Need help! which .22

[Buglight]

Hello all,

It took me awhile(little over 3yrs) to convinced my wife to get interesting in shooting so I don't wanna blow it. it's gonna be her VERY FIRST time so I have to do it right or she will never touch them again. .

Looking for .22 caliber handgun with 4"- 6" barrel lenght but don't know which one to get and which one is stay away from for less than $250, could be new or use, long as it's useable.This's not for home nor for carry, it's for target practice only. It's just for her first time shooting so I'm looking for some thing that less or very little or no recoil and add in some accuracy to boots up her interest(long barrel).

The smallest caliber I have is .380acp and .38 special(with shorter barrels), the rest are .40's and .45's. I already though about conversion kit for one of my 1911 but they're cost alittle too high for what I'm looking for.

Help please!.

 

[stoky]

I've heard good things about the Heritage SA revolvers. http://www.heritagemfg.com/traditional.shtml
If you come across a Smith Model 63 don't pass it up. It would make a good trainer/de-flincher for a larger caliber J frame in the future.

 

[Falconeer]

I've heard good things about the Beretta U22 Neos pistols. I don't have one myself, but I'm in the market when I can get the money out of MY wife. They are made in a 7" version and have integral rails, which might intrigue the wife. The delux version has an adjustable trigger. The overall 'look' is very modern so it may appeal to her more than a 'classic' looking gun. Gunbroker has them for $250 or so.

 

[ChevellRCR]

My girlfriend loves the little 22a Smith I got for her. She is very picky about what she likes. I think I paid about $200 for mine new.

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CatalogSearchResultView?storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&pageSize=10&published=1&beginIndex=0&resultType=2&attributeName1=Model&attributeValue1=22A&attributeValueType1=STRING&attributeValueOperator1=EQUAL&isFirearm=Y

 

[Geno]

Too many good choices--I say convert the 1911

I bought the Kimber .22LR conversion for my 1911s for about $250.00 It is accurate as all get out. It's reliable and best of all, it's cheap to shoot. Now, they cost about $300.00 But, look at it as an investment.

You too could practice more with your 1911 at 1/8th the cost of the .45 ACP. Three boxes of ammo will pay the increased price over your $250.00 range. Some of my best memories are of my wife kicking my butt in pistol shooting! And she had NEVER shot before--so she says.

Every once in a while Bass Pro will put Rugers on sale for $219.00. I don't know anyone in their right mind who would not support buying a Ruger Mark II or Mark III. For me, I'll stick to the conversion for the 1911. Good luck and I hope you BOTH have a great time together.

Doc2005

 

[Radjxf]

I have a Ruger MKII slab Govt Target model that's built like a tank and .22 rifle accurate. Downside for her may be it's weight. Best bet might be a Browning Buckmark. Has an aluminum frame, so it's a little lighter. IMO these two are the best .22's for the money as I've fired almost every .22 pistol (or so it would seem). Good luck

 

[MCgunner]

Hard to beat a Rossi revolver for the money, I know, I have one. It's a "kit gun" size 4" adjustable sight gun that'll shoot with any Ruger Mk2 or other similar standard grade auto. I love the thing. It's super accurate and super handy with a GREAT trigger, best SA I have on a DA revolver. I got it used and think the previous owner may have done a trigger job on it. It just seems too good to be out of the box that good.

 

[New_geezer]

There are several good choices for a 22 handgun. The best idea may be to take her to a range that rents a representative sample and let her find the one that fits her hand the best. The Neos is a good quality, fairly inexpensive but has a rakish angle for the grip that isn't for everyone. Rugers are famous for reliability and two models have different grip angles. The BuckMark is also a good solid selection and there are models for different sized hands. My wife fell in love with the way the Trailside feels but for various reasons I personally wouldn't recommend it. The Sig Mosquito is small and new but seems to get generally good reviews.

In CA the choice of new handguns for $250 that I'd recommend for a first, "must get it right" gun is pretty limited. (Neos comes close) Better to a get a quality used gun than some new make with an iffy reputation (Phoenix comes to mind). I can't imagine anything that would turn her off faster than a gun that keeps malfunctioning.

