Tell me about the 22/45. Please.

[Kymasabe]

I'mlooking for a .22 for my daughters to shoot. We all go to the range occasionally and my girls (11 and 14) shoot my Kel-Tec P32 and my S&W J-frame revolvers (with .38 special shorts...nice light load) but they really love when I rent the ranges Walther P22. So, I could buy a used P22 but I happened to stumble upon some Ruger 22/45 info and thought they were pretty nice looking guns but I don't know anything about them.
Are they reliable? ...right out of the box? or are they going to need a trip back to Ruger like my SR9c is currently enjoying?
Mags easy to get? Easy to clean? pricing anyone?

What say you all !!

 

[Yosemite Sam]

Based on the Mark II/III pistol but with a different grip, it's the gun that put Ruger on the map. The current ones can use 1911 grip panels, so if you've got a certain look in mind there are customization options.

Folks pretty regularly have a hard time dis- and re-assembling them, due to a funky system that requires you to hold the gun at certain angles, pull the trigger at the right time, while balancing on one foot and twirling a pie plate on a stick (ok, I exaggerated that last part), but other than that they're great guns.

Once in a while you hear of a problem with one, but that happens with all makers. If people think Ruger is bad they should go over and check out the general attitude on SigForum. Or any forum, and look at the negative posts. I'd be hard pressed to buy any new gun if I took all forum opinions at face value.

BTW, I've heard of far more problems with both Walther P22s and Sig Mosquitos than any other .22 pistols that come to mind.

As with any gun it's best if you can check one out in the shop instead of ordering one blind. Check for sight alignment, any egregious casting flaws on the bolt face or chamber, that kind of thing. I've never heard of a "lemon" Ruger .22, though I imagine the very next post will tell us of one. :)

-- Sam

 

[revhigh]

I have had a MKII all stainless model for 15+ years (not the 22/45) and it was excellent from day 1. About a year ago, I bought a used stainless 22/45 from a local store. I never liked the 22/45 because I thought they felt cheap, and I didn't like the grip. The price was a steal though, and I couldn't pass it up. Now that I've had it, I REALLY like it. It has never failed, it's exceptionally accurate, it's perfectly balanced, and I think would be a great choice for a few young girls. My gun has the 4 3/4 inch barrel, and the balance and pointability is spectacular. The only issue I have with it is that it doesn't have adjustable sights, and in order to get them, it would cost at least $75 or so. For that much, you may as well get the slightly longer barrel, and the adjustable sights that come with it. If you find a used one for about $200 or less, but it no matter what barrel it has ... you won't be disappointed. If you're buying new, get the adjustable sight stainless model ... it's negligibly more expensive.

REV

 

[jerryg22]

I love mine!!! For further education please check out www.rimfirecentral.com as they have an entire sub-forum dedicated to the 22/45. You see pics of mine in there with red grips!!!!

 

[hittman]

Love my MKII and agree the 22/45 looks and feels cheaper.

I've also had Walther P22's and they're a fine little semi-auto.

 

[revhigh]

I've also had Walther P22's and they're a fine little semi-auto.

Nowhere near the shooter that the MK's are though.

REV

 

[john16443]

I'll add my small change to this discussion. I have a S&W 22A bull barrel and here is what I like about it:

- Reliable as heck, well over 3000 rounds through it and not a single mis-anything.

- Super easy disassembly and cleaning, none of the 'pie plate' stuff mentioned above. Have you watched any videos of the Ruger take down, a real Rube Goldberg compared to the 22A, which requires noting more than the press of your thumb. It's so easy even a....

- It is less expensive to buy compared to the 22/45, new ones can be had for just north of $200 retail when on sale. ($239 at Buds, 22/45 is $260ish)

- Fully adjustable rear sites and rail system for the goodies.

- Accurate out of the box, even with the cheap Federal Lightning or 550 bulk packs from Walmart.

What I DON'T like about it: NOTHING. I put 200 to 300 rounds through it at the range every week, and I've owned it since April of this year. Because it is so easy to take down, I do so after every range session, so it is always clean.

Another one to consider is the Beretta U22 NEOS. Just a few bucks more than the S&W, and only slightly more involved tear down. Nowhere near the Ruger tear down.

BTW, I absolutely love my SR9, just got back from another 200 flawless rounds.

 

[GhosT]

Kymasabe,

The MARK series Rugers STARTED RUGER.
I owned a few of the earlier versions...
Own a 22/45 now.(stainless.5.5" barrel.)

First, The MARK series in general.
Rugged, accurate, and reliable .
The original design ,decades proven!

The 22/45.....original conception....a practice gun for Colt .45acp owners.
The same grip angle.

That said......my MARK 2 version....
I think the 22/45 is one of the best MARK series ever made!

Lighter weight,just as accurate as previous versions,just as reliable.
Tested mine with, and without a scope .....ACCURATE!

Fun as hell when plinking, accurate when target shooting,and it's first kill was a groundhog at about 20 yards...... A Remington Golden bullet dropped it where it stood.

There is a Trick to reassembly of the Mark guns,but not near as bad as some make it sound.
Do an online search on how to reassemble ,plenty of posts out there ,with pics that show the ONE basic move to do it :D

My 22/45 will never be sold or traded away.
:wink:

 

[sargents1]

I looked at the 22/45 before I bought a MKII. The shop I was at had the blued 22/45 selling for more $ than the stainless MKII 5.5in Bull Barrel, which in my book is insane.

After handling both the 22/45 and the MKII back to back, it was no contest. The MKII with the Luger style grip was much more comfortable.

Ruger 22 auto pistols in general are great guns. Accurate and comfortable as well as being durable. The MkI, MkII and MKIII Luger style guns are all steel construction which is darn nice.

The 22/45 has a polymer grip frame. Lighter but cheaper feeling. I doubt it has any effect (good or bad) in terms of performance.

Bottom line is that you wont go wrong with either, but I like the MKII (or MKIII) standard model grip (the Luger style grip) better. I also prefer the 5.5in bull barrel for range plinking and packing on hikes.

BTW, I have shot a P22 Walther. Nice grip, smaller than what you get with the Ruger autos. It might actually fit a younger ladies' hand better. The Walther feels to be lower quality construction than the all-steel ruger guns, but that is a subjective feel, not an observation of fact.

good luck, and happy shooting.

 

[sargents1]

I forgot to mention the takedown procedure for the Ruger.

It is not as simple as other guns but I find it manageable. With the stainless guns, you can reduce your field stripping to about once every year without causing yourself problems.

Did I mention that the MK guns are Accurate? I can hit an 8in rock on the 100yd berm about 8 or 9 times out of 10, off hand. From a rest at 25yds I can keep a consistent 2in group if I do my part and I am fairly sure that someone else with better technique could do even better.

 

[Ale-8(1)]

Actually, the "Mark" series did not start the Ruger company. It was the Standard Automatic Pistol that was the first product in 1949 with "fixed" sights.

The Mark I Target Pistol came out in 1951 with adjustable sights.

Yeah, yeah, I know . . . picayune details.

;)

 

[Colonel Daddy]

Casting flaws was the chief problem with my 22/45 Mk II.
Need to get it back out for some fun plinking!