Rimfire .22 LR pistols are great training guns for both novice and seasoned shooters. The minimal recoil and reduced muzzle rise of .22 LR pistols makes them easy to handle, and fast to get back on target. This allows novices to build their basic pistol skills, and helps seasoned competitors upgrade their performance. Even experienced centerfire handgun shooters can improve their skills by cross-training with .22 LR pistols.
Today’s Saturday Showcase features 7 videos covering a large selection of rimfire pistols. Along with these video reviews, serious shoppers should read some articles on the web. Pew Pew Tactical has a good online article that’s definitely worth reading: 9 Best .22 LR Handguns. As the author notes: “Every gun owner should own at least one .22 LR firearm. The ammo is ubiquitous, and affordable at around 5 cents a round.” And BackFire TV has published another good article covering eight popular .22 LR handguns.
Taurus TX 22 Competition — Optics-Ready
The TaurusTX™ 22 Competition model is built on the same full-size polymer receiver as the Taurus TX 22 but has a newly engineered slide and barrel assembly designed to work with red dot optics. The Taurus TX 22 Competition features a “skeletonized” slide with a cutout between the ejection port to just behind the front sight. The mounting system allows the use of the following (but not limited to) sight models: Trijicon RMR, C-More STS 2, Vortex Venom, Doctor Noblex, Burris Fast Fire, Sightmark Mini, Holosun HS507C, Leupold Delta Point Pro.
Eight Popular .22 LR Pistols Reviewed
When initially shopping for a pistol, it’s wise to try a variety of guns from multiple manufacturers. You’ll want to try polymer vs. metal frame, iron sights vs. optics. And try to test-fire the pistols on the type of targets you’ll be using for competition and/or fun shooting. This helpful review video features eight (8) popular .22 LR pistols. In order of appearance these eight rimfire handguns are:
1. Browning Buck Mark Hunter (0:28)
2. Ruger SR22 (1:30)
3. Sig P322 (2:21)
4. Walther WMP (3:30)
5. Taurus TX22 Compact (4:36)
6. Smith & Wesson SW-22 Victory (5:48)
7. KelTec CP33 (6:56)
8. Ruger Mark IV (7:54)
Smith & Wesson Model 41 .22 LR Pistol Review
The S&W Model 41 is a classic American rimfire target pistol. Beautifully crafted, the Model 41 boasts a superb trigger, comfortable grip, and excellent accuracy. New or used, a Model 41 would be a fine addition to any firearms collection.
Browning Buck Mark Pistol Review
Among the most popular .22 LR pistols are the Browning Buck Mark series. Buck Marks are very accurate and very reliable. This rimfire pistol is available in a variety of models starting at under $350.00. Reliable, accurate, and well-crafted, a good Buck Mark will serve you for a lifetime. The tester for the Sootch00 Channel says the “Browning Buck Mark UDX 22 [is] one of the highest quality production .22 LR pistols on the market.” This in-depth, 19-minute Sootch00 Channel review has been viewed over 560,000 times.
SIG P322 Comp Review by 22Plinkster
If you are looking for a well-crafted, .22 LR pistol for action pistol competitions, the SIG Sauer P322 Comp is an option you should definitely consider. The new .22 LR rimfire P322 Comp offers excellent ergonomics and 20+1 capacity, making it good for cross-training and fun rimfire shooting. Note how fast 22Plinkster can hit multiple targets with this new brake-equipped pistol. He observed: “The trigger is really nice and you just want to run it fast”. No question this rimfire pistol would be fun to shoot on steel targets.
Though it may look like a striker-fired pistol, the SIG P322 is a hammer-fired, single-action-only design (the hammer is enclosed by the rear of the slide). The P322 is blow-back operated with a fixed (non-tilting) 4″ barrel. This helps contribute to excellent accuracy and reliability.
S&W Victory Vs. Ruger Mark IV Pistol Shoot-Off
In this video, popular YouTube host 22Plinkster tests two rimfire pistols — the Smith & Wesson Victory and Ruger Mark IV. He favored the grips on the Ruger while preferring the S&W’s trigger. He felt the Ruger’s iron sights were best for precision work, but he noted that the green dot fiber optic sights on the S&W Victory worked better for speed work.
