Easy shooting introduction guns

[somethingbenign]

I'm toying with the idea of getting a couple .22 handguns for the sole purpose of introducing new shooters. I already have a lever action and semi auto rifle. What I am looking for is a semi auto and a revolver with some historical or cultural significance. I would consider clones if the price/availability makes it prudent. I also want these to be reliable and comfortable and most importantly cheap to shoot a bunch.

As for a semi I'm thinking a PPK/S as I just think they are the sexiest gun and who doesn't want to feel like a secret agent? I've heard mixed reports about them jamming a bunch but not sure if that is for the .22 or the .380. Any experience with them? Any other pistols I should look at for this spot?

As for revolvers I know very little besides a H&R .22 my step dad has but it has crap for accuracy but the trigger was decent. I believe I have head some revolvers have both a .22lr cylinder and a .22 mag one, is that correct? If so I'd prefer that. I'm open to all suggestions here as I'm basically blind in this category.

Thanks for helping out with what I'm sure is a simple question for most of you guys.

 

[1KPerDay]

Not sure if it meets your significance requirement but Ruger single six convertible comes with magnum and LR cylinders if you want. I've never fired the magnum cylinder in mine.

Ruger MK I/II/III/IV or browning buck Mark or S&W Victory are other good choices. I start all new shooters out on my Ruger MKIII 22/45.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

I'm toying with the idea of getting a couple .22 handguns for the sole purpose of introducing new shooters. I already have a lever action and semi auto rifle. What I am looking for is a semi auto and a revolver with some historical or cultural significance. I would consider clones if the price/availability makes it prudent. I also want these to be reliable and comfortable and most importantly cheap to shoot a bunch.

As for a semi I'm thinking a PPK/S as I just think they are the sexiest gun and who doesn't want to feel like a secret agent? I've heard mixed reports about them jamming a bunch but not sure if that is for the .22 or the .380. Any experience with them? Any other pistols I should look at for this spot?

As for revolvers I know very little besides a H&R .22 my step dad has but it has crap for accuracy but the trigger was decent. I believe I have head some revolvers have both a .22lr cylinder and a .22 mag one, is that correct? If so I'd prefer that. I'm open to all suggestions here as I'm basically blind in this category.

Thanks for helping out with what I'm sure is a simple question for most of you guys.

The PPK is Sexy.....but run away from the .380 and .22. My .380 was the worst feeding handgun Ive ever owned (out of hundreds), and my buddy got so sick of his .22 PPK jamming he threw it off his boat into the Gulf of Mexico.
I know some people have good ones, but the only ones which seem to function well consistently are the .32s which have been out of production for some time.

For an auto I also recommend the Ruger .22/45, the S&W Victory, Ruger SR22, S&W M&P .22 or my 11yr old daughter's favorite, the classic S&W 422. All of these will jam on rare occasions, its the nature of rimfire autos, but they have been the best feeders I've encountered.

For a .22 revolver, the Ruger Single 6, Single 10, and S&W M17 are tough to beat, but pricey. The Charter Arms .22 Pathfinder is a decent, modestly priced double action, and the Heritage Rough Riders are a good value for the money in a single action.

The Phoenix HP22 is OK as well for very little money, but its weird double safety system and cramped ergos are tough for beginners to master.

 

[ATLDave]

Just get a Ruger Mk (whichever) or a Browning Buckmark (whichever) for a .22lr auto and be done with it. Cute little guns suck to actually shoot.

 

[340PD]

I have well over a hundred thousand teaching rounds through my MKIII hunter. Over the years I have seen dozens of different 22's come into our range with the intent of doing just what the OP is suggesting. The BEST results are always with a Ruger MK, Browning Buckmark, and S&W Victory model. Most of the other model seem to give far more unsatisfactory results and some become jamb-o-matics and actually discourage new shooters.
Save your self the hassle and get something dependable and easy to shoot.
My 2¢

 

[springer99]

Auto - Ruger Mk (take your pick) or Buckmark
Revolver - S&W 63 or 617, or Ruger Single 6

I'd stay away from the CF look-alikes. As you mentioned, they tend to be very ammo picky and can be unreliable.

 

[bassjam]

I think it's hard to beat a Ruger Mark I/II/III/IV or a Buckmark for new shooters. They are heavy enough to steady the hand, and very accurate which will keep new shooters happy. The S&W Victory and Beretta Neos are probably good options as well, they just aren't quite as established as the first two.

For a revolver, I'd vote for a S&W 17/617, a Ruger Single Six, or a Heritage Rough Rider if on a budget. Again, all will be accurate and easy to shoot. That's better IMO than having a cool looking gun that has some sort of cultural/historical importance.

 

[Middletown]

For a single action 22 the Rough Rider may be what you are looking for. I would pay the extra for adjustable rear sight. Also teaching a new shooter to disengage and engage the safety on the Rough Rider may be a good thing for when they also shoot other firearms with safeties.

I would start them out with the revolver first before anything semiauto. Hoping the semiauto rifle is a 10/22 with a reflex sight, no funner gun on the planet for a new shooter to shoot.

 

[somethingbenign]

Hoping the semiauto rifle is a 10/22 with a reflex sight, no funner gun on the planet for a new shooter to shoot.

