  The new Ruger SR22 is a completely new gun from Ruger, and somewhat novel in the .22LR semi auto pistol market. It has the lines of the SR9/40, but this is a hammer fired pistol with a double action/single action trigger and safety decocker.  This is one of those test guns that as a writer you elect to buy from the manufacturer. As a lifetime purchase .22LR pistol, the SR22 has all the features you could want, and it fits me really well with the larger grip panels.  The Ruger Mark III series has always been a staple in the market, but the world has moved on from steel pistols that look like guns from World War I and II.  The SR22 comes in a handy zippered case with an extra 10 round magazine and these grip extentions to hold in a third finger.  Replacing the grip with the larger size is not easy, but you really don’t want a grip that comes off easy. If you have big hands the larger panel will fit you well.  The SR22 field strips easily for cleaning, and the stainless steel barrel is replaceable if you choose down the road. I would think that Ruger would put out a threaded barrel for this gun at some point.  This is the takedown latch on the SR22.  My Lasermax helped me get groups down to about an inch at 10 yards. I’m sure the gun will do even better.  The windage and elevation adjustable rear site is beefy and durable, and both it and the front blade are reversable if you don’t like the 3 dot system.  The CCI #12 shotshell .22LR patterned nicely. This is the trail load I use for mice and snakes.  The double action pull on the SR22 comes in just under 10 lbs. You can also thumb cock the skeletonized hammer and the single action pull is nice and clean at just over 4.5 lbs.  The SR22 mags are easy to load due to a thumb follower on the side, like many other .22LR pistol mags. This on the right is the floorplate mounted on one magazine. |
Ruger Firearms SR22
https://www.ruger.com/sr22/
by Wayne Lincourt
Every gun nut looks for that perfect .22 pistol that will always be a staple of their gun collection. Even if you have more than one, and most of us do have several, a .22 pistol is lifetime purchase, so even though they are less expensive than most centerfire pistols, you have to choose carefully.
The “old” Ruger .22LR pistol, currently called the Mark III, is one of those guns you can always advise someone to choose and they will never regret it. The classic Luger lines of the gun and the hefty weight of 30oz. and up make it easy to shoot for novice shooters, and steady and accurate for a lifetime of punching paper and eliminating the dreaded grey squirrel. The Ruger Mark III will never let you down. But the world has moved on from steel guns, and most people want a .22LR pistol that looks and feels like the centerfire pistol they use for home defense, concealed carry, or competition.
This new Ruger SR22 (catalog number SR22PB, noting I think that you may shoot inexpensive lead bullets) brings a whole new era of .22LR pistols to the ever expanding Ruger line. It has the look and feel of a medium frame centerfire pistol, much like the Ruger SR9 and SR40, but with hammer fired system and a double action/single action trigger with safety de-cocker. It weighs 17.5oz. empty, and it comes with two 10 round magazines and optional extended floorplates you can snap on to hold in a third finger if you have big hands. This is a whole new gun, not a knock off or scaled down model from other guns in the Ruger line, and a lot of thought went into the design, construction, and execution of the SR22, making it the new current gun you want to check out before buying any other .22LR pistol.
As we have said many times at GunsAmerica, we are living in the golden age of firearms. Never before have guns been so well made, reliable, and useful right out of the box. From the choice of materials, to the features, to the ergonomics, the SR22 is a meticulously well-thought-out pistol, based on the experience of decades of other .22LR pistol models that have come and gone. The frame is polymer with a stainless steel barrel and an aircraft quality, anodized aluminum slide. The safety/decocker is ambidextrous as is the magazine release. The sights are the popular three white dot configuration and are fully adjustable. The front blade can even be reversed to go from a white dot to all black. There are serrations at the front of the slide for performing a press check (where you move the slide back far enough to confirm that there’s a round in the chamber). It has a loaded round indicator for those states that require it, and the grip has interchangeable grip sleeves to custom fit your hand. At an MSRP of $399, and street price significantly less, the SR22 is a lot of gun for the money.
In preparation for a trip to the range, I slipped off the smaller grip sleeve that came on the gun and replaced it with the bigger sleeve which fit my hand better. “Slip” may not be the best verb to use here. As the manual states, “…it will take a little pulling force to remove the sleeve.” Actually it took a LOT of pulling force to remove the sleeve. But I guess that’s better than having it flop off in your hand while trying to put down a homicidal squirrel.
It’s a good idea to clean and inspect any firearm before shooting it the first time, and the SR22 easily disassembles for cleaning by utilizing a locking take down lever located at the bottom of the frame inside the front of the trigger guard. Pull the lever out, move the slide to the rear, and lift it from the frame. Once the slide’s off the frame, that’s it, there’s nothing else you need to do. The stainless steel barrel is replaceable and fastened to the frame with an allen screw. There is no need to remove it for routine maintenance. Reassembly is just as easy.
I used Remington Golden 22 long rifle and CCI Mini-Mag 22 LR ammo, both with 36 grain hollow point bullets. CCI was also used for patterning of their 22 LR shot shell filled with #12 shot. One of the nice things about the SR22PB is that you can use it with any kind of .22LR ammo, not just the high velocity stuff. The slide is adjusted to return to battery even with the least expensive brick .22LR from Remington and other range regulars.
You can chamber a round with the safety in either position. If the safety is on or in the “safe” position, when you draw the slide to the rear and release it to chamber a round, the hammer will automatically de-cock to rest on the hammer blocker which prevents it from contacting the firing pin. In the safe position, the trigger is also disconnected from both the hammer and the firing pin blocker.
If you chamber a round with the safety off, or in the “fire” position, the red area (which is covered by the safety lever in the safe position) is visible and the hammer will remain cocked and ready to fire. To decock the gun just move the safety lever back to the safe position.
This is a double action/single action pistol (DA/SA) which means that it can be fired from the hammer-down position as long as the safety is in the fire position. I have a preference for this type of action for a self defense gun because, like a revolver, it can be safely carried with the safety off. That means one less thing to mess with and one less potential problem in an emergency.
As a training weapon, there are very few .22LR pistols set up this way. Most are just a straight single action pull with some sort of thumb safety. If your main gun is DA/SA, the transition between the two trigger pulls requires some training to control reliably. This is a gun you can practice with for pennies a round, even with the cheapest .22LR fodder you can buy, and it works just like your full-sized centerfire pistol if you carry a DA/SA pistol.
In double action mode your first shot will require a long stroke of the trigger which is heavier than the single shot mode, but the trigger pull is smooth and even with a little stacking just before the shot breaks making it easy to control. The trigger weight on the test gun averaged 9 pounds 11 ounces in double action mode and a very nice 4 pounds 10.7 ounces in single action.
The white dot sights are easy to see and the gun has good balance and feel. It points naturally thanks to the grip angle, which puts you on target fast. Shooting using the iron sights and the gun resting on the bench from 10 yards easily produced groups in the 1 ½ inch range.
Muzzle velocity of bullets from the 3 ½ inch barrel clocked an average of 993.1 fps with the Remington ammo and 984.06 fps with the CCI Mini-Mags for an energy level ten feet in front of the muzzle (where my chronograph was positioned to rule out errors from the gasses exiting with the bullet) of 79 foot pounds. Plenty of power for accurately placed shots in small game.
There’s a nice accessory rail under the front of the frame and I attached a lightweight Lasermax Micro laser because, at laser distances, I find I shoot more accurately with the laser than with iron sights. The red laser dot was easy to see from 10 yards and it’s also easy to see what kind of job you’re doing as far as trigger control is concerned. The laser is a great practice aid whether you’re dry firing at home or shooting for real at the range or in the field.
With the laser, I was able to tighten my groups to less than an inch. Needless to say, the gun is more accurate than I am.
From six feet, a realistic distance for shooting snakes, the CCI shot shell patterned well. While #12 shot is relatively light, it should be plenty to dispatch a snake (or any mice that are after your trail mix).
As many people in our comments section in the GunsAmerica Magazine & Blog have noted, the .22LR is responsible for more firearm fatalities than any other caliber. Nobody would argue that with the right shot placement, the .22LR round is lethal. At 17.5oz. the SR22 is a nice light handy carry gun for the woods or daily life, and it will serve you well. In addition, as I mentioned earlier, the ability of a DA/SA pistol to carry with the hammer down and the safety off is a definite plus. Not having to manipulate a safety in a high stress situation puts you one step closer to a good outcome.
