best small firearm?

[justinRsmith]

im looking for smaller fire arm like a 22 or a 17HMR. what do you think the best model is?

[Vagrant]

Rifle or Handgun ????

[justinRsmith]

Rifle or Handgun ????

it really doesn't matter to me. i just want a fun little 22 to shoot cans with .

[justinRsmith]

Rifle or Handgun ????

it really doesn't matter to me. i just want a fun little 22 to shoot cans with .

[Chrisadamley]

im looking for smaller fire arm like a 22 or a 17HMR. what do you think the best model is?

Ruger!

[hogwild]

Between the calibers stated, standard 22 will be FAR the cheapest. Shooting cans at what distance? there are many rifles and pistols in a very wide price range. Also you may start out with just cans and then want greater accuracy for targets. A Marlin 60 or a Ruger 10/22 are good plinkers; the Ruger can be upgraded into quite a fine target/hunting rifle later.

For pistols a Ruger MKII or MKIII are very accurate and reasonably priced. I have a MKII that is a real shooter with many cheap 22 brands of ammo.

[JerrBear]

In my mos' humble (and totally worthless) opinion, you can't go wrong with a RUGER...

[sammy da blade]

in my worthless opinion, what jerrbear said!

[Vagrant]

In no particular order
Pistols:
Ruger [auto or revolver]
Browning [auto]
Beretta [awesome but "pocket pistol" accuracy and range]
Taurus Tracker [.22 0r .17]
Colt Woodsman [if you can find a good used one]
Rifles:
Ruger [10-22]
Marlin/Glenfield
Savage/Stevens
New Emgland Firearms
Taurus [formerly Rossi] pump action [is very nice but won't accept a scope]
CZ [or Brno]

[Furcs]

I've had my 10-22 Ruger for about forty years and my, how time goes by. But would not trade it for the world.

[Vagrant]

The 10-22 is about as good as it gets
I've had mine since the 70s - time does fly
The variations and accessories are extensive.
IF you want something different and a little upscale, Browning makes a very nice .22 semi that takes down to two pieces. It is MUCH sleeker and better handling but actually a little longer. It is VERY nice but can be harder to find and more expensive
Takedown types are very nice if you travel a lot.
Marlins Papoose comes in an [soft] case and is very compact.
Aftermarket "hi-cap" magazines are available for it [at least until the "loyal opposition" finishes with the constitution]

[justinRsmith]

http://www.ozarkguns.com/rifles/henry/henry_rifles.htm

[Vagrant]

http://www.ozarkguns.com/rifles/henry/henry_rifles.htm

The U.S. Survival Rifle [formerly the AR-7] IS neat, the rest of the Rifle takes down and stores in the stock This DOES make the stock larger than it needs to be
Other Henrys are also excellent values.
It is HARD to find a bad .22
But, the reliability and availalility of a huge amount of accessories, move the 10-22 close to the the top of the list
IF you have no intention of "customizing" the Rifle, the list is longer

[natcherly]

I have an AMT Lightning .22 carbine with folding stock. It was a copy of the 10/22 but in stainless steel. Don't think these are made anymore, too bad as it was and is a great little piece.

More on the Browning....
http://dealerease.net/catalog/product.a ... _id=139995

[Vagrant]

I have an AMT Lightning .22 carbine with folding stock. It was a copy of the 10/22 but in stainless steel. Don't think these are made anymore, too bad as it was and is a great little piece.

More on the Browning....
http://dealerease.net/catalog/product.a ... _id=139995

AMT made these AFTER the patents on the 10-22 expired
Some sort of agreement [with Ruger, I think] caused them to stop making it.
Like ALL AMTs the Lightning varied from awesome to dismal
AMT went through several re-incarnations but all ended up kaput.
They never overcame the wild fluctuations in quality
I had an AMT .22 magnum pistol that was a beautiful [almost gemlike] disaster [understatement]
It was traded to a gunsmith who made it into a .17 HMR