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.22LR, or .22 Long Rifle, is a classic American rimfire cartridge that dates back to 1884. Even today, it’s by far the world’s single most popular ammunition round and it’s used for a variety of purposes including hunting, competition, training, recreation, and even self-defense.
At A Glance: Our Top 5 Picks For 22LR Pistols in 2022
- Best Overall: Ruger Mark IV Standard
- Best Alternative: Smith & Wesson SW-22 Victory
- Best Lightweight: Walther P22
- Best Looking: Browning Buck Mark Standard URX
- Best Budget: Heritage Rough Rider
People love .22LR for its low noise and incredibly light recoil. It’s great for introducing new people to the world of firearms, but even experienced shooters love how comfortable this little round is to shoot.
Firearms for .22LR include both rifles and handguns, but today we’re going to focus on the latter.
Our number one overall pick is the Ruger Mark IV Standard. This gun continues a long history of excellent .22LR pistols from Ruger. It’s accurate and reliable. It’s also comfortable and easy to shoot.
Beyond the Ruger Mark IV Standard, you’ll also find several other .22LR pistol recommendations in this guide. And to help you choose the right one for you, we’ll also talk about the different types of .22LR pistols on the market and the different features you should look for.
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | |
|---|---|---|
Best Overall  | Ruger Mark IV Standard
| VIEW ON BROWNELLS → |
Best Alternative  | Smith & Wesson SW-22 Victory
| VIEW ON BROWNELLS → |
Best Lightweight  | Walther P22
| VIEW ON BROWNELLS → |
Best Looking  | Browning Buck Mark Standard URX
| VIEW ON BROWNELLS → |
Best Budget  | Heritage Rough Rider
| VIEW ON BROWNELLS → |
Here are the best 22lr pistols (Our Picks).
1. Ruger Mark IV Standard
Our top overall pick is the Ruger Mark IV .22LR pistol.
This is a Ruger Standard-style pistol, so it has very classic styling. In fact, this is the modern version of the original Ruger Standard that was first released all the way back in 1949.
This .22LR pistol features a cold hammer-forged, rifled, tapered barrel that is available in either 4.75 inches long (Model 40104) or 6 inches long (Model 40105). The overall length is either 9 inches or 10.25 inches, depending on barrel length and the pistol is 1.2 inches wide. It weighs either 28.2 or 30.1 ounces, again depending on barrel length.
Regardless of the barrel length, the pistol still has the same set of features.
It has a 10+1 magazine capacity and comes with two magazines. The magazine easily drops free when you use the push-button magazine release, located on the left side of the pistol.
The gun can’t fire while the magazine is removed, which is an extremely hand safety feature for a non-defensive gun. It also has an ambidextrous manual safety for protection at all times.
The Ruger Mark IV Standard features fixed sights, but the receiver is drilled and tapped for adding a rail.
The gun’s frame is made from aluminum and features checkered synthetic grip panels. The grip panels are replaceable. The frame features a one-button takedown for easy disassembly.
Though we’re talking about the Standard variety here, there are also Target, Hunter, Competition, Tactical, 22/45, 22/45 Lite, and 22/45 Tactical varieties. The Standard is a great all-around option, while the other varieties are more specialized for particular purposes.
Key Specifications:
- Overall Length: 9 or 10.25 inches
- Barrel Length: 4.75 or 6 inches
- Width: 1.2 inches
- Weight: 28.2 or 30.1 ounces
- Capacity: 10+1
TakeAway
The Ruger Mark IV Standard is a great overall gun but is especially well suited for plinking and target shooting. It’s highly reliable and accurate, but for self-defense, you might want to go for a pistol that can be shot without a magazine in place. That way you can drop your magazine before firing off your last shot for faster reloads.
2. Smith & Wesson SW-22 Victory
The Smith & Wesson SW-22 Victory is another Ruger Standard style pistol and is about the same size as the Ruger Mark IV.
