Top 3 BEST 22 LR Handguns 

With the shortage of larger caliber ammo these days, .22LR is a great alternative .

Just got the M&P22 as my first CC / Beginner Handgun. I seriously couldn't be happier with my purchase. It feels like absolute butter in your hands and so reliable.

I have a couple of CZ75bs and installed the 22 Kadet conversion on it and I really like it. Accurate as hell and never malfunctions in any way with any long rifle ammo. It is just as accurate as my Ruger Mk III target model. Naturally I can always put my 9 mm upper back on and have another great pistol.

Had the MK IV on the range yesterday and we had a half silhouette and some 4” steel targets at 100 yards. I have a Holosun HS403 on it and we were able to hit the 4” targets about 5 out of ten shots. We tore up that half silhouette. Just a really fun gun to shoot. My grandson loves the M&P though. He’s turning out to be a really good shot. Thanks for the video!

A solid review of 3 fine pistols. Well done!

I bought that same gun 2 years ago, the bronze Ruger mark 4...so sweet. The most accurate in my handgun arsenal and the best looking.

Mark IV semi-auto 22 LR are all well designed and the 22/45 lite model with threaded barrel is a super choice.

I love my Ruger SP101 revolver with a 4.2" barrel. I bought it as a trainer pistol and kit gun. The trigger is very heavy in double action and wasn't smooth a first, but a couple of detailed strips and some light buffing of action surfaces with a felt pad and some very fine polishing compound got it super smooth and clean. The single action trigger was always very crisp. It holds 8 rounds and if a round doesn't go off just pull the trigger again. Great for training trigger control in double action, very carryable despite the longer barrel, incredibly soft-shooting because of the all-steel construction, shoots anything from the wimpiest .22 short CBs to hypervelocity .22LRs, and is plenty accurate for small game hunting at short range. Finally, adjustable sights make it easy to dial in any ammo you care to shoot and being a revolver you don't have to worry about safeties or magazine issues.

Buy a Grand Power K22s and get the best features available for a gp .22 including stellar accuracy.

I have the S&W 22c! Love it, it reminds me of the Shield. Great little gun!

Love your analysis videos. You do a great job

Great vid! I own the M&P 22 Compact. My son has the Ruger SR22. Great guns!

Went to the gun shop to buy the SR22 months ago, before Covid. Left with the Taurus TX22. The Ruger is good, but the Taurus is better in many ways, especially with those 16rnd magazines.

Bought a M&P .22 a couple years ago. No issues yet with a couple thousand rounds fired, multiple brands, some very old. IMO, as close to a perfect handgun as I have ever found in 40+ years of shooting. This, in a world of very good .22's to choose from.

I would recommend the 22 that's the best/closest trainer for the center fire pistol you own. That M&P22 being a perfect example for an M&P center fire owner. That 22/45 being a great trainer for the 1911 owner. The Glock 44 (if you can get one that works) for the Glock shooters. And so on. I think a great generic trainer for polymer center fire pistols is the Taurus TX-22.

I love how some people say the 22 is a lil tiny gun and yet no videos of someone standing in front of one at a range lol.

Great review. I’m still kicking myself for not grabbing an M&P22 or two a couple years ago when PSA had them for about $270 a piece. I had an LGS check the other day and the cheapest he could find one online was around $420.

Ruger Mark IV 45 Lite is my wife’s favorite 22 LR pistol. I bought a Mark III. 45 Lite before the last version came out and it is a pain to take down, but there are aftermarket upgrades and I got the trigger and Sear and Hammer and will in the near future get the Takedown conversion. I don’t mind the stock takedown but my wife’s Mark IV has me spoiled.

Great video. Thanks man!

Great vid, thanks

I have the Ruger SR22 and love it, but my favorite 22LR pistol is the Ruger Mark IV Competition Stainless. I put a Hi-Viz front sight on it and a 2x6x30 Simmons Pro Hunter stainless scope on stainless see-through rings. I also put in a Tandemkross Victory trigger and added the TK HALO charging ring because I'm an old man and I have arthritis in my hands; the HALO charging ring helps a lot. It came with a left side grip with a thumb rest, which is a big plus.

Excellent suggestions and advice. Just wanted to say that some cheap guns are still very easily handled, and are quite accurate. My first handgun was a Rohm Gardner. .22 of course, and it still works today as well as it being highly accurate. H&R also is a highly accurate weapon, and its not too terribly out of price range. Altho you can hardly find them anymore, there ae still a few around. how bout making a vid highlighting the H&R series. As I said, Great advice and great information. Best wishes and may all of your shots be accurate..

Ruger SR22 - Great gun! S&W M&P 22 Compact - Own this and love this gun. Ruger Mark IV - own the MkIII, very hard to take down, the MkIV is much, much, much, much easier to take down. Missing from list Browning Buck Mark Sig P226-22 Sig P250 Taurus TX-22

Great video! 👍

Walther P22....love it! Same size as the PK 380. Both are fantastic smooth shooting firearms.

