Best .22LR Pistols (2026)

Every serious shooter I know owns at least one .22 pistol, and most of them will tell you it made them a better shot than any expensive training class. The best .22LR pistols of 2026 are cheap to feed, quiet enough to shoot without your ears ringing for a week, and honest about your trigger control in a way a 9mm never will be. Flinch with a .22 and you have nobody to blame but yourself.

This is the 2026 refresh of our .22LR pistol guide. We kept the Taurus TX22, SIG P322, and Browning Buck Mark from last year’s list, then added five more rimfires with full GunsAmerica Digest testing behind them, including the FN 502 Tactical, the Glock 44, the Ruger 22/45 Tactical, and the $199 KelTec P17. The one-review-only rule applies: if we could not back a gun with our own range time, it did not make the cut.

Why buy a .22 pistol in 2026? Because ammo is still a fraction of the cost of centerfire, which means you can put 500 rounds downrange on a Saturday without taking out a loan. Because suppressed .22 pistols are the most fun you can legally have at a range. Because new shooters, kids, and recoil-sensitive family members learn fundamentals faster when the gun does not scare them. And because a .22 that shares controls with your carry gun lets you train the same manual of arms for pennies per round.

If you are shopping for a first handgun, read our best first handgun for 2026 guide too. Otherwise, here are the best .22LR pistols we would buy this year, ranked by the job each one does best.

Buyer’s Guide: How To Choose The Best .22LR Pistol

The best .22LR pistols do three things well: they feed cheap ammo, they hit what you aim at, and they are fun enough that you actually practice.

Fixed Barrel Or Reciprocating Slide

Rimfire pistols come in two basic designs. Fixed-barrel guns like the Buck Mark, Ruger 22/45, and KelTec P17 tend to be more accurate and more reliable because the barrel never moves and optics mount to a stationary rail. Slide-action guns like the Glock 44, SIG P322, and FN 502 feel more like your centerfire carry gun, which is great for training transfer.

Reliability With Real Ammo

Rimfire ammo is dirtier and less consistent than centerfire. Every .22 has loads it loves and loads it hates. Buy several brands, run a few hundred rounds, and keep a list of what runs. Our Glock 44 tester found six brands it ran flawlessly through 1,000 rounds. That is the kind of homework you should do too.

Capacity And Magazines

Ten rounds used to be normal. Now the SIG P322 holds 20 and the KelTec P17 holds 16. More capacity means more shooting and less loading. Buy extra magazines, and a loader, before your thumbs start complaining.

Optics And Suppressor Readiness

Threaded barrels and optics mounting are now common, even on budget guns. A 1/2×28 thread is the standard for .22 suppressors. A red dot on a .22 is an outstanding, cheap way to train dot skills before you put one on your carry gun.

Ergonomics And Controls

If the .22 is a trainer, match its controls and size to your carry pistol. If it is a target gun, look for a longer barrel and adjustable sights. If kids or new shooters will use it, look for a manageable grip and a simple manual of arms.

Trigger Quality

A good trigger turns a plinker into a tack driver. The KelTec P17 breaks at 3 pounds and the FN 502 is rated at 5. Either way, you want a clean break and a consistent reset. Rimfire is where you learn what a good press feels like.

Budget And Value

You can buy a reliable .22 pistol for $199 or spend over $600 on a suppressor-ready target gun. The cheapest option is not always the best value, but neither is the most expensive. Buy for the job, then spend the savings on ammo.

Best .22LR Pistols Ranked: 2026 Product Roundup

Taurus TX22: Best for High-Capacity Training And Plinking (2026)

The Taurus TX22 was a home run when it launched, and it is still the pistol we recommend first to anyone who wants a full-size .22 that feels like a real gun. It carries 16 rounds, weighs just 17.3 ounces, and runs a 4.1-inch barrel in a 7.06-inch package. Safety features include a striker block, trigger safety, and manual safety. Our reviewer noted it ran perfectly and felt great to shoot, and at a $349 MSRP, it leaves plenty of room in the budget for bricks of ammo.

Read our full Taurus TX22 review here.

Key Specs

• Caliber: .22LR
• Capacity: 16 rounds
• Weight: 17.3 oz
• Length/Barrel: 7.06 in overall / 4.1 in barrel
• Action: Single-action striker
• Sights/Optic Cut: Three-dot sights
• MSRP: $349

Pros

• 16-round capacity
• Full-size feel at a light weight
• Reliable with a range of ammo in testing
• Excellent value

Cons

• Basic three-dot sights
• Manual safety may not match your carry gun
• Base model is not optics-ready

🛒 Check Current Price for Taurus TX22 on GunsAmerica

SIG Sauer P322: Best for Optics-Ready Capacity (2026)

The SIG Sauer P322 is the rimfire that does everything modern shooters want out of the box. It holds 21 rounds and ships with two 20-round magazines and a loader. The 4-inch barrel comes with a 1/2×28 thread adapter for a brake or suppressor. Green fiber-optic sights are bright, the rear adjusts, and it comes off so you can mount micro red dots like the Romeo Zero. It is fully ambidextrous. We tested it with 18 different types of ammo, including with a red dot mounted, to see how finicky it really was. MAP was $399 at launch.