It has a 5.5-inch match-grade interchangeable barrel and is 9.3 inches long overall. It’s a good bit heavier than the Mark IV, though, weighing in at 36 ounces. Like the Mark IV, the SW-22 Victory allows for easy takedown, though the SW-22 requires the removal of a screw rather than just the push of a button.
It comes with green fiber optic sights, including an adjustable rear sight. However, the pistol does come with a Picatinny rail so you can add your preferred optics instead if you want.
It also comes with two 10-round magazines. There are finger cuts in the bottom of the grip for easy magazine removal, though the magazine tends to drop free anyway.
Other notable features include the stainless steel frame with a satin finish, adjustable trigger, and thumb safety.
Key Specifications:
- Overall Length: 9.2 inches
- Barrel Length: 5.5 inches
- Width: 1.1 inches
- Weight: 36 ounces
- Capacity: 10+1 rounds
TakeAway
The Smith & Wesson SW-22 Victory is very similar to our top pick in many ways. However, the extra weight and the fact that you have to undo a screw, rather than simply push a button, for takedown holds the SW-22 Victory back from being our top overall pick.
Related Article: 8 Best Subcompact Pistol (with Buying Guide)
Still, standout features like the adjustable trigger and fiber optic sights mean that this is a strong competitor that some shooters may prefer.
3. Walther P22
If you’re looking for a more modern semi-automatic, the Walther P22 may be for you. It’s a small and lightweight double/single-action pistol with a contemporary polymer frame.
Thanks to the interchangeable backstraps, you can customize the grip size to suit you. The grip is textured to help you keep your grip. Some shooters may also enjoy the grip’s finger grooves while others will find them to be a deal-breaker.
The ambidextrous slide safety and magazine release are handy, especially for lefties. Speaking of handy, the barrel is threaded so you can add a muzzle device and the rear sight is adjustable.
The Walther P22 is available in a few finishes and a version with a laser sight. It also comes with a lifetime warranty.
Key Specifications:
- Overall Length: 6.5 inches
- Barrel Length: 3.42 inches
- Width: 1.1 inches
- Weight: 16 ounces
- Capacity: 10+1
TakeAway
The Walther P22 is a small and lightweight, yet effective modern semi-automatic. Between the finger grooves, interchangeable backstraps, and ambidextrous controls, Walther has really maid this an ergonomic pistol. It is worth noting that the lighter frame means that this pistol will have more kick than larger, heavier pistols. It’s still just .22LR, though, so the recoil should still be easily managed by most shooters.
4. Browning Buck Mark Standard URX
The Browning Buck Mark Standard URX is another excellent Ruger Standard style .22 pistol.
It features a single-action trigger and a blowback action, as well as adjustable Pro-Target sights. Overall, it’s a pretty simple, yet effective .22LR pistol.
But if you’re looking for a .22 pistol that not just performs great but also looks great, you couldn’t make a better choice.
Related Article: 12 Best 9mm Pistol
The Browning Buck Mark Standard URX has an aluminum alloy receiver with a blued finish and a slab-sided barrel. To go with it are black, over-molded ambidextrous grips. The grips are textured and have finger grooves for an enhanced grip.
To contrast with all that black, the trigger is gold-plated and it looks awesome.
Of course, if you don’t like something about the URX’s styling, there’s a wealth of aftermarket accessories out there that will allow you to customize the grip, slide, barrel, trigger, sights…basically everything you can imagine.
Key Specifications:
- Overall Length: 9.5 inches
- Barrel Length: 5.5 inches
- Weight: 34 ounces
- Capacity: 10+1
TakeAway
The Browning Buck Mark Standard URX performs well and has great features like textured, ambidextrous grips and adjustable Pro-Target sights. It also looks great, with a primarily black finish and a contrasting gold-plated trigger. If you want a .22LR pistol that looks as good as it shoots, the Browning Buck Mark Standard URX is the one for you.
