I was looking at getting a 22lr pistol as a suppressor host/fun gun and noticed all of the 22lr "trainers" such as M&P 22, Ruger SR 22, etc.
What are people's thoughts on these guns?
For manual of operations many guns have airsoft versions.
For range time the money spent on the gun could be used for center fire ammo.

Now for the real reason for the post. I was looking at the Ruger Mark IV Target Stainless but noticed the 22/45 and these "trainer" pistols are much cheaper.
If you were only going to get one 22 which would you get?

I have a Ruger 22/45 Target with a threaded barrel and it a blast.
It's also great to use to use on new shooters, both suppressed and not.

I also have a Walther PPQ .22 full size to match my PPQ 9mm. I train hard with it, usually in a session it's 50% 9mm & 50% .22, so money is saved by doing so.

Most 22 are more accurate than the person shooting it, until you have "Many" bricks through it.
I have never heard of anyone "shooting out" a 22 barrel.
All in all, a 22 for fun, target shooting or training a new shooter is a good investment.
Plus when you go into snake country, you can carry "Snake Shot" rounds.

When I started my daughter shooting, I had an older Ruger first model.
We shoot 37 bricks through it. She is still a pretty good shot.

cootduster

Any deficit in your shooting fundamentals will show *clearly* in your .22. If you will train more, and learn to shoot it well, you'll shoot everything else well. What's Not to like?

Everyone should have at least one “Good” 22lr pistol. Easy to get a lot of practice in with cheap ammo and as a reloader, it’s refredhing to not chase the empties..

Ruger Mk series, Browning Buckmark, S&W , etc are all good choices.

I have a number of .22 pistols. I don't really consider them "trainers," though I know they are to some extent. I mostly consider them to be fun guns in their own right, especially with a suppressor!

I have a couple of Ruger 22/45 MkIII pistols. These are quality pistols, for sure. If I were to buy one today, I'd get the MkIV even if it costs more. And of course, get one with a threaded barrel if you're a suppressor owner, present or future.

I also have a Walther P22, which is a fun gun and mostly reliable, and a Ruger SR22 that is really just about the same thing. Both good guns, both kind of mini versions of a "combat" centerfire pistol. I consider them good for plinking, but for true target shooting the MkIII pistols just feel a whole lot better.

.22s are good for learning and training . . . but they're also just plain fun. Yes, you need one. Probably more than one, in fact.

Have you tried that stuff? I've tried the 22 WMR, and cycling was an issue and it would only piss off a grasshopper.

I run a Sig 226 22lr threaded upper on my 226 Elite as a trainer.

I do the same for my SIG 220. Caught the upper on sale direct from SIG for 150 bucks.

Ruger SR22 pistol is accurate and one of my favorites, but damn do I hate the allen bolt/screw design they use to secure the barrel. It starts to wiggle at ~550rnds every time, on every outing. I have two, I blue loctite them down and torque them and it still happens on both.

Come on over, I'll tighten it for you.

I'd get a Ruger Single Six. It's my favorite pistol. Such a nice trigger, easy sight picture, just plain fun to shoot.

Quoted for future uses.

If you are only getting one 22 don't get a 'trainer' those pot metal zinc plinkers are mediocre at best. A good 22 needs to have a fixed barrel and nice trigger. If you want it to be a can host get a threaded buckmark or MKlll or lV.
But don't feel like you need to limit yourself to just one 22 either!!
These are my Smith & Wesson 22s ... Some brands others are hiding in the safe too.

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Hot damn quit hoarding them all and share with me.