify your pistol or build it for competition. It's the king of the working mans .22's.

Here's a MK-III that I built up for Steel Shooting Competition:







YMMV: