Rimfire Pistol Recommendations.

Wife and I are newly certified shooters (well soon to be, waiting on processing) for restricted firearms here in Canada.

We are just looking for cheap fun plinking at our local range.

We’ve stopped by a few gun stores and I have my eye on a Ruger Mark IV and she really likes the feel of the Browning Buck Mark, unfortunately none of our ranges have any rentals in these calibers. I’m just looking for some feedback, thoughts, anything else we should consider.

Thanks!

 

I’ve owned both.
They both shoot well, I will give the edge to the Ruger for reliability and ruggedness.
Mine has cycled every type ammunition I’ve tried in it. Even the bulk packs.
The new MKIV is simple to take down for cleaning.
The aftermarket options are great for the Ruger.



The Buckmark is usually lighter and might point slight better for some.
Most women do indeed prefer the Buckmark in my experience.
I would attribute this to the weight and grip.
The one I owned in the past was temperamental in the ammunition it would shoot.
However, my Uncle owned one that shot just about anything you put in it.


I personally would recommend the Ruger.
I’ve owned 3 Rugers, none have ever given me a problem.
Other than the older ones, they were difficult to take a part to clean.


The Buckmark I owned gave me trouble. (Most don’t thought)
And magazine and parts are not as common and easy to get.

 

I’ve got a Glock 44 that my wife uses as a CC and I use as a plinker. I love it so far.

 

Hard to beat a Ruger for .22.

I've witnessed the accuracy of a mark 4 first hand. They're sweet.

Depending on how you define pistol, can you get ahold of a Ruger 10/22 Nitro Charger? I knew a guy who would sit and plink all day at 100 yards with them and there's endless upgrades and options. You Just need a nice optic.

 

https://ruger.com/products/markIV2245Lite/models.html

22/45 Lite, love them. I have the first model that they launched from about a decade ago, still one of my favorite guns to shoot. It’s VERY new shooter friendly too since it’s light and has little to no recoil/ muzzle flash. Plus it’s a Ruger so...

 

I really like my Buckmark. Don't count out the Taurus TX 22, we have 3 between my sons & myself. Highly impressed, great plinker and 15+1.

 

I'm just thinking back to the time an old timer challenged all us young dumb bucks out at the old train bridge range to a 25' challenge, $5 a head, first to hit the poker chip takes all!

Shoot whatever handgun you brought however you want, take all the time you feel you need he said. Everybody would just take turns shooting going around in a circle until somebody hit it or so were the rules on that fateful day...

He let us all; six of us, go first.

Twice.

Me and my Sig Sauer Custom Pro Shop P220 Super Match in .45 missed the closest both times, the second time making that little chip dance in defiance, I swear my hole was just a hair under the chip that second time.

The old man walked up then to the line after I was robbed of the pot, took two big steps further back and I knew we got suckered, big time.


*He-whips-out-his-first-gen-Ruger-Mark-out-of-his-shoulder-holster-hidden-under-his-coat-and-straight-up-Han-Solo'ed-that-S-O-B.*

TWICE

THAT FAST

Hey shooting twice is cheating! Said one guy. But it didn't matter, there was two clean holes in that chip.

What is Han Solo'ing you ask?



The moral of the story is, don't play games with the old dead eye and his old Ruger .22.

Ye be warned.

 

This is pretty much exactly the advise we got for the clerk at the gun store, he recommended the IV due to is ease of cleaning and the fact they just work, but like you mentioned, wife liked the grip and weight of the Buckmark.

 

There are some aftermarket grips available for the Ruger. We put a Hogue rubber on my wife’s. Fills it out nicely. I think Tandem Kross makes one too.

 

Doesn’t look like they are available in Canada.

 

This is actually the model I was looking at!

 

I would opt to get the Ruger, as it is easy to clean and easy to break down. It also is not an intimidating firearm. Shoot it for a bit and become efficient with it. Good luck have fun.

 

Get a Ruger... I have many 10/22’s I have built for various reasons and uses... but I have been very happy with my Ruger SR22 pistol. I’ve cut and polished the feed ramps, installed a trigger kit to improve pull and brake, as well as TruGlow sights and a LaserMax laser. Absolutely love this pistol. Very reliable as long as you stay away from garbage ammo. Waiting on my tax stamp for my Buckwheat suppressor to finalize, then I will be installing a threaded barrel. Also, removed the factory magazine springs and followers, and installed the +3 round kit in both mags.

 

Apparently there is a Canadian compliant version of the TX22 (barrel length and magazine size) but it’s extremely hard to find.

 

Well you stepped right in the middle a very age old debate, Ruger Mark XX or Buckmark. You might as well be asking about tires.

When faced with the same made up in my head self negoiation, I went Buckmark and didn't look back. It really is what is the most natural and comfortable in your hand (head). As I mentioned in another thread, Buckmark has 3 different grips/frames and are not interchangeable so you really have to hold them at least to get the feel.

 

Well I think I’m on the right track getting one of each. Just seeing if there are some other options I should explore, but it sounds like we can’t go wrong with these two, at least it seems like a solid starting point to grow from.

 

One vote for Buckmark, have 2 and they are great

 

I have owned an S&W Victory for about 5 years. Never had a problem with it. I like the fiber optic sights that came with it.

 

I have a Glock 44. A little expensive compared to other options, however since it is the same size as a Glock 19/23/32, it makes a fantastic tool for live training, at the cost of .22lr vice 9mm/40cal. Mine eats everything with no issues.

 

I have the SR-22 and the Mark III, used to have the 22-45.
Have shot but not owned the buckmark.

The MKIII is my absolute favorite. The SR is a good gun, and the buckmark.

I had a lemon 22-45 it wouldn't shoot anything reliably.