I've got cowboy guns, but never owned a semi-auto pistol. Looking for a target pistol with little recoil. Heard rimfire is not as accurate as centerfire. That being said, what's a fun target shooting semi-auto? Would enjoy high capacity magazines too. Heard Ruger .22 MKII is good, but rimfire. Don't know much about .32 ACP but seen cheap Taurus pistol. Also thinking 9mm like the Beretta. Advice appreciated.

The Model 52 S&W in .38 special is a winner in the light recoil catagory. Not a high capacity (5 shot mags), but it is a target gun. Any of the Ruger 22's, or the browning Buckmark are quality22's. The Model 41 S&W or the Model 26 S&W are target grade 22's. If one can be found, I woould prefer the High Standard Victor, but they are only found on the used gun market.

Lee L.

One of the various target model .22 pistols will probably shoot as good as, or better than, any centerfire, and be cheaper to feed.

My mark II 22/45 is the most accurate handgun I own.

i think it would be neat to have a 1911 with a 22 conversion kit that way i could get the big boom or just blast away

i think it would be neat to have a 1911 with a 22 conversion kit that way i could get the big boom or just blast away

Don't know who told you that .22RF guns aren't as accurte as centerfires, but they are wrong (or are shooting cheap "come-on" .22LR's from bottom of the barrel handguns). Considering standard 25yard (or 50yard) targets, take a good look at the size used for .22's and the size used for centerfires.

The only time I prefer the centerfire is when hunting or self defence. I find the .22's more fun to shoot, and just as accurate as any centerfire when fed proper ammunition.

JB:
I find the 1911 .22 conversions a lot of fun to shoot, and are a great practice aid for the centerfire .45's. The only problem is the constant need for cleaning of the floating chamber.

Lee L.

If you decide you want to shoot a 9mm don't overlook the Taurus Milenium, holds ten rounds small enough to fit in the front pant pocket on relaxed fit jeans, not my choice for self defense but for playing and plinking not to bad.

Sounds like someone fed you a line about the accuracy of rimfires! The most accurate gun I've ever shot is a rimfire, and so are the next three behind it. I have a 22 Browning Buckmark that I use to shoot clay pigeons on the berm at 50 yards with regularity, and we also shoot them at 100 yards. For about three hundred dollars, it's the best money I ever spent for an accurate pistol, and I can shoot it all day for cheap. It's hard to beat a 22 for target shooting, plinking, or just having fun. I've owned a dozen or more rimfires, you can't have too many!

Papajohn the Perpetual Plinkinator

Might be a little pricey but a 9mm in a P226 sure is a fun/accurate gun to shoot. You can get flush magazines holding up to 17 rounds, and more rounds if you don't care about the magazine being flush with the bottom of the grip.

get the glock 17 9mm and you can get the 30 rounds mag. and also get the convertion kit for 22lr.

I found a range that rents out .22s and had a blast with a Ruger 22/45. Definately wrong about accuracy. I went with my girlfriend who never really liked the recoil of my Colt clones, even in .38spl. She loved the .22 and went home with a Browning Buck Mark. Even though the Ruger shot great, the Buck Mark was just more comfortable to hold and balance was great. I'm still thinking about a 9mm. I shot and like the Glock 19, and am doing some research on the SigArms P228.

As long as it's not too windy, my S&W mod 41 .22LR is every bit as accurate as my $1500 custom .45 1911 wadcutter gun at 50 yards. Do not dismiss the accuracy of rimfires. If you just want a plinker to build skills or have fun, a .22LR revolver or semi-auto is the way to go.