This would also make a great hunting/trail gun. The size and weight makes it easy to carry. The width is just shy of 1 inch, not counting the safety levers. They stick out about 5/32 inch on each side which, because of their diminutive size and location, is not really a carry concern. The overall length is a little more than the Ruger LCR-22 at 6 ½ inches, and it’s 4 ¾ inches tall to the top of the sight.
I like a 3 to 4 inch barrel on a trail gun and the SR22 comes in just under 3 ½ inches at 3.45. The sights are well-suited for hunting/trail use as is the 10 + 1 round capacity, great safeties, good accuracy, and compact size. Full of standard .22LR (10+1) it tips the scale at 18.6 ounces.
If you are looking for that “lifetime purchase” plinking .22LR pistol, the Ruger SR22PB is a great choice, and one you should definitely consider before you buy another gun.
The new Zune browser is surprisingly good, but not as good as the iPod’s. It works well, but isn’t as fast as Safari, and has a clunkier interface. If you occasionally plan on using the web browser that’s not an issue, but if you’re planning to browse the web alot from your PMP then the iPod’s larger screen and better browser may be important.
I chrono’d a mag of CCI Blaser black lead 22 L.R.’s. I got just under 900 fps. on average, through an Oehler P-35 machine. What was disappointing was that this gun which I bought from a shooting range used, wouldn’t reliably extract a loaded round from its chamber. Ruger in AZ. sent me directions and a plastic envelope with a new extractor and its spring.
My G.S. had to take the slide apart to R & R the newbie into the steel insert, within the aluminum slide. Ruger, nor their instructions, never explained to drive out the roll pin under the rear sight, from side to side. But the Smith figured it out, and when the replacement was put in, and the pistol reassembled, it ejects a fired round like crazy.
Shooting them, didn’t cause any problems, if you shot the pistol empty. It was only when you needed to remove a loaded round, where the danger lay. I feel that the reverse side safety is correct because its also the de-cocker. I don’t want to push a side safety upwards to de-cock this kind of pistol.
Look for Ruger to something more with this design, as the ejector strut is way too long for the port in the slide, as it is now. Also the fired cases come back, off to the right, rear, at an angle, and I’m left handed. They are “HOT”.
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just purchased a sr 22 went to the range the next day, had a major problem the trigger was just dangeling, was told it was a magazine to safety problem brought it back, switched to another sr 22, this time kept on jamming. the slide hit the bullet entering the barrel so hard it bent the case, switched ammo and had no problem at all put 100 rounds through it. the first ammo was CCI, switched to American Eagle. Wonder if there will be problems with other brands??
just bought a sr22p, first time shooting at the range had at least one jam per magazine and with the shoot n see targets it appeared the bullets were tumbling from the marks on the target. any body else have this happen? any suggestions would be appreciated.thanks
I’m not sure that I understand what all the .22 Mag fuss is about in a handgun. The ballistics that I’ve looked at so far strongly suggest that .22 Mag is clearly superior to .22 LR in a RIFLE (except for shooting cost, of course), but that the Mag superiority diminishes quite a lot for handguns – especially for the shorter barrels to the point that there is nearly NO advantage when the barrel is in the 3″ class as in the SR22 or shorter. So the obvious question to ask then is why bother with .22 Mag in a short barreled handgun? Bragging rights for being able to say “It’s a magnum” perhaps? It’s a .22 – get over it.
Sonny
The .22 mag is faster, but it is indeed semantics Sonny. From an NAA size revolver neither are going to give you a lot of oomf. Shoot if you can, then, to quote Iron Maiden, “Run to the hills, run for your life.”
i believe i will stay with my single-six after reading all these comments
Btw ppl this barrel is NOT sloppy at all. It’s tight and very accurate. If you are on the market go go go buy this twenty two!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just got this gun for my BDAY and it’s amazing. The Walther is not anywhere comparable to the quality of this new ruger. Youust shoot it and feel it. It’s balanced perfect and molds to your hand. Great great great.
The SR 22 is…was the first Ruger pistol I have ever owned. I did buy my wife the LCR .38special with crimson trace and was impressed with the “feel” of it and it shoots very well, so I have taken a chance on other Ruger firearms as well. I love this little plinker. I have shot different types of 22lr and not one problem as yet. I have rapid fired and it remains steady and you can re-aquire your target quickly. Very little recoil. After shooting the SR 22 and the overwhelming positive impression I have of this gun that I went out and bought the 22/45 Lite and the SR9c. The SR9c is awesome as well. A great home-defense weapon thats fun to shoot and is very accurate..no joke, very accuate. Now, the 22/45 is a problematic pistol. It looks cool but it jams a lot. While shooting Remington hollow point in the 525 value box, it was failing to feed about every 17-20 rounds like clockwork. Also, I don’t think the 22.45 Lite is as accurate as the SR22. The 22/45 also has an issue with the magazine well. It is very awkward to get the magazine to insert into the weapon and then it’s aggravating as crap to get out or to release. I’m not the most astute pistol-o-phile but I swear to you this…the SR22 is the best pistol I have ever held and shot. It does everything extremely well. Now if Ruger would chamber it in a 9mm.
I have had this gun a couple of months now and have been very pleased so far. I made my decision based on experiance with other ruger firearms that I own and blogs such as this one, so to all of you who commented -THANKS! The reason for my post is for those of you wanting a holster, I came accross one at wal-mart made by crossman (for airguns I think) for less than 10$, with spare clip holder, works fine. Glad to hear some of you admit to having to budget for a purchase like another gun, I am at a point in my life that I don’t have to worry as much as I did when younger and raising a family – but I have not forgotten how hard it was back then. I only wish our government would learn how to operate under a budget! BTW – I have found that my rare FTF (after over 3000 rounds) come when I was sloppy loading the mag or using the slide release to load the first round instead of racking the slide.
I have had this pistol for three or four weeks and having good luck with it. At 25 yards can unload a mag in about 2 inch area I tend to shoot low and to the right did not take long to adjust . It is easy to shoot and you can tell what type of ammo you are shooting cci ammo at 1260 fps and the yellow jackets at 1500 fps little more kick but still hits the target at 25 yards. Will have to invest in at least one more. One in my tackle box other when walking in woods many four laged animals that like to eat meat and it is not going to be me.
sorry, sr-22.
does anyone want to get rid of their ruger 4.5 inch hunter with fluted barrel because it has become a relic with the introduction of the sp22? i would be happy to buy it.
Where do I purchase a threaded barrel for my Ruger Sr22 Pistol, or who knows were I can send it to get machined? This would be helpful since I will be getting my can in a few months.
Thank you,
Just bought a ruger sr22 and am in the 10 day wait time. Since, I’ve read a number of folks saying that their ruger sr 22 has broke after some 200-400 rounds. Is this only a few or is this a trend?
I picked up a SR22 with a laser site Thursday this week. On Friday I got the chance to site it in. I got say I was surprised when I squeezed off the first round, the report sounded nothing like a .22, it had a much bigger sound. Using the laser site I put it on the center of the target, fired off the second round. Neither round hit the target. The gun at 20 feet shot 4’ above the target, I wasn’t expecting that? When I went back to the gun shop we checked the others in stock and all where the same and shot wicked high. After an hour we got the laser straighten out and I was able to fine tune it at home. Not sure why they would come from the factory like that but Ruger may want to take note of that. Outside of that I’m totally impressed by this .22.
I purchased the gun because our house and property were being overrun by red squirrels. Yesterday was a bad day for red squirrels I bagged 15, one shot each. I have no regrets purchasing this gun it’s a fine weapon and engineered well. I’d highly recommend it, a wonderful shooting gun.
picked up my new sr22p yesterday cleaned it last night went to the range today fired 300 rounds of four different kinds of ammo( remington golden bulk, federal bulk, winchester 333 bulk,cci mini mags) not a single problem with any of it. people that compare this to a p22 should take a closer look. the only comparison is the looks. it would be hard to make a tactical looking pistol without it looking like any other tactical pistol. i am 69 years old and have never fired a 22 simi that will eat ammo like this one. accuracy was right on for a 22 simi. if you are looking for a 22simi check this one out. MADE IN USA
There’s a place in Texas that has started to make threaded barrels for the SR22. I put in an order for 1 and they said it would take a couple of weeks because they are in the middle of a production run. The barrel is $149.95 and comes with a thread protector and an adapter to go from the thread on the barrel to the standard 1/2″-28. Their website is http://www.twintechtactical.com
Bought one for my soon to be 10 years old son. He shot my friends and loved it. The old MKII/MKIII will soon be a relic. Can’t wait until his birthday to present this fine hi-tech plinker.
