We think every handgun fan should have a nice .22 LR rimfire pistol in his/her collection. Rimfire pistols have low recoil and the cost per shot is a small fraction of the price of shooting a centerfire pistol (especially a .44 magnum or .45 ACP).

The Taurus TX22 is a nice first rimfire handgun, with very good ergonomics, above-average accuracy, and a very affordable price. Right now the TX-22 with gray frame and 4.1″ barrel is on sale at Palmetto SA for just $236.99 — a real steal. There is also a compact model TX22C with 3.6″ barrel for $249.99.

Here are some verified owner reviews:

“Fantastic ergonomics, great trigger! More than 500 rounds through this pistol without a single jam or failure to feed. Can’t recommend this pistol enough. Buy one!”

“Fantastic 22LR pistol. I have a few different plinkers and this is my favorite one — it’s accurate and reliable as hell straight out the box.”

“This gun is very accurate… a fantastic training gun. Reliability is excellent. I would recommend this handgun to a friend.”

“Total fun shooting. It is reliable and comfortable. The kit comes with a [handy loader] for the magazines.”

“Perfect for teaching the kids, new shooters, and having fun. It cycles all sorts of ammo with no issues.”

“Really great shooting gun. It even ate through the cheap ammo with no problems.”

Taurus TX22 Competition — Optics-Ready

In addition to the basic, budget-priced TX22 pistol, Taurus offers an impressive Comp model set up for optics. The Taurus TX22 Competition model is built on the same full-size polymer receiver as the basic Taurus TX22 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.

Tips for Pistol Shoppers
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.