A Small 22lr

Beretta does. They have current models out right now in 22. and 25 auto.

Phoenix hp22 is a good gun for being cheap, but there are a lot nicer that are better for more money. I would avoid the Taurus tip-up 22s as they are pretty well jammomatic guns. Beretta has a similar gun that I would consider. I think it has a cat name, but I can’t remember which one.

Lcp 22 is small, probably better than your tip up barrel options (ply 22 by Taurus and Beretta 21a).

Don't discount an lcr 22 revolver. I mean no disrespect, it sounds like she may not have a ton of experience. Trigger is heavy but if it can be managed that may be good to learn on. Shoot that well and you can hit with anything. 8 rounds. No jams on a dud round ( a consideration carrying 22lr for self defense).

A Smith and Wesson 63 variant is also recommended. Not sure of your budget or if it's only autos you're looking for.

If so check our Ruger sr22 and bersa Thunder 22lr. Owned and recommend both. Run cci in a self defense semi auto. Especially the tip up barrels first mentioned

Walther PPK in .22lr. Small and classy.

I like my Taurus PLY22. Other then the slide which is tough to retract, its easy to carry and to shoot. With the tip up barrel I never have to. I've NEVER had a jam with factory mags. After market mags are horrible.

It's about the size of my LCP but easier and cheaper to shoot.

I was told you get best results with CCI mini mags and they work great. I found cheap stuff like Rem Thunderbolt works great. Just use round nose "slippery" stuff. It's a lot of fun! I've even used it to dispatch a few varmints around the farm.

The beretta 21a, bobcat. The lcp II in 22lr might fit the bill. Still, a center fire locked breach 32acp might also be worth considering, such as the keltec p32.

Another vote for LCPII in 22lr. it is a very nice gun fitting your stated requirements perfectly.

BOARHUNTER

Another vote for the Ruger 8 shot revolver. It’s not as flat as an auto loader but it might be a perfect gun for someone who’s tentative about carrying.

The Ruger LCP 22 has been getting very good reviews, and it is a pocket pistol. Check it out here:

https://ruger.com/products/lcpII/models.html

My S&W M&P .22 Compact is pretty small and very reliable; but is it small enough for her? Get her to handle one.

tws3b2 said:

No, She don't have a ton of experience but she has had time at the range shooting up to 38spl. She does insist that if she gets a gun it must be a 22lr. and pocket size.
Some years ago she decided she wanted to try deer hunting. In the first hour of the first day. She killed her first deer with her first shot using a 30 30 Winchester lever action. Her first and last time deer hunting. She is very capable of handling firearms. She just don't like using anything larger than 22s.

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My daughter is the same way- she has capably shot handguns up to .357, but doesnt want anything bigger than a .22 for a nightstand gun. I gave her a rimfire Ruger SP101 and she is happy (and effective) with it.

Id prefer she use something more potent, but its better than nothing.


Her husband does have a 9mm on his side of the bed, so they arent really undergunned I suppose.

It would require a little larger pocket than the Phoenix but the Ruger SR22 is a very dependable little gun. I have owned one for years and it has never failed with HV ammo unless the ammo was a dud which is something you have to consider with any 22 handgun.

doubleh said:

It would require a little larger pocket than the Phoenix but the Ruger SR22 is a very dependable little gun. I have owned one for years and it has never failed with HV ammo unless the ammo was a dud which is something you have to consider with any 22 handgun.

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Does the SR have double-strike capability? Not something I normally obsess about with a center-fire, but it becomes a lot more important if one plans to carry a rimfire.

Something to consider on the Beretta and Taurus tip-up guns too- they have no extractor. It just gives them a unique manual of arms for clearing a jam or making safe. This can be trained for, of course, but someone used to a conventional pistol might not think about it.

tws3b2 said:

No, She don't have a ton of experience but she has had time at the range shooting up to 38spl. She does insist that if she gets a gun it must be a 22lr. and pocket size.
Some years ago she decided she wanted to try deer hunting. In the first hour of the first day. She killed her first deer with her first shot using a 30 30 Winchester lever action. Her first and last time deer hunting. She is very capable of handling firearms. She just don't like using anything larger than 22s.

