Best .22 revolver for kids

[Pancho]

Whatever brand you get I would suggest a SA because it gives the child time to think between rounds what happened to the last round. I made a mistake and let my daughter use one of my semi-autos too soon. She turned into one of those that burn up a lot of rounds and couldn't hit nothing types. After I learned my mistake I went the other way too far and tried her on muzzleloading........that was too boring. I'll not make the same mistake with my grandchildren.

 

[BCRider]

If you can find an older model 3 screw Single Six they seem to be a smaller and lighter gun than the new model SS's. They are a little larger than the Bearcat but that's a good thing. For now use some files or sandpaper and make the lower portion of the grips smaller to let her get a good hold on the gun. Google for "gunfighter grip shape" or some such thing. It's a common mod to thin and put a more rounded curve on the base of the classic SA gun grips. And in this case it'll greatly help her get a better fitting hold.

As she grows you can replace the grips with some nice new ones and you and her can keep on using this great little gun.

Folks with Heritage guns are mostly happy from what I've seen. But they are not as nice to shoot in many cases with grittier triggers with more creep than the better guns. Now a little internal work can turn the "cow's ear" into a "silk purse" if you're up to the job skill, tool and patience wise. Otherwise I'd suggest spending a little more and get a better gun from the beginning.

One budget option to look into is some of the older used guns. Hi Standard made a Double Nine that when used as a 9 shot swing out single action. But I'd tend to avoid them. I had one and even the SA trigger pull is overly heavy. H&R made a wide range of top break and swing out light duty target .22 revolvers as well. I've got a Sportsman top break and just bought a 922 swing out yesterday. Both light guns with decent triggers which would suit a 9 year old nicely.

In terms of muzzle control I'd tend to avoid the top break since things get pretty funky about how to hold it to avoid muzzle sweeps when the gun is broken. However the swing out cylinder of a 922 is a good option for learning to deal with maintaining muzzle control while performing the loading and unloading.

The S&W K frame .22's are SUPERB guns. But heavy and fairly bulky for small hands. A model 34 or 63 on the other hand would be nice. But if you want to avoid double action for now then just skip on these.

Taurus certainly seems to be hit or miss. If you get a good one they are really nice. If you run into troubles they can take repeated trips back for warranty work. So it's a bit of a gamble. Also they are all DA which you may be trying to avoid.

So all in all in order of ideal options I'd suggest the following;

1. Used older 3 screw Ruger Single Six. If needed thin down the grips to suit her hands. Replace grips when she grows.
2. Ruger Bearcat (small for adult hands)
3. S&W 34 or 63 (double action, small for adult hands)
4. H&R swing out 9 shot
5. Heritage Rough Rider

 

[Ishoot1st]

Thanks for all the input. I think i am going to get her a rough rider. They come in a 3.75" model with smaller birds head grip, they even come in pink. The shorter barrel and overall smaller size looks like it would fit her great ( and my wallet). I got a chance to handle a bearcat, great gun, definitly a family heirloom. Its a lot heavier than any pistol she tried, but thats the only downside i could see. She is just starting out with pistols and i think that the rough rider saa will be great to learn on, later on she might want to go to a semi-auto, or get a nicer revolver like the bearcat. You know how women like to have options, and change there mind! At least i won't be out 5-600 bucks and have a gun that sits in the safe...i like to shoot 1911's

 

[22-rimfire]

Yep, they change their minds.... that's why you should choose something you would also be happy with (just in case) . The Heritage should work just fine for now. I hope shoots where you point it.

 

[Gaucho Gringo]

I would say a Heritage Rough Rider. I presently have one and have owned a Ruger Single six in the past. I have had no problems with my Rough Rider in the past 6 years I have owned it. They make a birds head grip & backstrap frame that they sell separately or sell the gun configured with them. What I would do is find a dealer that sells the Rough Rider and take your daughter to the gunshop with you. Have her handle the gun with the regular grips. If they are too big for her, I would order the gun with the regular grips and also buy the birdshead backstrap frame and grips for it. That way she could shoot the gun now with the BH's grips and when she gets older you can convert the gun back to the original grips. The backstrap frame is $30.00 & the grips are $16.00. This is what I would do in your situation. Just one man's opinion.