FN 502 .22 LR Tactical Pistol Review
The FN 502 is a modern, hammer-fired design with an optics-ready slide. The barrel is threaded for a suppressor. In this video, popular YouTube gun reviewer Colion Noir tests a FN 502 with suppressor. He was impressed, stating: “This is the best tactical .22 LR handgun I’ve ever shot.”
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The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) has approved new divisions for adults and juniors that will be implemented at the 2024 CMP Bianchi Cup and added to the CMP’s Action Pistol Program. The major development is the approval of a new Rimfire Division. That’s a very big deal that makes the Cup competition much more affordable. We applaud this move by the CMP.
Along with the new Rimfire Division, the CMP will add new “Provisional Divisions” for Production and Production Optics. CLICK HERE to learn more about the new Bianchi Cup Rimfire and Provisional Divisions.
The 2024 CMP Bianchi Cup is set for May 21-24, 2024 at the Green Valley Rifle & Pistol Club in Hallsville, Missouri. This prestigious 40-year-old action pistol match includes four featured events: Practical, Barricade, Falling Plate, and Moving Target. Hundreds of competitors from around the world compete in the event each year.
New Competition Classes: Rimfire, Provisional Production and Production Optics
In 2024, Bianchi Cup participation should increase significantly as the CMP is introducing new competition classes. Awards will be presented for all three new divisions: Rimfire, Production, Production Optics. The biggest change is the inclusion of a Rimfire Division. This division will encompass the same basic rules for each of the current setups — Open, Production/Production Optics, Metallic and Revolver.
The Rimfire Division is designed to encourage participation from juniors not shooting centerfire pistols as well as adults who want to warm up for the Bianchi Cup in a less expensive manner.
Provisional Divisions for Production and Production Optics will also be added to action pistol (with current Production and Production Optics divisions remaining unchanged). The rules for the new Provisional Divisions will be derived form USPSA rules.
Competitors will be divided into their divisions — Metallic, Production, Open, Production Optic, Provisional Production, Provisional Production Optic, or .22 Rimfire — per current CMP Action Pistol Rules.
Handguns for Bianchi Cup’s New Rimfire Division
If you’re looking for a reasonably-priced semi-auto .22 LR pistol for the new Rimfire Division, we recommend the Browning Buck Mark series. Buck Marks are accurate and very reliable. This rimfire pistol is available in a variety of models starting at under $370.00. A good Buck Mark will serve you for a lifetime.
For Rimfire Revolver competition we recommend the 10-shot Smith & Wesson 617 and the relatively new 10-shot Colt King Cobra Target .22 LR, both with available 6-inch barrel lengths. CLICK HERE for a good, side-by-side video review of these two rimfire revolvers by popular YouTube host Hickok45.
These German-language video (with English subtitles), showcases Bianchi Cup Revolver Class guns, and explains how to clean and maintain these high-tech wheelguns.
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At the request of our readers, we provide select “Deals of the Week”. Every Sunday afternoon or Monday morning we offer our Best Bargain selections. Here are some of the best deals on firearms, hardware, reloading components, optics, and shooting accessories. Be aware that sale prices are subject to change, and once clearance inventory is sold, it’s gone for good. You snooze you lose.
1. Palmetto Armory — Savage A17 .17 HMR American Flag Model
The 4th of July is just five days away. What better way to celebrate the nation’s birthday (and your Second Amendment freedoms) than with a new rifle sporting the Stars and Stripes. With its handsome American Flag-theme stock, this semi-auto Savage A17 features a 22″ barrel chambered for the .17 HMR rimfire round (10-rd magazine). We’ve used A17s and they are fun and surprisingly accurate. This American Flag model A17 is $440.98 at Palmetto State Armory.