Dale,
I was just online yesterday researching the Ruger SR22 and how it compares to the Walther P22 which is what I purchased in late 2011. I was curious how the Ruger SR22 compares to the Walther P22 which has been a great little gun for me despite all the reports I have read about it being unreliable with cheaper ammo and having slide failures.
Anyhow while I was online I did see a youtube video where a guy had his Ruger SR22 takedown lever fail. with the handle PapaGlock83… maybe that is you? If not, I can say yes, this has happened to at least one other guy. Here is a link to the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3D7JgHEbgKc
After hearing about this flaw in the Ruger SR22, I personally am leaning towards a Ruger MKIII Target for my next 22LR purchase. I don’t mind the extra weight if it is reliable and will shoot cheap rounds. So what if it looks like a Martian ray gun?
After reading several reviews and watching some youtube videos about the SR22 Pistol I found that someone NOTICED that IF the GUIDE ROD SPRING is not assembled correctly (narrow side of spring goes in first in the guide rod) then the spring will not actuate when its supposed to and instead it will not absorb the recoil as it should which results in undesired ammounts of pressure when the carrier reaches the maximum extension. This has not been confirmed to be true but it surely makes sense. So to me such flaw is inexistant until this issue gets cleared.
I watched that video, no that isn’t me. I got my gun back from Ruger yesterday, it came back with a new takedown lever (plastic). I’m kind of leery about it now, went to the range tonite and fired off probably 60 or so rounds but found myself scrutinizing the weapon instead of concentrating on the target after every few shots. I might become more comfortable after a few thousand rounds are sent downrange with no problems, until then the SR22 has been dubbed the “sick child” of my gun collection.
I recently purchased an SR22 (today), I was starting into a brick of remington thunderbolts to break it in, loading both magazines and squeezing them off at a relatively rapid pace. I went thru 4 full magazines and was working on the 5th when about halfway thru a bullet keyholed in the target and the very next round sent the slide downrange about 5 yards. Upon takedown I observed the takedown lever was shattered, bits and pieces of it were laying in front of my range table, has anyone else had this problem? I’ve always heard great things about Ruger, now I get to find out about their customer service.
There’s a video on YouTube about this very thing. Took about 3 weeks to get it back from Ruger as i recall. No followups on that video.
RECENTLY PURCHASED THE RUGER SR22. Good , good , good. had small problem slide blew apart , have sent it back ro ruger , up to that point eally liked it. am wondering now>haha. also have the p95, likeem both, ruger makes nice guns keep up the good work.
I had a similar problem today, the top of the takedown lever broke off and sent the slide about 5 yards downrange.
dALE HADTHE SAME PROBLEM. SENT MINE TO RUGGER, FIXED THAT PROBLEM NOW CLIPS DOESNT COME OUT OUT AS SMOOTH YOU HAVE TO PUL IT OUT.
Shoots great right out of the box. Only had problems with Federal Lightning. It wouldn’t fully cycle the side consistently.
The following shot without issues:
Blazer, made by CCI in the 525 bulk pack, 40 grain, 1235 fps
CCI – Mini Mag (either), Velocitor, Stinger
Remington Thunderbolt
Ruger states you do have to use a faster round or else the slide won’t cycle properly. The Federal Lightnings had many Failure to Feeds.
Recommended changes:
– The Double Action trigger pull is jerky. Impossible to pull back smoothly in DA.
1. Insert your magazine.
2. Set the safety to “fire”. (KEEP YOUR DAMN FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER UNTIL STEP 5)
3. Rack.
4. Pull back hammer.
5. Pull trigger.
6. BANG!
Avoid the Double Action. Single Action shoots great.
– Make higher capacity magazines.
It comes with two 10 round mags, which is one more magazine than MANY of the competitors in this class.
10 rounds is a joke. Less loading between mags = more fun. Yeah, yeah, California and other states limit mag capacity but it isn’t hard to put those mags in the box prior to shipping. The boxes are made of CARDBOARD. Ruger, cardboard boxes are easy to open! Easy to swap out magazines. Really easy.
Anyway, had tons of fun shooting this thing. Accuracy is 100% you and knowing the limitations of the gun and ammo you are using.
If you’re a gun snob, you know who you are, don’t buy this.
Just bought my SR22 and I plan on shooting it this week. The pistol is good looking gun and very easy to field strip, I had no problems changing the smaller grip for the larger one. Get a good grip and pull, it slipped off easier than I expected. I have a Walter P22 and I had lots of problems with it until I ground down the inner barrel lip at the ramp. I had to use my dremel on the pistol because the rounds kept catching on the lip. I don’t have any problems with it now except for the occasional round that will not fire when struck, not the guns fault just a bad round. I will say that the SR22 does feel much more comfortable and looks much nicer. The sights on the SR22 are soooo much better than the cheap ones on the P22. I bought my SR22 from Moretactical in Mesa AZ.
One of the best reviews I’ve ever read. When the price comes down, I will order two.
While waiting on a SR22 to become available I perched a Walther P22. Don’t believe the blogs about this gun. I have fired around 500 rounds and not had a problem. My wife finally will go shooting with me now and she claims the P22 is hers so I still need the SR22. Tighten up Ruger. I have 4 Rugers starting with a 1964 Mark 1. I love all of them.
Love my little Walther P22 also, I think a lot of the problems with the earlier model jamming has been corrected. I have not had a single problem with it but do read the P22 Bible for preventative maintenance. Especially the part about the trigger ears digging into the slide because it is an easy fix that can really prolong your P22. Google the P22 bible…
I finally got tired of waiting on the SR22 and bought a Walther P22. I still want the SR22 because the wife has laid claim to the P22. If the SR is as good as the P22 I will be very pleased. Please get more SR22s out and to the smaller dealers. I live near Springfield, Ga and Dixie Triggers is my dealer.
Took my new SR22 out to the range Saturday, ran about 300 rounds through it and it was Flawless! Another Great product from Ruger!!….Move over Walther P22, you’ve just been TOPPED!!!
I’ve wanted a .22 pistol for a while and was struggling with “which one” until I found this little gun. I researched it as much as I could before deciding to buy it. Unfortunately I didn’t find this review and related comments (Kevin ioerger was really spot on too) until after I bought it yesterday.
A few months ago, I got an SR40C that I really like. However, I can go through several $ worth of ammo in a very short time with it. I had several reasons for looking for a good, reliable .22 pistol, not the least of which, is being able to shoot all day for $10, or less. I’ll supply some thoughts/opinions hoping it will help any potential buyers make an informed decision.
Several people complained that the controls are not exactly like other guns and it ruins its “practice” worth. I’ve been a high school sports coach for years and understand the value of muscle memory. However, not all situations or guns can be exactly replicated. I think this makes a wonderful “practice” gun because while it isn’t laid out exactly like my SR40 – it still has the feel and function of a larger caliber gun. But, I will say it can’t “replace” the practice you need with your defensive hand gun too.
Talking about a defensive gun, I saw some comments about using this for cc. Personally, I would ask why? For almost the same cost you can purchase a .380 or 9 mm that is at least as small and has smoother lines. I know the saying, “any gun is better than no gun”, but if I’m going to protect myself, my .22 isn’t what I’m going to use.
While using Remington gold bulk ammo yesterday – my SR22 was stone cold reliable through several hundred rounds. Only time will tell, but I have no reason not to believe that this thing will just eat ammunition and not be very reliable. BTW, the manual does recommend against using sub-sonic, or match grade ammo due to potential FTF problems. I didn’t try any, so I can’t speak to it, but considering the low cost of bulk high-velocity ammo, I can’t see any reason to even try it.
There are a lot of comments about the barrel not being threaded so a suppressor/silencer can be used. I personally have no need to use a suppressor, and was just happy the barrel was replaceable – even though I’m not sure why I would ever need to? The barrel itself is made of stainless steel and appears to be high quality. The slide is aircraft grade aluminum machined very well, and yes – the grip is made of glass-filled polymer. I’ve seen it called “plastic”, but my personal opinion is that this isn’t your “70’s plastic”. It seems to be good quality and well finished that I think will be very durable. Overall the fit and finish of this pistol is first rate.
Thanks to everyone else who gave their thoughts… I find this type of open discussion helpful when I’m trying to decide what lay down my hard earned money on. I know eveyone doesn’t always agree with what’s important to them, bu I hope folks will find my comments useful. And remember… it’s is just my opinion and when I ask “why”, I’m just saying what I think – not trying to attack anyone else’s views.
The “front ” sight is reversible? Don’t think so. However..the rear sight is reversible to black only (no white dots). I own one of these, and IMO its a great pistol..and how can you hate the ammo costs?!
