between .22's

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SHusky57

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I like the Sig Mosquito and the Walther P22. I'm wanting to get something my wife wouldn't mind carrying in an ankle holster or in the purse, and I also want to take advantage of the savings in ammo price.

Based on experience, which is the better buy?
I like the Sig because it can be carried condition 2, hammer down, whereas I think the P22 has to be cocked and locked. Again, I don't know much as I don't have experience with either of them.

Also, can a suppressor be added to either (after proper paperwork and tax stamps paid)? I know a lot of people who get suppressors for the P22 but I don't know if the Sig is threaded for one.

Any firsthand experience?
I would probably load them with CCI minimags and stingers. Even at $10 for 100 rounds, the minimags are a helluva lot cheaper than 9mm.
 
You do not want a Mosquito. Real junk. Pepper spray is probably more reliable.
P22 is a better choice.
Just my 2cents....these are not carrying or self protection pistols.
 
See if the wife minds shooting a .32 acp. Not only will she step up in power level as a .22 lr is not generally recommended, but quite a few folks aren't real happy with the guns you chose plus the rimfire cartridge is known not to be reliable. Also ankle carry is not an easy task. You have to be able to reach your ankle to draw the handgun if it's needed.
 
I don't think I would arm my wife with a .22 if she could handle something larger, but that's not what you asked.

I bought a P22 last spring and regretted it as soon as I did a google search and found all of the negitive posts on several different fourms. I wondered "what was I thinking when I bought this saturday night special POJ". However I started carring it when I went running and I started shooting it a lot. I found it is a rugged reliable little gun that will function well even when it is full of sand (don't ask). It is also as accurate as it can be given its sights and trigger.

The only problems I have with it are its a regular PITA to put back togeather, and there is a little machine screw on the right side of the frame that can work loose. This happened once and the screw head dragging on the frame turned my little semi auto into a manually operated repeater. It was easy to find and fix and hasn't happened again.

I will never like it as well as a Ruger or Colt because of its zinc and plastic construction, but because of its zinc and plastic construction it is imperviuos to sweat and salt. Its alot better gun than it ought to be.

The safty is kind of cheesey, but I carry mine chamber loaded hammer down and saftey on. To shoot all I do is flick the safety off and press through the DA trigger.
 
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With all the bad things written about the 2 guns you mention,
Why not buy a reliable gun to start with. It will be more fun in the long run.
try a Buckmark, great shooters, reliable, and just fun to shoot.

be kinda hard to carry in an ankle holster, but?? its a .22

It will give you the practice you want.

Have fun, be safe, and go shooting.
 
I second the suggestion for a 22 revolver. Far more reliable. The 22 has never fed very well through small autos. With the revolver if you hit a dud you can still keep shooting. Despite the popgun ballistics it's better for people to rely on a gun they can shoot than one they can't. Far too many fire it once to see if it works, load it back up and that's all. When they need it years later they can't hit anything but just spray and pray. With a 22 and blocks of cheap ammo they can shoot it thousands of times and learn what they're doing.
 
If it has to be a Semi-auto 22lr, I would highly recommend the Firestorm (Bersa) FS-22. I own the both the FS-22 and the P-22, and the Firestorm has proven to me to be far superior in reliability.

If it is recoil sensitivity/shyness issue, I highly recommend the CZ-83 in 32acp, loaded with any european brand FMJ ammo. Recoil is very light. The DA trigger pull is as light as the SA pull, only longer. Capacity is 15+1. The long barrel gives your a better sight radius for better accuracy, and higher velocity. The higher velocity gives you better penetration. This gun is about the size of a Glock 26.
 
SHusky57, my Sig Mosquito, purchased in January, has been flawless. I've put at least 1200 rounds through it (and intentionally left it dirty to see how it would work). While it is very a comfortable handgun, it is not a carry piece (although any firearm that can hit a perp will make them leak and no one wants to leak); I only use it at the range. It is definitely not an ankle gun.

Why not take your wife to the range and rent some different handguns in different calibers. Often, you can strike up a conversation with others at the range that will let you fire their firearms. This is a great way to check out other firearms. You might also be able to fire a caliber that you did not think of trying, such as a 45. A 45 does not "punish" as much as many people think because it pushes and does not snap so much. As for concealment, I think ladies have an edge over us guys. First of all, perps don't expect a female to be packing. There are purses on the market that are designed to hide handguns. Females can also get away with wearing a fanny pack; guys can't for the most part. If a 22 caliber is what you want, you might want to consider a Taurus 22 magnum revolver. It holds 8 rounds of high velocity 22's. They make a lightweight model that looks appealing. Good luck in your search; let us know what transpires.
 
I like my Sig Mosquito. I also like my buddies P22. The P22 has a better trigger pull, in my opinion. Both models are available with barrels threaded for a supressor. My Mosquito is too big for an ankle holster, in my opinion. The reliability on both pistols is very good, but not 100%. CCI Mini Mags or Stingers increase the reliability greatly...In my opinion, get either a Mosquito or P22 for plinking, and get the wife something else for CCW...
 
Sig Mosquito and the Walther P22.
I have had both and they were not reliable.
I like the Sig feel so much ,I tried one again with the same result.
I agree with trying something bigger or a revolver
 
Had a P22. It is a fun gun. Looks like a real CC piece. Fun at the range- get’s a lot of attention from the other folks. The best thing about it was the practice you got in FTF an FTE.
Glad I bought it, had fun with it. Made a nice part of a trade package.
If you are set on .22LR for carry, please get a revolver.
 
Just a note.... I have everything from .38 specials to .357 mag, 9mm to .45 but I am always looking for something new, especially with ammo prices the way they are.

A small gun is better than no gun at all, and from everyone I've talked to the P22's are reliable with quality ammo (CCI minimags, stingers).

I know the limitations of .22, I just wanted to know people's experience (actual shooting experience) with them.
Still, shot placement is just as important as caliber in self-defense, especially with a pistol. At personal defense ranges (under 3 yards), a .22 to a vital spot can work extremely well (just ask all the old-timers who used to shoot deer with .22's back in the Depression days).

And most of this is just because I can shoot a .22 all day for the price of two box's of .45.
From most of the people I talk to at work (I work in the firearms section of a sports retailer), after you clean them up and break them in, they are super reliable and super accurate (the p22). I have heard bad things about the Mosquito though as far as reliability is concerned.

To F4T9R and all those who mentioned reliability problems, was it thoroughly cleaned, broken in, and were you using high quality ammo or the bulk stuff?
 
There have been quality issues with both guns in terms of function. The little Beretta may be a possibility, but I have no experience with them. Suppressors add to much length to a concealed gun for the average person. I would suggest if you are thinking .22LR, that you look at the Smith 317 with the shortest barrel. The other choice might be the Ruger LCP in 380.
 
"...an ankle holster..." Too hard to get at in a hurry. So is a purse from what I've been told.
"...I like..." It doesn't matter what you like if you won't be shooting or carrying it. If it's for your wife, she has to make the decision, not you.
 
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