22LR pocket gun?

[Hornett]

Back in my college days, I had a 22 pocket pistol.
I think it was an AMT but it's been a while ago and I am not sure.
Anyway, I am thinking I would like to do something like that again.
Don't lecture me on it not being a good self defense round bla bla bla.
This would be purely for fun.

What is a good cheap 22LR small sized handgun?
I already have a Ruger Mark II so it would have to be smaller than that.

I await the wisdom of the INGO oracle...

 

[Scutter01]

Walther P22. Funnest .22 pistol there is to shoot.

 

[451_Detonics]

Best? Walther TPH, second would be a Beretta 21A...

The Walther P22 is not a pocket gun, small but rather large for that role.

 

[Farmerjon]

There is a NAA in the classifieds here on this forum. That would be a neat pocket pistol that will get attention whenever it is pulled out and shot! 22's are just plain fun. Keep us posted on what you are thinking and eventually buy!

 

[snorko]

Cheap to cheaper - Phoenix HP22 or NAA mini revolver

Then Taurus or an older Iver Johnson copy of the Walther TPH

Good Quality - Beretta 950b or 21A

If you can find an out of production S&W 2213/2214 or even an older Model 61 Escort they are great guns

 

[Hornett]

Thanks for the replies.

I think the P22 is a tad large for a packet gun.

TPH looks interesting...

Beretta 21A is an excellent idea IMHO
Has anyone tried the $200 Taurus copies?

Is a Phoenix reliable at all?
I have no experience with them at all.

 

[Colt556]

NAA Mini revolvers are awesome. TPHs are nice but expensive and very ammo sensitive. Beretta 950 or 21 are a good bet. The 950 is SA and smaller, the 21 is DA/SA but a bit more expensive and thicker. No experience with the other guns in this class.

 

[snorko]

Is a Phoenix reliable at all?
I have no experience with them at all.

They seem to be surprisingly reliable for the money. Most all pocket .22's will be ammo sensitive and the Phoenix is no exception. I have had a couple over the years and they were all reliable with high velocity ammo. They just feel heavy and clunky. Also they have two or three manual safeties.

 

[451_Detonics]

Thanks for the replies.

I think the P22 is a tad large for a packet gun.

TPH looks interesting...

Beretta 21A is an excellent idea IMHO
Has anyone tried the $200 Taurus copies?

Is a Phoenix reliable at all?
I have no experience with them at all.

The 21A is a great performer and there are even chapstick sized suppressors made expressly for them.

The Taurus...well we sold them in our shop but the often had issues that required trips back for repair.

The Phoenix is better than a Jennings but still a limited lifetime gun. I know people who have flat wore them out, something that will not likely happen with the Beretta or Walther.

 

[woodsie57]

I currently have both a jennings and a phoenix w/ both barrels. Both are inexpensive,fun and reliable shooters, but the jennings is the one really that gets used; just so much lighter and a bit smaller.

 

[Jubba]

I've got a pheonix HP22 that has held up great with zero problems so far. It's a fun gun to shoot but I probably wouldn't carry it due to the number of safeties.

 

[Hornett]

Well, yeah, I was readinr up on the HP22s and there is a safety on the slide, a safety on the frame, and some kind of magazine lock...

How safe can you get anyway?

 

[indyjoe]

They seem to be surprisingly reliable for the money. Most all pocket .22's will be ammo sensitive and the Phoenix is no exception. I have had a couple over the years and they were all reliable with high velocity ammo. They just feel heavy and clunky. Also they have two or three manual safeties.

That is my assessment as well. I have one in a box somewhere. (The only firearm I've misplaced over 4 moves and still kind of annoyed about that.) I don't miss it. I'll take the P3AT over it any day.

 

[JohnP82]

I had a Phoenix .22 for several years and personally put over 10,000 rounds through it with no problems. Very accurate and fun to shoot. I sold it to a friend and it is still going to this day. I actually shot it a couple weeks ago. Still just as accurate and it now has at least 13,000 rounds through it.