When will the SR-22 be ready to sale again?
Under Chris Killoy’s leadership, Ruger has been reborn. Chris has assembled a team that has taken the best from his years at S&W and combined those with Ruger’s manufacturing capability. This .22 is a clever duplication of the S&W/Wather P-22. Well done Chris!
well I bought this gun this weekend, I broke it down and checked it out ( seems fine ) , I like the way the gun feels in my hand and I am going out soon to shoot a few hundred rounds through it and I anticipate it will be fun ( I will let you know when I get back). I do wonder ( with limited handgun experience ) what difference the accuracy would be with a threaded barrel. and I also own a s&w M&P 9c , correct me if I am wrong but I thought m&p meant it was military police style or preferred it also has a polymer frame ( is this a military issue style? ) .
I bought one this past weekend & am very pleased. I looked the other guns mentioned here & this one just fit. It is also VERY accurate. Easy to clean & I have had no jams with several brands of ammo. I own several mark1 & 2s. They don’t fit in my jacket pocket like this one. I have approx 8 Ruger guns & love them. $299.00 well spent.
Well I am no expert, nor am I paid in any way for any review.
The SR22PB, in my opion, is a gun that should have been put out years ago. Everyone is different in what they like and dislike. Ruger has gotten almost all the complaints ( of all 22 lr pistols ) ironed out. My only complaint is the heavy and long DA ( first shot ) trigger. Follow up shots are much chrisper and cleaner. This gun will feed, spit out, just about any ammo I have fed it. ( placed approx 6650 rds in 4 weeks ) I am looking for excuses to go shooting. It is easy to take apart and clean. ( should do that before shooting the first time anyways) As an all around general purpose gun, I dont think you could go wrong if you choose this one. RUGER — job well done.
As a side note to all the armchair experts out there, Most of all the manufactures of guns, have known about all the defects in their guns when they put them out to market. Some have made improvements over the years in order for you to buy another, ( fix it right the first time ) If you have a complaint about a gun or item that you have bought, Write to them. And write to them also if you are pleased. They do wish to hear from the public.
No company wants to see bad things written about them. If you have a suggestion on how to fix a problem- WRITE them a letter. Ruger, Savage, and Smith and Wesson – have all been positive in fixing ANY problems I have ever had.
Respectfully
Love the looks of this gun, and what Ive read so far. Will use it for cc and small game hunting. Have a mk3, but to big. Go to youtube and see it in action !!! So far everyone seem to love it.I wish it had a lazer build into it.Going to get one this spring as soon as I go back to work.Im thinking $325-$350 maybe less !
Cant wait to try this gun. I have a Sig Mosquito and it jams after almost every time you fire it. I have two daughters who love to shoot but they get so frustrated shooting the Sig that the yare beginning to lose interest. We will be getting one of these. I hate that I already wasted $300 on the Mosquito.
I got my SR22 one week before I used it to qualify for my CCW … It ate CCI Velocitors and Remington Golds all day long … The extended finger grip and the wide grip option made the gun fill my hand perfectly … My instructors were very impressed with the point of aim and the quick fire capabilities of this little gun when they shot it after class … I fed Winchesters thru it after class and after 200 rounds without cleaning, it still shot well … The SR22 is easy to break down and easy to clean … The double action pull is smooth, but very heavy … Once the first round goes off, the rest are easy to shoot … I picked the SR22 over the Mosquito because the Mosquito is picky about what you feed it … You can’t go wrong with this gun !!!
I`ve got my eye on the new SR22 to add to my collection but, last year i purchase a SR9 that gave a way to gofor the first 150-+++ NO MATTER WHAT AMMO i used. You talk about jams & stove pipes wow. It`s been doing ok lately but i`ll never trust my life on it. Makes me wonder how (if any) much trouble the new SR22 may bring? I `am going to take a hard look at all the 22`s before i shell out the cash this time. Buy the way, anyone have any input about the Sig Mosquito ? Thanks
Anyone know if there is a good holster avavilable yet for carrying in the field? Nice light gun to have on your hip for varmit control!
Try a google search, i found a couple of small holster makers that are providing them.
I carry it in a “Bulldog” brand, size 20, nylon belt holster, which also has a small pouch along the front that carries an additional magazine. I think I found it at Cabella’s or Shooters warehouse, in Phoenix Az. It was under $20.00 with tax. It is small, handy, inexpensive and fits like a glove.
Interesting. Well it’s clear it’s getting a lot of attention from people who don’t know the slightest thing about guns. In the long run that’s probably a good thing for everyone.
Yup. I’m not afraid of admitting my lack of knowledge. I’ve been shooting skeet for 20 years, but yes, this is my first handgun. I guess you knew everything before you got into this hobby…
Certainly didn’t mean you. 🙂
Everyone starts sometime, I only got into guns a few years ago. But read some of the posts above, the strength and vehemence of the opinions is often obviously inversely proportional to the knowledge level of the people expressing them. Newbies don’t become not-newbies by talking trash, but by *listening*. But at least they’re here, and they can maybe soak up some knowledge and sense.
Oh, and that’s a useful range report. Knowing this thing seems to be perfectly reliable with ammunition that isn’t the best (I’ve used the Remington, it’s serviceable stuff but not great) is really good to hear. Some other semiauto 22’s are *very* picky about ammo.
Thanks, Greg. I underststand where you’re coming from. I’d wished I could have just deleted my complaint about the FTF’s. But since I couldn’t, I had to admit my mistake so as not to mislead anyone. I’ll admit I was a little ready to be called out for it, hence the quick response.
Your comment about the other guns being picky is exactly why I bought this one. I read much about the walther and it’s cheap slide and high grade ammo only. I read basically the same, repeatedly about the mosquito, which turns out to not even be built by Sig in the first place. I figured Ruger has always been a high end 22 pistol, and so far, I’ve been right… I’d still like to shoot that new M&P though…
Friends don’t let friends buy mosquitos!
Well, after reading everything I could find on current 22LR semi-autos, this sure seemed to be the one to have. I bought it today, along with 2 boxes of CCI 22 Long, Copper-Plated Round Nose, 1215 FPS, High Velocity 29 grain ammo. I fed it 160 of these this afternoon and had failure-to-feed on about 40-50% of them. No jams, no failure to ejects, the slide just wouldn’t load the chamber. After trouble with the first 100, I brought it in, took it apart and cleaned it. Took it back outside and the problem remained. I’m starting to wonder if the slide isn’t blowing back far enough. Sometimes the clip would empty and the slide wouldn’t stay open. I’m pretty disappointed, especially after several reviews of this gun running on anything. This is exactly why I didn’t buy the Walther or the Mosquito. But wait, those guns run fine on the CCI High-Velocity. I’m going to go buy a different brand ammo and try it, otherwise, I guess I’ll send it into Ruger…
OK, so I just figured it out. I’m an idiot, but not as big an idiot as the guy that sold me the gun and the ammo this afternoon. I knew short and long were available, so I didn’t pay much attention. The ammo he sold me was long; not long rifle. I just read the differences between l and lr. I bet it feeds fine tomorrow… Sheesh, do I feel stupid.
Just to confirm, and so as not to steer anyone wrong, the pistol chewed up a 550ct box of remington golden from WalMart today and didn’t hang up once. Thanks, Moderator, for the above article. It helped me choose this gun, and I’d choose it again. It sure is a lot of fun….
Can anyone tell me if the slide stays locked open when the magazine empties on this gun? Apparently the new M&P doesn’t yet S&W warns against dry firing. Who wants to count? If it does, I’m going shopping today.
Thanks in advance.
yes it does! I fired this gun (as a rental, can’t afford to buy yet) at the range a few days ago and the slide stays open after you’ve emptied the magazine.
Thank God for all gun manufacturers. We all have a massive diversity of firearms to choose from. All of you are correct in your opinion of the firearms you love or hate. That is why we have freedom of speach and press. So you can express yourself to anyone willing to listen or read. There are few firearms out there that are perfect. But I enjoy all of the ones I own that are close enough to perfect for me. Your input does get noticed by the manufacturers. So keep your opinions flowing so the manufacturers have input from the buyers of their products.
This is maybe one of the best posts I’ve seen on this site. Thank you, Kevin! I just read every comment in this thread, after reading the full article, and despite the fact I don’t agree with everything everyone is saying, I thank “god” I live in a country that still allows everyone to voice (or print) their opinion. For now.
If my home state of Illinois would just take the diapers off and adopt concealed carry, I’d be a really happy camper!
