Ruger’s very first firearm was the now-classic Ruger Standard Model .22 Long Rifle semiauto pistol, introduced in 1949. Its two newest handguns are likewise rimfire offerings: the SR22P, also a semiauto, and the LCR-22, a compact polymer-frame double-action revolver. In the 60-plus years since that first introduction came dozens of other rimfires, including such iconic guns as the Single-Six and the 10/22. Ruger has always been a rimfire company, and its two newest offerings continue that tradition.
Sturm, Ruger & Co. has been a major player in the .22 pistol market since its corporate coming out party in 1949. The company has been selling variations on the Ruger Standard pistol for over sixty years, so when Ruger brings an altogether different .22LR pistol to market, people notice. Ruger’s newest Smurf gun is the Ruger SR22™. Except for the ammo, the little DA/SA .22 has nothing in common with the rest of the company’s excellent rimfire pistol line.
Ruger’s SR-series of firearms has been around for about a decade. It is comprised mostly of centerfire pistols. The first in the series was the SR9 semi-automatic (9mm), and afterwords several different models were released. In 2012, Ruger introduced its SR22 pistol, a semi-automatic chambered in rimfire .22 Long Rifle. This model is often mistaken or otherwise confused with the SR-22 Rifle (which is also chambered for the .22 LR), but these two were actually released a few years apart. They share some features (cartridge, action, name), but are otherwise very different firearms as you will learn here in our Ruger SR22 Rimfire Pistol Review.