22 for my Daughter

[rdrancher]

I'm looking for suggestions for a .22 revolver for my 9-year-old daughter to start on. I'm thinking single action. She's been shooting my SP101 in single action with .38 special wadcutters and she's pretty good with the .22 rifle.

Show me what ya got.

rd

 

[Peter M. Eick]

My preference is a Dan Wesson 722 because it is built like a tank and will last her the rest of her life.

A nice K22 Masterpiece would be an ok second choice.

 

[Radagast]

Ruger Bearcat would probably be ideal for her current size, a Ruger Single Six would last her until she is a grandmother and you are long gone. Both are single actions.

Years ago I traded my Single Six to part pay for a S&W 617 for my father. I still miss the Single Six, it was better balanced with a nicer trigger.

 

[randyman_ar]

H&R 649 if you can find one. Good quality, also comes with a magnum cylinder.

 

[Dienekes]

My daughter was about that age when she started with an old Single Six. Sizewise a Bearcat is ok but so light it floats around; also, sights are fixed. A while back I gave my daughter (now grown) an older S&W Kit Gun in 4" barrel. In retrospect, that probably would have been the best.

Just be safe, patient, and have fun. And good for you.

 

[Taurus_9mm]

+1 on the Ruger Bearcat.

www.gunnerforum.com

 

[Virginian]

I love my Single Six, but in my experience the Bearcats are just a hair more accurate. Probably a result of the 22LR/22Mag Single Six's compromise dimensions. In any event, both my daughters preferred the Bearcats when they were young. The old Rossi 511s (?) were nice small stainless 22s also, but you said you wanted a single action.

 

[searcher451]

+3 on the Ruger Bearcat. It's the ideal gun for new shooters, young shooters, and even older shooters who still like some range time. Bill Ruger got it right with this one back in 1958, and it's still about perfect 50-plus years later.

 

[DMZ]

Taught both my kids with a Bearcat. They were breaking Necco wafers in no time.

My son qualified "Expert" in the Combat Pistol course in the US Army.

 

[mainmech48]

Another ditto for the Bearcat. Simple, rugged, accurate and sized perfectly for young hands. Works nicely for old Uncles, too.

I do wish that there was a model which offered adjustable sights though. A revolver with the potential for sterling accuracy that this little SA has really deserves an easier way for us to dial it in where we want it to hit.

 

[warnerwh]

This week I did the exact same thing only my daughter is 12. She got a Smith 617. I agree with the above. The best two .22 revolvers imo are the Dan Wesson or Smith K22,17,617 which are all basically the same revolver. If she's small a Smith 34 is very small even for my small hands. Excellent accuracy and robust build quality with all of them. One reason they're robust is because they are all built on .357 frames.

 

[Virginian]

Actually they were all built on 38 frames, and that's why they don't hold up to a steady diet of 357s, but they are excellent 22s, no question.

 

[Guillermo]

Depends on the kid and your budget.

When mine was that age she was very responsible and took very good care of her valuables.

When she turned 15 I gave her a S&W model 19. I am thinking that everyone needs a good .22 so soon I am going to be in the market for a Model 17.

 

[BCRider]

My own preference is for the swing out hand ejector style since it makes unloading and loading far quicker. And besides, a swing out cylinder will make it more like your own SP so her gun would be more like Dad's..

I've shot a Smith m34 that had been set up with bigger grips and despite these "bigger grips" getting sort of lost in my big hands it was still a fun little shooter. Another option would be a Smith 63. In all cases I'd opt for the longer 4 to 5 inch barrel option just for the longer sight picture for target shooting.

 

[jakk280rem]

I don't have kids, but I do shoot with my nieces and nephews. I bought this as a gun we could all enjoy just a couple hours ago. I almost went with the Ruger, but chose this as it has a bit more style.