Picked one of these up and love it. They are available at 25% less than MSRP and
at that price point are a winner. Much nicer/better than Walther P22.
Great features, and shoots well, eats the ammo.
I doubt I will ever part with this little toy.
I wouldn’t wast my time on this for a plinking gun, you spend more time loading Mags then having fun shooting. A 10+1 is sooo old school today, hell that’s why I sold my mark1 and mk2 bull 8+1 that sucked . It could have been made to utilize a 15 0r 20 shot mag. I went to the M100 calaco 100 rounds now that’s a plinker. I think you missed the boat big time on this one Ruger, screw THE COMMIE STATE OF KALlie and NANCY PISSHOLLY
I agree with Phil Mongelluzzo, the trigger pull is too heavy for even fun target shooting. It reminds me of the POS Mosquito I had when they first came out with a 12/14lb trigger pull. Target shooting is no longer fun nor accurate when pulling that weight. I will wait to see if Volquartsen or some other manufacturer will come out with heavily modded versions and kits including a threaded barrel. I never liked the Mark III, something about the grip angle and my wrist were incompatible. But one has to wonder how many more decades out of step it will take Ruger to improve on this Walther appearing knock off? Nothing like marching out of step and behind the times and allowing others to capitalize on more modern designs. Maybe someday Ruger will even consider a screw on barrel configuration for the 10/22 or cleaning hole in back of the receiver like TacSol and Kidd so I will not hold my breath for factory improvements to this new gun unless Ruger is under new management with a new philosophy aligned with keeping up with progress and customer/user demands.
Unfortunately it looks very similar to the Walther P22 which I purchased and was a POC. With the Ruger name I am interested. Let’s hope it accepts ammo better than the P22.
Thanks for the write-up
I think that this is a very nice gun, a little too expensive, for a 22 just for plinking, I would love to see that model in a 380 or 9mm, than you would have a vry nice pistol for protection.
Jack Intinarelli
Holliston, MA
Came out just in time! I was within days of getting a browning buckmark until I heard about this release.
This looks like a great little pistol. However, and someone above probably mentioned this above – I’m just to lazy to read all the posts, but I’d like to see a version with a threaded barrel in order to put a suppressor on. Just a thought.
Ryan
Nicely written review. Looks like it would be a great addition to any gun cabinet. As soon as I can budget it I’ll have one beside my trusty Mark II.
I have to wonder though why so many people think they have to kill snakes? The vast majority of snakes are harmless and the rest are easy enough to avoid. After all if you are not within the snakes striking range is it really a danger to you? Why would you want to move within 6 feet (your estimated distance for an effective shot) just to shoot it.
Snakes are a vital part of any wildlife habitat and serve a pivotal role in keeping it healthy and they are already under pressure from loss of habitat and invasive species. Many smaller animals, like field mice, also serve a purpose in the environment. Keeping a clean campsite and food stored in the proper containers will make sure that they and other critters are not a nuisance.
I am not an environmentalist nor an animal rights activist but I could be called a conservationist since I do believe that we should all be doing what we can to conserve our resources and that includes one of the most precious and endangered resources we have, our right to own and carry and use handguns. It’s up to us as a group to set a good example in their use. Shooting snakes and rodents does not help that image. So let’s use that firearm for it’s intended purpose while in the woods which in my mind is putting food on the table and personal protection.
I know I went off topic here but thanks for listening to my rant.
I agree with BB here and it is on topic since it was mentioned in the article. I caught a gopher snake in my house and took it outside and turned it loose in my woodpile. On the other hand I shot a mojave green on my porch rather than take a chance on him getting inside my house and possibly biting one of us in the night when the lights are down. Safety first but killing a snake is not the best thing unless there’s a really good reason. In the wild they don’t want to bite you if they don’t have to and will leave if you give them a chance.
I’m with Brick… I’ve owned a Mark II, very sturdy/reliable gun, and presently own a first-series Colt Woodsman sport. Much prefer an all-metal gun (with wood grips). Plastic is serviceable only in grip-panels, not in gun-frames. Far as I’m concerned. But hey, that’s my preference. I’m very old-fashioned in my asthetics.
I WANT IT TO PROTECT MY HOME BUT HAS NO MORE MONEY
Seems to function much like my Sig Mosquito, but without the deficiency of minimags only. Otherwise pretty much the same gun. The Sig is a bit heavier (24.5 oz), but has a longer barrel (3.9 in standard form) and extended barrel, and a threaded barrel.
Ruger probably made this 10 rounds only with a magazine safety so that it could be sold here in California–without those features it would not pass the dreaded roster, even with a safety and a da/sa trigger with decocker. On the other hand, you can pratice pretty much any kind of safety system you want–as it has them all.
why dont make one in 22wmr? That would be a serious Pistol, I like the old Ruger Personally.
bOYS AND gIRLS, All cars look alike these days> Some are just better than others. If the quality is good and it shoots straight…WHO CARES IF IT LOOKS LIKE A DUCK?
I`m glad I didn`t have a Plastic Gun in Viet-Nam. And I`m still here to attest to that–Thank You!!!
Ask any Soldier if they would prefer a light weight Plastic gun and see their response…but be prepared to RUN!
“but the world has moved on from steel pistols that look like guns from World War I and II” to plastic! Lol no thanks.I’ll stick with my Smith 41 for .22, Ruger for revolvers, and leave the tupperware to Glock.This thing looks like a toy to me, just mho.
according to the manual it has a magazine safety which makes it totally unacceptable. magazine lost or ejected under stress…. no fire
That’s funny! “Under stress” …what? did that tin can you just shot at decide to attack? Is the rabbit or mouse assuming a hostile posture? Please don’t try to convince me that this is going to be anyones CCW firearm. OK I’m sure that someone will take up that as a reason to give a hostile reply. It’s still funny.
I only want to say I still have my original MK-1 6″bl,
I also appreciate that the Ruger Family line of guns are all in the reach of the American Working Family!
Why doesn’t someone make a semi-auto pistol in 22 WMR?
Sitting out here waiting for the KelTec and I know, a Ruger model would be much better!
Why the attempt to improve on perfection. I have a MkII that is flawless. Why would anyone EVER want a double action .22 made out of plastic? Before you start, Plastic by any other name is still plastic.
I am sorry Ruger, I am not the least bit impressed with you SR22. On the other hand the new 1911 that I have been waiting for from my supplier has got to be the most awesome 1911 out there since my Kimber.
I had a MKII, and they’re nice, but toss it on a scale and you’ll see it weighs twice (or more) what this does. Plus it doesn’t fit in your cargo pocket. Different pistols for different times.
Why 10 round capacity? If this gun held 30 rounds in the handle, like the PMR-30 people would be waiting in line to get one, like they are for the PMR-30. I don’t know why the sales department at Ruger missed this one. You can’t find a 22LR in this type of gun with much more than 10 rounds. Kel-Tech would be smart to make a version of the PMR-30 in 22LR with about a 2.3 or 3 inch barrel too.
Because it’s an engineering nightmare, from what I’ve heard. That’s why the extended 10/22 mags are curved. George Kellgren (owner of Kel tec) figured it out with 22 mag, and presumably patented it, but the longer magnum rounds he used are probably easier to get to feed, plus he had to go with a 2-column magazine, rather than staggered. The rimmed 22 shells don’t feed like a 9mm. If they did, everybody would be making 30 shot plinkers.
Looks like a nice piece to own, however I will Keep my Mark I that I purchased new for $38.00. Been a few years ago!
yOU DON’T SAY HOW MUCH$ $ $
So, what is the price of that gun?
As a competitive shooter this thing is a complete non-starter. First, it’s a Walther knock off and as such, fugly as hell; second, the blocky slide has a bore axis that sits too high above the hand AND does not lend itself to mounting an optic; third, clunky DA/SA trigger; fourth, an ass backwards frame mounted safety. Ruger screwed the pooch here. Every negative comment here is spot on. You’d have to pay me to own one.
Ruger….well I`d rather just about anything else. You get what you pay for. How `bout a Colt Woodsman, a Browning Challenger, a Hi_standard HD and the S&W—anyone of those would be a better choice.
Is there really someone complaining about a high bore axis in a >>22<<?
The safety would make perfect sense to someone used to operating a decocker-only DA/SA, it's clearly not meant to be a training device (same manual of arms) for the SA-only crowd.
This is a plinker, a fun gun. My only reservation is durability.
