Picking up shooting as a form of self-defense is an exciting move. But mixed with the excitement is the confusion of which gun to pick. Sadly, many beginners pick up more power than they can handle and end up being dissuaded or even hurt by high recoil guns like the 10mm. Of the 2 most popular handguns, the 9mm and the .22, the .22 is better suited for you if you are a beginner. Not to say that this gun is a beginners gun only though. This is why you need to find the best 22 pistol for yourself, or even a friend or family member.
[amazon box=”0764333542″ template=”horizontal”]The Advantages of a.22 Pistol
Before we delve into the world of .22 pistols, let’s look at a few advantages of the .22 pistol range. Despite its small size, the .22 pistol has big advantages, both for beginners and veterans. Let’s look at a few of those advantages, then we’ll look at the best 22 pistol for you.
1. Silky Smooth Recoil
Pistols in the .22 caliber configuration are not as high powered as other higher caliber pistols and as such have softer recoil. This is advantageous to beginners and people with weak wrists. The smooth recoil will help you improve your gun handling skills and build up your confidence.
2. Best Gun for Learning Shooting Technique
Shooting a gun is not as easy as it is depicted in the movies. There is a technique to master in shooting right and straight. And this is where the .22 comes in. Because of its easy to use nature, the best 22 pistol is the easiest gun you can use to learn proper gun techniques. Your accuracy and skill in using a firearm are determined by the foundational techniques you build up. If you start with a higher caliber gun, you may not perfect your skill.
3. Safe Yet Powerful
The .22 caliber is the safe gun to keep due to the fact that it can’t cause grievous bodily harm, yet it is powerful enough to be used as a self-defense weapon. Others debate the value of the best 22 pistol as a self-defense weapon due to the fact that it can’t penetrate the human body enough to affect the vital organs. But the debate can also be thrown the other way, what good is a powerful handgun if you can’t fire it accurately? Because of its small size, it’s the perfect weapon to carry, concealed or not.
If you are looking for a good EDC (Every Day Carry) pistol, a .22 fits the bill as it is compact enough to carry without being burdensome.
4. Silent
Another advantage that the best 22 pistol has over its bigger brothers is that is a very quiet gun. This can be an advantage in many instances, one of which is hunting small game and the other reason being that it won’t compromise your position in circumstances where you want to remain hidden. Oh, and it won’t hurt your ears much.
5. Affordable to Buy and Maintain
One of the best features of best 22 pistol is that they are very affordable, both in terms of buying and maintain. The ammo is dirt cheap, well not really, but .22s have some of the cheapest ammo around and this makes it easier for you to practice as much as you want without shooting a big hole in your pocket.
Talking about the cost of buying, I think it’s time we take a look at some of the best 22 pistol and how much it will cost you to bring one home.
[amazon box=”B01GYZMQTW” template=”horizontal”]Comparison Table: 8 of the Best .22 Pistols for the Beginner, Veteran, or Collector
So, what are the best .22 caliber pistols for you to choose from? Here is an extensive list that will definitely have something I know you will like.
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1.The Ruger SR22
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2. The Walther P22
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3. The Smith and Wesson SW22 Victory
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4. The Ruger LCR22 LR
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5. The Beretta Neos
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6. The Browning Buck Mark 22
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7. The Smith and Wesson Model 17
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8. The Colt Woodsman
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Full Review: The .22 Pistol – 8 of the Best for You to Choose from in 2019
1. The Ruger SR22
When it comes to firearms, especially handguns, Ruger is a name you can trust, and the Ruger SR22 is one .22 pistol you can rely on as your EDC gun. Its compact design makes it comfortable to conceal IWB or OWB and it also fits well in a purse.
Featuring a very well-balanced design and build, it is one pistol you will find very easy to handle and use. The balance and soft recoil that make this gun fun to shoot also make it a very accurate pistol.
For the reliability, ease of use, and safety it provides, the Ruger SR22 is well worth its $289.99 price tag.
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2. The Walther P22
If you are looking for a versatile .22 caliber pistol, then you are looking for the Walther P22. Although it had a lot of teething problems when it was launched, this .22 pistol has now been improved a lot over the years.
