Smith & Wesson 22A Pistol

[Guest 270win]

Any information, good or bad, on the Smith and Wesson 22A semi auto 22LR pistol? I have previously owned a Ruger Mark I and Mark II, both traded for other guns. I've looked at the stainless steel Ruger Mark III, but it is quite a bit higher than the Smith and Wesson 22A. I'd like one with a 5 and a half inch barrel for casual target shooting and squirrel/rabbit hunting and while walking in the woods (TN has a hangup with firearms on WMA/national forest land unless hunting and some small game is year round).

[musicman]

While I am normally 100% pro-Smith, the 22As don't have an incredibly stellar reputation from my understanding. They are better than some, but not all. I have a neighbor who owns a Beretta Neos and it's a cool gun, if a bit Futurama. My nod would go to spending a little more for a nice Ruger, or a find a good Browning Buckmark.

[Guest EasilyObsessed]

I have a Beretta Noes. Super finicky about ammo and the trigger is just average.

x2 on spending the extra cash for a Ruger or a Browning Buckmark.

[R1100R]

I have had a 422 S&W it shoots great. Feeds just about anything.

If you look around I found a High Standard M serie sand it is a tack driver.

Edited February 1, 2008 by R1100R

[Guest Jason F.]

I have a 22A. Had some problems at first. It will not eat CCI ammo. It is just a little picky on ammo. Once you find what it likes it is a great gun. Decent trigger and surprisingly accurate out of the box. Quite a bit of gun for $200 out the door.

[Guest m4coyote]

I do not own a S&W 22A, but I do have a Browning Buckmark. I purchased the Buckmark Camper brand new at Sportsmans Warehouse for less than $300.00. It is a very solid pistol, and has proven to be a very dependable and accurate shooter. It is easy to field strip, unlike the Rugers, and is very accurate.

The frame on the Buckmark is considered the serial numbered part, and barrels can be changed by merely mail ordering them to your door.

[molonlabetn]

I had one for a while, concurrently with a Ruger 22/45.

The 22A was more accurate, but it was very picky about what it would cycle, and disassembly was a bit hazardous considering all of the small parts which would occasionally fly out when the barrel was removed. Rugers are no picnic to strip, either, but they aren't that bad. The small nylon recoil buffers had to be replaced every so often, so it was good to keep a few of them on hand... also, in case you couldn't find it after it was ejected across the room during disassembly.

I'd recommend a Browning Buckmark over either the Ruger or S&W.