2. Grafs.com — Free Reloading Scale with $75 Sierra Purchase
⏺ FREE Scale — Great for Loading at Range or Weight-Sorting Components
Even if you have a high-end force restoration scale and/or a electronic powder dispenser, it’s great to have a compact digital scale for weight-sorting components and loading at the range. Right now Graf’s will give you a FREE Frankford Arsenal DS-750 Digital scale with a modest Sierra purchase. Buy at least $75.00 worth of Sierra bullets (all types) or Sierra loaded ammo and you get the DS-750 scale for free.
3. Palmetto Armory — Buck Mark Camper UFX Pistol, $299.99
⏺ Very Accurate, Legendary Reliability, Great Ergonomics
The Browning Buck Mark is a classic, and for good reason. These pistols are reliable, well-balanced, have a good trigger, and they are very accurate. And now you can get one for under $300.00. Palmetto State Armory has the Browning Buck Mark Camper UFX with 5.5″ Barrel on sale for $299.99, discounted from $340.89. This Buck Mark Camper UFX is a great .22 LR pistol, at a very attractive price.
⏺ Read Wind Speed and Direction, Peak Gust, Temp, Humidity, and More
Very popular with Amazon buyers, the impressive Kestrel 3000 enjoys 86% 5-Star Ratings. This versatile Weather Meter records wind speed, wind gust, average wind speed, temperature, humidity, dew point and more. Every precision shooter should have a wind meter, and this is an affordable entry-level unit. NOTE: This Kestrel 3000 does NOT include built-in Applied Ballistics software (to get that feature you’ll have to pay $599.00 for a Kestrel 5700). No worries — you can run a separate mobile App on your phone, such as Ballistic, which uses the JBM Ballistics engine and costs just $12.99.
⏺ Gauge Tool plus 5 Bushings, Essential for Precision Hand-loading
Are you checking your headspace to ensure you’re pushing your shoulders back the correct amount? If you’re not using a tool like the Hornady Headspace Gauge with 5 bushings then you are just guessing and you’ll never know for sure. Using one of these headspace gauges is one of the best ways to control your full-length sizing and thereby improve the consistency of your handloads.
Here’s a very good mat for just $29.99. This NcStar Vism shooting mat boast decent padding, and reinforced areas for elbows and knees. Full dimensions are: 69″ Long x 35″ Wide. This mat has straps for pre-loading your bipod. When you’re done simply fold in the edges, roll it up into a compact 19.50″ W x 8.50″ H package — the size of a sleeping bag. You can pay twice as much for a shooting mat and not get much more quality. This mat has earned 85% Five-Star buyer ratings on Amazon.
7. MidwayUSA — Dual Steel Gong System with Frame, $71.99
⏺ Twin AR500 Steel Gongs, Easy Set-Up and Take-Down
Who doesn’t like shooting steel? The “clang” of hitting a steel target at long range provides instant gratification. This patented Viking Solutions Gong Target System features two 3/8″-thick, AR500 Steel Gongs (8″ and 10″) suspended by chains. The support frame consists of 2 leg stands and 2 crossbar sections. Assembled, the crossbar is 32″ above ground level. Right now this unit is on sale for $71.99 — 20% off the regular price.
8. Amazon — Long Range Shooting Handbook, $19.85
⏺ Most Popular Practical LR Training Book, Respected Author
Ryan Cleckner’s Long Range Shooting Handbook is the best-selling modern book on practical rifle skills. Ryan Cleckner’s Long Range Shooting Handbook is designed as an intro to important fundamental concepts such as MOA vs. Mils, External Ballistics, and Environmental Effects. Included are personal tips and advice based on Cleckner’s years of experience as a sniper instructor and special operations sniper. You can view Sample Chapters on Amazon.com.
The Long Range Shooting Handbook is divided into three main categories: What It Is/How It Works, Fundamentals, and How to Use It. “What It Is/How It Works” covers equipment, terminology, and basic principles. “Fundamentals” covers the theory of long range shooting. “How to Use It” gives practical advice on implementing what you’ve learned, so you can progress as a skilled, long range shooter.
⏺ Everyone Can Use This — Four Driver types (51 pieces) at Great Price
This Outers-brand, 51-piece set contains all the drivers you could ever need: Flat-head, Phillips, Hex (Allen), and Torx. Priced under ten bucks, this driver set offers great value for the money. Even if you already own high-quality Allen and Torx wrenches, you can buy this as a spare set for your gun room. And this also makes a great holiday “stocking stuffer” for gun guys. These drivers work great for installing scope rings or bases, or everyday use around the home.
