Which .22LR Mosquito or P22?

[Raoul Duke]

So I'm thinking about low-cost range fun. Presently, I am of limited means and this purchase could add depth to a limited collection at a reasonable price. Generally the Sig is about $30-$50 more, but both appear reasonable. What I am particularly interested in are shooting/owning impressions from people who've owned one or the other...or both. Advice to "get a real gun"...eh, not so helpful. I'm not looking to defend myself with this gun. Thoughts about other options in the <$400 new/used market are also quite welcome. Thanks for your time!

RD

 

[jar]

The Ruger Mark III is another great choice. It depends which is more important to you. The Mosquito and P22 are more like a scaled down centerfire Sig or Walther, while the Mark III is more of a purpose built target gun.

 

[News Shooter]

I owned both. I got one of the first Mosquitos that had all the problems with feeding. They have supposedly cleared up all those issues in the current models. Mine actually worked when I changed ammo. I really liked the way it felt like a full size Sig. The P-22 is a a different animal. Much lighter and smaller. Both are a lot of fun to plink with, but as someone else pointed out, if you're getting serious about target shooting the Ruger is the better way to go.

 

[Raoul Duke]

Allright, I have ulterior motives

I owned both. I got one of the first Mosquitos that had all the problems with feeding. They have supposedly cleared up all those issues in the current models. Mine actually worked when I changed ammo. I really liked the way it felt like a full size Sig. The P-22 is a a different animal. Much lighter and smaller. Both are a lot of fun to plink with, but as someone else pointed out, if you're getting serious about target shooting the Ruger is the better way to go.

Thanks for the insight. I agree that the Ruger's the way to go for target shooting. I do, in fact, lean more towards plinking with these two as you rightly pointed out. I had heard from someone else that the Mos. had feeding problems as well. It's good to know that they are cleared up.

Frankly, I envision this gun as being "conveniently located in my range bag" when I take out the next/future Ms. Duke to the range. You see, after recently getting out of a long-term relationship, wherein the previous Ms. Duke was not at all a firearms fan, I figure that, with a second whack at it, I'm gonna skip the drama and find a woman who is A: already comfortable/interested in firearms (less likely), or B: I'm going to create one for myself (more likely). So I thought if I had a nice little .22 to set her up with...well, gentlemen and ladies, I'm looking for a "gateway drug" if you know what I mean.

Thanks

RD

 

[jdubois]

So I thought if I had a nice little .22 to set her up with...well, gentlemen and ladies, I'm looking for a "gateway drug" if you know what I mean.

I tried to take that approach too. I bought a P22 to see if I could get my wife to actually like shooting. When I finally got her to the range, she quickly got bored with it so I gave her the 1911. After we were done, she said, "I still don't like guns, but if I had to, I want that big one. Screw that p**sy one."

I still have fun with it though.

 

[Raoul Duke]

I tried to take that approach too. I bought a P22 to see if I could get my wife to actually like shooting. When I finally got her to the range, she quickly got bored with it so I gave her the 1911. After we were done, she said, "I still don't like guns, but if I had to, I want that big one. Screw that p**sy one."

I still have fun with it though.

There's truly nothing new beneath the sun, huh?

 

[jar]

I could have sworn someone posted a link to the S&W 617 before, but I don't see it now. That's another great option, though it's out of your price range new. Why doesn't S&W make a cheaper blued version?

 

[cdkayak]

My first choice would be the Ruger. I have a Ruger MKII & I bought my wife a Walther P22. Both have been reliable and fun to shoot, but the Ruger is more accurate.

I can't speak on the long term reliability of the P22 but I've had the Ruger since ~94 without any problems.

 

[LT1MCSS]

I got one of the new Sig Mosquitos from FS. It is finicky but im still breaking it in. So far i have been shooting the CCI mini mags. It was really good the last few times i went to the range except for the last time the slide wouldn't come all the way forward closing the chamber.

I think it was just dirty so i cleaned it up real good but haven't gotten a chance to go back to the range yet.

 

[maxfield 419]

I own the P-22 and for about 300 bucks, it's the most fun you can have with your pants on. It eats just about any HV ammo you throw at it (except that remington thundercrap), its relatively easy to clean and maintain, and my lady loves to do her Charlie's Angels impression with it...lots of fun to watch. She really gets a kick out of the laser...which is worth the $99 price tag.

+1 on the next "one" being or being made a gun fan.

 

[Jamie]

I can't speak to the Sig, never had one, but I bought the Walther P22 for my wife as a "you can have this once your LTC is approved" maneuver. She loves it, as do both of my boys (5 and 9 years old). All three of them have small hands and it fits them perfectly. My hands are considerably larger and swallow the gun, but it's still fun to shoot. I bought it used with unknown round count, and have put at least 4000 rounds down range with it between all of us. There are no obvious signs of wear, it feeds reliably with just about any high velocity ammo including the different bulk pack choices, simple to strip and clean, consistently accurate to at least 50', and just a great way to spend an afternoon with the family without breaking the bank. It's also pretty sexy looking with a lazer slung on the forward rail!

 

[Raoul Duke]

Thanks for the quality feedback!

Thanks all for the good info and ownership reviews. Thinking it out, it seems like the Ruger and the SW need investigation as well before I make a decision. That's another reason I just love this forum. There's always someone who's hooking me up with another perspective (read gun) to investigate!