Read our full SIG Sauer P322 review here.

Key Specs

• Caliber: .22LR
• Capacity: 20+1 (two 20-round magazines included)
• Weight: Check current GunsAmerica listings
• Length/Barrel: 4 in barrel with 1/2×28 thread adapter
• Action: Semi-auto, fixed barrel
• Sights/Optic Cut: Green fiber-optic sights; rear plate removes for micro red dot
• Price: $399 MAP at launch

Pros

• Huge capacity for a .22
• Optics-ready and threaded out of the box
• Fully ambidextrous controls
• Tested with 18 types of ammo

Cons

• Some rimfire loads run better than others
• Small-footprint dots only
• Lightweight slide feel is not a perfect centerfire match

🛒 Check Current Price for SIG Sauer P322 on GunsAmerica

FN 502 Tactical: Best for Suppressor Host And Night Plinking (2026)

The FN 502 Tactical is built for the shooter who wants to hang a can on a .22 and run it like a duty gun. It comes with a flush 10-round magazine and a 15-round extended magazine shaped like centerfire pistol mags, which makes them far easier to seat without looking. The barrel is threaded 1/2×28, the most common .22 suppressor pitch, and the slide is optics-ready. FN lists the trigger at a 5-pound break. Our reviewer, who runs suppressed .22s under night vision for fun, called it a serious contender against the Ruger Mark IV.

Read our full FN 502 Tactical review here.

Key Specs

• Caliber: .22LR
• Capacity: 10+1 flush / 15+1 extended
• Weight: Check current GunsAmerica listings
• Length/Barrel: Threaded barrel, 1/2×28 pitch
• Action: Semi-auto, 5 lb rated trigger
• Sights/Optic Cut: Optics-ready slide
• Price: Check current GunsAmerica listings

Pros

• Threaded and optics-ready
• Magazines seat easily like centerfire mags
• Duty-style ergonomics
• Great suppressor host

Cons

• Extra magazines cost more than Ruger’s
• Pricier than budget rimfires
• Flush magazine limited to 10 rounds

🛒 Check Current Price for FN 502 Tactical on GunsAmerica

Glock 44: Best for Glock Training Transfer (2026)

The Glock 44 looks and feels exactly like a Glock 19, and that is the whole point. It fits your Glock holsters and your magazine pouches, so you can train your carry draw and manipulation for pennies a round. Our reviewer ran it like a sewing machine right out of the box, then pushed 1,000 rounds with zero issues on the six brands it liked. At 10 meters it hit a 2 by 2 inch steel head every time the trigger was pressed correctly. Glock built the slide with a hybrid steel and polymer design to cut weight while keeping the feel.

Read our full Glock 44 review here.

Key Specs

• Caliber: .22LR
• Capacity: Glock 44 magazines
• Weight: Check current GunsAmerica listings
• Length/Barrel: Glock 19-size frame and slide
• Action: Glock Safe Action striker
• Sights/Optic Cut: Glock adjustable sights
• Price: Check current GunsAmerica listings

Pros

• Fits Glock 19 holsters and pouches
• Same manual of arms as your carry Glock
• 1,000 trouble-free rounds with preferred ammo
• Accurate enough for small steel at 10 meters

Cons

• Ammo-selective like many rimfires
• Not optics-ready in base form
• Lighter slide feel than a real G19

🛒 Check Current Price for Glock 44 on GunsAmerica

Ruger 22/45 Tactical: Best for Accuracy With A Rail-Mounted Dot (2026)

The Ruger 22/45 Tactical is our reviewer’s favorite .22 pistol, and it is easy to see why. The 4.4-inch threaded barrel takes a suppressor without making the gun unwieldy. The optics rail is mounted directly to the barrel, which eliminates any slide-to-barrel alignment issues that could shift your zero. An under-barrel rail took a Streamlight TLR-VIR 2 in testing. The trigger breaks just under five pounds with minimal take-up, two ten-round magazines come in the box, and two loads printed 1.5-inch groups at 25 yards. MSRP is $659.

Read our full Ruger 22/45 Tactical review here.

Key Specs

• Caliber: .22LR
• Capacity: 10+1 (two magazines included)
• Weight: Check current GunsAmerica listings
• Length/Barrel: 4.4 in threaded barrel
• Action: Semi-auto, fixed barrel; just under 5 lb trigger
• Sights/Optic Cut: Iron sights plus barrel-mounted optics rail
• MSRP: $659

Pros

• Optic rail mounted to the barrel for a stable zero
• 1.5-inch groups at 25 yards in testing
• Threaded for a suppressor
• Under-barrel rail for a light or laser

Cons

• Pricier than slide-style trainers
• Dot does not co-witness with irons
• Ruger takedown has a learning curve

🛒 Check Current Price for Ruger 22/45 Tactical on GunsAmerica

Browning Buck Mark Camper: Best for Target Accuracy And Suppressed Shooting (2026)

The Browning Buck Mark Camper is a classic fixed-barrel target .22 set up for a suppressor. The 6-inch barrel is threaded 1/2×28 and gives you a long sight radius and excellent accuracy, with strong 5-shot groups from the bench at 25 yards in our test. A rail mounts a red dot to the stationary barrel, so the optic never rides a reciprocating slide. Our reviewer put about 300 rounds through it without a single malfunction. The $630 MSRP and a single included magazine are the only real complaints.