• Molded Driver with Magnetic Tip
• 15 Flat Head Bits
• 10 Hex Bits (inch)
• 9 Hex Bits (metric)
• 4 Phillips Bits
• 9 Torx Bits
• 2 Extra Long Phillips Bits
• 1 Hex to Square Adapter
10. Amazon — Howard Leight MAX Earplugs, $8.60/50 Pairs
20 Pairs
50 Pairs
⏺ Best NRR (33 dB), Very Comfortable, Great Value
These Howard Leight NRR 33 Max Plugs are your Editor’s favorite foam earplugs. Between shooting, motorcycling, and mowing lawns, I probably have Max plugs in my ears 2-3 days a week. This is a very good price for a bulk pack of 50 pairs. NRR 33 is the best Noise Reduction Rating you’ll find for plugs alone. And if you act soon, you can get free shipping to boot.
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At SHOT Show and Media Day at the range, hundreds of new pistols were on display. We were pleased to see a variety of new .22 LR rimfire choices. For training, fun plinking, and target work, a .22 LR pistol offers many advantages. First, the ammo is inexpensive — you can get decent ammo for under $3.00 a box these days. In addition, barrel life is excellent with the little .22 LR cartridge. Finally, .22 LR has very low recoil, and less noise than centerfire cartridges — though you should still always wear eye and ear protection when shooting rimfire handguns.
Here are five new-for-2020 .22 LR Handguns from Browning, Ruger, Keltec, and Glock. Though it appears to have some reliability issues, we included the new Glock 44, because many of our Forum members asked about this new handgun.
Browning Buck Mark Limited Edition Buck Mark Plus Vision
This is a new Limited Edition of Browning’s classic Buck Mark semi-auto rimfire pistol. This features a ported barrel shroud. Along with the blue version shown, this new pistol is offered with a Red or Black finish. This Editor shot this Buck Mark Plus Vision Ltd. Edition on Range Day and were impressed. It balances well, has a great trigger, and was very accurate. See Full Review on GunsAmerica.com. With lots of close-up photos, the GunsAmerica Digest review provides very complete information on the Limited Edition Series Plus Vision Buck Mark.
Ruger Mark IV .22 LR with 10″ Barrel
This new Ruger Mark IV has a serious sight radius — the 10-inch barrel is near twice the length of the Mark IV’s typical 5.5-inch barrel. Even Ruger’s Mark IV Hunter and Competition models only offer a 6.88″ barrel. These new 10″-barrel guns still use the standard Mark IV one-button takedown for quick and easy field-stripping. The upper receiver comes drilled and tapped to mount Weaver- or Picatinny-style rails for optics. These new long-barrel Mark IVs will be available soon from Guns.com.
Ruger Lite Rack LCP II .22 LR Pistol
For SHOT Show 2020, Ruger introduced a new ultra-compact .22 LR pistol, the LCP II “Lite Rack”. This rimfire version of Ruger’s popular .380 ACP pocket pistol gets its name from the easy-to-charge slide. Initial testing shows this little rimfire has a decent trigger and good accuracy. With a 10+1 capacity, the Lite Rack .22 is very reliable, as you can see in this .22 Plinkster video. If you’re interested in a “Deep Cover” .22 LR carry pistol, the Lite Rack LCP II, with its $319.99 street price, may fit the bill.
Keltec P17 — Compact, Budget-Priced .22 LR Pistol
Keltec’s new P17 rimfire pistol is lightweight, easy to handle, and features a fiber optic front sight and an adjustable rear. Priced at just $199.95 MSRP, the .22 LR P17 has 16+1 round capacity and ships with three, 16-round magazines. This is a small pistol — it weight just 14 ounces and OAL is 6.65″. Keltec states: “The new, affordable P17 pistol makes range days a lot less expensive and far more fun.” With low cost .22 LR ammo and a 16+1 capacity, this should be fun to shoot.
