I have seen these on a few “lists” online. I think they look interesting. I just started shooting and am having a good time with my CZ, but I am already looking for a 22. Does anyone have any experience with these?

Efelkey wrote: Thu Dec 20, 2018 9:25 pm I have seen these on a few “lists” online. I think they look interesting. I just started shooting and am having a good time with my CZ, but I am already looking for a 22. Does anyone have any experience with these?

I found an old post of mine from 2016.

Beretta Neos. File under, "WTF was I thinking?" I suppose it was the stupidly easy take-down feature and the build-in top rail.

The pros end there. The blade sights are horrible. The grip is so small, that you're constantly running the risk of literally getting your hand ripped apart by the blow-back. The same blow-back issue also causes FTFs, FTEs, and WTFs.

You can do far better with pretty much any other 22LR pistol.

atxgunguy wrote:

Efelkey wrote: Thu Dec 20, 2018 9:25 pm I have seen these on a few “lists” online. I think they look interesting. I just started shooting and am having a good time with my CZ, but I am already looking for a 22. Does anyone have any experience with these?

I found an old post of mine from 2016.

Beretta Neos. File under, "WTF was I thinking?" I suppose it was the stupidly easy take-down feature and the build-in top rail.

The pros end there. The blade sights are horrible. The grip is so small, that you're constantly running the risk of literally getting your hand ripped apart by the blow-back. The same blow-back issue also causes FTFs, FTEs, and WTFs.

You can do far better with pretty much any other 22LR pistol.

Perfect response. Thank you.

What do you want a 22 for? If you are interested in target shooting I can recommend one of the Ruger Mark series guns. Mark IV is the current model, but older ones are still excellent guns. If you get a Mark I II or III though you need to be prepared for a difficult cleaning process. The Mark IV is easy to clean, though.

Other people like the Colt Woodsman, the S&W Model 41 (can be expensive!), or the High Standard, but I have no personal experience with those.

If you are just looking for a small caliber gun for plinking or even for carry, I hear good things about the Ruger SR22.

I have one with a 6" barrel - it's interchangeable with the 4" barrel. I agree it's an odd design, some have said it looks more like a ray gun than a 22, but the original Ruger Mark I looks odd compared to a Colt Woodsman. No major complaints. Take down and cleaning are easy compared to the Ruger Mark III, but I tend to shoot the Ruger more. Have you looked at the Ruger Mark IV and the S&W Victory?

Just targets. Something I can put some rounds in at the range. I have developed a little habit and just want something different to mix in with my range time. 150 rounds of 9mm per day is getting a little boring and expensive. Lol. I have seen the Marks and like them fine too. Just wondered about the “ray-gun” experience.

Efelkey wrote: Thu Dec 20, 2018 10:14 pm Just targets. Something I can put some rounds in at the range. I have developed a little habit and just want something different to mix in with my range time. 150 rounds of 9mm per day is getting a little boring and expensive. Lol. I have seen the Marks and like them fine too. Just wondered about the “ray-gun” experience.

The Mark series comes in several variants, not all of which look like ray guns. I have a Mark IV Competition, for example.

I'll argue for the Neos being a fun shooter. I've had one since about 2012 and have never had any problems, and enjoy the heck out of it. The Neos is easy to maintain and clean, inexpensive, and did I mention it will eat anything? I've never found ammo it won't cycle reliably from Stingers to HV to SV - even the CCI .22 Quiets. This was really nice when I got it during the great .22 shortage. I love my Mark II, III and IV''s, have shot Buckmarks and Victory's quite a bit. The Neos has it's place, especially if you don't like the maintenance of a Mk series and are still learning. You can buy a lot of ammo with the savings too.

You might add the Browning Buckmark to your list for consideration.

Just to throw a couple more options out there, I have a coworker that just bought a used Sig Mosquito. $300 out the door at a gun show. He tells me he really enjoys shooting it. Accurate, reliable, and feels great in his grip. He was told however to stay away from Winchester White Box. An alternative to the Sig is a GSG Firefly. This is a total clone of the Mosquito just at a lower starting price.

And yet one more - the Smith and Wesson Victory. Accurate and upgradeable.

Downside, the Neos only as one accessory made for it...

But it's a good one!

Since the advent of the MkIVs, used Ruger Mk IIs and IIIs can be had for a almost song nowadays, at least in these parts. I'm not masochistic enough to take on the regular teardown, but they are an incredibly proven and time-tested product line.

