best 22 for a first timer

Status
Not open for further replies.
A

Antihero

Member
Joined
Nov 23, 2006
Messages
1,220
My girlfriend wants to learn to shoot, lucky man me I know!, so I want to start her with a 22 pistol. She has small hands and id like it to be very simple to use. Cheaper is better than not as well.

I'm considering a Phoenix hp22 with range kit. It's small enough to be used as a purse fun and big enough with the 5 inch barrel to be used for fun plinking
 
Is she going to just shoot it and plink around or is she planning on carrying it too?
 
I would recommend one of the Ruger Mk series. Whether you like the MkII, the MkIII, or the Mk 22/45 version. They're all great shooters and they're extremely reliable and fun to shoot. You can pick one up for under $300 and it'll last a few lifetimes.

Ruger Mk 22/45



-Mike



18345-DEFAULT-l.jpg
 
Have you considered a single-action revolver? (That's assuming she doesn't want a carry gun, of course.) A Single-Six would be great, or a Bearcat if her hands are really small.

If she wants a carryable gun, I'd go with a Bersa Thunder .22 before I went with a Phoenix. Not quite as small, but a better range gun, and good-to-go for purse, jacket pocket, or belt holster:

DSC00064.jpg
 
Last edited:
Browning buckmark if you just need reliable plinker or the Ruger SR22 if she wants to carry as well.My wife loves the Ruger and it fits well in her hand.
 
Love Ruger but the mark ii I had was a unreliable.

It's mostly gonna be a plinker but if she could carry it until she upgrades that would be nice
 
head on down to your local range, and try out a few different pistols.

They should have plenty of pistols to rent and try.

You cant go wrong with Rugers for an entry .22lr, but i think if you shoot a variety of pistols and after a few visits, you'll want to go .380 or 9mm.

be safe.
 
The Beretta NEOS is very reasonably priced for the quality and is a good fit for small hands.
The Bersa is OK, small and fairly cheap, but works best with HV ammo which is real hard to find now.
 
In a semi-auto:

1) Ruger Mk.II/Mk.III
2) Browning Buckmark
3) Beretta Neos

In a revolver:
1) S&W Model 34
2) Ruger SP101
3) Ruger Bearcat
 
4 grand daughters all learned or will learn with a Heritage Rough Rider first for safety rules, then to a Bersa thunder or 22 DA revolver, then a 22/45. Oldest one prefers a 9mm 1911.
 
Ruger SR22 hands down. Shoots anything, reliable, two different backstraps make it perfect for small hands and easy disassembly for cleaning.
 
Walther P22

I finally talked my wife into a trip to the range a few months ago. She stands 5'-2" and has small hands also. She just shot .22, a Marlin 70 rifle and the Walther P22. AND she enjoyed herself - not a convert but, as she said, "I can see how you can enjoy shooting".

The P22 fit her hand, and has light recoil. The one I have has been a reliable range gun. It does have the slide mounted safety (matches the manual of arms of my other pistols), and you either like that or hate it. I see it as a training issue.

Although I don't have one and haven't shot one, the Ruger SR22 is a similar size with the frame mounted safety, & I believe the Ruger's field stripping is easier.

Both of these are light weight pistols with polymer lower, small but not pocket-carry size. They are best used as plinkers; they don't have target gun accuracy like the Ruger Mark series. But my walther did work well a an first pistol experience.
 
ColtPythonElite said:
You must have gotten a ultra rare bum one or had some bad ammo.
Click to expand...
It could be that i got a bum mark II but man did it turn me off of that series. I love Ruger too, i have a p-85, Gp-100 and a Blackhawk that i adore, heck my forst gun was a 10/22 but......jamamatic that mark II was.

No real local range that rents guns here though. The end goal for her is something in 9mm so this is just a step on the way for her, hence the cheap Phoenix to start with. Ill take a look at the sr22 as well though.

I might get her to try out my moms pmr-30 as well but i honestly hope she ends up not liking it, god is it hard to get one im my area. Plus the pmr is pretty much all my mom can handle, i just want to start the GF off with this 22.
 
The Bersa is a good choice, as is the Ruger SR22P. I also recommend a NEW Sig Mosquito. NEW, because the older ones had an issue with an undersized chamber, and had reliability issues. My newly manufactured Mosquito has been 100% reliable with several different ammo brands, and 1,300 rounds downrange.

Consider a revolver also. Ruger SP101-22, LCR-22, S&W 317, S&W 63 or Charter Arms Pathfinder are all excellent Double Action 22 revolvers.
 
if you head over to Rimfire Central, you will get a lot of replies. I will wager that 80% of them will say Ruger MK-series or Buckmark. Both are excellent choices and will be more accurate than you are.
 
Ruger MK series or 22/45
Browning Buckmark
Click to expand...

Those are my choices. I have never seen a bad MkII or MkIII. I never much cared for the original model but since the MkII they have been excellent. The best shooting rimfire pistol I ever shot was a MkII.

But a Buckmark is very close in quality to the Rugers. I have been wanting to get one for my wife to learn to shoot a pistol. I borrowed a Buckmark for a while and she did very well with it but I still don't think she's too high on her Ruger LCP. Too much bang and flash I guess.
 
Yeah, believe me i was suprised too. It was a miracle to get thru a mag without a jam. I tried new magazines and many different kinds of ammo but still had crappy results. It was an effective training tool as i was teaching my mom to shoot, she got to clear many stovepipes.

I ended up trading it off, with the disclaimer of its jamming, for a Taurus 44c along with a bit of cash.
 
kokapelli said:
Ruger SR22 hands down. Shoots anything, reliable, two different backstraps make it perfect for small hands and easy disassembly for cleaning.
Click to expand...
Ruger sr22. I have one of the first ones.

Replaceable grip included for different size hands, accurate, light slide to operate, easy takedown and cleaning, decocker, concealed carry size, well balanced, easy to load, eats anything, and light.

Rail for a light or laser for inexpensive training.

Pretty inexpensive too. I think I picked mine up for $250.

I think it's the perfect semi auto to learn on.
 
Since you don't want a Ruger I'd get a Buckmark. They are excellent pistols.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

B
  • Locked
Help finding a 22 for wife
2 3
Replies
58
Views
3K
Nushif
N
A
  • Locked
Ever seen anything like this?
Replies
3
Views
388
Kman
K
R
  • Locked
Wife
2
Replies
35
Views
2K
MedWheeler
M
N
  • Locked
Girlfriend Getting Her First! Need Suggestions!
Replies
14
Views
767
Foxtrot427
F
S
  • Locked
Kel-Tec PF9 recoil?
Replies
24
Views
3K
Bill B.
B
Back
Top