Glock 44 — Glock’s First-Ever .22 LR Handgun
Glock surprised the world with its new Glock 44, with a form factor similar to the Glock 19. Glock’s first rimfire handgun has a 4.02″ barrel and 7.28″ OAL so most G19 holsters will work with the G44. There is minimal muzzle flip, accuracy is good, and the trigger is decent. OK, that’s the good stuff. The negatives? There have been reliability issues with bulk-type, inexpensive .22 LR ammunition. Reviewer .22 Plinkster was disappointed with his G44. He had dozens of malfunctions with bulk .22 LR ammo (see 9:00 time-mark) and the gun shot high with normal sight alignment (9:20 time-mark). He says the new G44 needs further development: “I… had high hopes for the Glock 44 when it was released. Hopefully, Glock will remedy some of the issues with this handgun.” And in the Pew-Pew Tactical video below you’ll see a malfunction at 6:50. The reviewer stated: “I struggled with the rounds that were cheaper and lighter, but I didn’t struggle with hot stuff or the good stuff.” Lesson — if you are considering the G44, be sure to use quality, hotter .22 LR ammo such as CCI Mini-Mags.
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At the request of our readers, we provide select “Deals of the Week”. Every Sunday afternoon or Monday morning we offer our Best Bargain selections. Here are some of the best deals on firearms, hardware, reloading components, optics, and shooting accessories. Be aware that sale prices are subject to change, and once clearance inventory is sold, it’s gone for good. You snooze you lose.
1. MidwayUSA Padded Shooting Mat, $74.99 on Sale
This padded MidwayUSA mat is much more comfortable than typical shooting mats. With 1.5″-thick high-density foam, this is way better for knees and elbows than typical roll-up mats. For your home range, this is a good choice. On sale now for $74.99, this thick mat folds into three sections. It stows flat and fits nicely in the back of a truck or SUV. Actual owner comments: “If you like to be COMFORTABLE … I can highly recommend it! Easy on the elbows. Easy on the knees. Easy on the belly. You can even kneel on it comfortably, even when the surface is rock-hard!”; “I tell you what … Do yourself a favor and spend the few extra dollars on this unit. Highly recommended.” MORE REVIEWS HERE.
2. EuroOptic — Leica 8×42 Geovid LRF Binoculars, $1150 Off
If you’re looking for outstanding glass plus great rangefinding capabilities, the Leica Geovids are among the best you can buy — at any price. Right now save over $1000 on the Leica 8×42 HD-B 3000 Geovids at EuroOptic. These are being marked down to $1799.00 because Leica has introduced a new “smart” Geovid 3200.com model that communicates with a Ballistic App. That new 8×42 Geovid 3200.com starts at $2949.00, so you can save big bucks by buying the previous model. Last year’s 10×42 Geovid is also on sale now for $2499.00.
3. Natchez — ChargeMaster Lite Powder Dispenser, $209.99
Precise powder dispensing is critical for accurate loads. Among the many electronic scale/dispensers on the market, RCBS’s ChargeMaster Lite is a very good choice. This week Natchez is selling the ChargeMaster Lite for only $209.99. That’s a great price — almost $60 cheaper than Amazon. Note: Natchez also offers $5 Shipping with $99+ orders through 2/4/2020 with Code FR200201.
4. Multiple Vendors — 20% Rebate on Federal and Speer Bullets
Now through the end of April, if you purchase at least $100 worth of Federal and/or Speer bullets you can get 20% of the purchase price back. Minimum purchase is $100.00. Maximum rebate of $100 per person or household. Note: The Rebate amount will be calculated on the product purchase price only — that does NOT include taxes and/or shipping/handling fees. This Federal/Speer Rebate is valid for purchases made 02/01/2020 through 04/30/2020. View REBATE FORM.
5. Midsouth — Frankford Arsenal Rotary Tumbler Lite, $99.99
Lots of people love wet-tumbling their brass in stainless pins but not everyone want to do it in a giant unit. We found a sweet deal on the Frankford Arsenal Rotary Tumbler Lite. Midsouth has this unit on sale for $99.99. This tumbler is small enough to fit on a counter but still big enough to hold 300 pieces of .223 Rem brass. For folks on a limited budget who want to start wet tumbling, this is a solid choice.