It looks like a Walther P22 at first glance.
kel-tec makes a similar gun in .22 mag. with a 30 round clip. great sights (fiber optic) my friend took his too the range and put 500 rounds thru his without any problem. he said it is very accurate. kel-tec seems to be slow getting theirs to dealers maybe a little competition in this area would be good for everyone. if you can find one dealers are selling in the $300.00 range. some private sellers are advertizing them at $500 to $600. i don’t know if people pay that much but who knows.
I just wish companies would stop putting those god awful bill-boards on the slides of their guns!
Yep,
Ruger clones another gun.
Looks pretty much like a Walther, just like the lcp looks like (is a clone of) the p3at etc etc etc….
People will buy it simply due to the Ruger name, so I’m sure it will be a winner.
Reconsider buying any gun the mates its steel action with polymer. The use of polymer is only to cut cost, not to insure generations of hand me down use.
I bought a Walther P22 a few weeks ago after wanting one for several years and now Ruger comes out with the SR22, AN OBVIOUS COPY OF THE WALTHER, without the deficiencies of the Walther, i.e. inability to feed cheap ammo, a sintered zinc slide, not the most durable sights, a different thumb safety with decocker, etc. (and by the way, the 1911 style safety is the only thumb safety I don’t find obnoxious), etc. etc etc. NOW WHEN IS THE COPY OF THE PK380 COMING OUT because I want one of those too and no doubt if I buy the Walther, Ruger will then be releasing their improved version shortly thereafter! I have also been wanting a 5 1/2″ Ruger Bisley in .45 Colt in a blued version (a color case hardened frame would be great) with ADJUSTABLE sights a la Blackhawk and now I see that Ruger has come out with one as a Distributor Exclusive BUT IT IS STAINLESS. The gun industry is very slow to perceive what people want, maybe there are too many old line conservatives running things!!??? Anyway, if they want a jump up on the competition, they need to ask me, a 60-yr old FEMALE GUN ENTHUSIAST.
It seems like everything I want may come about SOMEDAY, If I LIVE LONG ENOUGH!!!
Looks a lot like the Walther p22, But I hope it works a lot better!
Page 25 of the Owner’s Manual (https://ruger-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/_manuals/sr22Pistol-2c0c0fb4d26034b6.pdf) states
“The RUGER® SR22TM PISTOL barrel, although fixed, can be changed out.
Threaded barrels are available from Ruger.”
I just called Ruger. There are no threaded barrels available. They couldn’t tell me when they would be making them. Kind of disappointing.
I pulled mine out of the safe and looked at it, it came with a threaded barrel and a wrench to use on it.
This looks a lot like the Walther P22. Is the slide made of cast pot metal like the Walther? I have seen a number of Walther P22 slides showing excessive wear in the disconnector area and other spots due to the soft material used in the slide. I no longer recommend them.
The Old Ruger Mark 1-3 pistols have stood the test of time and are about as bullet proof as possible.
FZ
The most fun .22 I had was a S&W model 63. It was a small SS revolver at 24oz. I love Ruger products and have wondered why in the heck some great manufacturer can’t bring out a small stainless steel .22 revolver of quality.
Charter arms is loosey goosey. Taurus is sharp and pokey. S&W is elegant but too expensive. RUGER help us revolver shooters and consider a nice SS kit gun that feels as good as your semi-autos in the hand, is light weight, and sports adjustable sights in good ‘ol .22 caliber.
Ruger has both the stainless single 10 and sp101 in 22LR with 8 rounds either would be fun in my humble
opinion. Happy New year! think this year will be a blast thanks to Ruger.
The new Ruger SR22 bears a striking resemblance to the Walther P22. How did this happen? Have many Ruger firearms and all have serve me well. Just an observation. TTS in Louisville
I wish Ruger would make a .22 with staggered high Cap magazines. It would push all other .22’s out of the market and make the Ruger a must own gun.
another call for a threaded brl. I do not like the walther throw away model nor do I want to modify a MKIII . This would be icing on the cake for my trunk kit of a Ar 15 223 / .22 and a pistol with a single suppressor.
Yep, You would think they would have released it with a threaded barrel. Nice looking pistol but the threaded barrel option is a must today. I wouldn’t consider it without one.
I’m with Choppergirl, Ruger needs offer this with a 1/2-28x.400 threaded barrel from the factory.
All well and good, sounds like an excellent 22 LR pistol. But I want one that fires 22 Shorts. Smaller, lighter, quieter, less recoil than even the innocuous 22LR, you can carry twice (well, nearly) as many shorts as LR’s in the same pocket. I live in a rural area but there are houses within a mile and sometimes I don’t want to worry about which direction I’m shooting. A short will take out a squirrel or a rabbit just fine and the neighbors are less likely to notice the tiny little “Pop” when it goes off. Since this pistol is already set to shoot the weakest of 22 LR’s, why not a version spec’d to shoot shorts?
Looks like the guide rod is plastic?
It is difficult to understand some of the critic’s thinking about a new product–“should have been”, “why didn’t they”, “stay with current profile”,”” why that saftey”??Everybody want to be an engineer!!!
Happy New Year!!
And of course, it has to look like a Walther, because it can’t look like an SR9 dontcha know. Happy New Year!
wonder if they will make a conversion barrel for 17 and a 22 mag with 17HRM barrel Now that would be nice
A tiggger that heavy will never put this gun in the hands of bullseye shooters. Even at 4#, that is pretty heavy. Ruger, like others, is following the mentality of the 1950-1980 auto makers. New and improved.
They have some of the best products on the planet. Improve them, if you can, and take a lesson fron Smith, Colt, and Les Baer.
Will the SR22 automatically eject the #12 shot shells?
Hi Folks ,
You sure did your work alright nice job everyone, I still love my MK111 and I wished that you guy’s would go and make the mighty 3 some ? Your new SR 22 and make another model SR 22 Mag along with their cousin the
SR 17 HMR ! There are so many cartridges out on the market and the same old guns shooting them . Well you just made a great thing and I bet that if you folks would make the Barrels for these other models like your SR22
and tried this I bet you have a hit . Call them Ruger SR’S Three some SR-22 / 22-m / 17 HMR So I think you would have yourself a home run on this , God Bless and keep up the good work .
D. Feeley
No threaded barrel, so the gun is a big FAIL for me and why I wouldn’t even consider buy this gun over the Mark III. How much cost can it add to thread a barrel at the factory? I think its negligible with machine tools while you’re making the barrels. But to have it done later to a gun, to send it away, take apart the gun, etc. is a big hassle and cost in time and money. In today’s market its almost product suicide not to release a gun without a threaded barrel, particularly a 22 pistol.
Why do you want a threaded barrel?
For a suppressor, but they didn’t read that the barrel on the gun removes with two allen screws, and most likely Ruger will have a threaded barrel for it shortly. If not, the aftermarket will provide one or several within months. Every suppressor company will also offer one. It is semantics.
So isn’t a suppressor the same functionally as a silencer? Illegal in a lot of places? Good reason not to put one on. Not to mention that suppressing the noise on a semi-auto is not totally possible. Like trying to suppress the noise on a revolver, there’s other places than the barrel where hot gases escape and create noise.
In most of the country you can own a suppressor legally with a simple ATF form and tax.
It’s called a sound suppressor Chris. It is the more accurate term for a silencer. They can be owned in the majority of non-nanny states.
True, suppressors are illegal in the People’s Republic of Kalifornia, Illinois and a few eastern seaboard states, etc. However most other states are more enlightened. Look on Advanced Armament’s web site for a full explanation of the legalities and list of free states.
As for semi-auto pistols, what you’re referring to is called “chamber bark”. On most platforms, it’s negligible. I shoot a Gemtech Outback-II on my Walther P22 and CZ-75 .22 kit. Bark is pretty much non existent with Winchester .22 Dynapoints. Ditto with my experience on 9mm suppressed platforms like the ever popular Beretta 92FS.
NFA has come into the mainstream.It’s a testament to how much progress we’ve made in the last 10 years that the NRA has featured them in its American Rifleman TV show. Choppergirl is right, this gun needs a factory 1/2×28 threaded barrel option.
I get a kick out of this “silencer/suppressor” debate. The trendy thing today is to call them “suppressors” and to ridicule anyone that calls them “silencers”. However, the guy who invented the device in the first place called his company the Maxim SILENCER Co. I bow to his wisdom.
Robert,
Again, no one was confused by the usage of silencer or suppressor. The distinction is political. What’s more, any manufacturer will sell you a product that makes the report of your gun less whether you call it a suppressor, silencer or a cherry pie.
Meh.
