In his recent column, The sweet sound of silence(ers), Police1 Columnist and retired Alaska State trooper Jeff Hall wrote about the benefits of suppressed weapons in police work. It appears that Sturm Ruger sees the value in such devices as well. The company just introduced a “Threaded Barrel” version of their long-popular 22/45 .22 LR Pistol. With a 4½” barrel and a polymer grip frame that provides the grip shape and angle of the venerable 1911, this gun should easily transition into certain mission-specific law enforcement roles.
The Ruger 22/45 Threaded Barrel is available with either fixed sights or a dual (top and bottom) Picatinny Rail, allowing for the use of lasers, lights, optical devices ,or taller custom fixed sights to get above some of the larger diameter “cans” still on the market. However, it should be noted that as many of the traditional suppressor designs as well as most of the newer ones intended for this type of application are pretty much the same diameter as the barrel itself. Consequently they can make for a very clean and non-cumbersome (holster friendly) configuration.
These blued, 10-shot .22LR pistols will retail for $425.00 for the sight rail and $593.00 for the fixed sight versions. Please note that some state and local laws control the sale and possession of threaded barrel firearms and these guns might not be available everywhere as a result.