A bit bigger than other .22 pistols (and weighing just about 17-inches), it’s a great gun to handle as it has a grip that is just the right size for any hand size. The Walther P22 automatic comes with a 10-round magazine, more than adequate for any need – whether as a survival pistol, every day carry, or even as a small game hunting gun.
The Walther P22 will cost you at least $299.99.
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3. The Smith and Wesson SW22 Victory
This offering from one of the gun companies that helped win the West is not just a beauty to behold but it is also a very practical pistol. Coming with a massive 5.5-inch modular barrel, it is very accurate, can reach high velocities, and it’s easy to swop out the barrel. The only drawback the SW22 Victory has is its size – it’s larger than most in this category and thus makes it harder to carry as a CCW.
Although it was only launched in 2015, the SW22 Victory already has a lot of barrel options on the market, a sure sign of its popularity.
This dependable beauty of a best.22 pistol will set you back approximately $400.00 depending on where you shop.
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4. The Ruger LCR22 LR
This revolver from Ruger is one of the .22 caliber handguns that are very good for everyday carry as they are compact and easy to draw. Unlike other revolvers with an exposed hammer that can make it tricky to draw, the Ruger LCR22 has an enclosed hammer that won’t disturb you when drawing your gun in a hurry.
For a revolver, especially one this small, the LCR22 has an impressive capacity of 8 rounds. Weighing a mere 14.9oz and sporting one of the best triggers a gun can have, the Ruger LCR22LR comes highly recommended. And for $499.99, it’s a bargain I would pick any day.
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5. The Beretta Neos
The Berreta Neos is a high tech .22 semi-automatic pistol made from polymer. The Neos’ mags hold 10 .22LR rounds of ammo that are released by a smooth single stage trigger. If I were to say this .22 pistol is fun to shoot, that would be an understatement.
For a beginner, this is one piece you should strongly consider as it is simple to field strip and maintain. One of the coolest features of the Beretta Neos is that it can be turned into a carbine by simply getting a conversion kit from Beretta. Even as a novice, you can carry out this conversion yourself. Besides, the Beretta Neos is also one of the cheapest .22 pistols at a starting price of $250.00, making it one of the best pistols to usher you into the world of guns. So why not go for it?
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6. The Browning Buck Mark 22
If there is a name that you should trust in the arms industry, it’s the Browning Arms Company founded by one of the fathers of firearms, John Browning.
Browning’s flagship handgun, the Buck Mark is a piece of art and an engineering marvel. Made from the finest materials, including aircraft grade aluminum, the Buck Mark loses points on weight but gains many more on reliability, beauty, and affordability.
Ergonomically, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a gun more comfortable to grip than the Browning Buck Mark 22 as a lot of work was put into this aspect of the pistol. For the build quality and work that goes into producing this best 22 pistol, you’d expect Browning to demand a princely sum for it, but surprisingly they don’t. It will only cost you $379.99 to add this work of art to your collection.
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7. The Smith and Wesson Model 17
The Smith and Wesson Model 17 comes from a long line of reliable and durable revolvers that come in the equally old .22LR caliber. Although the Model 17 was discontinued in 1998, it was reintroduced in 2009 as one of Smith and Wesson’s classic revolvers due to the resurgence of their popularity.
If you are a fan of revolvers, especially the classic type with wooden grips and long shiny barrels, you will definitely love the Smith and Wesson Model 17 .22 revolver.
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8. The Colt Woodsman
It would be a crime to make a list of the best.22 pistol without mentioning one of the oldest legends in gun history – the Colt. Designed by the legendary John Browning (and also one of the last he worked on) and made by the venerable Colt’s Manufacturing Company, the Colt Woodsman is a legendary .22 pistol in its own right.
For a gun that is 100 years old, the Colt Woodsman is certainly still a very good gun that can easily contend with the young guns that are currently in production. Sadly, the Colt Woodsman was retired in 1977. If you are a collector, this is one .22 pistol that definitely has to be in your collection. And for a collector’s piece, it is very reasonably priced at $800.00.
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The Best 22 Pistol for You
As you have well seen, the best 22 pistol comes in many different colors and flavors for you to choose from. Whether you are a beginner looking for your first gun, or a veteran shooter looking for a small caliber gun to keep you in form as you plink away at tin cans or rabbits, there is a best 22 pistol for you. Especially with their very affordable price range, there’s no reason to get yourself one of these.
So go ahead, take your pick.
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