Best Plinking Guns in 2025: Maximum Fun, Minimum Cost
Plinking — the art of shooting cans, steel, and paper for the pure fun of it — is the best way to build skills and enjoy range time without going broke. The key is choosing a gun with cheap ammo, minimal recoil, and maximum smiles per dollar. Here are the seven best plinking guns you can buy right now, with real prices from our deal tracker.
Cost Per Round: Why It Matters
Ammo cost is the biggest ongoing expense in shooting. Here's what you're looking at in 2025:
| Caliber | Cost Per Round | Cost Per 100 Rounds | Cost Per 500 Rounds |
|---|---|---|---|
| .22 LR | $0.05–$0.08 | $5–$8 | $25–$40 |
| 9mm | $0.18–$0.25 | $18–$25 | $90–$125 |
| .223/5.56 | $0.30–$0.45 | $30–$45 | $150–$225 |
| .308 | $0.55–$0.80 | $55–$80 | $275–$400 |
Prices based on bulk brass-cased ammo. Track live prices at our ammo price index.
A day of .22 LR plinking (500 rounds) costs $25-40. The same volume in 9mm costs $90-125. In .223, you're looking at $150-225. This is why .22 LR guns dominate the plinking category.
Quick Comparison
| Gun | Caliber | Type | Fun Factor | Street Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ruger 10/22 | .22 LR | Semi-auto rifle | 9/10 | $230–$300 |
| S&W M&P 15-22 | .22 LR | Semi-auto rifle | 9/10 | $350–$450 |
| Ruger Wrangler | .22 LR | SA revolver | 8/10 | $170–$220 |
| Heritage Rough Rider | .22 LR | SA revolver | 7/10 | $100–$150 |
| Taurus TX22 | .22 LR | Semi-auto pistol | 9/10 | $250–$320 |
| Kel-Tec CP33 | .22 LR | Semi-auto pistol | 10/10 | $400–$500 |
| PSA Dagger | 9mm | Semi-auto pistol | 8/10 | $250–$350 |
1. Ruger 10/22 — The King of Plinking
The Ruger 10/22 has been the quintessential plinking gun since 1964. It's reliable, accurate, cheap to feed, and has the largest aftermarket of any rimfire gun ever made. You can spend $250 on the base gun and then customize it endlessly — from Volquartsen triggers to threaded barrels to chassis systems.
What to Pay
- Great deal: Under $230
- Good deal: $230–$270
- Average: $270–$300
Pros: Iconic reliability, massive aftermarket, BX-25 magazines are cheap and plentiful, suppresses beautifully (see our .22 suppressor guide), great for teaching new shooters, holds resale value.
Cons: Factory trigger is mushy (a $50 BX trigger upgrade fixes this), the rotary magazine takes some getting used to, the factory stock is basic (but upgrades are cheap and plentiful).
Upgrade path: BX trigger ($50) → threaded barrel ($100-200) → .22 suppressor ($200-400) → optic ($30-100). Total upgraded cost: under $700 for a suppressed, accurate plinking machine.
2. Smith & Wesson M&P 15-22 — The .22 LR AR-15
The M&P 15-22 is a full-size AR-15 that shoots .22 LR. Same controls, same ergonomics, same manual of arms — but at 5 cents a round instead of 35 cents. It's the best AR-15 trainer money can buy, and it's an absolute blast for plinking.
What to Pay
- Great deal: Under $350
- Good deal: $350–$400
- Average: $400–$450
Pros: Identical controls to a real AR-15 (AR-15 guide here), 25-round magazines, accepts most AR accessories (grips, stocks, optics), factory threaded barrel for suppressor use, lightweight.
Cons: Polymer receiver (not a real AR-15 lower — can't swap uppers), 25-round proprietary magazines aren't compatible with standard AR mags, some reliability issues reported with certain ammo brands.
3. Ruger Wrangler — The Cowboy Plinker
The Ruger Wrangler is a single-action .22 revolver that costs under $200. There's something deeply satisfying about cocking the hammer, squeezing the trigger, and hearing that crisp break — then doing it five more times. It's Western movie fun at $0.05 per shot.
What to Pay
- Great deal: Under $170
- Good deal: $170–$200
- Average: $200–$220
Pros: Incredibly cheap, Ruger quality (built on the same frame as the legendary Single-Six), satisfying single-action trigger, available in multiple colors (Cerakote finishes), virtually indestructible, great for new shooters.
Cons: Six-round cylinder (slow reloads), single-action only (cock hammer for each shot), fixed sights can be off, loading gate is old-school (one round at a time). But honestly, the slow pace is part of the charm.
4. Heritage Rough Rider — The Sub-$120 Plinker
The Heritage Rough Rider is the absolute cheapest gun on this list — often under $100 on a deal. It's a single-action .22 revolver with a no-frills design. Is it as nice as the Wrangler? No. Is it a blast for $100? Absolutely. Many models come with a .22 Magnum cylinder too, giving you two calibers for the price of one.
