Long or Short barrel 22 plinker

[Guest Shep]

Sig Mosquito (3.98" Barrel) or Sig Mosquito Sport (4.96" Barrel),

or for that matter Walter P22 (3.4" Barrel) vs. P22 Target (5" Barrel)

VS.

I will probably be getting a Sig Mosquito in the next week or two, and was wondering, would I be better off spending a little more money on the sport version, with the longer barrel (1" longer)? My thinking is, with the longer barrel, its increased back pressure should allow it to be a little less finicky with ammo, allowing me to shoot the cheaper bulk ammo. I threw the Walter in there too because, if it holds true for one, it should hold true, for the other.

Oh yeah, I know I could get the threaded barrel on the Mosquito (barrel 4.58"), and would do the same thing but, I don't know if I'll ever spend $500 on a can, and without the can, I don't like the looks of the gun, with the TB protector sticking out the end of the gun. Further more I could have another pistol for that price, or a lot of ammo.

[Guest gcrookston]

I love Sig Sauer, but hate to say it, I hated the Mosquito. I kept mine less than a week and traded it for a Ruger MkIII. Trigger is terrible on this gun. The 7 or 8# trigger pull did nothing to improve the 10 to 12" groups I got at 15 feet. Only Sig I've ever bought that didn't come with a test target. I see why, after shooting it.

You can get yourself a pretty loaded up Ruger for what you'll pay for one of these. I cannot recommend them.

I've also been around the block with a Walther P22. Another little crappy plastic gun with customer service from hell

[Guest c.a.s.]

I can't speak for anything but the P22. It's a good little gun, it fit me well, but I have sorta small hands. I can't speak for Walther's customer service, but the P22 is a pretty good gun (my opinion is based on borrowing one at the range one day)

[Guest tjbert47]

For plinking you just can't beat the Ruger MK I, II or III. I also have a S&W model 22A that is really fun to shoot and I paid under $200 for it.

Tom in TN

[Guest gcrookston]

I bought 2 P22s when they first came out, one for myself and one for my brother. Between the 2 they went back for repairs 5 times. The safety latch fell off mine the first time I fired it and both had feeding and extraction issues which were never resolved.

[musicman]

I had problems with my P22 after about 7,000 rounds. The hammer BROKE, was repaired by S&W, and then would just not get through a mag without choking at least twice. I loved the gun until that first mishap, then it was total crap. I have since sold it.

While not the most accurate, the P22 was a fun gun, what with the clip-on laser for $80 and all. Now all I'm going to buy for a semi-auto plinker will be a Ruger. I shot the Mosquito and didn't love it either.

[musicman]

Oh yea, short or long barrel.... if it's simply going to be a range gun (and maybe used to break in new shooters!) I'd go with the longer barrel. The longer barrel further reduces the already negligible recoil of the .22, while giving a longer sight radius to aid the new shooter.

[Pokey]

Sig Mosquito (3.98" Barrel) or Sig Mosquito Sport (4.96" Barrel),

or for that matter Walter P22 (3.4" Barrel) vs. P22 Target (5" Barrel)

Shep, I know we all have opinions on here, so here's what I know about the Mosquito; Hates remington Ammo (fires Federal AutoMatch well). A friend of mine bought the 3.98" barrel cause they didn't like the looks of the longer target style 22's like the brownings or rugers...Once he found out which ammo to run through it he likes it alot and I've personally shot it and seems to be a real nice gun. Good luck!! Just wanted to throw in my

[Guest DaG]

Check out Sigforum.com. There are alot of complaints over there. I personally have a CZ 75 SP01 with a .22 top end. I get to use the same holster and mag pouches with either the 9 or 22 top end. Just something else to consider........

DaG

[Guest Shep]

Last Christmas I bought an XD 45 for a carry gun (it was also my first gun, of my own), and tried to pick up the sport, not realizing how much ammo cost. Now I'm looking for something cheap to train with, and maybe start plinking a little. I looked at the Ruger and the Browning, and liked the Browning looks and feel, but then seen the Walter and thought it was a cool looking gun until I saw how small it was (I'm 6'6"). The Sig. looks more like my XD, and operates more like it, than the Browning and Ruger. Also, it looks extremely cooler, so that's why I was looking at the Walter and Sig over the Browning & Ruger. Yes, I know the early models, of the Sig & Walter had a lot of trouble, some still don't like them, but with the right ammo, I kinda think it would be alright, but still like the ideal of the Browning just because it would shoot anything you run through it.

I would like to start taking my wife out and shooting some steal, rather than just going to the range, and shooting paper, to keep her a little more interested. Any such places around Middle Tn.?