 

[shuvelrider]

When I was around that age ,we used a Smith K-22 with the 6" barrel. I,ve used that for my family now over the years, for fun shooting.

 

[Master Blaster]

Just a little pricey for a .22 plinker!

And this is an attitude among some firearm enthusiasts that I will never understand.
My most expensive handguns and rifles are .22lr. Why?? because for target shooting competition, and practice, .22lr is the BEST round that there is. My most fired pistols and rifles are .22lr.
Spend the money and get the best, it will give you a lifetime of cheap shooting fun, and there is no better practice for your center fire shooting.

 

[chicharrones]

And this is an attitude among some firearm enthusiasts that I will never understand.

I understand what you mean Master Blaster, but I also understand the idea or "just a plinker". Especially, if a young one is deemed old enough and safe enough to be cut loose with a firearm on their own.

Little nicks, gouges, scrapes, dirt, sand, rust from water/sweat, etc. are much less worrisome for the adult if the gun is inexpensive. The young shooter will possibly not notice what is happening to the finish of the gun carrying it through a field, or catching a pistol rug zipper across the frame of the gun.

I know my cars and home would have less nicks, scratches, and stains if I didn't have kids. Knowing how I ended up with blemishes on my own guns as a kid and young adult makes it a high probability my kids will add their own character marks to any gun.

 

[M2 Carbine]

Ruger Bearcat.
Even adults like shooting it.

 

[CraigC]

And this is an attitude among some firearm enthusiasts that I will never understand.

Me too! I get so tired of hearing "it's just a .22". I don't know about you guys but I shoot my .22LR's a hell of a lot more than my centerfires. Why wouldn't you want to spend more on the guns you use the most??? Yet lots of shooters would rather spend $1000 on a deer rifle they use a couple times a year and $200 on the rimfire they shoot all year long. I don't get it. I like to spend a little money on the guns I live with the most.

 

[22-rimfire]

This attitude is common and it reflects that people believe that a 22 anything should cost less than its center fire cousin. They're wrong, but the attitude is pervasive. It in part comes from being able to buy a fairly good 22 rifle for $150. Even the Ruger 10/22 now costs more and they have cheapened their orginal product by using different materials.

Gun manufacturers know this and try desperately to provide a reliable firearm for under $200 these days, but quality suffers in the form of poor fitting, cheaply made parts, use of more plastic where possible, use of aluminum or some of the zinc based metals (aka pot metal) that are easier to work with than steel. The Heritage Rough Rider falls into the "pot metal" catagory. But the OP has pretty much decided that it is "just a 22" and he will go with the pot metal gun that many have found to be reliable overall. But reliable for how long?

But I think choosing the Rough Rider for a 9 year old is not such a bad choice as long as it works and is safe. Lots of years ahead of them to learn and shoot. I would probably have gone with a used Ruger Single Six and let the young person grow into the gun. But that is me. However, I find that a double action revolver is a better choice for a plinking revolver even if it is a Taurus (as long as it works).

You will notice that many of the new semi auto 22 pistols use aluminum or a zinc based metal for their slides in an effort to reduce manufacturing cost. The new Ruger SR22 uses an aluminum slide and the Walther P22 uses "pot metal" which should relate very well to the durability of the handgun over a period of years with use.

 

[Ishoot1st]

I have several .22's that are old and family heirlooms. They aren't worth much money, but they carry a priceless value to me. Most would call them "plinkers", but they shoot as good as i can, and have for years. So i don't mean it in a demeaning way when i say "plinker". But i would like to wait till my kids are old enough to properly handle and be able to shoot my adult size .22's. Plus i don't want them to scratch or drop them accidently, and dad get mad. I do have an SBR'd gsg-5pk that has over a grand into it. Just because i love the look and feel of it, so i understand putting money into something you love to shoot. But with my kids being begginer shooters, i want to get stuff that fits them now, and won't break the bank when they grow out of it or change there mind. Plus i'm broke right now, so for $170 my daughter can "learn" to shoot a pistol with the rough rider. I would love it if cowboy action shooting became a hobby we can do together, or IDPA competition. We'll see how it plays out.

