Best .22 Pistols for Target Shooting (Black Friday 2026): 5 Picks Compared
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If you're shopping Black Friday 2026 for a .22 LR pistol, you're in good company. Rimfire pistols are the cheapest way to send rounds downrange, they barely kick, and they're quiet enough that new shooters can actually focus on grip, trigger press and sight picture instead of flinching. Below are five .22 pistols worth comparing this season, what they cost when we checked prices on Nov 11, 2026, and where stock was sitting at the time. Prices and availability move fast around Black Friday (Nov 27) and Cyber Monday (Nov 30), so treat these as a starting point and confirm current pricing before you drive to a store.
Quick picks
- Best overall target .22: Browning Buck Mark Plus Stainless UDX
- Best classic bullseye pistol: Ruger Mark IV Target
- Best lightweight: Ruger Mark IV 22/45 Lite
- Best value full-size target .22: Smith & Wesson SW22 Victory / Target Model
- Best for fun/high capacity: SIG Sauer P322
Comparison table
| Model | Key specs | Price checked Nov 11, 2026 | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Browning Buck Mark Plus Stainless UDX | 10+1, 5.5 in barrel, 35 oz, fiber-optic front/Pro-Target adjustable rear, Picatinny rail | $649.99 / $659.99 | Check price at GunDeals |
| Ruger Mark IV Target | 10+1, 5.5 in bull barrel, 35.6 oz, adjustable rear, drilled and tapped for rail | $569.99 (last in-stock price) | Check price at GunDeals |
| Ruger Mark IV 22/45 Lite (43956) | 10+1, 4.4 in barrel, 25 oz, adjustable rear, factory Picatinny rail | $589.99 (Lite variant, out of stock online) | Check price at GunDeals |
| Smith & Wesson SW22 Victory / Target Model | 10+1, 5.5 in stainless bull barrel, about 36 oz, Picatinny rail | $439.99 (out of stock online) | Check price at GunDeals |
| SIG Sauer P322 | 20+1 (two 20-rd mags), 4 in barrel, 17.1 oz, fiber-optic sights, optic-ready | $429.99 / $429.99 | Check price at GunDeals |
The pistols
Browning Buck Mark Plus Stainless UDX
The Buck Mark line has been a mainstay of recreational and competitive bullseye shooting for decades, and the Plus Stainless UDX version leans into that heritage. It carries a 5.5 in barrel, a fiber-optic front sight paired with a Pro-Target adjustable rear, and an integrated Picatinny rail for anyone who wants to add an optic down the road. At 35 oz it has enough heft to stay steady on target without feeling like a brick. MSRP is $759.99, but it was listed at $649.99 at Palmetto State Armory and $659.99 at Sportsman's Warehouse (store pickup) when we checked. This is the pick if you want a pistol that's equally at home teaching a new shooter and punching paper for years afterward.
Ruger Mark IV Target
The Mark IV family is arguably the most recognized name in rimfire pistols, and the Target model is the straightforward bullseye version: a 5.5 in blued bull barrel, 35.6 oz of weight to help settle the sights, an adjustable rear sight, and a receiver that's drilled and tapped for a rail if you want to mount optics later. The headline feature for anyone who's wrestled with older rimfire pistols is the one-button takedown, which makes field stripping and cleaning dramatically easier. MSRP is $689, and Ruger currently marks this model as limited availability. Sportsman's Warehouse had it listed online at $569.99, though it was out of stock online when we checked — that price reflects when it was last in stock, so confirm current pricing before counting on it.
Ruger Mark IV 22/45 Lite
If the steel-heavy Mark IV Target sounds like more gun than you want to hold up for an afternoon, the 22/45 Lite trims weight down to about 25 oz with a shorter 4.4 in barrel and a polymer grip frame shaped like a 1911, which a lot of shooters find more natural to hold. It keeps the adjustable rear sight, factory Picatinny rail, and the same one-button takedown where the upper tilts off for cleaning. The specific 43956 version is threaded, per Ruger's spec sheet, with an MSRP of $759. Sportsman's Warehouse listed Lite variants around $589.99, with the blue anodized 43932 out of stock online at the time we checked. Confirm which exact model number and finish you're looking at before you buy, since the Lite line has several variants.