6. CDNN — Ruger American .30-06 Hunting Rifle, $319.99
Even with so many new cartridge types, the venerable .30-06 Springfield remains a trusted and effective hunting round. Moreover, you can find good .30-06 hunting ammo at most any sporting goods store. Whether you’re looking for an affordable hunting rifle or perhaps a first rifle for a family member, check out this .30-06 Ruger American Rifle with Wolf Camo finish. CDNN’s current sale price is just $319.99 — a great bargain. One recent comparison test declared the Ruger American the best entry-level hunting rifle, and Ruger offers a rock-solid warranty.
7. Sportsman’s Guide — Buck Mark Camper UFX Pistol, $299.99
The Browning Buck Mark is a classic, and for good reason. These pistols are reliable, well-balanced, have a good trigger, and they are very accurate. And now you can get one for under $300.00. Sportsman’s Guide has the Browning Buck Mark Camper UFX with 5.5″ Barrel on sale for $299.99 ($284.99 member price). This Buckmark Camper UFX is a excellent value, especially for Club members who pay just $284.99.
8. MidwayUSA Dogtown Ammo, $21.25 for 50 rounds
Dogtown Ammo, made with Nosler tipped FB bullets, offers great “bang for the buck” for .223 Rem shooters, particularly high-volume varminters. Right now get 50 rounds for just $21.24 (43¢/rd). Or order 200 rounds for $86.99 (42¢/rd). Forum member NDAE15MAN states: “This stuff shoots in all of my .223 Rem guns — 7/8″ to 1″ at 100 yards. Best kept secret for ammo. Shoot exact same groups as Black Hills.” NOTE: MidwayUSA also sells .204 Ruger Dogtown Ammo with 32gr tipped flat-base bullets.
Here’s a great deal for varmint shooters with 17 HMR rifles. Midsouth has the Hornady 17 HMR brick of 500 for a low price of $89.99. That works out to just 18 cents per round — cheap enough that you can blast sage rats all days long and never worry about running out of ammo.
10. Amazon — Two Pairs Safety Eyewear, Cords, Covers, $13.50
Eye protection is important! All you need is one case separation or blown primer to cause serious eye injury. Don’t take that risk. Plus the CMP has made Eye Protection mandatory for all CMP Pistol and Centerfire Rifle events. Here’s a great kit with TWO Sets of safety eyewear, each with a neck strap and carry bag. These feature ANSI Z87.1-rated lenses that are anti-fog and scratch-resistant. The lenses also block harmful UV rays. Get the full SuperLite and SuperClear Lens Technology Kit for just $13.50.
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Everyone should own a nice .22 LR rimfire pistol. The Browning Buck Mark is a classic, and for good reason. These pistols are reliable, well-balanced, have a good trigger, and they are very accurate. We have nothing but praise for the bull-barreled Buck Marks. And now you can get one for a super-low price. Sportsman’s Guide has the Browning Buck Mark Camper UFX with 5.5″ Barrel on sale for $299.99 ($284.99 member price). But it gets even better — if you use Code “WARRIOR” during check-out, you save $20.00, putting your total price at just $279.99 (or $264.99 for SG members). That’s a great deal on a very solid rimfire pistol that can serve you well for decades.
The accurate and ergonomic Buck Mark Camper UFX was selected as an NRA Gun of the Week last year. This video explains the pistol’s features in detail.
This video shows how to Field Strip and disassemble the Buck Mark Camper UFX. To Field Strip the pistol, you need to remove three screws.
Browning Buck Mark Camper UFX Features:
• Blowback, Single Action Only
• Tapered 5.5″ Bull Barrel
• Alloy receiver w/matte black finish
• Overmolded Ultragrip FX ambidextrous grips
• Pro-Target™ adjustable sights with Fiber Optic
Caliber/Cartridge: .22 LR (22 Long Rifle)
Capacity: 10+1
Safety: Manual
Sights: Fiber Optic
Weight: 2.12 lbs
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