5. Heritage Rough Rider
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly .22LR revolver, the Heritage Rough Rider is the way to go. This single-action six-shooter is mostly a fun gun for channeling your inner cowboy, but it’s great at that.
It comes in a bunch of different versions. Those include .22LR only revolvers and .22LR/.22 WMR combos that come with two different cylinders, one for each cartridge style. Most versions come with 4.75” or 6.5” barrels. They come in lots of grip styles, so there’s sure to be one you like, but the grips are also interchangeable, so you can switch things up whenever you want.
Oh, and this revolver is also super affordable, ringing up for less than $200 for almost all versions.
Whichever version you get, it will have a fixed front sight and notch rear sight, plus a thumb/hammer safety. This is a great (safe) alternative to more expensive old-school single-action revolvers that still gives the shooter that awesome Old West feel.
Key Specifications:
- Overall Length: 10.03 or 11.78 inches
- Barrel Length: 4.75 or 6.5 inches
- Weight: 30.1 or 33.4 ounces
- Capacity: 6 rounds
TakeAway
If you’re in the market for a .22 revolver or just a really fun .22LR handgun that won’t empty out your wallet, it’s hard to beat the price and quality of the Heritage Rough Rider. Plus, there are all kinds of different configurations so there’s bound to be a style that works for you.
6. Glock 44
https://www.brownells.com/firearms/handguns/semi-auto/g44-22lr-adjustable-sight-prod133488.aspx
Glock is well-known for their high-quality modern semi-automatic pistols and consistent designs across calibers. For a long time, however, Glock didn’t carry a .22LR pistol. A couple years ago that changed with the introduction of the Glock 44.
The Glock 44 is a compact .22LR with a design based on the Glock 19, which is easily one of the most popular (if not the single most popular) handguns on the market.
Like the Glock 19, the Glock 44 features the steel-polymer frame and polygonal rifling that Glock is known for. It also utilizes Glock’s Safe Action system.
The G44 is lightweight, even for a Glock. It weighs just 12.63 ounces without a magazine, 14.64 ounces with an empty magazine, and 16.4 ounces with a loaded magazine.
And speaking of magazines, the pistol comes with two load-assist mags.
Finally, Glocks are some of the easiest guns to find aftermarket parts and accessories for. It should be super easy to optics, spare magazines, holsters, and more for your new Glock 44.
The G44 is one of the newer Glock models out there, but already there is a host of aftermarket accessories that will allow you to customize it the nth degree, allowing you to truly make this awesome pistol your own.
Key Specifications:
- Overall Length: 7.28 inch
- Barrel Length: 4.02 inch
- Width: 1 inch
- Weight: 12.63 ounces
- Capacity: 10+1
TakeAway
Whether you’re looking for a training alternative to your Glock 19 or other Glock, or just a fun-to-shoot .22LR pistol, the Glock 44 is great. Like other Glocks, it’s a high quality pistol that’s also really easy to shoot. Plus, it comes with the massive aftermarket availability that helps make Glock so appealing.
7. Smith & Wesson Performance Center Model 41
For a competition-grade .22LR pistol, look no further than the Smith & Wesson Performance Center Model 41.
This gun is pricey, more than $1,000 more than the next most expensive gun on the list. However, it’s worth it for serious competitive shooters.
This single-action pistol is heavy, which cuts down on recoil. That combines with the button-rifled barrel to make the pistol as accurate and precise as possible. You can also easily swap out the barrel between 5.5-inch and 7-inch options. It comes with a 5.5 inch barrel installed.
Related Article: 12 Best Pistol Red Dot
The barrel, frame and slide are all made from carbon steel and have a blued finish. The Performance Center Model 41 also features custom wood target grips, which are checkered and ergonomically shaped to help you keep consistent control of the gun.
The front sight has a removable patridge while the rear sight features micrometer click adjustment. There’s also an integral Picatinny rail for adding your own optics.
