I have a chance to purchase a long desired 1911 period 45 ACP from a private party. In this state that means getting a pistol permit from sheriffs office. While there I noted a box for number of permits and because my wife let me go unchaperoned I put a "2" in that box.
Couple of items vying for that second permit. One is a .22 LR revolver and I like Ruger being familiar with the GP and SP and Vaquero.
Since this is intended as a plinker and a way to insure I don't die with a bunch of Y2K .22 LR ammo to be disposed of... Price matters. I'm not buying for a legacy to pass on. Wife likes .22 rifle and would probably enjoy a 22 pistol if it wasn't too heavy. Normal for her is a .38 snub nose but the .22 having less recoil would be more enjoyable.
Myself I have many fond memories of 22's and abandoned gravel pit outside of town back when riding a bike with gun case wasn't likely to find one talkin to a whole passel of law enforcement responding to frantic 911 calls.
So opinions on the...
- Wrangler - can easily afford new in this as they are generally under $200. Looked nice when I saw at gun show.
- Bearcat - would need to find in used to afford adding that to my budget.
- Single Six - new model Again would need to find used to get to my price point.
- SP or GP - would have to be used and even then... also .22 LR is not a common caliber as these are beefy pistols.
I am also considering the Ruger Mk4 but not a wheel gun. Still if one with experience with both the .22 wheel guns mentioned and the Mk 4 wants to weigh in with the comparative merits I'll be interested in how they compare.
At one time in my youth I owned one of the early Ruger semi-auto target pistols so have a certain fondness for them but that 45 ACP is going to be lonely looking for other auto loaders in the safe. Guess I watched more westerns and cop dramas growing up where the good guys used revolvers. The 1911 makes it in on WW2 movies and Rat Patrol. Pretty sure that is it because I'm sure not interested in the current Barretta 9mm in use by our military today.
Just looking to punch some paper myself and with family and friends while not punch a hole in the household budget. I also feel that it is important that cans going to recycling need to learn to fear me once in a while. The .22 is perfect for such lofty goals.
I should add while I can see wisdom of used quality for $600 over lesser quality item for $300 in the long term I'm equally sure my dear wife who shares in the budget impact of my purchases can see the difference in bank balance as simple math which is not easily argued with. If the answer isn't this one is going to hit twice as many bullseyes I don't have a whole lot of "ammo" in that discussion. She has seen me shoot so any gun I claim will have me hitting twice as many bullseyes is going to be greeted with extreme skepticism. Note I said cans should fear me, not that they all die quick deaths on the berm. I'm pretty sure they fear near misses, right?
All that said a better pistol is a better pistol and the price range is running $200 to $600 with several in the $400 - $500 and I can see going from $200 to $400 for a clearly better quality item. I did note that resale while not a huge factor it does speak to the perceived quality or value of the item. Oddly Wrangler doesn't lose much, of course not much room to drop either. Some on the other hand drop 1/3 from new to used 80% condition.