What to Pay
- Great deal: Under $100
- Good deal: $100–$130
- Average: $130–$150
Pros: Cheapest gun you can buy new, many models include .22 WMR cylinder, available in ridiculous barrel lengths and finishes, fun range toy, makes a great gift for new shooters.
Cons: Fit and finish is rough (you get what you pay for), trigger is heavy and gritty, the safety is a controversial crossbolt design, sights are basic. This is a "fun factor" purchase, not a quality investment.
5. Taurus TX22 — The Best .22 Pistol for the Money
The Taurus TX22 is the gun that made everyone rethink Taurus. It's a full-size .22 LR semi-auto pistol that runs like a top, holds 16+1 rounds, and comes with a threaded barrel for suppressor use. It's arguably the best .22 pistol value on the market.
What to Pay
- Great deal: Under $250
- Good deal: $250–$290
- Average: $290–$320
Pros: 16+1 capacity (highest of any .22 pistol in this size), factory threaded barrel, incredibly reliable for a .22 semi-auto, good trigger, optics-ready models available (TX22 Competition), cheap to shoot.
Cons: It's a Taurus (brand perception, though the TX22 genuinely changed this), the magazine is proprietary and can be tricky to load, the slide is polymer-topped (lightweight but feels different).
6. Kel-Tec CP33 — The Fun Factor King
The Kel-Tec CP33 is the most fun-per-dollar gun on this list. A .22 LR pistol with a 33-round (!) quad-stack magazine, a threaded barrel, and a rail that accepts braces/stocks. With a brace, an optic, and a .22 suppressor, it becomes a space-gun that puts smiles on everyone's face.
What to Pay
- Great deal: Under $400
- Good deal: $400–$450
- Average: $450–$500
Pros: 33+1 capacity is absurd (and absurdly fun), factory threaded barrel, lightweight, unique design turns heads at the range, excellent suppressor host, the brace turns it into a micro-PCC.
Cons: Kel-Tec QC can be inconsistent (inspect before buying), the quad-stack magazine has a learning curve for loading, trigger is adequate but not great, reliability depends on ammo choice (use CCI or Federal). It's a range toy, not a self-defense gun.
7. PSA Dagger — The 9mm Value Play
If you want to plink with 9mm instead of .22 LR, the PSA Dagger is the answer. It's Palmetto State Armory's Glock 19 clone — same dimensions, same holster compatibility, same magazine compatibility (Glock mags!), but at half the price. At $250-350, it's the cheapest way into reliable 9mm shooting.
What to Pay
- Great deal: Under $250
- Good deal: $250–$300
- Average: $300–$350
Pros: Glock 19 compatible (mags, holsters, some parts), incredibly cheap for a reliable 9mm, PSA frequently runs deals, available with optic cuts and threaded barrels, a great training companion to a "real" Glock. See our first gun guide for how it compares.
Cons: Ammo costs 3-4x more than .22 LR, PSA's QC can be inconsistent (cosmetic issues mostly), it's not a Glock (fitment with some aftermarket parts varies), trigger is serviceable but not great, resale value is low.
The Annual Cost of Plinking
Let's say you go to the range twice a month and shoot 200 rounds per visit (4,800 rounds per year):
| Setup | Gun Cost | Annual Ammo Cost | Year 1 Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heritage Rough Rider (.22 LR) | $120 | $290 | $410 |
| Ruger 10/22 (.22 LR) | $270 | $290 | $560 |
| Taurus TX22 (.22 LR) | $280 | $290 | $570 |
| PSA Dagger (9mm) | $280 | $960 | $1,240 |
| Budget AR-15 (.223) | $450 | $1,680 | $2,130 |
The .22 LR guns pay for themselves in ammo savings within a few months.
More .22 Plinking Options: Price Data
These guns also make excellent plinkers. Here's what our deal tracker shows:
For detailed reviews of .22 pistols, see our best .22 pistol guide. For .22 rifles, see our best .22 rifle guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best plinking gun for a beginner?
The Ruger 10/22 is the default answer — low recoil, cheap ammo, reliable, and a great platform to learn on. If you want a handgun, the Taurus TX22 is forgiving and fun. For absolute budget, the Heritage Rough Rider gets you shooting for under $120.
Is .22 LR reliable enough for regular shooting?
With quality ammo (CCI, Federal, Aguila), modern .22 LR guns are very reliable. You'll get the occasional dud (it's rimfire, it happens), but malfunctions are rare. Budget bulk ammo (Thunderbolt, Wildcats) will produce more issues — stick to the good stuff and you'll be fine.
Should I get a .22 or 9mm for plinking?
For pure plinking, .22 LR wins on cost — it's 3-5x cheaper per round. If you also want a gun for self-defense or training for your carry gun, 9mm makes more sense. Many serious shooters own both: a .22 for cheap fun and a 9mm for training. Check current ammo prices to compare.
Can I suppress a plinking gun?
Absolutely, and you should. A suppressed .22 LR is one of the best experiences in shooting — genuinely hearing-safe with subsonic ammo. The Ruger 10/22, Taurus TX22, M&P 15-22, and Kel-Tec CP33 all have factory threaded barrels. Read our .22 LR suppressor guide for the best options.
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