Best .22 Pistol (2026): 7 Rimfire Handguns We Shot

Every serious shooter we know owns at least one .22 pistol, and most will tell you it made them a better shot than an expensive class. The best .22 pistol is cheap to feed, quiet enough that your ears are not ringing for a week, and brutally honest about your trigger control. Flinch with a .22 and there is nobody to blame but you.

This 2026 list has seven rimfire pistols, and every one has a full GunsAmerica Digest review behind it. A few things changed since the last version. The Taurus TX22 we reviewed is the original model, and Taurus now sells a Gen 2. The Glock 44 is now sold as the G44 V. The FN 502 Tactical had a 2022 safety recall on early serial numbers, and you should know about it before buying used. We tell you which parts of each review apply to the gun you can buy today. That matters more than a spec sheet.

Why a .22 at all? Because ammo is still a fraction of centerfire cost, so you can put 500 rounds downrange on a Saturday without a loan. Because suppressed .22s are the most fun you can legally have at a range. And because new shooters, kids and recoil-sensitive family members learn fundamentals faster when the gun doesn’t scare them.

If you are shopping for a first handgun, read our best first handgun for 2026 guide too. Prices below are MSRP or MAP at the time of each review, labeled by year.

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

The best .22 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

Fixed-barrel guns like the Buck Mark, Ruger 22/45 and KelTec P17 tend to be more accurate because the barrel never moves, and a dot on a barrel-mounted rail holds zero. Slide guns like the Glock 44, SIG P322, Taurus TX22 and FN 502 feel more like your centerfire carry gun, which is great for training transfer. Pick the design that matches the job, not the one that looks coolest in the case.

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. Standard velocity loads often shoot best, and high velocity loads often cycle best, so test both. Our Glock 44 tester found six of eight brands ran without issue, then stuck with those. Do the same homework.

Capacity And Magazines

Ten rounds used to be normal. Now the SIG P322 holds 21 and the TX22 and KelTec P17 hold 16 in the magazine. More capacity means more shooting and less loading. Buy extra magazines, and a loader, before your thumbs start complaining. Rimfire magazines are the first thing to blame when a .22 starts acting up, so keep them clean.

Threaded Barrels And Suppressors

A 1/2×28 thread is the standard for .22 suppressors. The FN 502 Tactical and Buck Mark Camper come threaded 1/2×28, the Ruger 22/45 Tactical has a 4.4 inch threaded barrel, the SIG P322 ships with a 1/2×28 thread adapter, and the KelTec P17 includes a threaded barrel extension. Check your suppressor maker’s guidance on cleaning intervals, because .22 ammo is dirty.

Optics Readiness

A red dot on a .22 is a cheap way to train dot skills before you put one on your carry gun. The P322 and FN 502 are optics-ready, and the 22/45 Tactical and Buck Mark mount a dot to the stationary barrel. The Gen 1 TX22 we reviewed is not optics-ready; Taurus’s Gen 2 is.

Recalls And Used Guns

Rimfire pistols get bought and sold used all the time. Before you buy any used pistol, check the maker’s recall notices with the serial number. Our FN 502 Tactical recall notice is a good example of why: early serial numbers were affected. Recalls are routine in the industry, and a repaired gun is fine. An unrepaired one is not.

Best .22 Pistols Ranked: 2026 Picks

SIG Sauer P322: Best Overall .22 Pistol (2026)

The P322 does everything modern shooters want out of the box. It holds 21 rounds, it is ready for an optic, and the 4 inch barrel comes with a 1/2×28 thread adapter so you can run a brake or a suppressor right away. The green fiber optic sights are bright and the rear is adjustable.

Read our full SIG Sauer P322 review here.

True Pearce tested it with 18 different types of ammo to see how finicky it really was, which is the kind of homework rimfire buyers should appreciate. MAP was $399 at launch. One caution from the review: the slide won’t come off with the thread adapter installed, so put the thread protector back on when you remove the adapter.