 

[Cherokee_Outlaw]

Got the P22 with the laser for my gf... I have more fun with it then she does.. It loves the 550 Fed Value packs from Wal-Mart.. It hates the Fed Match Grade...

I must have put nearly 6 boxes of the 550 ammo through it... and when you go and spend hours using up a box of 550 ammo... at the end of the day... you realize it just cost $12..

 

[KancamangusMangler]

I bought a mosquito last week and love it so far.... I've put about 700 rounds through it, started off with cci blazer and then moved on to a little bit of everything else I could find.

From everything I've heard the Ruger is a more accurate gun but I have a p220 and a p226 so I figured it's better practice with a 90% size Sig (and it's oh so much cheaper shooting a ton of .22 and a few mags of 9mm/.45 vs a few hundred 9/45 a week).

 

[Finalygotabeltfed]

Had a chance to handle but not shoot a brand new Mosquito this past weekend. I liked the look of it and it felt very good in my hand and appears to be well made. The action was also very smooth. It will definitely be the next .22 pistol I buy.

 

[xxmc]

I have the mosquito. My dad purchased it a few months ago from bass pro. We got it for 300. We got it to take to the range along with the 9mm beretta for some cheap fun shooting. I just bought a fabous paddle hoslter for the mosquito so I can carry it in the great state of Vermont when I go hunting. I only use the CCI minimags and the gun needs to be cleaned after every use. Great gun. Goes everywhere I go in VT.

 

[gillis51]

P22

I have a P22 and think the build quality is crap. I will be buying a ruger Mark III soon. The fit and finish of the Mark III appear to be a whole heck of a lot nicer. Good luck.

 

[Urj]

I bought the Mosquito instead of the P2 because the P22 is tiny. I don't have big hands but I sometimes even have difficulty getting a good grip on the Sig, the P22 would be a no go for me.

9 out of 10 times the Sig runs like a top with Federal bulk. Once in awhile it will be temperamental. I've got thousands of rounds through it at this point and it'll be staying around. I bought it with the same reasons in mind that you have. For introducing girls to shooting. So far both girls I've taken to the range have really enjoyed shooting it, so it is a good choice for that.

 

[Rob]

My P22 quickly turned to my least favorite gun after a very frustrating bout of stovepipes and misfeeds that has still yet to be resolved. After speaking with a gunsmith about my issues, he suggested giving it to him to diagnose (for a fee naturally) and that it may be ammo related. I've tried and documented a number of types of ammo and haven't found one that my P22 really likes so I can assume it's the gun.

If the gun doesn't have any known issues, then a P22 is a fun little gun.

Can't comment on the Sig but I wouldn't mind owning one.

 

[Make It In Mass]

Raoul, I know you are a SIG fan, so I am going to offer you some encouragement. The Mosquito was my first firearm, and it was a rocky beginning. Feeding problems and fail-to-eject issues on a recent-vintage reverse two-tone.

After a trip back to the factory with all of the magazines (I was told it was mainly magazine adjustments that were made) it was running well again. I have experimented with most high-velocity .22LR ammo and found that it runs great on CCI MiniMags as it is advertised to do. Federal Value Pack 550-count lightly lubricated with silicone spray work well, with some light strikes and no feeding or ejection problems. Federal AutoMatch 325-count is the best combination of price and performance, no lubrication necessary and light strikes are rare. A pack of 325 rounds for ~$14 at Wally World is just right for a session at the range.

After getting the necessary adjustments and finding the right ammo, I am really liking this pistol again. Probably have 5,000 rounds through it. It has worn-in nicely and is easy to break down to clean. There was a time when I mumbled "I should have gotten the Ruger Mark III", but I stuck with it until I got it right. As Dwarven1 recently posted, "Never sell your first gun". Words to live by. I may pick up that Ruger after the turn of the year, but to supplement and not replace the Mosquito. Hope this was helpful.

 

[depicts]

Uncle Duke, knowing you're a SIG fan, I can't imagine you with anything other than the SIG.

On the other hand, knowing you have a brain, I can't see you getting anything but the Ruger.

I have a few Ruger autos, one goes back to early 1950's. I have never had a gun related failure, and as yet, I have never taken the gun apart or put a ramrod down the barrel. The only cleaning I've ever done to the gun is with a toothpick around the extractor and to remove built up powder and crap around the receiver. Once in awhile I put some oil on it.

My second Ruger, a MKII, is only about a year old to me, but was used when I got it. I give it the same quality care and treatment I give my old one... nothing... and it just works and works. It eats up Winchester Thunderbolt or anything else I want to give it, and comes back for more. I'd be afraid to give it quality ammo like CCI minimags, afraid I'd spoil it. Again, not one failure related to the gun or magazine. There have been Thunderbolt's that wouldn't go off with a boulder dropped on them, but the gun works fine.

One of the shops near me, Strickland & Sons has about 10 used Rugers in their case right now. Everything from MKI's to MKIII Hunters priced from $159 up to $350 for the hunter.

But the SIG looks SOOOOOO cool doesn't it. Who are you trying to kid???

 

[Chuck]

I'm bring the P22 to the pumpkin shoot, feel free to try it out.

It's not finely crafted like I would expect from a Walther. Doesn't lock back on the last shot half the time and I had to loc-tight the screw for the 5" barrel dust cover extension. But its fun, shoots straight enough, and newbies like to shoot with when I tell them its a Walther! Ya, like James Bond.

 

[Cross-X]

Two good companies. Two bad choices.