 

[OAK]

I have a Baretta 21A, it's a fun little gun. I've never had an issue with it, a lot of sources recommend only shooting hyper-velocity rounds to prevent jamming. In my experience I can run any ammo through it without a single issue. Another feature that I love with the 21A is that there is screw on the mag you can push it down with your thumb and drop 7rds in, it makes for a fast reloads.

 

[barrelmaker_2002]

You said this would only be for fun and that is a good thing as some of the suggestions are just not appropriate for pocket carry. Or are only appropriate for pocket carry if they carried with an empty chamber.

If you really were looking for a legit pocket gun that you could use for actual self defense, then the following critieria are needed IMHO.

1. Must be able to fire in DA and preferably DAO. IF DA/SA, must be easy to decock safely.
2. Must hold at least 8 rounds.
3. Must not be ammo sensitive OR must not require more than another trigger pull after a misfire.
5. Must be of high quality materials, be well supported by the mfg. and have readily available parts for repair.
6. Must be relatively light weight.

(please note I ignored the caliber debate - a .22 in your pocket is better than the .45 back at home).

Anyway, there is basically no semi-auto that qualifies. Even if someone like Kel-Tec made DAO .22 semi-auto pistol with a 12 round capacity, I doubt I would carry it because even if the trigger would do a double strike after a misfire, it would be hitting the same prt of the rim again.

So, I really like this gun and not just because it is black, though the finish is pretty awesome:

Product: Model 43 C

However, they are clearly not cheap. If I had to buy a .22 revolver, I would likely get a Taurus. But I cannot imagine where a .22 revolver would be a must have. Thus, if I am gong to buy what would be a frivolous gun, I should save my pennies and get what I really want.

Anyway, assuming you do not actually intend to carry it, I think the Beretta Bobcat or the Taurus equivalent will be decent choices, though I have never fired either. They will be most comparable to the your old gun. Note that the Tauras is DAO and the 21A is DA/SA.

Finally, Taurus is about to introduce this gun:

Taurus International Manufacturing Inc

That looks pretty neat on the surface.....

 

[sloughfoot]

You asked about the Taurus PT-22. I have gotten rid of all of my Taurus pistols except for this one. It has been reliable for many years with high speed ammo. Match ammo makes it choke up.

It is a lint collecter however and the few times I put it in a front pocket, the mag release was pressed by normal activity and it won't work unless you bang up on the bottom of the mag.

It is in my hand now, loaded and ready to go. I just have never found a niche for it except for in a drawer near my computer.

 

[LPPOsecurity]

If I was gonna get a .22 pissaround it would be the 21a from baretta or it's Taurus lookalike or a north American arms mini those would be my only two I would consider, although my walther p22 fits in a pocket pretty well and is really fun with the attached laser site that it came with, dead on accurate and all I use is Remington thunderbolts and the Winchester equivalent in it, fun to shoot

 

[Bryanearl]

Ok ive always had a 9mm would someone tell me the differencein .22 .22lr and .223? Significant and am I mixing up a relevance between them? I thought they were .22 variations but it what way I do not know.

 

[indyjoe]

Ok ive always had a 9mm would someone tell me the differencein .22 .22lr and .223? Significant and am I mixing up a relevance between them? I thought they were .22 variations but it what way I do not know.

A description of a round is typically based on the diameter of the bullet itself.

.22 and .22 LR are generally used to mean the same thing, a rim fire shell that has a .22 diameter bullet that is usually around 40 grains.

.223 is a round that is shot out of the AR-15 and M-16/M-4. This is a MUCH more powerful round than a .22 LR, and only shares close size in bullet diameter.

To make it even more confusing, some bullets don't have the diameter that they are named. Like .44 Magnum that is around .429 to .432 diameter.

Or the .357 Magnum and the .38 that are the same diameter.