The point is, it should have been released with a threaded barrel. Why would I or anyone else want to have to buy another barrel later on? It should have been offered like the Walther P-22. They still could have offered the current barrel for the serfs that inhabit the communist states that don’t allow their peasants to own a threaded barrel. 🙂
That’s like saying that every Honda Civic should come standard with a trailer hitch, just because I own a jetski that I want to pull. Only a tiny, tiny percentage of the target market for an inexpensive pistol uses suppressors, and if you’re going to spend several hundred on a can and two hundred on the stamp, it seems odd to complain about having to adapt your pistol to it. Does your glock come standard with a threaded barrel? Your Kimber? Your XD? Is it really a no-brainer dealbreaker?
Calling us serfs and peasants is offensive and derogatory, not to mention totally unnecessary. We live where we live because of various reasons but that is no reason to be insulting. I don’t see the need for a threaded barrel and apparently many others who have read the article don’t either. If you don’t like the gun, don’t buy one. I would not consider one myself because of the safety issue that I mentioned in another message but other than that it looks like a good piece of equipment. If you want one with a threaded barrel buy a threaded barrel. Lot’s of people customize all kinds of things, look at the wheels or paint jobs on many cars. But a lot of us like our cars the way they come so we choose not to do so. The same applies to guns. For must of us the threading of the barrel is an unnecessary expense and the gun costs slightly less to manufacture and that’s fine with us.
Robert your an ass hole and an idiot. When Walter interdusde the p-22 it did not have a theaded Barrell and it did fine. You need to stop being so damn picky And get a life
I’m a big Ruger fan…and own several…BUT…
Ruger needs to get the LEAD out and start producing an auto .22 WMR!!! I’d buy that in a heart beat!
Too many .22 LR pistols out there! We need a good auto .22 mag and Ruger is the one to do it!
If this comes without a threaded barrel, then I don’t want one. They need to keep up with the times a little better. It is still not extremely easy to get a 22/45 with a threaded barrel.
The little gun performed flawlessly round after round. A big thanks to Robert for the heads up on the mag issue. I see how that can be done and will be most careful.
Regards
If you make a mistake and insert the clip backwards will it become stuck and have to be sent back to ruger to be remmoved like the mark 3.This cost 65.00 dollars in freight and they make no warning of this in the manual.Go a head make fun of my ten year old son or me for doing this .The clip was empty and I am disapointed in the way Ruger has address this issue.I like Ruger products,but I dont trust them anymore on their Enginenerring of new gun designs .
Don’t blame Ruger for the freight charge. Don’t blame Ruger for the problem you caused. I have always found them helpful and efficient in handling my problems and questions. Thankfully I’ve never had one that required me to send my gun back to them for gunsmith repairs.
So because you screwed up you blame the company? Dang! Who’d of thought a nanny state person would buy a gun in the first place. Grow up!
You do realize California IS one of the “nanny states”? LOL
Well yes I do. But that doesn’t mean I’m in need of a nanny, unless she’s cute.
It is a magazine, not a clip. There is a difference.
I have a large stack of gun magazines next to my recliner!
The term “clip” is often used to describe a firearm magazine, though this usage is incorrect. In the correct usage, a clip is used to feed a magazine or revolving cylinder, while a magazine or a belt is used to load cartridges into the chamber of a firearm. And, as a plus, you don’t sound ignorant or mall ninja when you use the correct term- “magazine.”
So you were not confused by his usage of “clip”. And I’m sure everyone who bothered to read this far wasn’t confused either. You make no point. It adds nothing to this discussion. Everyone is dumber for having read your comment. The deity of your choice will not have mercy on your soul.
Good day to you, sir.
I said GOOD DAY!
Guess you and your son were enjoying your Mark III, I have one too.
Yes, easy to slip the magazine in backwards, caught myself a few times
as the Ruger was new out of the box. Practiced with empty magazines.
I just remember to look for the copper plating on the ammo so I
am good to go.
btw, I took an Oral B tootbrush, cut off the brush and tooled the
end to make a tip to catch the spring release on the Mark III for takedown.
Saves the fingernails and beats using a paper clip.
Regards
Picked up an SR-22 this afternoon at a gun show in Houston. Just as impressed with its feel as I am with my beloved SR9c. Headed to the range in the am with two bricks of shells. I think it will be a winner. Will advise what i find out.
No one seems to have mentioned it so far, but….THE SAFETY IS BACKWARDS! A frame mounted safety lever should be safe in the up position, and I have no clue why they would make it work opposite from the vast majority of the centerfire guns it could theoretically be a practice tool for. Can anyone suggest a reason? It boggles my mind.
Many other guns, including the Magnum Research Desert Eagle Series, have a reverse safety. You just learn the usability like any other tool.
The Desert Eagle has a rotating slide-mounted safety, as does the Walther PPK, P22, Beretta 92, etc. I specifically mentioned frame mounted thumb levers, which the industry has standardized in placement and operation. Essentially every modern service pistol with a frame mounted thumb safety lever is up for safe, down for fire, and to arbitrarily reverse such a convention is silly. Imagine teaching a beginner to shoot. You start them off on an SR22, and they get learn how to operate their pistol safely and proficiently. Then months later when they step up to a 1911, XDm, CZ-75, Browning High Power, Sig 238, Taurus, HK, Browning, S&W Bodyguard, FN, or virtually any other defensive pistol featuring a thumb lever, they have to re-learn the opposite maneuver to make the gun safe, and remember that the .22 is, for no reason, the only one that’s different.
I am holding a SW 659 and a Beretta Px4 Subcompact, both are DA/SA, and both of them are down for safe and up for fire. I think you are mistaken. You even mention an XDM, which doesn’t have a safety, which leads me to think that perhaps you have no idea what you are talking about.
I’ve said it three times now, and I’ll say it a fourth time in big letters, and then I’m done bandying words. I’m talking about FRAME MOUNTED SAFETY LEVERS. Both the pistols you mention have rotating slide-mounted decocking levers, which also act as safeties. I’ve made my point multiple times, and you seem to have an issue with it, which is fine. I’m done.
ps. – You are correct about the XDM. I thought I remembered reading that a traditional thumb safety was at least a factory option (as it is on the S&W M&P), but I was mistaken. What that has to do with the topic as a whole, I don’t know.
I’m with you Duray. One of the main points they are touting, is that this pistol is an ideal platform for low cost training. For this to be effective the controls need to be in the correct location and operate in a similar manner as your center fire weapon. Ruger surely knows this, as it was the entire premise of the 22/45. In a crisis, muscle memory is vital. I learned originally on a 1911. In-spite of being trained on an M9, once I could make my own decision on a personal firearm, I opted for a Taurus PT92 (Same basic pistol as the M9 but with a frame mounted 1911 style safety). By doing so I was able to take advantage of many years and many thousands of rounds of training. If memory serves, the Ruger pistols with frame mounted safeties (SR series) are all down for fire. This being the case the safety either functions in reverse for its placement or is in the wrong place for its orientation.
administrator, whats your reply with telling this man he didnt know what hes talking about.
its only2 years old lol
I never realized this until now, but you’re correct. I own some pistols that are safe down and some that are safe up. I just know which is which after shooting them a lot. It’s like owning multiple cars… Some are automatic, some are not…some have power windows…some do not. Once you’re comfortable with the weapon, you KNOW where and how the safety operates. Just my 2 cents.
I drive both Ford Products and Dodge products. Anyone who does this knows that the cruise controls are different. Ford uses buttons on the left, one button for “On” and one button for “Off”. Then the “Set” button is on the right with the “Coast” and “Resume” buttons.. Dodge uses an “On/Off” button on the Left with the “Set” button just below it. This is a case of differences that don’t really matter. If I accidentally turn the cruise control off on my Ford instead of setting it like I intended to, it’s no big deal. The “Safety” of a firearm on the other hand, can get you killed if you get the controls mixed up due to being used to a different system configuration. I think they should require one way or the other on all firearms. I personally prefer up is on but that isn’t my call. I think safety is paramount and this difference is dangerous.
Perhaps the Ruger SR22 safety is ‘reverse’ to prevent (or rather make less likely) an accidental downward thumb swipe knocking the safety off; this would possibly be a much easier motion to make by mistake than nudging a reverse safety upward with one’s thumb knuckle.
Also, when drawing from a holster an accidental bump of the safety may, I think, be more likely in the down direction than in the up direction.
The drawback, so to speak, of a reverse safety may be that when deploying the pistol defensively the extra time needed for an upward nudge may likely loose precious fractions of a second in shooting. But the Ruger SR22 is not primarily intended as a first choice self defense weapon, especially not for a fast draw situation.
