Everybody needs the best 22 pistols. They can go all day at the range, you won’t feel the financial pain that even a 9mm would inflict these days, and they all sorts of fun.
The humble 22 has a lot to give. The ammunition is some of the cheapest in the world, is a capable hunting round for varmints and critters and is an invaluable part of your firearms education.
Israel’s State Security famously used them for assassinations, too, but that was kind of a quirky thing. Mossad does a lot of stuff that others might not…
Still, the best 22LR pistols will pay for itself with one day of backyard plinking and it will teach you about good technique, basically for free. You have such a wide variety to choose from too.
So what is the best 22lr pistol for sale right now? Here are our picks.
1. Ruger Mark IV 22/45 Lite
- Price: $599.99
- Barrel Length: 4.4″
- Total: 8.5″
- Weight: 2.2lb
- Capacity: 10 + 1 Rounds
The Ruger MkIV compact tactical pistol is the stuff of legend and is one of everybody’s favorite range guns.
This is a tactical version with a rail on top that turns it into a real multi-purpose handgun that could be useful if you live in the country.
But there’s a Ruger Mark 4 22lr pistol for everybody. There’s a basic version, a high quality target practice option and a few others that you can see here:
We really like the old Tactical by the way. This is really just a drilled out and lightened version of that compact tactical handgun.
It’s easy to handle, you can strip it with the one button takedown mechanism and with the right optics you have a near perfect set-up.
Fit a Suppressor to Your 22lr Pistol
The Ruger has a threaded barrel for a suppressor, a chassis mounted safety and it has a single button for a complete takedown, which makes a field strip easy. That was a big problem with the Mark 3 semi auto pistols. It’s fixed now and that makes for a more reliable handgun.
Get a suppressor at Silencer Central for $499.99.
Become a Small Scale Hunter to Learn the Craft
Get into small caliber rimfire handguns and you’ll start to see the world in miniature.
A critter killer and potentially a snake sniper if you live in the country. And critters are never too far away…
Hit the Parts & Accessories Store
You can also dress this how you want tactically. Get a new polymer grip module, a barrel, whatever you want really.
That means it’s great for target practise, great training drills, dryfire training and just about everything else. Except maybe bear hunting.
Seriously, get one. It will pay you back after a couple of plinking sessions at worst and this is an invaluable teaching aid. It is easy to shoot, the low recoil means you can go all day and you can focus on your shooting technique.
A Universal Favorite
Lots of people compete with them,but the threaded barrel and rail give this weapon a real sense of purpose and we prefer this version for real world applications.
Ruger took a number of 1911 features for this single action 22
Too many people claim this top rated semi-auto pistol as their favorite range shooting gun. That can’t be a coincidence.
2. Smith & Wesson Model 43C
- Price: $772.99
- Barrel length: 1.875 inch
- Total: 6.25 inch
- Weight: 0.69lb
There are more complete 22 pistols than the little S&W 43C, but this is a great concealed carry pistol in larger calibers.
Chambered in 22 Long Rifle with an aluminum alloy frame, it is an intriguing proposition.
The hammerless design means it slips into a pocket and that makes it more than a 357 Magnum Airlite practice pistol. It’s a solid snake gun, and in some countries this is personal protection.
Obviously this goes head to head with the cheaper and more famous Ruger LCR. We’d probably take this one.
3. Glock 44
- Price: $399.99
- Barrel length: 4.02 inch
- Total: 7 inch
- Weight: 1lb
The Glock 44 might help you get to grips with the basics of EDC, or it could be a trainer to save 9mm rounds in target practice. Either way, what a sensational piece of striker fired hardware.
Glocks aren’t meant to set the pulse racing. There are others here for that. No, a Glock’s first point of business is to be a reliable firearm in a small size package.
This polymer framed semi-auto pistol just works, whether chambered for 22LR or 45 ACP ammo. This is a .22 Glock G44 with all the same dimensions as the legendary Glock 19. That is our favorite compact pistol at the moment and the best Glock for sale you’ll find..
This version comes with a lot of Gen 5 performance boosts too. So it’s nice thte training pistols get the same updates.
You get simple dot sights, but the serrations on the slide are all good. Glock parts & accessories are easy enough to find too. This polymer frame .22 is a welcome addition, is top rated in the reviews and one of our new favorites.
