Ah! The bigger, better deal. It's always over the horizon and I have succumbed many times myself.

I'm not sure how to say this, but I don't think barrel length has any inherent effect on the repeatability of your point of impact. Notice I didn't say "accuracy." Of course with a shorter barrel you will burn less of the powder in that cartridge, and so will have minor velocity differences compared to a longer barrel. So all other things being equal, I think you'd have to make some adjustments. But it will probably be other factors than barrel length that determine the inherent accuracy of one pistol vs another. Now you might not be able to shoot shorter barrel as accurately as a longer one, but only you are going to know the answer to that question, right?

In my (limited) experience, the aiming system actually makes a lot more of a difference on target than the brand of pistol or the length of the barrel. That is, I am three times as accurate with a red dot than I am with open sights.

Here's a picture of my Mk IV Standard, shot off a rest at 15 yards with open sights.

And here's the same pistol, same distance, same rest, with a red dot.

Now you could be (probably are) a much better shot than I am with open sights, but this Mk IV standard shoots about the same as a much fancier Volquartsen pistol with a longer barrel. Ditto a High Standard Victor. Ditto a S&W Model 41. Well, a little worse. Like 0.25 inches at 15 yards. Which is to say, mostly I am the limiting factor, not the firearm.

Anyway, long story short: get the Ruger. You know you want it and you listed some pretty good reasons. But I think you have to focus on something other than barrel length.

Just one man's opinion.

 

I've got a Browning Buckmark Hunter. It's a tack-driver - one hole at 15Y.
How much accuracy will I lose with the lighter/shorter barrel?

Paul, probably none or even do better at 15 yards. You will never go wrong with a Ruger Mark 1 through 4.

As for me I've never been a big fan of the Buckmark!

 

You can have more than 1 rimfire pistol.

I would never get rid of a pistol you can shoot that well...you will regret it the rest of your life.

Keep the Buckmark, buy or save up for a Mark IV.

 

You can have more than 1 rimfire pistol.

I would never get rid of a pistol you can shoot that well...you will regret it the rest of your life.

Keep the Buckmark, buy or save up for a Mark IV.

^THIS^ for sure.
I don't have a Buckmark but have this and it will never leave me until the day I die, then it goes to my son.

 

Great responses! With this kind of support for buying guns from the Internet I can overcome any objections from my wife.

• I only use red dots. My groups are 1/4th the size than with open sights.
• My local shop has one of these 22/45 Lites, in that color (which is hard to get), with a Riton already installed.

I may bring in the Buckmark and see what they'll give in trade. Normally I would just keep it, but I've really been on a buying spree lately.

 

Oh, according the tables the velocity loss going from 7" to 4.4" is pretty minimal.

 

If your primary consideration is weight.......by all means get the lightweight.

Your lightweight trail gun is not as good as a heavier gun offhand........so with our lightweights we shoot from a rest.

Practical pistol shooting.

 

I only shoot from some type of rest, ever. I cannot shoot worth a crap offhand. I sure can't reliable his a squirrel even at 15 yards that way.

 

Don't trade that one hole gun for a pig in a poke.

I'm telling your you will regret it. Maybe not while the new gun effect is going on, but at some point you will.

I'm not saying that the Ruger isn't a good pistol or that it won't shoot as well, but I'd never give one up like that.

Put it on lay away if you have to have the Ruger. Or trade something that you don't shoot as well or as often.

This website is full of "never should have gotten rid of" "I wish I could get that back" .

 

I appreciate the sentiment to hold on to the Buckmark, but, for the record, I don't think this one is special - I think they're all right about this accurate.

 

They offered me $200 for the Browning so I kept it.

Now I've got two rimfire pistols. Oh well.

 

How do the two compare side by side? have a 22/45 lite and it was not a tack drive and with the addition of a TandemKross Pro muzzle brake and CCI-SV it improved but not to tackdriver status. It's fun to shoot coke cans and steel with though and the grandkiddies like it because it doesn't weigh much. For a tack driver it's either my Hi-Standard HDM or MK IV Target. They get the job done. When I do my part.

 

Lots of varying takes here.

I would be a lot of the difference comes down to technique - shooting offhand is definitely going to be more accurate in real-world terms with a heavier, longer barrel.

I'll be shooting the new gun this Sat. Will post on the results.

I do plan to apply for the ATF permit and put a suppressor on it eventually.

 

Looking forward to your results with the new Ruger. As for shooting without support sometimes it is actually my not as heavy shorter barrel handguns that shoot best for me. I have an original series 4" 22/45 that shoots about as well as any handgun I shoot these days. Right up there with my 5.5" Smith 41 and 6" Smith 617.

 

I was able to shoot it today.

It shot by far the best with CCI Pistol Match. Unfortunately that is a load I do not own in bulk. (I've got to stop resisting those "great deals" on bulk ammo that it turns out my guns don't shoot well.)

Groups run a bit over .25" at 10Y. That's not bad, but I'm sure the gun can do better. Problems:

• The trigger is terrible. Tons of creep and heavy.
• I don't like this red dot - it's too bright and not adjustable.