Finally, the pistol is covered by Smith & Wesson’s lifetime service policy, so you only have to service your gun yourself if you want to.
Key Specifications:
- Overall Length: 10.5 inches
- Barrel Length: 5.5 inches
- Weight: 42.6 ounces
- Capacity: 10+1
TakeAway
The Smith & Wesson Performance Center Model 41 is pricey, but the price is well deserved. This pistol is well-constructed from the highest quality materials to give serious competitive shooters the precision and accuracy that they need to let their skills shine.
8. Browning 1911-22 A1
Looking for the feel of a 1911 in a .22LR package? Then the Browning 1911-22 A1 is for you.
It’s a scaled-down version of the original .45 ACP 1911 designed by John Browning for Colt, available in full and compact versions. The full size is 85% scale of the original, while the compact is even smaller.
To look like the original 1911, the Browning 1911-22 A1 has a matte black aluminum alloy frame and slide, stainless steel barrel block, GI-style sights, and checkered grips. However, while the original had solid wood grips, the Browning 1911-22 A1 has composite grips with the look of wood.
This pistol comes with a 10 round capacity single stack magazine. When the magazine is empty, the slide stays open. The mag release is right above the trigger guard for fast, easy operation.
This pistol also features grip and thumb safeties. This all makes it a great trainer for a regular 1911 that you can shoot and practice the same manual of arms with, but without having to sling a much more expensive .45 round down range everytime you pull the trigger.
This has made the 1911-22 a very popular gun with anyone who loves that classic 1911 styling, but also with those who shoot 1911 or similar-framed guns often, especially in competition, and want something that’s a little more budget-friendly to practice with.
Key Specifications:
- Overall Length: 7.375 inches (Full Size) or 6.75 inches (Compact)
- Barrel Length: 4.25 inches (Full Size) or 3.625 inches (Compact)
- Weight: 15 ounces
- Capacity: 10+1
TakeAway
The Browning 1911-22 A1 is a great little pistol if you’re looking for a 1911 copy. Whether you just like the vibes of the 1911 or are looking for an affordable to shoot training alternative for your 1911, this pistol is the way to go.
9. Ruger 22 Charger
A unique design that doesn’t quite fall into any of the categories described below, the Ruger Charger is essentially a cut-down version of the incredibly popular Ruger 10/22 rifle.
That rifle is one of the most popular guns on the planet, and as such Ruger thought it would be a good idea to take everything that folks loved about the 10/22 and shrink it down into what is technically a pistol format, at least as far as the ATF are concerned.
It comes with a 15-round BX-15 mag, but it can accept all manner of 10/22-compatible mags, all the way up the crazy 100-rounders that exist.
In general, you can put just about any 10/22 mod on this gun, and it has a standard rail up top for adding your favorite optic. A nice red dot works wonders up there.
Also, since the gun comes shortened from the factory, it’s 100% a pistol, and therefore doesn’t run afoul of any NFA restrictions, which means no tax stamp required.
Like the 10/22, it also comes in a standard version, and a takedown version that is a bit easier to break down and put into a backpack or range bag. This makes it ideal for apartment dwellers and other folks in close-living situations that don’t want to advertise that they have a lot of firearms.
You also get an adjustable bipod, threaded barrel, and the ability to swap the pistol grip for any AR-compatible pistol grip of your choice, making it immensely customizable right out of the box, and that’s not including all of the 10/22 accessories and upgrades that are out there.
Key Specifications:
- Overall Length: 19.25”
- Barrel Length: 10”
- Weight: 50 oz.
- Capacity: 15 rounds
TakeAway:
If you’re looking for something a little bit different, and want a .22 pistol that isn’t quite the same as everything out there, or if you just really love the 10/22 and want something that’s similar and just as moddable, then the 22 Charger is a great option for you.
It’s a competently designed, if slightly off-the-beaten-path gun, and it’s great as a range toy, truck gun, or survival piece.