4. Ruger Wrangler
- Price: $219.99
- Barrel: 4.62 inch
- Total: 10.25 inch
- Weight: 1.875lb
- Capacity: 6
Meet the Ruger Wrangler 22LR. It is an authentic Wild West Colt six shooter tribute with the Coyote Tan Cerakote finish. As Liberals would say, there’s a lot to unpack here…
But none of it really matters wiuth the Ruger Wrangler.
What does matter is that the aluminum alloy frame Ruger Wrangler 22LR fits the basic profile of the old Colt Single Action Army in terms of size and shape. It is also cheap, fun and reliable.
The Ruger Wrangler 22LR is also probably the best selling new arrival on this list.
5. Walther 1911 Colt Government
- Price: $409.99
- Barrel: 5″
- Total: 8.6″
- Capacity: 12+1
- Weight: 2.25lb
This is a full-size 1911 22 LR. It means you can plink all day without the extra kick, fire and fury of an actual 45 ACP Colt 1911.
You can run drills all day without killing your hands and ears. If you carry a 1911, you really should have a Colt Government semi-auto pistol for training with. Especially new shooters, who can learn with reduced recoil, noise, cost and plain old intimidation.
It’s fun to shoot and if you collect the best 22 LR pistols and revolvers then you’ll definitely want a semi-automatic pistol with a 5 inch barrel. I mean why wouldn’t you? This is the wide variety of life.
6. Smith & Wesson M&P 22 Compact
- Price: $403.99
- Barrel: 3.56″
- Total: 6.65″
- Capacity: 10+1
- Weight: 0.94lb
This is another trainer if you rock a Smith and Wesson M&P Shield as your every day carry. The M&P 22 Compact will feel familiar enough to make it invaluable as a training aid while you plink away with cheap ammunition.
You get 10+1 capacity, ambidextrous manual safety and a threaded barrel. So this is both suppressor-ready and seriously tacticool.
But with the best 22 pistol then it can really be handy to run a suppressor instead of wearing the works in terms of ear protection. That makes the M&P 22 Compact 22LR more fun to shoot and makes it sort of viable for small game hunting. We guess.
7. American Tactical Imports GSG Firefly
- Price: $218.99
- Barrel: 4 inch
- Total: 7.2 inch
- Capacity: 10+1
- Weight: 1.53lb
The GSG Firefly is actually a pretty faithful recreation of one of the most famous 22 pistols and revolvers of all time, the Sig Mosquito.
This icon of the 22LR rimfire pistols world was discontinued back in 2013. Before then, the German company had one of the best 22 pistols of all time on its hands.
Now German company GSG bought the license and created a budget version of the Sig Mosquito rimfore pistols that will cost you a less than $200. With the help of plastic AR-15 guys American Tactical Imports, that gives you an all-metal suppressor ready tactical handgun.
That will prepare you for a full-sized 1911 or Sig P229, without the ammo costs or hard recoil. You can use a number of muzzle devices, too, on the threaded barrels of these super reliable firearms.
The likes of the GSG Firefly are a great option for novices and old hands alike. This is great practise if you own a Sig P229 or any of the variants as home pistols. And it is fun, as well.
8. Taurus TX22 Competition
- Price: $271.99
- Barrel: 4.1″
- Total: 7″
- Capacity: 16+1
- Weight: 1.1lb
Taurus has done good work in the polymer frame semi-auto pistols sector recently with the Taurus G2 and G3 models.
The new model Taurus TX22 competition striker fired pistol has made a similar splash in the 22LR handguns market.
Now there isn’t anything really groundbreaking here. Just a manual thumb safety, which is nice, and a relatively simple compact tactical pistol at an affordable price.
The polymer grip with interchangeable backstraps is probably the highlight and comes with a neat set of angles that are mirrored in the trigger guard, as well as a massive amount of the best 22LR ammo.
The Taurus TX22 Competition is a simple, budget 22 pistol done well. Sometimes, that is all you want and the Taurus TX22 is waiting for easygoing folks like you…
9. Beretta 92 FSR-22
- Price: $455.99
- Barrel: 5.3 inch
- Total: 8.5 inch
- Weight: 1.6lb
- Capacity: 15+1
The Beretta 92 doesn’t need an introduction, but that’s kind of what we do. So bear with us.
In 9mm form, or .40 S&W, it has starred as the US military sidearm for 30 years and has only now given way to the military version of the Sig P320. It i a legend for good reason and some people still use one of these steel, full size handguns for home security and EDC.