I still stand by my apprehension of someone's first 22LR being the Neos. Everything mentioned above would be a better first 22LR pistol. I'd also mention the Smith M&P22, Ruger SR22.. Those can also be had very cheap on the used market.

If you want to go old-school, get yourself a Single Action Ruger Bearcat. Heck, I think those will even be compliant in California for a while.

phoenix hp22, zamak, optional 5" bbl! right about $100. nah, maybe not.

lurker wrote: Fri Dec 21, 2018 9:39 am phoenix hp22, zamak, optional 5" bbl! right about $100.
hp22l.jpg
nah, maybe not.

Ok, if it's the Neos OR the Pheonix, please buy the Neos. Beretta's products are produced with actual metal.

atxgunguy wrote: Fri Dec 21, 2018 10:46 am

lurker wrote: Fri Dec 21, 2018 9:39 am phoenix hp22, zamak, optional 5" bbl! right about $100.
hp22l.jpg
nah, maybe not.

Ok, if it's the Neos OR the Pheonix, please buy the Neos. Beretta's products are produced with actual metal.

Rugers are affordable and the ones I’ve handled are plenty accurate. Good bang for the buck. I’m sure the others mentioned like the Browning and the S&W Victory are also good buys.

You could also look into gunbroker for target pistols....warning, it could get expensive.

I’ve fired The S&W Victory and can say it is a nice shooting gun for being among the most affordable out there. They say it’s even better w the aftermarket trigger.

So yes, I’ve also fired the Neos and found it acceptable. Funky ray-gun aesthetics and chintzy plastic sights but she runs the all bulk ammo without a hitch which is more than I can say about the infinitely prettier Colt Woodsman we had at the same range trip. Guess which one we had more fun with?.. The one that actually goes bang with every squeeze of the trigger!

But if you get into shooting .22 freehand, then you’ll probably eventually migrate to a Ruger or Browning (Buckmark). Fine shooting rimfire pistols without breaking the bank.

atxgunguy wrote: Fri Dec 21, 2018 8:43 am Since the advent of the MkIVs, used Ruger Mk IIs and IIIs can be had for a almost song nowadays, at least in these parts.

You guys are lucky, then. I haven't noticed much price deflation around here! Maybe I just don't drive a hard enough bargain, or my singing is crap.

A good .22 is a joy (almost) forever, so it's definitely worth choosing one for the long run. You could make a case for picking a model with a grip angle that matches your favorite centerfire platform, although I haven't let that sway me. My collection is badly mismatched (except for the K-frame revolvers in .22 and .357).

Buck13 wrote: Fri Jan 04, 2019 1:40 am

atxgunguy wrote: Fri Dec 21, 2018 8:43 am Since the advent of the MkIVs, used Ruger Mk IIs and IIIs can be had for a almost song nowadays, at least in these parts.

You guys are lucky, then. I haven't noticed much price deflation around here! Maybe I just don't drive a hard enough bargain, or my singing is crap.

A good .22 is a joy (almost) forever, so it's definitely worth choosing one for the long run. You could make a case for picking a model with a grip angle that matches your favorite centerfire platform, although I haven't let that sway me. My collections is badly mismatched (except for the K-frame revolvers in .22 and .357).

Good point on the grip angle....(needs a 1911 )

sikacz wrote: Fri Jan 04, 2019 8:25 am Good point on the grip angle....(needs a 1911 )

I believe its the other way around. You buy a 22/45 to match your 1911, not a 1911 to match your 22/45.

Although I might have to rethink that....

wooglin wrote: Fri Jan 04, 2019 9:55 am

sikacz wrote: Fri Jan 04, 2019 8:25 am Good point on the grip angle....(needs a 1911 )

I believe its the other way around. You buy a 22/45 to match your 1911, not a 1911 to match your 22/45.

Although I might have to rethink that....

Depends on your starting point!

Indeed. I started with a Mk iii 22/45. - my first handgun. Bought a 1911 about five years later. I had self-restraint in those days.

Bucolic wrote: Fri Jan 04, 2019 12:22 pm Indeed. I started with a Mk iii 22/45. - my first handgun. Bought a 1911 about five years later. I had self-restraint in those days.

S&W Model 41 is reinforcing my need for 1911.

You don’t have one? Sika, there’s a Dan Wesson out there with your name on it.


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