The .22 rimfire is one of America’s most popular cartridges, and for good reason. It’s cheap, quiet, and easy to shoot, and comes in convenient bricks of hundreds of rounds for afternoons of enjoyment. There’s just something about a rimfire that brings a smile to your face and makes you proud to own it.
It’s easy to see why the .22 long rifle is one of the most widely produced cartridges in the world. With all the love for .22, there’s a huge variety of rimfire handguns to choose from. .22 pistols are useful for a wide variety of activities including target shooting, hunting and trapping, and self defense. With our .22 pistol reviews, we’ve selected some of our favorites from each category.
Best .22 Pistol For Plinking and Target Shooting
As the .22 pistol is a long time standby of target shooting from fun plinking to competition training, the market for .22 plinking and target guns has exploded. As there are so many options to choose from, it’s hard to select a “best” .22 plinking or target pistol. However, there is one pistol that is likely to stand at the front of many peoples’ favorites due to the low cost, high quality, wide variety of aftermarket accessories, and widespread use:
The Ruger Standard Auto
First introduced in 1949, the Ruger Standard was immediately successful due to its high quality construction at a price that undercut competition. Inventor Bill Ruger used several clever techniques for simple yet sturdy design, taking advantage of the low pressures of the .22 long rifle cartridge, creating a sleek and efficient handgun at a very reasonable cost.
The Ruger Standard (and its many offspring, including the 22/45 and Mk. I-IV pistols) are almost immediately recognizable due to their distinctive lower grip frame, tubular receiver, and tapered barrel profile. It is often related to the profile of the famous Luger handgun.
The Ruger Standard is well-liked among shooters for its ergonomics and comfortable handling. The trigger is fairly crisp and light for a factory trigger, great for target shooting. The grip frame is based off of some famously ergonomic historic handguns, and some say Bill Ruger also drew inspiration from a power drill to craft the grip profile, which fits a variety of hands very easily. The long sight radius makes consistent aiming easy, and the bolt contained within the receiver disrupts the sight picture less on recoil than a conventional slide. Combined with intuitive controls and 10-round detachable magazines, the Ruger Standard quickly became a target shooting favorite.
Today, Ruger MK II and III pistols along with the 22/45 model can commonly be found in the $300-400 range, with deals abound in the used market with over 2 million produced. Many would consider it the best .22 pistol for the money.
The Browning Buckmark
Nearly as distinctive as the Standard Auto is the Browning Buckmark. The Buckmark series of pistol features an aluminum frame construction, ergonomic grip with high beavertail profile, and crisp trigger break. The Buckmark holds a very standard 10 rounds per magazine. A favorite for many sport shooters, the Buckmark is currently offered in 19 models – with different configurations offering different barrel lengths, fiber optic sight inserts, rosewood grips, and even full length picatinny rails for mounting a scope or red dot optic to the pistol.
Unlike the tubular breech bolt of the Ruger series pistols, the Buckmark has a full sized reciprocating breech which some might find easier to grip and manipulate. With its ergonomic grip and target grade bull barrel, the Buckmark is a natural choice for target shooting activities ranging from informal plinking to competition shooting and even small game hunting.
Additionally, for fans of the pistol, Browning offers 3 rifle models of the Browning Buckmark – featuring a full length stock, forend, and 18″ barrel for additional stability and velocity.
Best .22 Pistol for Self Defense
There is a lot of debate in the gun world about the right gun and caliber to carry for self defense. Many are deeply entrenched in their caliber and gun choice and are convinced that the one they’ve chosen is the only one to carry. Carrying a rimfire handgun in particular is a deeply contentious subject. When it comes to carrying a gun for self defense, the important thing is to have one which is reliable, that you are comfortable and practiced with, and that you will have on you when you need it. Since some people like semi automatics and some like revolvers, we’ll look at one of each.
Best .22 Revolver for Self Defense:
Ruger LCR
While “snub-nosed” revolvers with hidden hammers are popular for concealed carry, there’s no secret about how uncomfortable they can be to shoot. Popularly chambered in .38 Special (often with +P loads) or .357 Magnum, they pack a fair bit of recoil and can be punishing on the hand to practice with at the range.
Ruger heard this problem and built rimfire options to their LCR line of concealed carry revolvers. The LCR is a modern double-action revolver featuring polymer parts to reduce weight, a stainless steel cylinder with high-tech coating for enhanced strength and corrosion resistance, and a patented cam system for a smooth and consistent double action trigger pull. Revolvers also solve one of the major issues with rimfire guns for self-defense: the possibility of a dud round. Rimfire cartridges are usually considered to be less reliable because the ignition system can lead to a higher rate of rounds which fail to fire when stuck. Although this would stop a semi-auto handgun from cycling, a revolver allows the user to simply pull the trigger again to fire the next round.
The LCR is small and light enough to easily carry in a purse or pocket, and handles easily for the small revolver that it is. It is available in .22 LR with an 8-round cylinder, or in the more powerful .22 magnum with a 6-round cylinder. 8 round capacity in a concealable revolver is hard to beat, and the .22 magnum offers a higher velocity round with a wide variety of self-defense loads available for those who want a rimfire carry gun with a little more punch.
In addition, the LCR is designed to easily change out grips and sights to suit the end user.
Best .22 Pistol for Self Defense (Semi Auto):
Walther P22
The Walther P22 is an ergonomic and inexpensive semi-automatic .22, designed for comfort in the hand and ease of carry. Utilizing a polymer grip frame and lightweight zinc construction, the P22 carries easily and can be comfortably operated by people of all levels of strength. The double/single action operation allows the user to carry in either a double action configuration — with a heavier first round trigger pull — or single action like many popular semi automatic pistols. The P22 safety functions in either double or single action mode, allowing the user to carry or store the firearm in the configuration they are most comfortable with.
In addition, the P22 offers a number of additional safety features to make it more suitable for defensive use. The magazine disconnect safety keeps the P22 from firing without a magazine inserted, allowing the user to render it inoperable by simply storing it with the magazine removed. It features a firing pin block safety which blocks the firing pin from striking a cartridge unless the trigger is pulled — a safeguard against the risk of accidental discharge from a drop or other sudden shock.
The P22 also features an ambidextrous safety and magazine release which are easy for all users to engage. Its ergonomic features, ease of use, and low profile make it a great defensive choice for all types of users.
Best .22 Pistol for Hunting
Hunting with a .22 is a contentious subject, sure to draw opinions from all sides. The .22 long rifle is a relatively diminutive cartridge by today’s standards, and its capabilities must be carefully considered before using it on live game. On the other hand, rimfire cartridges have a long history as some of the world’s most popular small game cartridges. In a handgun, rimfire cartridges make a convenient way to carry your hunting capabilities. The .22 long rifle, especially fired out of a handgun length barrel, is unethical and (depending on your state) illegal to use for medium to large game such as deer. However, it is more than powerful enough for small game including squirrels, grouse, and rabbits. A .22 pistol is perfectly suited for such small game and even makes a great ethical dispatch weapon for hunters and trappers who wish to kill a wounded or trapped animal at close range. Upgrading to a .22 magnum increases the power and the range of ethical options available.
Revolver: Ruger Single Six Convertible
There is something classic and elegant in the feel of a well-timed single action revolver. Despite technological advances and new action types taking over popularity, single action revolvers have kept favor with many shooters.
For the small game hunter or trapper, the single action revolver offers many advantages. Its simple operation is known for reliability, and the single action trigger sets a crisp, light break that is perfect for accurate shots.