If you think the Beretta is the best gun then a similar 22 makes a lot of sense. And if you’re looking for a full-sized 22 handgun, which is fun to shoot, well the Beretta is a great start for a platform.
That 5.3 inch barrel and 1.6lb weight stay faithful to the high-standard original and that can help you run drills with the cheaper, quieter, lower recoil ammo. You get simple white dot sights, polymer grips and functional hardware. That’s all good.
It is one of the best 22 LR pistols for general shooting, without a doubt.
10. Sig Sauer P322
- Price: $399.99
- Barrel: 4″
- Total: 7″
- Capacity: 20+1
- Weight: 1.1lb
The Sig Sauer P322 is clearly an evolution of the Sig P320, and that is a good thing for the 22LR pistols world.
Sig Sauer conquered the world with the P320 compact has been a stalwart in our 9mm compact CCW features for years. That means a lot of research and development went into this gun and now we get the best rimfire pistol.
This Sig Sauer P322 looks a simplified version, although it is an optics ready pistol with a fiber optic front sight. All the controls are present and correct and you get that near perfect shape, slide serrations and grip from the the best 9mm pistols, as well as that high capacity magazine.
11. Kel Tec CP33
- Price: $447.99
- Barrel: 5.5″
- Total: 10.6″
- Capacity: 33+1
- Weight: 1.5lb
The CP33 is a mean looking plinking tool that is really a compact tactical and a long range specialist all in one, if you need those in your 22LR pistols.
And there’s a little of the spirit of the old gangland SMG 9mm in there, too. It features threaded barrels and you know this is fun to shoot with or without muzzle devices.
Despite the long stainless steel barrel this new model is probably not the most accurate long range tool here, but it is hella fun and holds a lot of ammo thanks to that quad stacked magazine that might yet cross over to other calibers. I mean you’re gonna need big hands for the 45 ACP new model.
You get high-quality adjustable night sights, as well as a full-length Picatinny rail, a proper safety and 34 round magazine capacity. Add a pistol brace and red dot sights and you’ve got something special. It looks good enough for home defense. It isn’t, but it does look it.
It certainly makes an interesting pair with the PMR that is chambered in 22 WMR or 22 Mag caliber pistols. The Kel Tec PMR is another cult favorite among hardcore 22LR fans.
12. Smith & Wesson Performance Center Victory Target CF
- Price: $655.99
- Barrel: 6 inch
- Total: 11.3
- Weight: 2.1lb
- Capacity: 10+1
This modded Smith & Wesson SW22 Victory is certainly one of the the most spectacular pistols on this list, and that tends to count for something.
The custom muzzle brake and Carbon Fiber barrel are obviously the highlights here with this race gun. There’s a flat face trigger too, and a fully adjustable target rear sight. And the Tandemkross hiveGrips that provide finger grooves that you either love or hate.
We’d take other polymer grips for our target pistols.
A polished feed ramp, extended mag release button and ambidextrous safety are all there too. Together with a threaded barrel in this high price, high spec handgun. It’s ready for red dot sights, too.
The S&W Performance Center has thrown the kitchen sink at this longer barrel flagship. It looks a bit aftermarket, but it is a fun way to go plinking.
Smith & Wesson SW22 Victory Base Model
- Price: $396.99
- Barrel: 5.5″
If you don’t want to spend big money then this Smith & Wesson SW22 Victory model offers a simpler, cleaner version: the Victory.
The SW22 Victory is a single action finished in satin steel with a match-grade barrel and quality rear sights. This might be the best 22LR pistol for you, if all the tuner gear is a little much for you.
13. Walther PPQ M2 22
- Price: $414.99
- Barrel: 5″
- Total: 8.1″
- Capacity: 12+1
- Weight: 1.19lb
Do you want a 22 that looks and feels like a standard striker-fire polymer pistol? If you’re looking for a training weapon, then the answer should really be yes if your everyday carry is one of many plastic fantastics that include the Springfield Armory XDMOD2 and Glock 19 alike.
The striker fired Walther PPQ has a 5″ barrel and a high standard sight with an orange fiber. So for firearms training, particularly with the quick draw aspect, and sight acquisition, this is a much more useful 22 handgun and it will help you with your firearms training drills.
Some people still like the smaller Walther P22 rimfire pistols on the market, but honestly this is a newer, better, more representative rimfire to train with. Look out for the Walter PPK 22 LR later on (spoiler alert etc…). But honestly we think the Walther P22 has had its day.