 

[22-rimfire]

I would look at the Ruger line. My favorite is the 5.5" bull barrel Mark II/III. It is a litle heavier though due to the barrel. Some people like the Ruger 22/45 models as they are lighter. My best suggestion is that you go to a big gun shop that carries a fairly big inventory and just pick some with her and look at them. She will tell you what feels the best. But I would avoid the little guns intended for carry. Make sure she uses hearing protection. That is another item to turn her away from shooting... ringing ears not to mention the potential damage.

 

[MCgunner]

Hey, I've got an HP22 I kinda like! Yeah, it's a POS. ROFLMAO! It's definitely NOT for the non-mechanically inclined! I keep wearing out recoil springs in it. I'm thinking I'll try to heat treat one, heat it red hot with a torch and drop it in a cup of transmission fluid to flash cool. I think they get those cheesy springs out of ball point pens... That's my main problem with it. The thing is SUPER accurate for such a little gun and I'm a sucker for accuracy, only reason I haven't tossed it in the trash. I just buy recoil springs by the dozen. They wear out after about 500 rounds. LOL! I don't do anything more serious with that gun than plink. I do carry it if I want a pocket pistol with big pistol accuracy, that's where it shines. I took out a dozen or so water snakes once with it on a snake infested pond, making 25 yard shots with it. It feeds well and shoots staight and fits in a pocket. Great little outdoor tool if you can put up with the little problems.

But, I have a half dozen .22 handguns. My Rossi is my favorite. I don't have a quality autoloader. I have a several bigger ones that shoot well, though. With that accurate little Rossi, I'm quite happy.

 

[cookekdjr]

Ruger Mk series or Browning Buck Mark.
Very hard to beat the Buck Mark for a newbie. It is the best out-of-the-box .22 semi-auto for a beginner.
Wish I still had mine.
-David

 

[ribbonstone]

So many choices...but if it's to be her gun, she should make some of them.

Don't think women are unique in this:
There is a difference between a new gun you have the use of and a new gun that is YOURS.

Will be sighted to her eye..stocked to her hand...hers all the way. You dn't even get to pick it up without asking (same as you'd expect others to do with your guns).

I did let my wife shoot any and all guns I onwed. Lucky, she seems to be immune to moderte recoil and with enough sound protection, was happy.

Doubling up, using plugs and muffs, does not give you much more sound deadening...but it does give you a bit more, and new shooters ears haven't been de-tuned yet. If you want to live dangerously, keep adding hearing protection until when you can whisper, "Those jeans make your butt look like your moma's"...if she doesn't slap you, that's about the right amount of ear protection.

Took her to three or four gun shops (ever been with women who were shoe-shopping?...they are going to hit every store, then go back to the first one) and let her look at everything she cared to. Try to keep your personal preference out of the discussion...it ain't your gun...veto the POS ones, but if her choice is one that doesn't fit your hand or your style of shooting, so what?

 

[Buglight]

Thanks to all of you.

We have a local range with very limited rental on .22, I took her there couple of time but she doesn't any of them, the owner also agreed that his rental (.22) are not up to the task and it may not works as we expected.

The Berretta U22 look pretty good, and I'll look into Rugers and Brownings. It's not gonna be her personal handgun especially in .22 caliber, it's just something I'd like her to try out without scare her off, right after she gets use to the .22, I'll talk her into bigger caliber and she can have her own pistol of choice and the .22 will be for my next family member to gets into shooting sport(my teenage daughters).

Keep them coming if you think of something else, I have little over a month to complete this mission. .

 

[Steelcore]

Ruger MK2 tapered barrel 4 or 6 inch.Not too heavy and they last forever.If you want a lighter gun look at the 22/45 with tapered barrel.They have fixed sites.

 

[Black Majik]

I already though about conversion kit for one of my 1911 but they're cost alittle too high for what I'm looking for.

Help please!.

Well I'm here to convince you to try out a 1911 w. a .22 Conversion Kit. Yes they may be costly, but its convenient. It takes 10 seconds to swap from the .45 upper to the .22 upper.

Also, If you decide to use a .22 conversion kit for the 1911, definitely go ONLY marvel. The ciener and other .22 kits are so-so, but the Marvel Kits are awesome. Check out the reviews. There are quite a few Marvel Kits that I see for sale. I bought mine LNIB for $225. IMO it was definitely worth it. I shoot the bejeezus outta mine with pure satisfaction.