Key Specs

• Caliber: .22LR
• Capacity: 21 rounds (20+1)
• Barrel: 4 in with 1/2×28 thread adapter
• Sights: Green fiber optic, adjustable rear
• Optic: Optics-ready out of the box
• Testing: 18 ammo types
• Price: $399 MAP at launch (2022 review)

Pros

• Huge capacity for a .22
• Optics-ready and threaded out of the box
• Bright adjustable fiber optic sights
• Tested with 18 ammo types

Cons

• Some rimfire loads run better than others
• Thread adapter must come off before disassembly
• Light slide is not a perfect centerfire match

🛒 Check Current Price for SIG Sauer P322 on GunsAmerica

Taurus TX22: Best .22 Pistol For The Money (2026)

The TX22 was a home run when it launched, and it is still the gun we recommend to anyone who wants a full-size .22 that feels like a real pistol. Jordan Michaels reviewed the original in 2019: 16 round magazines, 17.3 ounces, a 4.1 inch barrel in a 7.06 inch package, and a striker block, manual safety and trigger safety. He found it insanely comfortable to shoot. MSRP was $349.

Read our full Taurus TX22 review here.

Know which gun you’re buying. Our review is the Gen 1 TX22. Taurus now sells a Gen 2, and our 2025 rimfire shootout notes that the Gen 2 variants are optics-ready while the Gen 1 is not. We have not run a full review of the Gen 2, so the specs below are for the Gen 1 we tested.

Key Specs

• Caliber: .22LR
• Capacity: 16 rounds
• Weight: 17.3 oz (Gen 1 as reviewed)
• Length/Barrel: 7.06 in / 4.1 in (Gen 1)
• Safeties: Striker block, manual safety, trigger safety
• Optic: Gen 1 not optics-ready; Gen 2 variants are
• MSRP: $349 (2019 review, Gen 1)

Pros

• 16 round capacity
• Full-size feel at a light weight
• Comfortable to shoot
• Excellent value

Cons

• Our review covers Gen 1, not the current Gen 2
• Basic sights on the Gen 1
• Manual safety may not match your carry gun

🛒 Check Current Price for Taurus TX22 on GunsAmerica

FN 502 Tactical: Best .22 Pistol For Suppressed Plinking (2026)

The FN 502 Tactical is built for hanging a can on a .22 and running it like a duty gun. It comes with a flush 10 round magazine and a 15 round extended magazine with a rounder footprint, closer to an FN 509 or Glock mag, which makes it very easy to seat without looking. The barrel is threaded and the slide is optics-ready.

Read our full FN 502 Tactical review here.

Mitchell Graf, who plinks with suppressed .22s under night vision for fun, saw it as a welcome challenger in a market mostly dominated by the Ruger Mark IV. One important note: FN recalled FN 502 Tactical pistols with serial numbers lower than LR010300 in 2022 over a manual safety lock lever issue. If you buy used, check the serial number first.

Key Specs

• Caliber: .22LR
• Capacity: 10+1 flush / 15+1 extended
• Barrel: Threaded
• Optic: Optics-ready slide
• Magazines: Centerfire-style shape, easy to seat
• Recall: Serials below LR010300 (2022 FN recall)
• Price: Check current listings

Pros

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

Cons

• Early serials were recalled; check used guns
• Pricier than budget rimfires
• Flush magazine limited to 10 rounds

🛒 Check Current Price for FN 502 Tactical on GunsAmerica

Glock 44 (Now G44 V): Best .22 Pistol For Glock Training (2026)

The G44 looks and feels like a Glock 19, and that is the point. It lets you train your carry draw and manipulations for pennies a round. Clay Martin called it a sewing machine. In his first thousand rounds across eight brands, it ran six of them without issue, and the six it liked stayed trouble-free through the next 1,000 rounds.

Read our full Glock 44 review here.

The slide is a polymer, steel and polymer sandwich with a steel insert and full-length steel rails, which keeps it light. Glock now sells this model as the G44 V, part of the V Series. Clay’s review is of the original G44, and we have not reviewed the G44 V.

Key Specs

• Caliber: .22LR
• Size: Glock 19 size frame and slide
• Slide: Polymer with steel insert and steel rails
• Action: Glock Safe Action striker
• Current version: G44 V
• Reliability: Six of eight brands ran without issue in our test
• Price: Check current listings

Pros

• Same manual of arms as a carry Glock
• Trouble-free with the ammo it liked
• Light, durable slide design
• Glock size and controls

Cons

• Ammo-selective like many rimfires
• Our review is the original G44, not the G44 V
• Lighter slide feel than a real G19

🛒 Check Current Price for Glock 44 on GunsAmerica

Ruger 22/45 Tactical: Best .22 Pistol For Accuracy With A Dot (2026)

Garrett Negen picked the 22/45 Tactical for suppressed shooting with a light and a dot, and it delivered. The 4.4 inch threaded barrel takes a suppressor without making the gun unwieldy, and the optics rail is mounted to the barrel, so your zero doesn’t ride a slide. The under-barrel rail took a Streamlight TLR-VIR II in testing.