This matte black plastic fantastic with the deep slide serrations is the future. And the full sized 9mm pistols are amazing.
Junior Version of the Grown Up 9mm
The slide comes with the right amount of serrations, front and rear, so you can handle the Walther P22 just like you would a larger caliber pistol.
Spend two or three days perfecting your technique, and these guns pay for themselves with the money you save on cheap ammunition.
I guess we’re saying buy a Walther P22, yeah.
14. Ruger LCP ii Lite Rack
- Price: $324.99
- Barrel: 2.75 inch
- Total: 6.5 inch
- Weight: 0.7lb
The polymer framed LCP is a legend in 380 Auto striker fired pistol circles. And quite rightly so. Now this semi-auto pistol has come to the world of 22LR with an interesting idea.
The Ruger LCP II Lite Rack isn’t a range toy, or a training gun for new shooters. The Ruger is specifically sold as a concealed carry weapon for those that simply cannot take the recoil of 9mm. Also, some countries simply aren’t allowed to carry it.
But on these shores, arthritis sufferers, the elderly and simply small frame people and women might opt for this 10-round semi-auto pistol that will only hurt the opposition.
A non lethal pistol for self defense is also becoming a thing in today’s world. And some people need a pocket vermin gun for when animals go rogue.
In short, the little Ruger has a place in this world. And that might be in your underwear, apparently…
15. Volquartsen Black Mamba . 22LR 1911
- Price: $1, 346.99
- Barrel: 4.5 inch
- Total: 6.5 inch
- Weight: 1.75lb
You will have to be seriously devoted to hobby shooting and the caliber to spend this kind of money on target pistols. But then, just look at it…
The optics ready Volquartsen Black Mamba .22LR 1911 is an extremely accurate target pistol taken to the absolute limit. The attention to detail is beyond obsessive on this full sized pistol, but the result is beautiful in its brutality.
The 1911 style frame changes the grip angle and shifts the balance point to the rear, which is generally a good thing when you’re taking aim in a competitive setting or out hunting small animals with red dot sights.
Machined Frame is a Mark of Quality
The frame is machined from high-grade aluminum alloy and there’s a competition spec bolt in there. Volquartsen has fitted its own Exact Edge Extractor that is available as an aftermarket add-on for other firearms. The company’s SureStrike firing pin is another upgrade you can buy for other weapons.
The crowning glory is that Volquartsen LLV compensator. Is a compensator overkill on a 22? kind of, yes, but then this whole firearm is overkill and it seems kind of petty to start poking holes in the muzzle device. Also, the threaded barrel means you can switch it out.
For dedicated target shooting or people that just love hunting with 22 enough to spend big bucks on their hobby, then the Mamba is a hell of a thing.
High price, high spec doesn’t cover it. This is peak engineering and might also be the best 22 pistol money can buy.
16. Ruger SP101
- Price: $769.99
- Barel: 4.2″
- Total: 9.12″
- Capacity: 8
- Weight: 1.875lb
The Ruger SP101 is a DAO and is available in a range of calibers, so a training revolver is an excellent choice if you’re going to burn through ammo.
This small-framed revolver holds 8 rounds, too. A triple locking cylinder also keeps this shooting straight and true for a long time. So it does serve as a compact competition rimfire revolver, as well as a pistol for self defense.
But the defensive pistols on the market usually come in bigger calibers.
17. Ruger Mark IV Target
- RRP: $510.99
- Barel Length: 4.4″
- Total: 8.4″
- Weight: 1.56lb
- Capacity: 10 + 1
The Ruger Mark 4 Tactical that heads the list is just a touch Operator for some people and they want something simpler that pays tribute to the old-school Rugers.
It is also enough for 22 LR casuals who don’t want to devote themselves to small game hunting. If you’re not quite ready to go undercover with the local rat population, then this rimfire ruger is absolutely fine.
You get traditional sights, ambidextrous controls for left handed shooters and a one-button takedown just like the more expensive alternative and that legendary Ruger accuracy. A bull barrel certainly help this target pistol in that regard.
You also get change from $350 and that will swing it for some of you looking for new target pistols.
Especially if you can live with a basic magazine release etc in your target shooting specialist. It is not the fanciest member of the Ruger Mark series of rimfire handguns, but it is one of the cheaper ones.
