Best .22 LR Pistols in 2025: Training, Plinking & Suppressor Hosts
A .22 LR pistol is the single best training investment you can make. At 4-6 cents per round vs. 25-30 cents for 9mm, you can shoot five times as much for the same money. That means more trigger time, better fundamentals, and faster improvement. Here are the best .22 pistols you can buy right now.
Quick Comparison: Best .22 LR Pistols
| Pistol | Street Price | Barrel | Capacity | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ruger Mark IV | $400–$550 | 5.5" | 10 | Competition, suppressor host |
| S&W SW22 Victory | $330–$420 | 5.5" | 10 | Target shooting, customization |
| Browning Buck Mark | $350–$500 | 5.5" | 10 | Bullseye, accuracy |
| Taurus TX22 | $250–$320 | 4.1" | 16 | Best value, training analog |
| Kel-Tec CP33 | $400–$480 | 5.5" | 33 | Fun factor, suppressor host |
| Walther P22 | $280–$350 | 3.4" | 10 | Compact carry training |
Best Overall: Ruger Mark IV ($400–$550)
The Ruger Mark IV is the gold standard of .22 LR pistols. Ruger has been building these since the Mark I in 1949, and the Mark IV finally solved the one complaint everyone had — it now has a simple one-button takedown for easy cleaning.
The Mark IV comes in a dizzying array of variants: the Target model with adjustable sights, the Hunter with a fluted barrel, the Lite with an aluminum upper, and the 22/45 that mimics a 1911 grip angle. For most people, the Mark IV 22/45 Lite is the sweet spot — it's lightweight, threaded for a suppressor, and has a 1911-style grip that translates to centerfire training.
What to Pay for a Ruger Mark IV
- Mark IV Standard: $400–$450
- Mark IV 22/45 Lite: $450–$520
- Mark IV Target: $480–$550
- Great deal: Under $400 for any variant
Suppressor note: The Mark IV 22/45 Lite with a threaded barrel is one of the most popular suppressor hosts in existence. Pair it with a Dead Air Mask or a Rugged Oculus and you have a whisper-quiet range toy. Check our suppressor guides for more.
Best Value: Taurus TX22 ($250–$320)
The Taurus TX22 shocked the .22 pistol world when it launched. A 16+1 capacity .22 LR that runs reliably, has a Glock-like manual of arms, comes optics-ready, and costs under $300? That's unheard of.
The TX22 is the closest thing to a "9mm training analog" in the .22 world. It's the same size as a compact carry gun, the controls feel similar, and the 16-round magazines mean less time reloading. It eats bulk ammo that chokes other .22s. The TX22 Competition adds a threaded barrel, fiber optic sights, and three magazines for about $50 more — worth it.
What to Pay for a Taurus TX22
- TX22 Standard: $250–$290
- TX22 Competition: $320–$380
- Great deal: Under $240 for standard
Best for Target Shooting: Browning Buck Mark ($350–$500)
The Browning Buck Mark has been winning bullseye competitions for decades. Its fixed-barrel design gives it inherent accuracy that's hard to beat. The trigger on even the base model is excellent — crisp, light, and consistent.
If your primary use is slow-fire target shooting or bullseye competition, the Buck Mark's accuracy edge over the Ruger Mark IV is worth considering. Where it falls behind is aftermarket support — the Ruger ecosystem dwarfs the Buck Mark's.
Most Fun: Kel-Tec CP33 ($400–$480)
The Kel-Tec CP33 is a 33-round .22 LR pistol with a threaded barrel and a picatinny rail that begs for a brace or red dot. It looks like something from a sci-fi movie and it's an absolute blast to shoot, especially suppressed.
The CP33 uses a quad-stack magazine design that's ingenious. Loading takes some practice, but once you get the technique down, 33 rounds of .22 through a suppressed CP33 is one of the most fun shooting experiences money can buy. It's not a training tool — it's a range toy, and a great one.
Best Compact: Walther P22 ($280–$350)
The Walther P22 is the pick if you want a .22 that mimics a subcompact carry gun. At 3.4 inches and about 17 oz, it's roughly the size of a Glock 43. Use it to practice draw strokes, sight alignment, and trigger control at a fraction of the ammo cost.
The P22 is more finicky about ammo than the TX22 — it prefers CCI Mini-Mags and other hotter loads. Budget for good ammo and it runs fine. Track .22 LR ammo prices on our ammo price index.
What to Look For in a .22 LR Pistol
Training vs. Competition vs. Fun
Training: Get the TX22 or Walther P22 — guns that mimic your centerfire carry gun's size and controls. The whole point is building muscle memory that transfers. If your carry gun is a Glock 19, the TX22's manual of arms is closest.
Competition: The Ruger Mark IV Target or Browning Buck Mark with adjustable sights. Steel Challenge and NRA Bullseye are huge .22 disciplines.
Suppressor host: Ruger Mark IV 22/45 Lite or Kel-Tec CP33, both with threaded barrels. A .22 suppressor like the Dead Air Mask will run you $300–$400 and makes these guns movie-quiet.
Ammo Reliability
.22 LR is inherently less reliable than centerfire ammo. Rimfire ignition is less consistent, and bulk ammo has wider quality tolerances. Some guns eat everything (TX22, Mark IV), while others are pickier (P22, some Buck Marks). Budget for CCI Standard Velocity or Mini-Mags as your baseline — they run in everything.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a .22 pistol good for self defense?
No. A .22 LR is not a reliable self-defense caliber. It can fail to fire (rimfire), lacks stopping power, and doesn't penetrate consistently. Use a 9mm for defense. Use a .22 for training. See our best first gun guide for self-defense recommendations.
How much does it cost to shoot .22 LR?
Bulk .22 LR runs 4-7 cents per round. A 500-round brick costs $20-$35. Compare that to 9mm at $0.25-$0.30/round. You can shoot 500 rounds of .22 for the price of 100 rounds of 9mm. Track current prices on our ammo price index.
Do I need a threaded barrel?
Only if you plan to run a suppressor. If there's even a chance you might, get the threaded variant — it typically costs $20-$50 more. Retrofitting a thread adapter later is possible but not as clean.
More .22 Pistol Price Data
A few more .22 pistols we track on r/gundeals:
Where to Find Deals
We track every .22 pistol deal posted to r/gundeals. Browse current deals and set price alerts:
Get deal alerts for products in this guide
Share this guide
Never overpay again
We track every deal on r/gundeals. Set free price alerts for any product.
Browse Products & Set Alerts