Read our full Ruger 22/45 Tactical review here.

Lower velocity ammo shot best. Remington Thunderbolts and CCI Standard Velocity both printed 1.5 inch groups at 25 yards, and the trigger broke just under 5 pounds. With his low-profile mount, the dot still didn’t quite co-witness with the irons. MSRP was $659.

Key Specs

• Caliber: .22LR
• Capacity: 10+1
• Barrel: 4.4 in threaded
• Action: Fixed barrel; trigger just under 5 lb
• Optic: Barrel-mounted optics rail
• Accuracy: 1.5 in at 25 yards with standard velocity loads
• MSRP: $659 (2023 review)

Pros

• Stable barrel-mounted optic zero
• 1.5 inch groups at 25 yards
• Threaded for a suppressor
• Under-barrel rail for a light

Cons

• Pricier than slide-style trainers
• Dot doesn’t 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 .22 Target Pistol (2026)

The 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 a rail mounts a red dot to the stationary barrel. Garrett Negen put about 300 rounds through it without a single malfunction, no matter the brand or bullet type.

Read our full Browning Buck Mark Camper review here.

His complaints were honest ones. The 6 inch barrel gets front-heavy with a suppressor, and for a $630 MSRP he wished it came with more than one magazine, especially with magazines around $50 each.

Key Specs

• Caliber: .22LR
• Capacity: 10+1 (one magazine included)
• Barrel: 6 in, threaded 1/2×28
• Action: Fixed barrel
• Optic: Rail on the stationary barrel
• Reliability: About 300 rounds, no malfunctions
• MSRP: $630 (2022 review)

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 Budget .22 Pistol (2026)

The P17 is the $199 pistol that makes fun cheap. It holds 16+1, weighs 10.9 ounces empty and is about the height and length of a Glock 19, but only 1.2 inches thick. A threaded barrel extension comes in the box.

Read our full KelTec P17 review here.

Clay Martin measured the trigger at 3 pounds, and he found accuracy well beyond what the price suggests. For new shooters, kids and anybody on a budget, it is the easiest yes on this list. Just don’t expect premium fit and finish at this price.

Key Specs

• Caliber: .22LR
• Capacity: 16+1
• Weight: 10.9 oz empty
• Width: 1.2 in
• Barrel: Fixed, threaded extension included
• Trigger: 3 lb as measured
• MSRP: $199 (2021 review)

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

Which .22 Pistol Fits Your Job?

One do-it-all .22 with capacity, optics and threads in the box? The SIG P322. Best value full-size trainer? The TX22, and look at the Gen 2 if you want a dot. Suppressor fans should choose between the FN 502 Tactical, the Ruger 22/45 Tactical and the Buck Mark Camper, depending on whether you want a slide gun or a fixed-barrel target gun. Glock carriers should train with the G44. Budget shooters get the P17. Pair any of them with a rifle from our best .22LR rifles of 2026 and you have a complete rimfire battery.

What About A .22 Revolver?

Last year’s list included the Ruger Wrangler. It is a fun, cheap way to learn single-action revolver shooting, but our coverage of the longer-barrel Wranglers was a SHOT Show 2023 first look, not a full range review, so it is no longer ranked here.

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 .22 pistol for most shooters in 2026 is the SIG P322, with capacity, optics and threads in one box. The Taurus TX22 is still the value pick, now as a Gen 2. The FN 502 Tactical, Ruger 22/45 Tactical and Browning Buck Mark Camper are excellent suppressor hosts with different personalities. The Glock 44, now the G44 V, is the trainer for Glock carriers, and the KelTec P17 is the budget champ.

Whatever you buy, run several brands of ammo, keep a list of what works, and check the serial number on any used pistol against the maker’s recall notices. A .22 is the cheapest way to get better with every gun you own, so shoot it often. Teach a new shooter with it, practice your trigger press with it, and you will see the difference the next time you shoot centerfire.

Related reading: see our guide to the best Ruger pistols. When you’re ready to buy, compare live listings on GunsAmerica.com and spend the savings on ammo.

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