First Place by a huge margin is: Ruger Mark IV, Sp101 revolver and SR22 with the Buckmark running far behind.

Have a Mark IV myself and it is amazing. Great range and Accuracy. I have the 70th anniversary edition.

Thanks for the info. First time buyer. Info & Insight was very helpful.

I have a M&P 22 Compact and it is a great pistol. The Browning Buckmark rules them all!

Got rid of my walther, bought an sr22 and never looked back. You can feed these anything and they go bang every time.

Great list.

I forgot to say my favorite is the Mark series. I have 3: 1-early 70’s black and shots straight ( my uncle gave it me). 2- I bought my first pistol 1984 silver with a scope ( well my father had to buy it). 3- just got one like your holding. The kids and I shoot then a lot. Fun times.

I have both MP shield and. Glock 43. Despite being less expensive, the MP has superior fit finish and much nicer take down lever. Honestly, I would pay more for the MP.

I want a TX22, my M&P compact is badass, my 22/45 is awesome. Best .22 pistol is my Ruger Charger, gotta copper custom adapter for a shockwave brace.

You give an excellent review. Thanx.

I have several 22s - a Mark II; SR22; Walthar PK22; Beretta LW22.... all fun to shoot. Excellent Video Thank You!

A 22 is better than a zero gun!!!! Appreciate the video. 👍

I love my SR22.and I have a mark 2 I love also .I would live the mark 4 but

Great video. Thank you.

Great product!!! Would buy again.

Just pick up my Mark IV Elite today. I agree this is a great addition to any experienced collection. I am a huge LR fan and this is by far the best feel in any of my .22 pistols. great video.

I used to work at TNT!! My favorite .22lr handgun is my P-07 with a kadet 22 conversion!!

I have a Buckmark, 25 years old. They haven't changed much and that's a good thing. I've never felt a gun so comfortable in my hand. I put a rail on top and a reflex sight. So nice, and no need to take it apart to clean and lube really. Have 4 magazines, great fun. Beautiful gun.

Good explanation of good 22 lr and choices.

Smith and Wesson Victory and Browning Buckmark

Just an fyi, the m&p is not striker fired. It has an internal hammer.

Great review.

Well done video. This will be the second gun I’ve bought based on your recommendations.

Have you had an opportunity to review the Taurus TX-22 yet? Curious to see what your thoughts are on that gun. I haven't shot one but I'm intrigued by the reviews I've read about it. From what I've read it's a pretty reliable semi-auto .22 and I believe it has a 16 round polymer magazine. I think it sells for about $350 (ish).

Do you prefer the Ruger SR22 or the Walther P22?

The bad oint in the sr22 is the tendency for the breach locking spring split to move out in firing. The back sights, being adjustable mean they tend to move when the gun is in use.

The SR22 and the Mark 4 22/45 are both great. I’ve had no negative issues with either one. Yes I know there are better 22’s but these work for me . Now I need to get the Ruger LCP.22 and possibly the the Glock 44 .

That sr22 swiping down for safe is a deal breaker big time

During forty plus years of shooting, I've always heard that you shouldn't dry fire a rim fire pistol!

Great Show !

I have all four of the mark series. The 1 2 3 aren’t as bad as people think to take apart once you’ve done it several times. Lotta stores sell the mark four light for around 600.

Thanks for posting man! As someone new to all this, I will definitely be taking your recommendations. Plus, the Ruger just looks so cool lol! Keep it up!

Good video and good choices. I personally would switch number 1 with number 3 but thats just me

I own 2/3 of the 22lrs you choose as best. Great guns, A Lot of fun. Dependable. Easy on the eye!

I used go to TNT guns all the time It’s a top tier shooting range that’s for sure.

My S&W M&P 22lr full size not only fun at the range, but necessary when the Zombie Apocalypse comes, just wish it wasn’t so ammo sensitive

I like the ruger single six with a 7" barrel. Good for small game or target. But I like revolvers.

Have wanted the 45/22 but didn't know of this Target lite model Awesome must have with the easy take down. .22 is a dirty round literally l clean up right away!

First time watching your videos, and am impressed! Subbed, hope youre still making content.

I have a vintage H&R 999 .22 LR. Love it .... :)

Something to add. The SR22 is a double action that is hammer driven. If you have a failure to fire you just squeeze the trigger again to give the primer another chance. The other single action guns have to clear that round.

Best 22LR pistol I've owned is a Phoenix Arms HP22A pistol very reliable and concealable weapon with the option of changing barrel sizes and very accurate. A true pocket pistol, which will give any expensive 22 a run for their money. MSRP of $160 on average you can't go wrong.

Have a dozen or so .22 sidearms. My top three are: 1) S&W model 41 2) Walther PPK/S 22 3) Ruger Single Six New Model The rest of my .22 pistols or revolvers have not been fired in many years.

