Posted on 02/11/2024 4:19:20 AM PST by marktwain
Semi-automatic pistols dominate the handgun market in the United States. There are ten major manufacturers of revolvers in the United States who made more than ten thousand revolvers each in 2021. 2021 is the latest year on record where the ATF has published the numbers of pistols made by United States manufacturers. There were only five major manufacturers of .22 caliber or smaller revolvers in 2021. There were 40 manufacturers in the USA who made over 10,000 pistols (handguns, not revolvers) in 2021. There were 16 who made over 10,000 .22 caliber or smaller pistols in 2021. This article will look at major manufacturers of .22 rimfire semi-automatic handguns.
A significant number of pistols are handgun variants of AR15 pattern rifles. The ATF numbers do not differentiate between centerfire and rimfire. The AR15 pattern pistols deserve an article of their own. Manufacturers whose major production of pistols is of AR15 pattern will not be included in this analysis. The four Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. licenses will be grouped together. Trailblazer Firearms LLC makes the Lifecard .22 single-shot pistol. They made over 10,000 of the foldable pistols in 2021. The Lifecard will not be included in this analysis. This pares down the field to a manageable eight major manufacturers. Also not included in this analysis is the SIG SAUER P322 which was released in 2022, a year after the ATF’s published numbers were released.
Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc., has four licenses to manufacture firearms. Two of them are in Mayodan, North Carolina, one is in Newport, New Hampshire, and one is in Prescott, Arizona. The North Carolina licenses are reported as making 93,879 and 38,281 .22 caliber or smaller pistols in 2021.
(Excerpt) Read more at ammoland.com ...
Well, damn. Mine’s one of the newer models. Love the one button assembly/disassembly.
Yes, an RG. Sadly also I bought one back in 1968 before I knew better.
One of the men at the plant brought one to work one night and stripped it to clean it. He spent most of the night trying to reassemble it. I took it, and with my back to him had it assembled in less than 30 seconds.
Then I disassembled it quickly and handed it back to him. It was several hours before he found out the “secret”.
One gun you do NOT want to try to take apart is a Nylon 66.
The Rugers are solid guns. Tons of aftermarket upgrades and accessories. I have a MKII Govt Target model that easily outshoots the S&W 41 and Browning Medalist I have.
I still say it’s a pain. But I sacrificed and bought one so Ruger would make the improved version.
“Beretta USA makes several versions of their famous tip-up semi-automatic .22s in the USA.”
All of which are crap.
L
Oh, Ì know. I used to have a Ruger mk III. Emphasis on used to.
Oh, I’ll keep it. I don’t think I’ve ever sold a gun in which at one time or other I regretted it. It shoots great.
That’s true. All the Rugers I’ve owned have been great shooters. Love my 1022s as well.
I have a Browning Challenger. I made the mistake of disassembling it. A pain to put back together! The Ruger is a breeze compared to it!
I have one. A jammer. In looking at it closely the bullet case mouth catches on the chamber bottom sharp edges. I hit both edges of the chamber with a stroke of a jeweler’s file, never a jam since. Works fine!
I saw a Heritage Rough Rider for less than $100 new, recently. They can be had with a second cylinder in .22 magnum.
I wish I had all the guns I bought before and after 1968 back, except one. A Sterling .22 pistol. A true piece of junk. Ii even sent it back to the factory. they returned it and said it was now fine. It was still a jamming piece of junk! Even a Raven .22 and .25 was better!
I had one that literally flew apart in my hand the first time I fired it.
L
Back when I bought my first handgun in 1968 a friend bought a used Colt Woodsman. Ever so often it would jam with the unfired cartridge sticking up like giving a finger. Too often for me to even consider a Colt after that.
Should have bought it after shooting it. Maybe I get myself an early Christmas gift….
I have a Beretta Model 87 with a suppressor can. To me it’s the finest semi-auto 22 on the market. For a revolver, it’s my 10 shot Model 617 S&W.
I believe it, have been real happy with my Ruger SR9, and really dug the Mark IV when I shot it. At some point I will be replacing my Marlin model 60 with a 10/22, I’d rather load a magazine.
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