Steve CT
Member
SR-22. It's my wife's first gun, and she had the opportunity to shoot Buckmark, MKII, and .22 lr revolvers before making that choice.
best 22 for a first timer
- Thread starter Antihero
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TfflHndn
Member
I have owned both a Phoenix and the Ruger SR 22. Both shoot well. The Phoenix was not as reliable. The Ruger ate anything I fed it and was very reliable. If I had to buy one or t'other it would be the Ruger.
MedWheeler
Member
Not the Phoenix, if she might carry it.
Way too heavy for its size, single-action (must be cocked to fire), two opposing manual safety levers, at least three complicating passive safeties, and lots of sharp corners.
Don't get me wrong; it's a great little gun. I have one, and carry it around when hiking sometimes. Super-reliable with quality ammunition, and well-balanced in the hand. Pretty accurate, too. But it's just too heavy and overly-complicated to be carried for defense.
A viable option that can be packed far more easily (roughly the same size, but half the weight and with much smoother edges) is the Taurus PT-22, which I also own. That's the one my new-to-guns wife liked when she was introduced to handgunning earlier this year. The polymer-framed version is even lighter.
Way too heavy for its size, single-action (must be cocked to fire), two opposing manual safety levers, at least three complicating passive safeties, and lots of sharp corners.
Don't get me wrong; it's a great little gun. I have one, and carry it around when hiking sometimes. Super-reliable with quality ammunition, and well-balanced in the hand. Pretty accurate, too. But it's just too heavy and overly-complicated to be carried for defense.
A viable option that can be packed far more easily (roughly the same size, but half the weight and with much smoother edges) is the Taurus PT-22, which I also own. That's the one my new-to-guns wife liked when she was introduced to handgunning earlier this year. The polymer-framed version is even lighter.
I doubt she would ever carry it, i see this as the first step on the path to bigger and greater guns as does she. My main worry about the sr22 is the fact that while its a great little defence gun.....it has a 3.5 inch barrel not the greatest for plinking or accuracy. And when she moves on to bigger things........its not gonna be the greatest fun little plinker.
My hope with the Phoenix is that with the 5" barrel itll be good for plinking later on. Plus she handled a sr22 today and wasnt terribley impressed with it.
My hope with the Phoenix is that with the 5" barrel itll be good for plinking later on. Plus she handled a sr22 today and wasnt terribley impressed with it.
Well, if she wasn't impressed, no sense in getting it. Too bad about no range having rentals for her to try. My wife likes her SR-22, but also her Beretta Neos with a 6" barrel, and you can have a red-dot sight mounted on it. The Neos is decent. A little heavier that the SR-22.
My son have a PMR-30, but it seems that 22 mags are harder to find than the LR's. In our area anyway.
My son have a PMR-30, but it seems that 22 mags are harder to find than the LR's. In our area anyway.
aarondhgraham
Member
Anything but the Phoenix,,,
I'm not an Internet basher,,,
I own one of these little HP-22's,,,
Despite 2 trips to the plant it's unreliable.
I own a Ruger SR-22,,,
It is an excellent handgun,,,
I can heartily recommend this gun.
I also own a Bersa Thunder-22,,,
Mine has been an excellent performer,,,
It eats Federal Bulk Pack ammo all day long.
The nice thing about the Bersa,,,
It's an excellent understudy for the Thunder 380.
I have taught several young ladies to shoot using the Bersa pistols,,,
After they gain proficiency with the Thunder 22,,,
It's an easy transition to the Thunder 380,,,
It's inexpensive to buy/own the pair.
Click here please,,,
Or here for a cheaper model.
If you were more concerned with target shooting than possible self-defense,,,
I would recommend the Beretta NEOS because your lady has small hands,,,
Of all of the target style .22 pistols out there,,,
They have the slenderest grips of all.
This 4.5" model is inexpensive yet very reliable and accurate,,,
Click here please.
Other members of the forum have suggested Ruger 22/45's and MK-III's,,,
As well as the Browning Buckmark pistols.
They are excellent choices in pistols,,,
But for small hands my personal recommendations are the Bersa and Beretta NEOS.
Happy hunting,,,
Aarond
.
I'm not an Internet basher,,,
I own one of these little HP-22's,,,
Despite 2 trips to the plant it's unreliable.
I own a Ruger SR-22,,,
It is an excellent handgun,,,
I can heartily recommend this gun.
I also own a Bersa Thunder-22,,,
Mine has been an excellent performer,,,
It eats Federal Bulk Pack ammo all day long.
The nice thing about the Bersa,,,
It's an excellent understudy for the Thunder 380.
I have taught several young ladies to shoot using the Bersa pistols,,,
After they gain proficiency with the Thunder 22,,,
It's an easy transition to the Thunder 380,,,
It's inexpensive to buy/own the pair.
Click here please,,,
Or here for a cheaper model.