Taurus TX22 is the new King !!! Long live The King !!!

Just bought the Ruger Mark IV (All Black) and agree with everything said and I did change grip, compensator and added thumb rests as a first step plus added 4 mags. To plink and teach people how to shoot

GSG 1911 is also a great option. Affordable and Great Looking with Exact weight and feel of a Center-fire .45 so it makes a great trainer for beginners. For controls that is not recoil. Its also just an Awesome Fun Plinker!

good video loved it

I've have a Browning Black Label 1911 22lr pistol and absolutely love it! Build well. Easy to clean and take down. Feels great in my hand. Has been very reliable and accurate. Looks badass too.

I think I’ve seen those gloves at Home Depot. How are they?

Great video...I have the M&P compact 22...that gun ain't no punk...you can feel the power when firing telling you it means business. I just bought the Ruger 22/45 Lite last week , its everything you said it is, took it out to range Sunday i kept going to it over and over it was so smooth to shoot, no recoil at all even had to go buy a new set of ammo to keep it going.

I love my 90s MKII Standard 6" model but no surprise MKIV got 1st place I want one now !

Just picked up a sr22 for a killer deal at local shop for $200. I’m super happy with the performance

Dude I don’t know how you can possibly not show the TX .22. Shoots everything and feels great in the hand. Perfect trigger 16 round mag

I was going to tell you you didn’t know what you were talking about, but I hung in there, till your first pick. Bought a ruger mark three with a Heavy barrel. Used. Never, never failed to fire. Very very accurate. Ruger has a lifetime warranty on all their products. Sent a single action 357 in for repair. They fixed cleaned and put new stocks on it. No charge.

I like your video! What would your recommendation for a "kit" gun be? I don't like the heavy trigger, but a if Ruger made a lighter trigger in their LCRx with adjustable sights and 3" barrel, that would be my ideal thought. I don't like single-action revolvers too much but the Bearcat would be another option. I wish there was a modern break top revolver. My other consideration would be a Ruger 22/45 Lite. That would actually be my best choice based on the current crop. I think a slightly longer barrel M&P 22 Compact would be a nice option as well, if it existed.

1. High standard Military Citation 2. S & W Model 41 3. S & W Model 617

After getting the Taurus G2C i like the looks of there TX22...its twin of the S&W! Edit: I do have and Love the Ruger IV...mine is government competition with wood grips and smooth sided barrel!

Just bought a sr 22 absolutely love it

Kimber makes an excellent 22 lr pistol. I enjoy mine quite a bit. Kel-tec has a wonderful 22 mag that's fun to plink with.

Awesome video. You are on a short list of RU-vidrs that actually made me not mind the sponsored ad.

The Beretta Neos is very reliable and well-made. The Heritage revolvers are also a lot of fun. Sometimes you can get them for $100, and for $150, you can get a 22mag cylinder. That's tough to beat!

Just picket up the Mark IV Lite in the blue and gold version. Great 22LR pistol, very light and accurate

S&w 617 pre lock,hands down the best !

I love my SR-22! Smooth, reliable, easy to shoot, and good-looking, too! It's my regular carry. I also really like my Browning Buckmark. Such a sweet target pistol. Need to take it squirrel hunting.

I have the S&W .22lr revolver. Revolver all the way boys.

Bro the browning buck mark 22lr is the king I fired. 3 box of ammo 500 of Remington 333 of Winchester white box and another cheap brand 300 round. And it fired every time in a windy day at the desert.

A good 22 is a must have. Most of the things that need to be learned for good marksmanship can be learned on a 22. When you fall in love with the little cartridge, you pick up a Smith and Wesson model 41, and you are set for life.

I love my M&P 22!!! I shoot it almost daily.

Nice list but you can't exclude the TX22! Capacity, trigger, accurate and cheaper than everything gun on your list. Did I mention 16 rounds and reliability?

Great video

Browning Buck mark URX Target lite for the win!

As a Pistol Permit Instructor, I have my students use the Ruger SR22 because of all your points plus both the safety and mag release are ambi so LEFTIES don't feel there's nothing for them and they can concentrate on correct manipulation of the pistol and not feel awkward. Also the ability to add a light or laser for carry or training is a bonus. And as you said, the mag is really easy to load to the 10 shot capacity - taking a 'chore' out of practice, and when I teach, the students must load their own mags even for their first shots. Easy takedown is a plus because they have to clean it after the range session. And I'm getting the Mark IV Lite threaded for my own use with red dot - Yeah!

I've had my SR22 for about 8 years. Shoot it daily.. getting sloppy but still very accurate. Also have a 22-45 I love as well

I have a Ruger SR 22. I found it to be such a easily maintained, easily operated pistol that I bought one for my girlfriend so she could learn to shoot. It's a good gun to learn fundamentals on.

Love the style and details of your video. Subscribed!