18. North American Arms 22LR
- RRP: $300.99
- Barel: 1.125″
- Total: 3.6″
- Capacity: 5 Rounds
- Weight: 0.25lb
Are you a ‘sock gun’ kinda guy? Or do you just like engineering and can appreciate the fine work of a gun builder doing something different.
This is like a more practical version of the old Derringers. 22 LR will only work close up, but it isn’t the peashooter some people would like to think it is. It is a legitimate revolver for self defense. Just about. And it’s definitely as good for the left handed as it is for righties..
A shot of 22LR to the face will probably stop just about anybody. If we’re being honest about this. Five of them? Yeah…
You will also have the smallest and lightest mini revolver on the market today, which is enough for the firearms collectors to get all gooey-eyed over it. That’s really it’s place in the world, as a cleverly engineered art piece.
19. Ruger New Model Single Six
- Price: $799.99
- Barrel: 6.5 inch
- Total: 11 inch
- Weight: 2.2lb
- Capacity: 6
The Ruger New Model Single Six is the classic six shooter, chambered in cheap ammunition that also gives you a light weight rimfire pistol.
You can order a Ruger New Model Single Six in a variety of barrel lengths and get specialist holsters, sights and more to satisfy your hard cowboy fetish. Or your simple love of old school Americana. Neither one of those things is wrong really…
These are reliable firearms. Of course they are, this is one of the simpler designs you can get.
20. Heritage Rough Rider Small Bore
- RRP: $171.99
- Barel: 6.5″
- Total: 11.75″
- Weight: 2lb
We had to have at least one proper cowboy revolver and here it is, the Heritage Rough Rider.
It’s cheap, simple and a great little gun. Are these revolvers going to be as accurate as the Ruger at 50 feet? Probably not, but then the Heritage Rough Rider does come with real old world character and we think that counts for something.
This Rough Rider is an 11.85-inch gun, too, so it is one of the biggest here. It weighs in at 2lb, you get imitation Mother of Pearl grips, a proper blued metal finish and a great gun that will put a smile on your face. You also get a thoroughly modern transfer bar safety mechanism with the Heritage Rough Rider.
This affordable cowboy gun you can order today on your credit card is a schoolboy fantasy made real. So enjoy it.
Now there are weird variants of the Heritage Rough Rider, including a 16-inch barrel version and another with a 1-inch barrel and a bird’s head grip. The Heritage Barkeep is beyond an oddity, but it’s a fun little thing to have in your colllection.
The Heritage Barkeep Rough Rider was designed to be stowed in a barkeep’s boot. I mean it’s a nice story, and the Heritage Barkeep Rough Rider is interesting enough to pull it off.
21. S&W Model 617
- RRP: $1,428.99
- Barrel: 6″
- Total: 11.1″
- Capacity: 10 Rounds
- Weight: 2.77lb
This double action/single action revolver is just so magnificently over-engineered for the caliber. It’s 11-inches and that’s really not much smaller than the X-Frame special that is the S&W 500.
That’s kind of ridiculous for this caliber pistol. But here we are looking at a duty revolver, with a long double action trigger pull and crisp single…
That means this is easy to handle and shoot. So it is a useful training aid if you’re going hunting with revolvers, but also just a fun thing to fire at the range. You have all the space in the world for a proper scope up there and you can turn this into a comical vermin hunter.
Now these rimfire revolvers suck as a concealed guns for personal defense. But then if you’re relying on the best 22 pistol for concealed carry, home defense or things like that, then you have other issues.
A Modified 38 Revolver, and Other Calibers
The K-Series frame was originally developed for the 38 Special. But now it holds a 10-round 22 LR cylinder in the S&W Model 617.
That means this double action/single action can hang with the single stack semi-automatic pistols when it comes to capacity. And the single action trigger pull is super crisp.
Buy a speedloader online and this gun becomes an attractive range proposition and it’s great for target practice and big revolver training.
22. Ruger SR22 Rimfire
- RRP: $427.99
- Barel length: 3.5″
- Total: 6.4″
- Capacity: 10+1 Rounds
- Weight: 1.09lb
The Ruger SR22 rimfire pistol is here by popular demand. Having given the win to the Ruger Mk4, we were going to leave this fairly straightforward, hammer-fired, plastic training pistol off this list.
People complained…
So, here it is, the budget friendly Ruger SR22 rimfire. A solid little hammer fired pistol with a matte black finish. That means it is useful for drills, shooting skills, backyard plinking and simply gun owners getting your eye in.