Smith & Wesson SW22 Victory / Target Model
Smith & Wesson's rimfire pistol splits into a couple of naming conventions depending on the retailer, so pay attention here. S&W's own site lists the SW22 Victory at $469 and a Target Model at $489, and Sportsman's Warehouse carries it under item #11536, which S&W identifies as the Target Model. Specs across the line include a 5.5 in stainless bull barrel, weight around 36 oz, a factory Picatinny rail, and a one-screw takedown that's simple for beginners to manage at home. Sportsman's had it listed at $439.99, out of stock online when we checked. Because the naming isn't perfectly consistent between the manufacturer and retailer listings, confirm the exact variant and included sights before you check out.
SIG Sauer P322
The P322 is the outlier on this list in both looks and capacity. It ships with two 20-round magazines (10-round versions also exist depending on your state), making it a favorite for shooters who don't want to stop and reload every few minutes. It's also the lightest pistol here at 17.1 oz, with a 4 in barrel, fiber-optic front and adjustable fiber-optic rear sights, and a removable rear sight plate that makes it optic-ready out of the box. We found it in stock at Gunprime and at Sportsman's Warehouse (both at $429.99, with Sportsman's on online notify-me status). If plinking volume and modern ergonomics matter more to you than a traditional bullseye look, this is the one to consider.
Worth a mention: the Smith & Wesson M&P22 Compact (10199) is a smaller, lighter option — 10+1, 3.6 in barrel, about 17 oz — but it's not optic-ready, which makes it less suited to dedicated target work. S&W lists it at $449, and Sportsman's had it on sale for $379.97, also out of stock online at the time we checked. If you're set on a compact single-stack .22, it's worth a look, but it's not built the same way as the bullseye-style guns above.
If you're also considering a rimfire rifle instead of (or alongside) a pistol, our rimfire guide covers the Taurus TX22 and Ruger Wrangler, plus other fun guns under $500. And if you already own a Ruger 10/22 and want glass for it, check out our roundup of scopes for the 10/22.
Why a .22 pistol is the best way to learn
There's a reason almost every instructor recommends starting new shooters on .22 LR. Ammunition is cheap compared to centerfire calibers, which means more trigger time for the same budget. Recoil and muzzle blast are both low, so beginners can concentrate on the fundamentals — stance, grip, sight alignment, trigger control — without developing a flinch. The guns above also tend to run heavier and with longer barrels than typical carry pistols, which naturally helps steady the sights and builds good habits that carry over if you move to other calibers later.
What else to buy
A pistol alone won't get you a good range day. At minimum, budget for eye and ear protection — rimfire is quieter than centerfire, but it's still a firearm, and hearing and eye protection should be non-negotiable every time you shoot. Pick up paper or steel targets suited to pistol distances, and don't forget .22 LR ammunition itself; compare current .22 LR prices below.
Compare .22 LR prices at GunDeals ›
Buying the right way
Handguns purchased online or in-store still go through a licensed firearms dealer and a background check — there's no shortcut around that process, and it's there for good reason. Age requirements and additional state or local rules apply to handgun purchases, and they vary by state, so check your own state and local laws before you buy, especially if you're ordering online for shipment to a dealer near you. Once you get the pistol home, store it securely — a locked container or safe, ammunition stored separately if that fits your household's needs — especially if there are kids or other unauthorized users in the home.
Where to find the current deal
Stock and pricing on rimfire pistols are shifting constantly this close to Black Friday, and several of the models above were already showing as out of stock online in mid-November. Check our daily deals page for the latest confirmed pricing and availability as Nov 27 and Nov 30 approach.
FAQ
What is the most accurate .22 pistol for the money?
We haven't tested these guns ourselves, so we can't make accuracy claims. In general, look at the features that tend to help with precision: longer bull barrels and adjustable sights, both of which you'll find on the Buck Mark Plus Stainless UDX, the Ruger Mark IV Target, and the S&W Victory/Target Model.
Ruger Mark IV vs Browning Buck Mark?
Both are long-running target pistol lines with adjustable sights and similar barrel lengths. The Mark IV's one-button takedown is a notable convenience feature for cleaning, while the Buck Mark Plus Stainless UDX adds a fiber-optic front sight and a Pro-Target adjustable rear as standard. Compare specs and current pricing side by side before deciding.
Are .22 pistols good for beginners?
Yes — low recoil, low noise, and inexpensive ammunition make .22 LR pistols a common recommendation for new shooters learning the fundamentals.
Can I put a red dot on these?
The Buck Mark Plus Stainless UDX and the Ruger Mark IV 22/45 Lite both come with a factory Picatinny rail. The SIG P322 is optic-ready via a removable rear sight plate. The S&W Victory/Target Model has a rail as well, though S&W does not describe it as optic-cut, so confirm compatibility with your specific mount before buying an optic.