Best 22lr for a new shooter...

[Don Galt]

I'm not very experienced and I have a friend who's less experienced than me. They like shooting 22 right now, for lots of reasons... and I'm wondering if people have advice for what they should learn on in this caliber.

They rent rifles and 22 autoloaders and got to use a 22 revolver once, but didn't like the revolver because of the heavy trigger pull. So far they like the rifles best, but not the 10/22 (jamming problems.)

I'm thinking a 22 hand gun might be a good thing to learn on... but I just picked up what I know by going to the range with friends.

So, opinions about whether they should start with a rilfe or a handgun? And recommendations for any of these appreciated.

I'm not as recoil sensitive so I'm not even looking at 22 for my first gun, but my friend is, and I'd rather see them learn and use a 22 a lot than try to start them out on the perfect self defense system and have them never practice....

 

[GlocksRock]

Ruger 22/45 or Browning Buckmark.

 

[Badger Arms]

The Walther P22 is an excellent choice. It is patterned after full-sized autoloaders and is therefore a logical choice if the shooter intends to step-up to the next level. IIRC, it's also fully ambidexterous. The main feature is that it's very affordable, moreso than you might believe.

http://www.waltheramerica.com/p22.htm

 

[Brian Williams]

I would prefer a S&W mod 17 or k22
but here is my favorite auto, the Ruger Slabside Competition model

another good one is the MKII 6"

Rugers can be found here
http://www.ruger.com/Firearms/FAProdResults?function=famid&famid=5


Sig Trailside
Browning Buckmark
Ruger MkII or 22/45

Take a look at Single actions also

and ruger Sp101 in 22

 

[Ala Dan]

A 3rd generation Colt Match Target Woodsman

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

 

[Rich357]

Hi Don,

Learning good safety habits is a must, no matter what you shoot.

I suggest your friends start with a bolt action .22lr rifle. CZ has a good reputation for accuracy and a modest price. They are fun to shoot. You can shoot standing or off a sandbag. You get to know a little more about the functioning of a gun. You work the action moving the cartridge from the magazine to the chamber rather than having everthing "just happen".

It may not be the most accurate or the least expensive but the Browning .22 lr Auto rifle has the best feel and balance, IMHO.

If your frineds found the revolver trigger too hard to pull, I assume they weren't trying to shoot it in "single action" mode. A S&W M617 shot in single action will not have a heavy trigger.

The Browning Buckmark or one of the Ruger MkIIs would be fine.

I have a P22 and I would not recommend it for a beginner. It is an interesting enexpensive little pistol but I find it frustrating to shoot well and I've been shooting .22 lr pistols since I was kid. The trigger is much better on the Browning Buckmark and Ruger MkII. The larger size of the Brownings and Rugers also make them easier to shoot accurately.

Again, your friends need to really learn safe shooting. Even if they are "only" shooting a .22lr.

Let us know what they end up buying.

Have fun,
Rich

 

[Cableman]

I have been collecting 22lr pistols and revolvers for about 10 years now.

I have a good collection going and my favorite so far is the S&W model 17 and the S&W model 34. These are revolvers and are no longer in production, so they are hard to find.

If you are looking for a automatic which is currently in production, I would go with either a Ruger or a Browning.

I have the Walther P22 - it is a nice gun, and cheap - $199 - but not as accurate as the Ruger or Browning.

 

[Don Galt]

Thanks. Yeah, they were usin the revolver in double action mode, rather than cocking it before each shot.

Is it better for a new shooter to start with a rifle than a handgun, or is that just a tradition from the days of people growing up on farms?

Right now, a lot of the fun factor keeping my friend interested is having 10 shots that can go downrange without a lot of hassle... the reloading the revolver and the long trigger pull, or cocking before firing, is cutting into the fun.

Thanks for the advice... you always hear about things you didn't expect when you ask questions like this!

 

[10-Ring]

I hvae great luck w/ my Ruger Slabside & my Taurus mod 94 revolver. Of the 2, I have more rounds through the Ruger but I learned more from the wheelgun. The heavier DA trigger pull really made me concentrate & work on proper sight alignment & trigger control.

 

[Rich357]

Hi Don,

Well whatever cranks your tractor (from a farm boy).

My grandfather said, if you can shoot a handgun well you will shoot a rifle well, but not necessarily the reverse. I have found that to be true.

If your friends idea of fun is hosing down the target with bullets then he won't be interested in my opinion. Does your friend like to turn his rented handgun to the side "gansta" style and pretend he is in the movies? Does he just like to hear the gun go bang?

I want to make each shot count. If the shot isn't on target, what's the point? Most of the time at the range I load only 5 rounds in the magazine of my handgun/rifle.

You and your friend do what you want, but, you had better seriously think about safety every time you touch a gun. If that takes some of the fun out of it, too bad.

Good luck,
Rich
ps I'm surprised you (or your friend) had a problem with the Ruger 10/22 jamming. They are one of the most reliable .22lr semi-autos on the market. I wouldn't judge all Ruger 10/22s by the one your friend rented.

 

[spacemanspiff]

i have a p22, and i gotta say that i am not very impressed with it. maybe if i slapped a red-dot on it i might have more fun with it, but i kinda doubt it.

i've shot a ruger mark2, and thats one of the next pistol i'll buy.

my marlin papoose is a fun .22 autoloader rifle. i also had the pleasure of shooting a cz452 last weekend. man, that is one NICE rifle! helped that it had a scope worth more than double the gun itself, but still! i'm convinced that even a novice shooter like myself could get .5inch groups with that at 50 yards.

