Walthers P22 or Buck Mark
 

Hello, I was thinking about getting a .22 handgun to take to the range for the fun of it.I am having trouble deciding which one to get.The twothatI picked out were the Walthers P22 (430 cdn) and the Browning Buck Mark (380 cdn).I hope you guys can give me some good advice or some personal reviews.Alsohow much would be a good price for either of them used. Thanks Mark

RE: Walthers P22 or Buck Mark
 

i have a buck mark standard. good shootin gun. fun to shoot...accurate...reliable. i never shot the walther though...i do know i like my buckmark alot

RE: Walthers P22 or Buck Mark
 

I have a soft spot in my heart for 22 pistols. I currently have a buckmark and a ruger mk 3. at one point, i was looking to buy a walther p22, but when i held it, it just felt too tiny in my hand. I can tell you that I am very happy with my buckmark. It is a very reliable shooter and remarkably accurate. It feels like a very solid piece in the hand, and the overall design and construction seems to be of high quality.

So, you have a thumbs up from me on the buckmark. I don't know anything about the p22 other than i did not like the feel of it in my hand. you might also think about the ruger mark III (or mark II). Not sure about good prices for used ones.

good luck

RE: Walthers P22 or Buck Mark
 

i might get one in march and it will probablybe the buckmark but the gun shop has a used 22/45 but ive shot the buckmark and it was nice:D

RE: Walthers P22 or Buck Mark
 

I also own a Ruger and a Browning Buckmark. Of the two I prefer the Buckmark, it just shoots a little better. I've never shot the P22 so I can't comment on it but it will have to be pretty good to surpass the Buckmark.

My most favorite .22 pistol of all though is the Browning Medalist. Made in Belgiumfrom themid 60's till 1975, it'sa competition pistol right out of the box, with interchangeable barrel weights,custom walnut grips and adjustable trigger. By far the best shooting factory .22 pistol I ever shot.

Mine is a 1970 and it still has all of the original accessories including the presentation case.

RE: Walthers P22 or Buck Mark
 

I reccomend you do yourself a favor and look at ruger mk3. I've got 1 that will group 1/2" at 50 yards from stedy rest. The things I don't like about buckmark are you need tool(allen wrench) to field strip,the whole top comes off to do so with possibility of it not going back EXACTLY to same poi. Also,buckmark has a somewhat flimsy wire ejector.

RE: Walthers P22 or Buck Mark
 

Not to mix it up but I like the Walther P22.. Me and several guys I work with at the gun shop all own them. They are small but they are accurate for the size and a blast to shoot.. Free Floated bbls, threaded bbls, right or lefty mag drop, easy to break down and reassemble etc etc..

Just depends on what you really want to do with it..

RE: Walthers P22 or Buck Mark
 

BigJ12, Beatiful piece...want to sell it?
Stalkingbear, i agree 100% with your assessment of the ruger vs. buckmark. I own both also, and think you are right on.
demoIL, thanks for mixing it up. I have a walther p99 in 40 S&W, and I love the walther platform. Maybe I will have to give the p22 another chance.

RE: Walthers P22 or Buck Mark
 

The Buck Mark does need tools to disassemble for cleaning, but the Ruger Mk III fits together like one of those damn chain puzzles.

The Buck Mark feels better with the wood grips...at least to me it does.

The Buck Mark also has a crisper trigger than the Ruger Mk III, and not so much travel.

You can swap barrels out on the Buck Mark but not the Ruger (at least not legally).
http://www.tacticalsol.com/homefast.htm

Stay away from the SW Model 22A...you won't like it...feels likea kids toy.

Also consider, though it is more expensive, the Ruger Single Six revolver. You can swap cylinders from a .22 LR to a .22 Mag. You can also get it it .17HMR if you feel like adding a bit more punch to your hunting.

RE: Walthers P22 or Buck Mark
 

S&W also has a 10 shot revolver in 22LR. I think its the model 617, although I could be wrong. That will be my next handgun for sure.

