Did you know .22LR firearms were a fixture of shooting galleries at fairs and carnivals in the early 20th century? Their low recoil and affordability made them a favorite for novices and seasoned marksmen alike — though I’m sure OSHA would have had a conniption fit about it. A century later, the .22LR pistol has gone from carnival mainstay to an essential piece in every firearm enthusiast’s collection, and for good reason: ammunition runs about a tenth the cost of 9mm, and today’s rimfire pistols come with the optics-ready slides, threaded barrels, and high-capacity magazines that would have seemed like science fiction a generation ago.
From rimfire revolvers to viable concealed carry options, we’ve rounded up our top .22LR pistol picks for every situation. The Ruger Mark IV 22/45 is our overall pick — its one-button takedown finally fixes the field-strip headache that’s dogged the Mark series for 75 years. If you want a wheelgun, the Ruger Wrangler is the best .22LR revolver on the market at its price. And if you’re looking at a rimfire for concealed carry, the Walther P22 is the pick, with the caveats that come with carrying .22LR for self-defense.