10. Smith & Wesson M&P15-22 Pistol
If you’re in the market for a .22 caliber AR pistol, then your best bet is the Smith & Wesson M&P15-22 pistol. The whole M&P line from Smith & Wesson has a great reputation and the M&P15-22 pistol is no exception.
It has great AR features like a charging handle, higher capacity magazine, shell deflector, and an M-LOK handguard. It also has an SB Tactical SBA3 Adjustable Arm Brace. There’s a single QD sling attachment point on the brace.
There’s a manual safety lever on the receiver and a Picatinny rail along the top. The M&P15-22 pistol is totally optic-ready.
The carbon steel barrel is threaded for a muzzle device and this AR pistol comes with a flash suppressor.
Unlike a standard AR, the Smith & Wesson M&P15-22 uses a semi-auto blowback action rather than direct impingement or piston gas system. This is simply because .22LR doesn’t create the amount of gas required to operate an AR-style action.
Finally, the M&P15-22 pistol is heavy compared to the other guns here, but as we’ve already established, more weight makes .22LR’s light recoil even more manageable. Plus, the arm brace and handguard help you keep the gun balanced and controlled.
Key Specifications:
- Overall Length: 25.4 inches
- Barrel Length: 8 inches
- Width: 2 inches
- Weight: 53.6 oz.
- Capacity: 25 rounds
TakeAway
The Smith & Wesson M&P15-22 pistol captures all of the quintessential features of the AR platform into a .22LR pistol. You’ll appreciate features like the arm brace, threaded barrel, and M-LOK handguard, plus the 25 round capacity. At the same time, you get all the benefits of .22LR, like low recoil and less noise.
11. Ruger Wrangler
https://www.brownells.com/firearms/handguns/revolver/wrangler-22lr-4-62–prod128021.aspx
The Ruger Wrangler is my personal favorite .22LR revolver and there’s actually one sitting in my gun safe this very minute.
The one I have has a 4.62-inch barrel, but Ruger also recently introduced one with a shorter 3.75-inch barrel. Wranglers of both sizes are available in Black Cerakote, Silver Cerakote, and Burnt Bronze Cerakote finishes, which help protect the revolver from dirt, oil, moisture, and other potentially damaging substances.
All styles of the Ruger Wrangler, regardless of barrel length or finish, otherwise have the same features.
The Cerakote finish is over an aluminum alloy frame and the grips are made of textured synthetic for a more secure grip. This single-action six-shooter also has a rifled, cold hammer-forged barrel. It has an integral notch rear sight and blade front sight.
Finally, as you may have guessed from the other Rugers on this list, Ruger is known for the safety features that they incorporate into their guns. The Wrangler is no exception. The gun will not fire unless the trigger is pressed all the way and the loading gate is closed, reducing the chance of accidental discharge.
Key Specifications:
- Overall Length: 8.62 or 10.25 inches
- Barrel Length: 3.75 or 4.62 inches
- Weight: 28 or 30 ounces
- Capacity: 6 rounds
TakeAway
The Ruger Wrangler is a simple yet high-quality revolver. It has all the essential features, plus a Cerakote finish that looks great and protects the revolver from harm. Overall, this revolver is easy to use and fun to shoot.
12. Walther PPQ 22 M2
Our last recommendation is another great option from Walther, the Walther PPQ 22 M2.
This modern semi-auto takes Walther’s popular PPQ series and puts it in a .22LR package. The PPQ 22 M2 is very similar to the Walther PPQ 9mm in the ergonomics, the feel of the trigger, and the controls. It can even be used with a Walther PPQ 9mm holster.
This makes the PPQ 22 great as a training alternative to the PPQ 9mm or even just a nice option for people who already have a PPQ 9mm to save money.
Thanks to the ambidextrous slide stop and reversible magazine release, the PPQ 22 M2 is also great for lefties.