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If you end up wanting the Beretta Bobcat, get a new one and break it in with solid nose CCI Mini Mags.

In my experience with my Bobcat, I'd pick an 8 shot small revolver instead. Like the aforementioned LCR or an S&W. But, your wife will need to see if the trigger pull is something she can work with.

If it has to be a semi-auto pistol, I'd consider the LCP .22 instead as well. Sure, the Beretta is a double strike capable gun, but that no-extractor thing can be a problem. Plus, the Beretta is one fat cat of a pocket pistol due to the recoil levers and springs riding behind each grip panel.

chicharrones said:

If you end up wanting the Beretta Bobcat, get a new one and break it in with solid nose CCI Mini Mags.

In my experience with my Bobcat, I'd pick an 8 shot small revolver instead. Like the LCR or an S&W. But, your wife will need to see if the trigger pull is something she can work with.

If it has to be a semi-auto pistol, I'd consider the LCP .22 instead as well. Sure, the Beretta is a double strike capable gun, but that no-extractor thing can be a problem. Plus, the Beretta is one fat cat of a pocket pistol due to the recoil levers and springs riding behind each grip panel.

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Ive carried an Italian-made Tomcat and it was a little chunky, but the upside is it fills the hand well, which enhances grip control- ahhhh, there's no such thing as a free lunch in engineering, is there? Lol!

Second on the SR-22, a bunch of safety features on that little pistol, small, no recoil and fun to shoot!

defjon said:

If so check our Ruger sr22 and bersa Thunder 22lr. Owned and recommend both. Run cci in a self defense semi auto. Especially the tip up barrels first mentioned

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My Bersa .22 is a much more dependable gun than my Beretta Bobcat ever dreamed of being. Both have double strike capability, too!

NIGHTLORD40K said:

Ive carried an Italian-made Tomcat and it was a little chunky, but the upside is it fills the hand well, which enhances grip control- ahhhh, there's no such thing as a free lunch in engineering, is there? Lol!

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You're right, it does feel very good in the hand. But it also feels fat in a snug pocket.

I have had great reliability from my Taurus PT22 Poly as well as my Beretta 21 Bobcat but my Walther PK/s 22 is the one that has seemed to love any type ammo I feed it.

HOWEVER, my constant companion is likely 107 years old and is the product of JMBs second marriage.



It's an FM vest pocket in 6.35 (25 acp). I like it because it has the grip safety as well as the classic thumb safety, is Single Action with a very nice crisp trigger with 6 + 1 rounds. It's very very controllable, simple, easily maintained, reliable and relatively accurate at BBD. The FN version is pretty available and sells for considerably less than the Colt copy.

Given the choice between a .22 pocket and a .25, Id go with the .25 for more reliable ignition and more energy from a 1.5" barrel- 25ft/lb vs 60ft/lb.


Of course, this is in a fantasy world where .25acp is both available and cheap enough to train with.....

My '03 Vest Pocket was beat all to hell, but still ran very reliability. I just couldnt afford to feed it.

NIGHTLORD40K said:

Does the SR have double-strike capability? Not something I normally obsess about with a center-fire, but it becomes a lot more important if one plans to carry a rimfire.

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Double strike in a rimfire is useless. I shoot 1000's of 22. If the firing pin keeps hitting the same spot on a unfired round it will never fire. On my unfired 22 rounds I physically have to remove them and rotate to get the firing pin to hit a different point. Hitting the same spot over and over again does nothing.
.

Considering that the OP clearly stated she wants a pocket pistol in 22 caliber, I do not think the SR22 or the M&P 22 compact applies. The odd ball Taurus and Beretta are just that odd. Familiar is better. LCP 22 is the answer in my mind. I have had three Rugers in the past. Today I have two, an LCPII a security 9 compact. Never had any failures with any of them. They stand by their guns, and they have great customer service.