 

[Badger Arms]

Which P22 do you have? Why don't you like it? Just curious, it's fairly new to the market and I don't have that much experience with it.

 

[AUTIGER04]

BROWNING BUCK MARK.

 

[Hal]

Right now, a lot of the fun factor keeping my friend interested is having 10 shots that can go downrange without a lot of hassle...

Marlin/Glenfield Model 60 - .22lr semi auto.<-- should fit the bill.

I paid ~ 60 bucks for mine @ Kmart years ago. I still rememeber the fun of cranking off 17 shots as fast as I could pull the trigger Relaible, cheap - cheap to feed - high fun factor. - accurate enough to do the job.

 

[DougCxx]

A couple opinions:
-The Walther P22 looks cool (I kinda want one) but accuracy isn't that good and owners are seeing significant early slide and rail wear--like, as early as 5000 shots. There's a warranty of course, but the frame rail is the controlled part, bearing the serial number. S&W is not going to have an easy time keeping these customers shooting.
-Conversely, Ruger Mk I/II's are butt-ugly (in my opinion), but it was my first 22 pistol, because they are accurate and they last virtually forever--like, tens of thousands of shots. With a bit of oil and occasional cleanings, a stainless Mk II will outlast your trigger finger, easy.
~

 

[Sheldon]

I got a rifle when I turned 18.....a Ruger 10-22. When I turned 21 and could buy pistols, my first was stainless Ruger MKII with the 5 1/2 bull barrel and the target sights. I have since bought another 10-22 and want one more (I have 2 sons and they love them too) and have 2 more blued MKIIs just like the first. They are great pistols.

 

[Mad Man]

For a new shooter, I'd second Perfessr's recommendation of a revolver, either the S&W model 17 or K-22 (or model 617, in the current catalog).

For less money, you can get Perfessr's excellent recommendation of the Ruger SP-101. I wish they made the GP-100 in .22. I'd suggest spending an extra $15 and getting a Hogue grip for it if you think the factory grips are too small (most people I know do).

A Taurus revolver should cost even less, although I don't know enough to give them a thumbs up or down.

If the heavy trigger pull is a problem, as you stated, please keep in mind that double-action revolvers can be fired in single action mode by simply cocking the hammer.

For a semi-automatic .22 for a new shooter, my vote would have to go for the Smith & Wesson 22A, because it is a very easy pistol to disassemble for maintenance. No tools required. While the Ruger .22 autos aren't supposed to require any tools, I don't remember them being easy to take apart or put back together. This is not trivial, as there are going to be enough things to frustrate new shooters.

The Beretta U-22 Neos and 87 Target should also be easy to take apart and put back together, but I have no experience with them.

The Browning Buck Mark is a good choice, even though it does require a tool for disassembly. However, it has one design flaw: the front sight and rear sight are on two different assemblies. After re-assembling the pistol, the point of aim may be off.


That being said...

You've got the right idea about starting with a .22 rather than something your friend will never practice with.

I highly recommend reading John Ross's "Defensive Firearms Advice for Those With No Experience." As he points out, shooting is "a hell of a lot of work if you don't like it."

Start shooting at short distances, and shoot a lot. Mr. Ross recommends 8 feet, I'd say up to 15 feet (5 yards) is OK. When you can hit the target at that short range, work on increasing speed, not distance.

I can't tell you how many times I see new shooters (myself included) start shooting at 25 yards because (1) that's how long the range is, and (2) that's what Hollywood convinced us was the norm. Unless you're a super gifted natural shooter, trying to start out with 25 yard targets is a good way to become frustrated very fast.

If possible, I'd also set up paper targets. While "ecologically-sound targets that will move or break when hit" are fun to shoot, it's also important to see your misses. At 8 to 15 feet, you can clearly see .22 holes in paper without having to move back and forth to the target. Less time to-and-from the targets = more time for shooting.

 

[Don Galt]

Rich357--

You seem ticked off by something. Yes we are practicing gun safety. The idea of fun here is controlled, accurate fire. Cycling a bolt and the heavy trigger pull of a revolver is making that harder for my friend, who just wants ot keep the gun on target and take successive shots adjusting point of aim.

If you see a safety issue, please bring it up specifically. I'm not sure why you insinuated we were being unsafe.

 

[Don Galt]

Thanks for all the responses! I'd never heard of the 22a and some of those others... Now the problem seems to be figuring out which to buy.

It sounds like there aren't a lot of bad 22s out there. So, I guess my friend can buy the one that fits her best.

I just saw the Colt 22 this weekend on another website. Any reason to be wary of it? It also looks decent...

Don

 

[4v50 Gary]

Ruger Mk II or variation thereof. I have a Buckmark which is good, but I hate the idea of removing the top rib that has the rear sight on it when I take it down. Don't overlook the CZ-75 with the Kadet conversion kit.

 

[Don Galt]

Unfortunately, I think price is going to be a limiting factor. The 22lr conversion kits alone are $200-$300, right? I like the idea of a conversion kit a LOT...especially in a 1911 or maybe Glock where there might be some price competition on the conversions.

But my friend is probably going to less than $300 on an older, used rifle or pistol... that's about their gun budget for this year.