I am still looking around for a higher quality used .22 pistol my daughter can shoot. But not much is coming up, at least not in my price range....$700 for a USED smith .22!!! WOW

 

[CraigC]

But I think choosing the Rough Rider for a 9 year old is not such a bad choice as long as it works and is safe. Lots of years ahead of them to learn and shoot. I would probably have gone with a used Ruger Single Six and let the young person grow into the gun. But that is me. However, I find that a double action revolver is a better choice for a plinking revolver even if it is a Taurus (as long as it works).

I agree and can't really find fault with the OP's line of thought. I less expensive gun is not a bad idea at all for a child to learn on. Things will inevitably get a little banged up and that is fine. I wouldn't want to be teaching a young child to shoot with one of my prized K-22's either.

I am still looking around for a higher quality used .22 pistol my daughter can shoot. But not much is coming up, at least not in my price range....$700 for a USED smith .22!!! WOW

One thing you have to bear in mind is that many of us acquired our higher quality .22's years ago. For instance, I only paid $200-$265 for my late `70's - early `80's vintage K-22's. However, this was 15yrs ago and a lot has changed since then. You'd be hard-pressed to replace them both today for $1000. To many of us, it's hard to fathom that these guns should cost more than $400. The good news is that while S&W seems to have lost its mind with regards to pricing, Rugers are still affordable. Used and new.

 

[22-rimfire]

I have a feeling that the new Ruger SR22 pistol will fit your needs perfectly as long as it being a semi-auto does not cause problems with fatherly safety concerns. It is not like you're likely to just hand her the gun and turn her loose with it at age 9. Dad will usually be around.

I had mentioned the Ruger LCR-22 earlier. I don't think it would be a good choice since it has no hammer for single action shooting.

One thing you have to bear in mind is that many of us acquired our higher quality .22's years ago. .... To many of us, it's hard to fathom that these guns should cost more than $400.

My $400 reference point stood for years. Things really didn't noticeably change unitl around 1990 or so when you could still buy mint Diamondbacks in 22 for $400. Gosh... that was 20 years ago now!!! OMG!

I like 22's and have continued to buy new offerings as evidensed by the Ruger SR22 pistol and LCR-22 acquisitions in the last month or so. The one gun that really has tickled me is the newish M63 (stainless) with the 8-shot cylinder. I really like this little beast. The pricing is a bit high and availabilty is low. I have never seen the 3" M63 in a gun shop and it has been out a year now. I have the 5" which I paid about $500 for. I suspect I will buy a 3" when I first lay eyes on one even if I have to put it in layaway.

Looked at a 4" M617... they wanted about $700 for it (cash price). Ouch!

 

[Ishoot1st]

So i found a rough rider, 3.75" with white birds head grip. Gun fits her great, action feels smooth, not too heavy for her, and best of all, when they pulled this little gem out from the counter her eyes lit up with awe. She loves it. Ended up paying $200 with magnum cylinder and a descent used leather holster. We are going over disassembly procedure, cleaning, and lubricating before shooting it. I think this is very important for kids to learn BEFORE shooting any gun. Can't wait to try it out. Will post range reports and pics after this weekend. Thanks for all the input guys.

 

[sixgunner455]

Sounds cool, dad. Don't you love those grins?

 

[chicharrones]

So i found a rough rider, 3.75" with white birds head grip. Gun fits her great, action feels smooth, not too heavy for her, and best of all, when they pulled this little gem out from the counter her eyes lit up with awe. She loves it.

Fantastic!

 

[Martel]

Awesome! I think you will be pleased. All the .22 snobs (no offense guys don't get it.... lol I spent $200 on my 10/22 and don't feel the need to spend more. That's the short and long of it. Sure, a Mercedes is worth the price, but I'm happy with my Honda. Plus, there are a lot of other things competing for that money.

 

[foghornl]

.22LR for small hands?

2 words

Ruger Bearcat

 

[baylorattorney]

Plus 1 on bearcat.

 

[Ishoot1st]

Went shooting today with the new rough rider. Great little gun! My daughter loves it, and so do I. Went through 150 rounds just in the rough rider, of course without any problems. It was nice to be able to have her load and unload her own pistol with very little assistance from dad. She loved walking around and setting up targets and having her trusty little six shooter holstered at her side. She really likes the .22 shorts out of it, not too intimidating and loud, just lots of fun. Overall, very happy with the rough rider, and definitly worth the money. I will post some pics after i get them loaded from my phone.