I use my Colt Government with a Marvel Unit 2 .22 Conversion Kit to introduce new shooters to the sport. So far its worked well. Plus you get to spoil your shooters on the 1911 trigger

I've done a few range reports for new female shooters if you look around the General Discussion you'll find em'. Starting off with the .22 is a BIG plus for new shooters. It'll teach them the fundamentals of how to shoot without the big bang and recoil.

Definitely don't discount the .22 Kits.

My newest convert with the Marvel .22 Kit ontop a Colt Government.


Good luck! You must be excited to introduce your wife to her first range session!

 

[f4t9r]

Browning buckmark

 

[rick_reno]

I shot a Buckmark for a couple of seasons in Bullseye - worked great, very accurate and easy to deal with gun.

 

[miko]

I've just got a new Ruger 22/45 KP512 stainless 5 1/2 bull barrel 10-round for $309.
I have not shot it yet but it feels like a great pistol for training.

miko

 

[Buglight]

Well I'm here to convince you to try out a 1911 w. a .22 Conversion Kit. Yes they may be costly, but its convenient. It takes 10 seconds to swap from the .45 upper to the .22 upper.

Also, If you decide to use a .22 conversion kit for the 1911, definitely go ONLY marvel. The ciener and other .22 kits are so-so, but the Marvel Kits are awesome. .


Good luck! You must be excited to introduce your wife to her first range session!

Do you have any experience with Ceiner kit?. Who make conversion kit for Kimber?.

Happy Chinese newyear and she's cute by the way, look like about same age of my daughters (13 and 17). We used to live in Huntington Beach, CA.

 

[Mark54g]

Go Beretta Neos. My wife loves shooting mine

 

[jmorris]

I bought a Colt Ace conversion off of Guns America, it’s a very nice shooter and because it has a steel slide the slide stop is functional, good for acclimating a new shooter to the 1911 (little pricey though). I also have a 5 1/2" Ruger M2 with a 1.5X Leupold, it’ll put 10 rounds in 3.5” @ 100yds (yeah, I have to show disbeliveers all the time). I have found that small children and many women shooters prefer revolvers. They are much easier for them to load, and more importantly make sure are unloaded. Most have much better triggers (single action) than automatics (better to teach with). Ruger single six and the S&W’s are good examples. Make sure you have adequate ear & eye protection, as any irritation to beginning shooters will likely run them off. If you can, keep your targets big and fun (use distance for difficulty), balloons in a pond will keep folks shooting for hours, and they can see where the bullets are going for every shot. If it’s windy pour a little water in before you blow them up.

 

[stoky]

+1 on the Ruger autos.
I got rid of a Single Six that wasn't as accurate as I was expecting.
Buckmarks are very nice, but it has been my experience that they can be finiky about ammo.
I was thinking that a revolver would be better than an auloloader for a beginner. A 1911 can be large for some female hands, although my wife is very good with one.
Please be careful shooting into water. Try to keep angles as obtuse as possible and don't do it unless there is a positively known vacant downrange area or backstop.

 

[22-rimfire]

Since it will be just another gun in your arsenal that she will just happen to shoot too, I would look strongly at the 5.5" Ruger Mark II or III bull barrel. Recommended this earlier. But adding a few extra thoughts.... Heavy little pistol that can still comfortably be carried in a belt holster out in the field. The other gun, which I also want, is the Kimber 1911 22. Expensive, but a fine 22 firearm that you can be proud to own for the rest of your life. I like the Colt 22 revolvers a lot too. Was looking at a slightly used 6" Colt Trooper Mark III today that was overpriced for the condition, but they are very good guns with a reputation for accuracy. You just have to find one priced right. Some people think they are made of gold.

 

[wrench]

another vote for the browning buckmark.
Mine is accurate, never fails, great trigger out of the box.

 

[Smythe77]

Personally I like my old High Standard Victor & Trophy though also have a S&W 617X6" I use to teach beginners. Still my advise on a new gun is the Ruger Mk II 5.5" bull bbl & no doubt those that buy it love it AND the price is so reasonable. The weight of a full metal gun is better for beginners rather then a light gun as some are being offered. Reason for the Ruger, my shame is that I do not have one that I can show & let the beginners try out.

True it would be nice to convert one of your 45s only not to many have a 45ACP by Colt & the extra money for the conversion.