If you were more concerned with target shooting than possible self-defense,,,
I would recommend the Beretta NEOS because your lady has small hands,,,
Of all of the target style .22 pistols out there,,,
They have the slenderest grips of all.
This 4.5" model is inexpensive yet very reliable and accurate,,,
Click here please.
Other members of the forum have suggested Ruger 22/45's and MK-III's,,,
As well as the Browning Buckmark pistols.
They are excellent choices in pistols,,,
But for small hands my personal recommendations are the Bersa and Beretta NEOS.
Happy hunting,,,
Aarond
.
MedWheeler
Member
Antihero, you included this line in the opening thread:
That's why I discounted the Phoenix HP22A in post 29. Now, you say she'll likely never carry it. So, for you two, I guess, that puts the Phoenix back on the list.
(though I assume it's supposed to read "purse gun.")
That's why I discounted the Phoenix HP22A in post 29. Now, you say she'll likely never carry it. So, for you two, I guess, that puts the Phoenix back on the list.
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LOL, yeah i meant gun, stupid autocorrect.......
I doubt she would ever carry it really, although with the smaller barrel she could throw it in her purse if she needed to. This gun is basically a training tool, although i know the 22lr can be a defence round, im leary of rimfire for defence unless you absolutely cant handle anything more than that. A decent midsized 380 or 9mm is what we are shooting for.
The problem is, she has quite literally no experience with guns. Ive let her handle some of mine and while she was most impressed with the p3at i own i dont want her to train on it, mostly because its like trying to hold onto an exploding credit card and its not really good for fun shooting. I mean i like firing big bore revolvers and i hate firing the p3at.
Her basic problem with the sr22 is that she didnt like the trigger reach, she said it felt awkward, which is odd because she liked the way my p-85 felt trigger reach wise. So maybe SA is better for her to start off with, or at least ill get her to handle a bunch of different guns first before writing of DA or DA/SA
I doubt she would ever carry it really, although with the smaller barrel she could throw it in her purse if she needed to. This gun is basically a training tool, although i know the 22lr can be a defence round, im leary of rimfire for defence unless you absolutely cant handle anything more than that. A decent midsized 380 or 9mm is what we are shooting for.
The problem is, she has quite literally no experience with guns. Ive let her handle some of mine and while she was most impressed with the p3at i own i dont want her to train on it, mostly because its like trying to hold onto an exploding credit card and its not really good for fun shooting. I mean i like firing big bore revolvers and i hate firing the p3at.
Her basic problem with the sr22 is that she didnt like the trigger reach, she said it felt awkward, which is odd because she liked the way my p-85 felt trigger reach wise. So maybe SA is better for her to start off with, or at least ill get her to handle a bunch of different guns first before writing of DA or DA/SA
What the value of a combo pistol/rifle made by Unique .22 LR of France? The process of changing to rifle is by removing the pistol barrel and insert the open slide to the rifle. In excellent condition. And also is there a holster just for use only in the car console (not for carrying).
MedWheeler
Member
Antihero, my wife shot both the Phoenix and the Taurus PT-22 on her "orientation-to-handguns" day. She much preferred the Taurus for its better balance in her hands (her wrists are tiny.) and simplicity.
But, as you say, neither is a field-plinking gun in standard-barrel configuration.
For what you describe, I'd toss in another vote for a Ruger SA pistol, such as a 22/45 Lite or Mk-series. How about the Browning 1911-22? It's a scaled down 1911 "lookalike" (but in blowback form, not recoil-operated like its centerfire cousin) available in both alloy and polymer-framed versions.
But, as you say, neither is a field-plinking gun in standard-barrel configuration.
For what you describe, I'd toss in another vote for a Ruger SA pistol, such as a 22/45 Lite or Mk-series. How about the Browning 1911-22? It's a scaled down 1911 "lookalike" (but in blowback form, not recoil-operated like its centerfire cousin) available in both alloy and polymer-framed versions.
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CraigC
Sixgun Nut
Then you had the extremely rare misfortune of getting a bad one. The Ruger Standard Auto and MK-series are notoriously good .22 pistols and have been in constant production for 65yrs.
For target autos, hard to beat Ruger and Browning. For a plinker more akin to a service pistol, the SR22 is a good one but my Walther P22 has also been dead reliable over thousands of rounds.
Yeah the ammo prices and rarity is annoying for the 22lr, luckily i have a decent sized stash of them sitting here.
But i hear you on something-other-than-22lr. I saw a cheaper Remington 51, the original not the new one, that made me consider it for a second(ive always wanted on anyway) but.....in the end i think it wouldnt be a good first gun for her
But i hear you on something-other-than-22lr. I saw a cheaper Remington 51, the original not the new one, that made me consider it for a second(ive always wanted on anyway) but.....in the end i think it wouldnt be a good first gun for her
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