Read our full Browning Buck Mark Camper review here.

Key Specs

• Caliber: .22LR
• Capacity: 10+1 (one magazine included)
• Weight: Check current GunsAmerica listings
• Length/Barrel: 6 in barrel threaded 1/2×28
• Action: Semi-auto, fixed barrel
• Sights/Optic Cut: Iron sights plus optics rail
• MSRP: $630

Pros

• Excellent accuracy from the long barrel
• Threaded for a suppressor
• Optic mounts to a stationary rail
• Zero malfunctions in about 300 rounds

Cons

• Only one magazine included
• Front-heavy with a suppressor
• Priced high for a .22

🛒 Check Current Price for Browning Buck Mark Camper on GunsAmerica

KelTec P17: Best for Budget Plinking (2026)

The KelTec P17 is the $199 pistol that makes fun cheap. It holds 16+1, weighs just 10.9 ounces empty, and is only 1.2 inches thick. It uses a fixed barrel for accuracy and reliability, and a threaded barrel extension comes in the box. The trigger breaks at 3 pounds on a gauge, lighter than a Buck Mark, with about an eighth of an inch of take-up and a clean stop. Our reviewer found accuracy well beyond what the price tag suggests. For new shooters, kids, and anyone on a budget, it is a no-brainer.

Read our full KelTec P17 review here.

Key Specs

• Caliber: .22LR
• Capacity: 16+1
• Weight: 10.9 oz empty
• Length/Barrel: Fixed barrel with included threaded extension; 1.2 in thick
• Action: Semi-auto, 3 lb trigger
• Sights/Optic Cut: Fixed sights
• MSRP: $199

Pros

• Incredible price
• 16-round capacity
• Light 3 lb trigger
• Threaded barrel extension included

Cons

• Very light gun feels toy-like to some
• Basic sights
• Budget fit and finish

🛒 Check Current Price for KelTec P17 on GunsAmerica

Ruger Wrangler: Best for Budget Revolver Training (2026)

The Ruger Wrangler is the cheapest way to learn single-action revolver shooting and the most fun way to burn a brick of .22. Ruger expanded the line with longer barrel options, which add sight radius and help new shooters hit more consistently. It is chambered for affordable .22LR and priced to get anyone into a wheelgun. We covered the longer-barrel Wranglers at their launch, and the platform remains one of the best values in rimfire. MSRP was $269 for either barrel length.

Read our Ruger Wrangler first look here.

Key Specs

• Caliber: .22LR
• Capacity: Six-shot single-action cylinder
• Weight: Check current GunsAmerica listings
• Length/Barrel: Standard and longer barrel options
• Action: Single-action revolver
• Sights/Optic Cut: Fixed sights
• MSRP: $269

Pros

• Very affordable
• Great for teaching fundamentals
• Longer barrel options for accuracy
• Simple and durable

Cons

• Slow to load and unload
• Single-action only
• Fixed sights

🛒 Check Current Price for Ruger Wrangler on GunsAmerica

.22LR Comparison: Which One Fits Your Mission

If you want one do-it-all .22 pistol, get the Taurus TX22. If you want capacity, optics, and threads in one box, the SIG P322 is the pick. Suppressor fans should look at the FN 502 Tactical, Ruger 22/45 Tactical, or Buck Mark Camper, depending on whether you prefer a slide gun or a fixed-barrel target gun. Glock owners should buy the Glock 44 and train cheap. Budget shooters get the KelTec P17. Revolver lovers and new shooters get the Wrangler. Pair any of them with a 22 rifle from our best .22LR rifles of 2026 guide and you have a complete rimfire battery.

Safety Notes

A .22 is still a firearm. Treat it with the same respect as a centerfire, wear eye and ear protection, and supervise new shooters closely. Rimfire misfires happen, so keep the muzzle pointed downrange and wait before clearing a dud. Store every gun locked and away from children.

Conclusion

The best .22LR pistols of 2026 make training cheap and shooting fun. The Taurus TX22 is our all-around pick. The SIG P322 wins on capacity and optics. The FN 502 Tactical, Ruger 22/45 Tactical, and Browning Buck Mark Camper are outstanding suppressor hosts with different personalities. The Glock 44 is the best trainer for Glock carriers. The KelTec P17 is the budget champ, and the Ruger Wrangler keeps revolver skills alive for less than a tank of gas and a case of ammo.

GunsAmerica has tested every one of these guns, and we would put any of them in a new shooter’s hands. When you are ready to buy, compare live listings on GunsAmerica.com and spend the savings on ammo.

Related reading: see our guides to the best Ruger pistols, best Colt revolvers, and best Smith & Wesson revolvers.

Train hard, shoot straight, and stay dangerous.

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