However, this compact and lightweight pistol is also just great all around, with a threaded barrel and adjustable elevation sights. The trigger has a 4.85-pound trigger pull and 0.16-inch trigger travel.
Key Specifications:
- Overall Length: 7.1 inches
- Barrel Length: 4 inches
- Width: 1.3 inches
- Weight: 18 ounces
- Capacity: 10/12 rounds
TakeAway
The Walther PPQ 22 M2 is a great training alternative for the Walther PPQ 9mm, but it also stands on its own as a high-quality .22LR pistol. It’s a great option for left-handed shooters, thanks to the ambidextrous slide stop and reversible magazine release. For any shooter, however, the Walther PPQ 22 M2 is a wonderful shooting experience.
Why Use a .22LR Pistol?
.22LR is one of the world’s most popular rounds, but why?
.22LR is highly affordable, making it great for plinking and training without shelling out a ton of money for ammo.
It’s also used for a lot of competitions, including NRL22, Olympic Precision Pistol, most school competitions at both high school and collegiate levels, and more.
.22LR has low recoil and is easy to manage, so it’s a great option for new shooters and for shooters who want to make plinking sessions as easy as possible. It’s also very quiet relative to other rounds, so it requires less robust hearing protection than other rounds for safe, comfortable shooting. In fact, when used with a suppressor, you may not need hearing protection at all.
The reliability, accuracy, and affordability make it popular for pest control. .22LR is more than sufficient for most varmints, including rabbits, snakes, foxes, and more. In fact, it’s good for most things about coyote-sized and smaller.
Overall, .22LR is primarily used for pest control, plinking, training, and sports shooting.
Some people also use .22LR for defense, but that usage is the subject of extensive debate.
Critics say that .22LR lacks sufficient stopping power to stop an adult human, especially if drugs are dulling their sensitivity to pain.
Proponents maintain that any time you put a hole into a person it hurts, and if you put enough holes, they’ll stop attacking. They also emphasize the ease of use of .22LR. .45 ACP may stop a person more reliably, but if you can’t reliably aim your .45 pistol and therefore can’t actually hit your attacker, a .22LR doing some damage is better.
Types of .22LR Pistols
There are four main categories of .22LR pistols. They all have their own advantages that set them apart from the others.
Let’s break down the different types of .22LR pistols, the differences between them, their unique advantages, and which purposes each type is best suited for.
Ruger Standard Style
First is the Ruger Standard style, sometimes also called the Luger style. These are the more traditional style of pistol. The Luger is an older style of pistol, that was first produced way back in 1898, but Ruger brought this style to .22LR with the Ruger Standard in 1949.
These semi-automatic pistols are the most popular style of .22LR pistol and are highly reliable. There are a huge number of factory options from each of the main three .22LR pistol manufacturers (Smith & Wesson, Browning, and Ruger).
Another notable feature of these pistols is that they’re heavy, which isn’t great for carrying around, but does mean that these pistols have basically no recoil, even for a .22LR pistol.
Modern semi-automatics
Modern semi-automatics are exactly what they sound like. These are semi-automatic pistols with modern designs. They often have polymer frames (Glocks are the quintessential example), but may also have steel frames.
Either way, they tend to be pretty light compared to Ruger Standard style pistols, which means they have a bit more recoil, though they’re more comfortable to carry around.
If you’re going to use a .22LR for self-defense, these are the guns to look at. They’re also great for cheap practice, since they mimic the manual of arms of larger caliber guns used for competition and defense.
In addition, if you’re looking for a high-capacity .22 pistol, you’ll want to look at this category or the next.
AR Pistols
Next are AR pistols. These pistols take the AR platform and shrink it down with a shorter barrel. In addition, they do not have a traditional rifle stock. Instead, they’ll usually have either a buffer tube or a pistol brace that wraps around the arm for extra stability, though they may have nothing at all.