Do quick draw drills, shot grouping and more with a Ruger SR22 rimfire pistol, before you move up to your 9mm.
You get a manual thumb safety, neat magazine release and a rail for a laser or light. Also, you could mount a dryfire training system on there and
A Tool, Not Just a Toy
A decocking lever and a three-dot sighting system, together with an adjustable rear sight, are nice touches, as is the aluminum slide. The Ruger SR22 is a good rimfire for
23. Browning Buck Mark Challenge
- RRP: $558.99
- Barel: 7.5″
- Total: 11.3″
- Capacity: 10+1 Rounds
- Weight: 2.5lb
Browning has taken the traditional Ruger design and brought it up to date with a look more in line with modern semi-automatic pistol with a sporting flavor. The Buck Mark series has some rosewood and blued nostalgia to it though, but this is a high-tech competition 22 pistol at heart.
This is a Family
The Browning BuckMark series has evolved into a model line-up in its own right. Now you can get the Browning Buck Mark Camper, Browning Buck Mark Contour, Plus, Challenge, Hunter and there may just be more.
The Browning Buckmark is milled from a single piece of aircraft-grade aluminum billet. This has become the watchword for precision engineering, reliability and consistency.
Adjustable sights at the rear and a fiber optic front sight are ideal for competition, and every touch point generally has a purpose. There are pros and cons, but the Browning Buckmark has a devoted following for a reason.
24. Ruger Bearcat
- Price: $689.99
- Barrel: 4.2″
- Total: 9″
- Capacity: 6
- Weight: 1.5lb
The Ruger New Bearcat is a tribute to the Remington Civil War six shooters that came with a one-piece frame.
So does this rimfire revolver and it does have a different look and feel thanks to this distinct design philosophy.
The original Ruger Bearcat was the first to feature the Transfer Bar safety mechanism, but Ruger’s failure to market the rimfire pistol led to its disappearance for 20 years.
It returned in 1993 and now this is a popular 22 pistol if you just need to throw it in a bag. The crisp trigger control is great, it looks good and we like this a lot.
25. Beretta U22 NEOS
- RRP: $383.99
- Total: 8″
- Capacity: 10+1 Rounds
- Weight: 2lb
The Beretta U22 NEOS isn’t the big seller it perhaps deserves to be on technical merit. But life isn’t fair, what can we do?
Well, it is sort of our job to point out the modular design that means you can switch out barrels and other parts quickly and easily. It means you can upgrade a relatively affordable base gun to full competition spec as and when funds allow.
26. Walther PPK/S
- RRP: $400.99
- Barrel: 3.35″
- Total: 6.06″
- Capacity: 10+1 Rounds
- Weight: 1.44lb
Really, you can have the James Bond gun in 22 form. That is just about the only reason I can think of for buying the Walther PPK/S.
Honestly, this is an elegant little gun and built to a high standard.
But unless you want to put on a tuxedo and stand facing a mirror, doing the classic draw, then I don’t see why you’d want this great gun anymore. As a concealed carry, the Walther hammer fired pistol is redundant. It has shot its bolt.
There are better options just about everywhere and if we’re honest it is time for Bond to move on to a better design and get a proper concealed carry. His might be 380, but we all know that 9mm has taken over.
27. S&W Model 41
- RRP: $1,689.99
- Barrel length: 5.5″
- Total: 6.5″
- Capacity: 10+1 Rounds
- Weight: 2.56lb
The S&W Model 41 is a competition pistol that can switch between 5.5 and 7 inch barrels. It is expensive, but the Model 41 is also arguably the most accurate 22 pistol for sane money.
The Model 41 is still a favorite with club and national competitors and the adjustable trigger pull is legendary among gun owners.
28. Ruger Charger 22 LR
- RRP: $329.99
- Barel: 10″
- Total: 19.25″
- Capacity: 15+1 Rounds
- Weight: 3.13lb
On paper this rimfire Ruger Charger looks ridiculous. But then, as a trainer, it makes perfect sense. It is a stripped down AR-15, or large format pistol, and you can dress it up and train with it as you see fit.
You can fit an optic on the Picatinny rail, or red dot sights, depending on your own personal preferences.
This matte black monster has all the ingredients of a great plinking gun, just for its unusual design, side charging handle and rimfire Ruger internals. A 10″ barrel is about as accurate as you’re going to get without going for a 22 rifle.
