So I just bought my first two pistols a 9 and a 380 and am wanting a 22, suggestions?

So, as it turns out, while I respect the Ruger .22's, I don't particularly like them. There are competitive guns in that price range, essentially any of which I like better, the two most common are:

1) Browning Buckmark series - Essentially, model for model they match up to the Ruger line. Bull barrel, short barrel, long barrel, competition style, etc. They are an excellent firearm, and I've done a good deal of shooting with a couple of different ones and like them quite well. They have a less radical grip than the Ruger, which is the second most common complaint about the Ruger guns (them being a pain in the keister to clean being the first) and are relatively easy to take apart and clean.

2) Smith and Wesson Model 22A - S&W has a different approach to this, in essentially offering the one model. However, it's not a bad approach as the 22A is a fine pistol. Inexpensive, accurate and comfortable.

Now, there has developed a whole class of "trainer" .22 pistols. One of which has been mentioned the CZ Kadet. More or less the "trainer" pistol to your new PK380 you've already rejected (which is fine) which is the Walther P22. There are probably only two that are in your price range:

The CZ Kadet - should be there or close. This is essentially, a CZ75 centerfire pistol with their Kadet conversion kit mounted on it. It feels and shoots exactly like a CZ75, but in .22. A great gun, I shoot a number of CZ guns myself and think they are a great value.

The Chiappa 1911. This is a little different. Essentially, they have taken the look and feel of a 1911, but built it from the ground up as a .22LR. A nice pistol, inexpensive, reasonably accurate. For you the only issue is going to be, with the two pistols you just picked up, a 1911 style gun is a different feel. Still a good choice for a solid .22 and you can definitely learn plenty about shooting with it.

Now there are some used choices that I would specifically look for:

1) A Sig Trailside/Hammerli Xesse. - These originally came out from Sig at just about the $500 for the basic version. Used, you might find one in your price. These are excellent guns. Much, much better trigger than any of the previous ones discussed and more accurate as well. They are light, and have relatively inexpensive magazines. I never should have sold mine, and will be getting another one with the new Hammerli grip, probably this quarter.

2) Beretta 87 - I shoot the 87T, or the target model of this gun (in fact, it is what I sold the aforementioned SIG to get) which is a .22 version of their Beretta 84 Cheetah in .380. This is one of the other few trainer guns for something in .380 and it shoots very well. Beretta is well known for their ergonomics, so it is comfortable and quite accurate. Again, new - out of the price range you've talked about, but used, you might be able to find one.

As a last thought this pistol is less common, but might be something which works for you, the Walther SP22. There is a company called Umarex which makes alot of high end airsoft/air gun sort of gun toys modeled off of actual firearms. At least in the US they are branching out under the Walther parent name to provide the next step up, a .22 firearm. So, again, this is a bit of a bizarre looking gun. It is definitely designed as a .22 and not a scale down from something bigger. I haven't had alot of trigger time behind one, but the 50 or so rounds I've put through it seemed a reasonable gun for the price. I would probably choose the S&W 22A before I picked this, but it's grip configuration is quite close to your PK380 so it might be a better fit for you.

Final note: There is a common opinion about .22's and how spending alot of money on one is foolish. However, there is a different perspective - and it is the one I take. I shoot more .22 than centerfire rounds by something between a 5 to 1 and 10 to 1 ratio. In fact, I probably shot 6,000 - 8,000 rounds of .22 in 2010 compared to about 1,000 - 2,000 rounds of all other calibers combined, which has been a down year for shooting for me. Ultimately .22 is always going to be cheaper than anything else, so I'll always be putting more trigger time into my .22 weapons than the others. So, if I'm going to be putting that amount of trigger time into a gun, regardless of caliber - is the relevant thing how much I like shooting it? Or is it how much it cost? Depending on how you want to do the math, a .22 will pay for itself compared to centerfire in a really few number of rounds.

It's worth thinking about. There is a whole world of mid to high level .22 pistols out there which are phenomenal guns. The SW model 41 mentioned earlier is one of them.

Thinkingblade

The Ru ger pistol's are very good choices. That 22/44 is just a Ruger MK pistol with the grip frame that mimics a 1911..."feels" like the 1911 only as much as the angles and dimensions are nearly identical to the standard 1911 pattern pistol. I've seen Ruger MK pistols under $300. About the only downside to the Ruger is...it can be hard to re assemble after you tear it down for deep cleaning.

Rugers are sold with barrels from 4.5- to over 6 inches...Stainless or blued.

Browning Buckmarks are similar ... like the Ruger they fit the bill for a plinker or semi serious target gun. SW offers a couple of 22's based along the Model 41 also

I don't know what kind of work you want that 22 for... but Beretta makes a tip up pocket gun in 22. The Walther and Sig are kinda ok to subsitute for practice if you shoot a centerfire gun.. but the Walter in particular would be a lot nicer if they added a de-cocker

Taurus... their semi auto pistols fall into very good...or a nightmare depending on what mood the production line was in the day it was born. Taurus has "lifetime" guarentee.. but the shipping is on your dime and they take their time

Ignore Nate, he is arguably the biggest moron on here. Glock does NOT make a .22 LR pistol, nor do they make a "44mm" (which would be larger than grenade launcher).

As for what MD recommended, you obviously misinterpreted that. It is almost physically IMPOSSIBLE to make a .22 LR recoil like a .45 ACP. What he is saying is that the grips are slender and it feels like you are HOLDING a 1911. ANY .22 LR, unless it weights a quarter-pound, will have the amount of recoil that a 3-year old can handle.

So there's a second vote for the Ruger 22/45 if one of the best .22 LR pistol out there (Ruger Mk. I, II, III) doesn't feel right for you.

try the Ruger Mark I then, it has a smaller grip then the Mark II, III, and you can pick one up used for under $300.00 at a pawnshop, but if you have carpal tunnel you may want to stick with the standard barrel and not the 5 1/2 inch bull barrel that I have on mine,(like it for the fact it cuts down on recoil and sight recovery) I had the Ruger 22/45 bull barrel but did not like the fact that when I would grip the pistol my middle finger would hit the magazine release, and the magazine would fall out, my younger sister has small hands and she liked the feel of the Ruger Mark I in her hand, and it is one of the easiest to disassemble and clean and very accurate, at 25 yards I can keep all my shots under 2 inches from a rest, rapid fire two hand hold 6 inches

All of my experience with Taurus handguns, is with revolvers. They have all been accurate and reliable, and worth the money. Newell, is right, I have shot several Ruger .22 autos, and they were all great reliable and accurate guns. Smith and Wesson makes impressive .22 auto pistols too.

You may be able to find a good quality used pistol for a lot less than a new one, if you are willing to shop around some.

Ruger mark III 22/45

Shoots 22lr feels like a 1911

Fit money is an issue the Ruger MKIII 6" BBL. If money isn't an issue the S&W Model 41 7 1/2 "

Kel Tec is an k company, and about the one different respectable 380 which you can get for that rate often is the Bersa Thunder. Nonetheless, comprehend that 380 ammo is in short deliver and will also be luxurious. If you wish to spend a little more, the Ruger LCP is just about equal to the P3AT

What pistol do you have that is chambered in 9mm? Many companies make aftermarket drop-in conversion kits in the $200~ range.

The Glock idea isn't bad, if you have one you can buy a .22 LR conversion kit for it.