A pistol brace is very helpful, though, since AR pistols tend to be quite heavy compared to other pistols. A brace helps you manage that weight and keep your gun nicely balanced.
Revolvers: Not Technically Pistols, But We’re Counting Them
Next, we have revolvers. I know, technically revolvers aren’t pistols. You don’t have to tell me. Instead of magazines, they have a rotating cylinder that puts your next round into place. However, they are handguns and are worth taking a look at if you’re in the market for any type of .22LR handgun.
Revolvers are slower to shoot than semi-autos, but that’s not necessarily a disadvantage. In fact, being forced to slow down can be an advantage for target practice since it stops you from rushing from one shot to the next, giving you time to focus on accuracy.
Revolvers are also just plain fun. You get to feel like a cowboy with the old school design. They’re also the most reliable type of gun listed here and they’re great for dealing with small pests.
What Should You Look for in a .22LR Pistol?
Regardless of type, there are a few main things to focus on when choosing a .22LR pistol.
Accuracy
Accuracy is one of the most important factors of any weapon. .22LR is pretty accurate for short ranges already, so a handgun that’s also accurate will really help you get the most out of every shot. Your .22LR pistol should hit consistently where you aim it and the sights should help you with accurate aiming.
Of course, no pistol will replace the need for practice to ensure your best accuracy.
Reliability
Rimfire ammo like .22LR is less reliable than centerfire ammo to start, so you want a reliable pistol to help minimize malfunctions. Generally, the best way to gauge reliability, beyond reading reviews, is to choose a gun from a manufacturer with a reputation for creating reliable firearms. All of the guns we’ve recommended here come from manufacturers with that kind of reputation.
Using high-quality ammunition can also help with reliability.
Ergonomics
The ergonomics of a firearm are a bit more subjective than some of the other factors listed here, but ultimately, a gun should be shaped in such a way that it’s comfortable and easy to use.
Exactly what that looks like for you depends on your hand shape and what you find comfortable, but features you’ll want to pay attention to include the grip size and shape, trigger reach, and trigger pull.
Aftermarket Support
On a similar note, wide availability of aftermarket parts and accessories is a huge advantage. Obviously, you want to be able to find affordable magazines, sights, and holsters, but don’t underestimate the importance of parts. Whether you need to make a repair or want to make improvements, it’s good to have a wide variety of options available.
Fortunately, aftermarket availability for the most popular .22LR pistols is rarely an issue.
Price
One of the biggest advantages of .22LR ammo is its affordability, and .22LR pistols fit that same pattern. They tend to be very affordable.
That said, like with any type of gun, there are .22LR pistols across a wide range of price points. For that reason, it’s a good idea to have a notion of how much you’re looking to spend before you start browsing .22LR pistols.
Extra Features
All of the things we’ve discussed above will help you find a high-quality .22LR pistol that works for you. However, there are also additional features that can be nice to have, depending on your needs, wants, and preferences.
For example, if you’d like to be able to use a suppressor, you should look for a .22LR pistol that has a threaded barrel. If you want to be able to use a tactical flashlight or laser sight, you’ll need a pistol with a rail under the barrel. A top rail makes it easier to switch sights and add other top-mounted optics and accessories.
Final Verdict
The clear winner of our roundup is the Ruger Mark IV.
The Mark IV Standard is an all-around great gun that’s ruggedly made and performs reliably, minimizing the number of malfunctions you experience. It’s accurate and precise and is comfortable to hold. It’s popular enough that it’s easy to find aftermarket support.
And all of this comes at a pretty middle-of-the-road price point, making it an excellent value for the price.
Plus, there are variants of the Mark IV platform beyond the standard that are especially suited for other purposes, like hunting, target shooting, and competition, so there’s a version of the Mark IV for every need.
With that said, no gun works best for all people. Ultimately, the right .22LR pistol for you comes down to your personal needs and preferences. With the information given in this guide, you should now know everything you need to know in order to pick the right .22LR pistol for you.