That is enough justification. The truth is, this rimfire Ruger Charger is a fun gun that should be great to plink with.
Obviously there are pros and cons. It might not be the most accurate 22 pistol here. It might not be the most tactically sound. But does that always matter?
29. Walther P22Q
- RRP: $329.99
- Barrel: 3.4″
- Total: 7″
- Capacity: 10 Rounds
- Weight: 2lb
The Walther P22 remains a perennial favorite when it comes to varmint control and recreational shooting.
There are better guns in almost every department, but the Walther P22 is still a compelling package. That’s why lots of you still place your faith in the Walther P22Q as a training tool when you’re learning to shoot, rather than the new breed that has followed.
30. Colt Woodsman
- RRP: $900-1200
- Barel: 6″
- Total: 11.1″
- Capacity: 10 Rounds
- Weight: 2.77lb
The Colt Woodsman went out of production in 1977, so you’re not getting a new one. But that doesn’t stop 22 pistol enthusiasts from scouring the classifieds for this classic Colt.
Why? The great 1911 inventor John Browning designed it and the early incarnation of the gun that would go on to become the Woodsman series. It was called the Colt Caliber .22 Target Model was really the first successful semi-auto pistol. A simple slanted single-stack magazine was the answer to the rimmed cartridges catching on each other and jamming the mag.
So the Colt Woodsman is a piece of pistols and handguns history. Hardcore enthusiasts will always claim it’s a match for the modern pistols, revolvers. Like old camera nuts and vinyl music junkies. But, well..
If you want one of these legends, get ready to pay a hefty price as it is with some 22LR rimfire pistols, revolvers and old paintings. Maybe you’ve got a gift card lying round? That might help…
What is the Best 22 Ammo?
We did a massive deep dive into the best 22LR ammo here.
Again we’re sending you to Palmetto State Armory first, the rest second. Lucky Gunner has some great handgun ammo deals in bulk. Rifle ammo, too, of course, and rimfire ammo for your 22LR handguns. So look there too.
Remember to organize the price low to high to get the best deals, but also the companies have some solid recommendations.
Where to Buy a 22lr Pistol
The best gun stores are struggling with post Covid blues, inflation, even the price of copper. but some have weathered the storm much better than others.
Now it’s not hard to buy a 22lr pistol, but you can still save a lot of money if you go to the right places like Palmetto State Armory. Guns.com has a lot of great deals and hard to find firearms, but Palmetto State Armory is the one for budget gun options. They have gift cards as well, so you can sort a friend out this Christmas.
Now we know Brownells has solid deals, too, and we will often point you to Primary Arms. But it’s just that with these particular weapons, Palmetto State Armory is the runaway winner. So, yeah, what we’re saying is, start with Palmetto State Armory, then go to the rest.
What About a 22 Rifle to Go With That?
You can have a real long range precision rifle, a Scout rifle, a purpose built range target shooters for recreational shooting with a cold hammer forged barrel through to compact tactical rifles with scopes & optics.
Standard models include the classic lever-action and bolt-action rifles you know and love, and a Scout rifle, and a training tool for law enforcement types.
But 22 precision rifle options are almost as good as the long range sniper rifles we have elsewhere shooting bigger ammo. Indeed you get some of the same models. The rimfire Ruger Precision rifle is the most famous, but you can get a Scout rifle from Steyr with big ammo and big ambitions.
- The 29 top 22 rifles on sale in 2022. A precision rifle or an AR-22? We got guns, gear, accessories.
- 9 leading bolt action 22s on the market. Get a precision rifle, wide variety of barrel lengths for long range.
We can find you a 22 single shot pistol, too, if you’re the kind of person who wants a single shot pistol while you’re learning to shoot. Get a gun cleaning kit too.
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Great selection of .22 handguns. My personal favorites are the Walther P22 and the Ruger Mark IV Tactical as well as the SR22. I also think it would be pretty cool to have one of those North American Arms 22 shorts just for fun. Keep it up, hope others keep stumbling across this list as I have.
There are a few company brand name 22lr pistols that come to mind . But Far & Above this company should be Number 1 in any 22lr pistol list or comparison . That company’s name would be ( HIGH STANDARD ) … Pity that they only make a few models as of this comment . The only other name (in competition ) that comes to mind is the ( SMITH & WESSON model 41 ) . Comment if you remember any COLT or others ( back in the day )