I guess the bottom line is that the buckmarkand the ruger each have their own little pros and cons. overall, there is probably not a big enough difference to matter, so it comes down to personal preference and "gut feel" and fit. But, since your original question was about comparing the buckmark to the p22, i guess it seems like the consensus is leaning towards the buckmark.

RE: Walthers P22 or Buck Mark
 

Thanks pig dog 02 but I think I will hold on to it. The empty spaces in he bullet rack are the only rounds (31) ever fired through the pistol. It was purchased by my father-in-law brand new back in 1970 and he gave it to me. He shot it a few times then put it away. When I received it, I shot two mags through it and that was it. It's in absolutely perfect shape.

My father-in-law has since passed, this pistol and other firearms I received from him will stay in the family for the next generations to enjoy.

RE: Walthers P22 or Buck Mark
 

My brother owns a P-22, it's a fun gun to shoot but very finicky(SP?) on which ammo it will eat, my brothers will only reliably feedjacketed minimags. The P-22 wasn't very accurate. There are some very useful threads about them over at www.rimfirecentral.com in the walther section. I haven't shot a buckmark but it was one I was considering when I bought mine last week, I picked up a ruger 22/45 MKIII. I have seen the P-22 at guns shows for 250 to 400 (US) depending onmodel. The buckmark is a bit higher in price but I think it is a better and more accurate pistol and can be used for plinking, target and hunting.

RE: Walthers P22 or Buck Mark
 

I don't know which model you got of the 22/45 but I have slabside mk3 competition and it'll group 5 shots into 1/2" at 50 yards! I would like to see how a buckmark would be more accurate.

RE: Walthers P22 or Buck Mark
 

Next time you go to the range to shoot 1/2" groups at 50 yards let me know, I wanna watch!

RE: Walthers P22 or Buck Mark
 

I have a Buckmark Hunter and a P22. Both are great guns. The P22 required some tweaking to run right. The safety kept engaging while shooting. I had to remove the safety levers, and file them down a bit so they fit in closer to the slide. Problem solved, easy enough. Both are accurate, but are two completely different critters. I could go hunting with the buckmark, but I wouldn't take the P22. It really depends on what you want out of it in the end. The P22 does come with 2 mags, different backstrap sizes, and different front sights for changing elevation. Good luck.

RE: Walthers P22 or Buck Mark
 

Hairtrigger-it's pretty obvious you're not familar with custom guns. I stand by my statement as will all the other guys at the range that day. I was as suprized as everybody else when I shot those groups. I'll coach ya on how to make 1 shoot that good. First you mill face of bolt to .043 to miminum headspace,handlap bore,make,install,adjust it and overtravel(which is already there{factory},buy a BUNCH of top quality MATCH ammo,sort by weighing/measureing rim thickness/checking for runout/checking oal,handlapping scope rings,installing top quality scope,and buying or making ruger inserts for ransom shooting machine rest. This is a little bit of what I have learned from my 27 years of gunsmithing. Anytime you want,we'll have a shooting match-gun for gun!

RE: Walthers P22 or Buck Mark
 

Picked up a new Buck Mark Hunter this morning for $350.10; will go for a scope tomorrow.

Range will happen on either Sunday or Monday; the woods and squirrels on Monday or Tuesday.

I'll let you know how it shoots at 50 & 100.

RE: Walthers P22 or Buck Mark
 

All else being equal I have a High Standard that has not been touched that I would put up aginst your Ruger.
Where are you at?

RE: Walthers P22 or Buck Mark
 

Lebanon Ky in marion county Trying to change guns from buckmark already??????????? Now that I already have buyer for the buckmark???

RE: Walthers P22 or Buck Mark
 

I won't putmy stock Buckmark Sihloutte up aginst a race Ruger, but allFactory stockguns I will any day.

When I read the next line I wonder if luck was involved. I tend not to mention lucky groups. Whenmy gun shoots small groups with repeatability I have no problem bragging on it!