I’m in total agreement with you. I was reared with the Model ’11, and consequently am wired to think “flip safety switch down to fire.”) When I bought a Walther PPK .380, I had to completely re-wire what I “knew” vis a vis “safety” and “fire.” Although I generally like the Walther and my new Ruger SR22 a great deal, I’m not a fan of the safety switch issue. I’d hate to find myself in a self-preservation situation, .380 in hand, and have my brain zip me back to the early ’80s, when I was learning to fire the .45. Life and death stuff.
I am glad they didn’t shuck down the RC9 or modify any other current product to break new ground with a lightweight 22. The gun looks great. Good enough to wear outside your pants! No conceal carry here. Like everyone else, my guns are not mine until they are in the safe where I can casually take them out anytime I want. Yes I’m talking about getting the gun past “The War Department.” She pays no attention to what comes out of the safe but can smell a new gun from the mail box. I”ll holster this one and walk circles around her on a bad day carrying the paper work. I would love to see a few of these show up on “Swamp People.” Shoooot eem Ewizabuff, Shooot Shoooot!
always willing to buy ruger’s their awesome
I have for so long thought Ruger had been out of touch with their .22s. Good guns, to be sure, but an older style that could be improved upon. Wayne’s review (thank you, sir) is spot on. Ruger has hit the nail on the head and produced a gun that should do well in today’s market. I love that they are set as a DA/SA and are hammer fired. Makes it a great practice gun for my carry. 😉 I might even get my wife a bit more interested in the joys of plinking.
I checked at Academy Sports and Outdoors here in Arlington, Texas and they haven’t hit the shelves yet, so I can’t comment on their feel. That being said, today’s Rugers all feel pretty good, so I’m optimistic. I think I’ll probably get one when they become available locally (love to support my local stores and keep them OPEN), but will keep my eyes open for good deals anyway.
OK, here’s MY .02: Was able to purchase one and most everything in the review IS spot on. I like the way it handles, feels, tears down and reassembles. Balance is good, I prefer the extension on the magazines and the larger grip (so does my wife, interestingly enough–I may have lost this one to her). The rail is a bit small, so you’ll only get tiny lights, etc on it, but it’s not made for the bigger tools anyway. Anyone who wants a practice/plinking/camp/small game gun would do well to have this one on their short list. At only $350 (or less) street value, you really can’t go wrong.
Yes, it does look like the Walther. No, it’s not at all like the Walther. It stands on its own merits. The only thing I don’t like about this gun is the magazine safety; one of those features that never impressed me. I prefer having the capability to fire the gun when the mag isn’t placed. Just me.
One down note, I had one FTE during my first outing with it: Don’t know if it’s just part of the breaking in. Will take it out and run 500 or more through it and THEN make a statement as to whether it’s picky about what I feed it.
I also purchased one and initially thought that the rear sight was faulty. Upon inspection it was bent to the right but with a simple twist it straightened up. It turned out to be plastic!!? I was a bit disappointed, at first, but it adjusted and held zero. Seems that there is a lot of plastic in this model. I couldn’t complain to much as I got it on sale from the BX at the local Air Force base for $285. Extra magazines are a challenge to obtain, still. Even Midway has them on back order, with a limit of 2 to a customer, but found them at Cabella’s in Phoenix, no limit, just a bit spendy. I am pleased with the pistol and, at that price I would buy it again, if available.
I thiught it looked eerily similar to the walther .22 as well. Regardless, it looks like it might be a winner! Stainless barrel, ambindextrious safet with decocking!!! Great for those new to semi-autos. I am very impressed that it comes with a fully adjustable rear sight. I don’t know why more manufacturers don’t do that. Charge me the extra $25, i don’t care. I hate hunting for them later. I like my pistols and revolvers set precisely to the rounds I shoot and at 20 yards. It makes it accurate enough from 10 to even 50 yards. Not 25, but 20. Adjustables let me dial in precisely. That way, in an andrenalin induced situation, a little wavering.”..a little mind you, will not matter.
Let’s see, picatinny rail, hammer fired, DA/SA, loaded chamber indicator, 2 mags WITH pinky extensions, two grip sleeves, stainless barrel that can be replaced, reversible sight blades, fully adjustable rear sight, mag release, no mag clawing around release…..for about $300 starting, $270 on sale shortly? I’ll take two….
Hope they make them in 5″ barrell lengths and consider .22 magnum at some point….have to get that hammer right though for .22 mag. Now, i just have to find them on sale after the hype dies down.
i think it looks more like an SR9. What is it with you guys?
I’m in the Walther camp. Not only that, but when you wrote about the take down being the front of the trigger guard, I thought it might even take down like a PP until I read further.
It looks like a Walther at first blush. I thinks it’s the shape of the grip.
I thiught it looked eerily similar to the walther .22 as well. Regardless, it looks like it might be a winner! Stainless barrel, ambindextrious safet with decocking!!! Great for those new to semi-autos. I am very impressed that it comes with a fully adjustable rear sight. I don’t know why more manufacturers don’t do that. Charge me the extra $25, i don’t care. I hate hunting for them later. I like my pistols and revolvers set precisely to the rounds I shoot and at 20 yards. It makes it accurate enough from 10 to even 50 yards. Not 25, but 20. Adjustables let me dial in precisely. That way, in an andrenalin induced situation, a little wavering.”..a little mind you, will not matter.
Let’s see, picatinny rail, hammer fired, DA/SA, loaded chamber indicator, 2 mags WITH pinky extensions, two grip sleeves, stainless barrel that can be replaced, reversible sight blades, fully adjustable rear sight, mag release, no mag clawing around release…..for about $300 starting, $270 on sale shortly? I’ll take two….
Hope they make them in 5″ barrell lengths and consider .22 magnum at some point….have to get that hammer right though for .22 mag. Now, i just have to find them on sale after the hype dies down.
@Caleb longstreet Dude I do not know if the “hype” is going down for a while. Just got this at a gun show and possibly one of my favorite guns to hold. just need to find the right laser/light combo for it.
Crm-201 crimson trace laser. You will
Not be disappointed! Two of my buddies and I all got lase coincidently in the same week. One a veridian, the other a different style crimson trace, and th crm-201 is superior in my opinion. Check it out for yourself. If you can afford the extra dough, the crm-203 has a green laser and looks awesome!
Crm-201 crimson trace laser. You will
Not be disappointed! Two of my buddies and I all got lase coincidently in the same week. One a veridian, the other a different style crimson trace, and th crm-201 is superior in my opinion. Check it out for yourself. If you can afford the extra dough, the crm-203 has a green laser and looks awesome!
It looks cool, glad that they are going with a newer .22 model, the marks are an old style in my mind and they are really only a good target gun in my mind, this one is more universal on the jobs it can have. But is it just me or does this gun look a lot like a walther P22?
Tim… I own a Walther and I agree that it looks a lot like it. I wonder if it’s possible these days for any manufacturer to produce a pistol with a polymer lower that looks vastly different. Kinda like how most shotguns look the same…most revolvers. I know that there are differences in features, and which levers do what, but the field pretty much copies what works, I think. I love my Walther. Got a Viridian WP22 laser on it and it’s scary accurate with match ammo. I might have to take a look at the Ruger. You can never have too many pistols.
I just got my SR22 and I love it! My friend has the Walther and it does look very much like it. The major differences are that I found the fit and finish of the Ruger superior (Walther’s magazines are really sloppy when inserted); as well as the front sight on the Ruger is dovetailed in. The Walther’s front sight is just pressed into the top of the slide, and it has come off a few times when firing and handling it.
Hi,
The Walther uses a zinc slide while the Ruger is aluminum.
Both are nice but I like and own this Ruger.
Regards
I should write that the Walther has a zinc alloy slide.
NO !
This looks like a great .22 for a variety of uses. Now, if Ruger will just make their 1911 more available and also make a model f it in 9mm we will be in heaven. What a great way to start the new year! I can see this handed down to my grandson one day…:-)
I’m a bit surprised that Ruger didn’t use the same lower as the SR9/SR40. From what I’ve read, the grip on the SR9 is great and is even better because of the reversible rubber grip portion. Why wouldn’t Ruger carry this same design into this .22LR version? It probably would have been much more cost effective as well, keeping the lowers the same and just replacing the barrel, etc, chambering it for the .22LR
I’ve shot the SR9 and its fine but I own the SR22 and from the first time I picked it up it was perfect in the hand. I almost think they should change the SR series to match this form factor. I flirted with the thought of using it as one of my carry guns but just keep it handy. If Ruger were smart they would chamber this in .380 and they would have a great carry option and I’d definitely get one.