Actually a Marlin M99A1, a variation of a M60. I've had two 10/22 and sold both of them. They just didn't get me excited and wasn't about to put a whole bunch of aftermarket in at that point in my life.

 

[MedWheeler]

Browning 1911-22. I want one, too.

My other ideas, such as the Heritage, Phoenix, and PPK/S, have been covered. The Bersa Thunder 22 might make a good substitute for the potentially-unreliable Walther.

 

[ccoyle]

I taught of all of my children to shoot using the Ruger Mk III 22/45, and they all enjoyed it. They may even quibble about who gets that one when I pass on. They moved up to center-fires on a CZ 83 in .380. Not the cheapest to shoot, but very tame manners for new shooters and accurate and reliable as well.

 

[Odd Job]

Another vote for the Ruger MKII or MKIII, since I have fired those and they are fine pistols.
The only .22LR revolver I've used was a Llama Ruby with a 4" barrel. It had a heavy trigger!

 

[bannockburn]

somethingbenign

I would definitely recommend a Beretta Model 70S as being a great beginner's gun in a semi-auto .22. Extremely reliable with just about any ammo, outstanding sights and trigger, non-existent felt recoil; all this in a package just a little larger than a Walther PPKs. Of course the venerable Ruger Mk. series of .22s are also prime contenders for beginners.

For a .22 revolver you can't go wrong with something like a S&W Model 34 with a 4" barrel or for a bit more money, a Model 17 with a 4" or 6" barrel. In a single action I would say any Ruger Single Six could easily fill the bill introducing someone new to shooting.

 

[Great Scot]

Three guns come mind:

1. Ruger Mark IV Target. Cool looks, reliable as a hammer, and NOW easy to clean.
2. Smith M&P22 Compact. Tactically cool looking, completely reliable, seems to fit all hands sizes well.
3. Beretta 70. Sexy looks, historical, reliable, feels great in the hand.

I’ve got all three and enjoy them all immensely.

 

[The Evangelist Cowboy]

I personally dont like to train on .22's I dont feel like a .22 gives the shooter the real experience of discharging a firearm, my training methods are to use a K-L frame size .357 magnum and load it with light cowboy loads.

 

[Tallball]

Boringly, I use the ones already mentioned: Ruger Mark, Browning Buck Mark, Ruger Single Six, S&W K22 Masterpiece.

Then a 32 revolver, then a 32acp (probably my Colt 1903), then maybe some magnum rounds in the 32 revolver, then my Colt Government 380, then mild 38's, a full-sized 9mm service pistol (probably my Star Super B), and so on and so forth.

They go as far as they are comfortable going, and stop going up the ladder when a caliber is uncomfortable.

I've taught a lot of people to shoot. Starting gentle and moving up slowly is always my method.

 

[rpenmanparker]

Browning 1911-22. I want one, too.

My other ideas, such as the Heritage, Phoenix, and PPK/S, have been covered. The Bersa Thunder 22 might make a good substitute for the potentially-unreliable Walther.

I have the Browning and second the recommendation. Not like a target or cowboy gun. It is a 85% size 1911 knockoff right down to the innards. Very light and yet very soft shooting. A pleasure to shoot.

 

[Reloadron]

What I am looking for is a semi auto and a revolver with some historical or cultural significance. I would consider clones if the price/availability makes it prudent. I also want these to be reliable and comfortable and most importantly cheap to shoot a bunch.

This is where I have to agree with...

Just get a Ruger Mk (whichever) or a Browning Buckmark (whichever) for a .22lr auto and be done with it. Cute little guns suck to actually shoot.

Now if you want to toss some class in with an older semi-auto then a Colt Woodsman, and about a half dozen other come to mind including a High Standard. As to price making it prudent? That's purely your call.

Revolvers? I like the S&W Model 17 guns and the Ruger Single Action Six guns and Colt New Frontier, again you set your price point. Something else I saw mentioned which I enjoy is a good 22 conversion added to a 1911 frame. The last ones I saw, Colt manufacture, were in the $400 to $500 price range and up. Then you need a 1911 to convert.

Overall there are plenty of nice guns out there for general target and plinking. Just a matter of finding what suits you within your price point.

Ron

 

[rpenmanparker]

There is also a .22 version of the Ruger SR striker fired gun. The larger size of that model I think. Anyway a good intro to the genre.

 

[bannockburn]

Tallball

Typically after a new shooter has mastered the .22s I let them try their hand with a 9mm. semi-auto (use to have a Star Model B for this but nowadays I just let them use my Browning Hi-Power), or else a .38/.357 (S&W Model 10 or Model 686), revolver with light wadcutter target loads to begin with.

 

[Tallball]

My teaching methods are unusually cautious. I've mostly taught women and kids how to shoot handguns. My "premier pupil" is/was my daughter, who wanted to start shooting when she was only eight or nine. She has always disliked recoil a lot. I own several light-recoiling centerfire handguns (such as the Colt 1903 and Government Model 380) specifically because of her. For most adults, a steel revolver or semi-auto as large as they can comfortably handle, in 38 special or 9mm (with light loads), is an okay second step up from 22lr. For kids and certain women (who might be very small, timid, have damaged wrists, etc.), having something in between, especially 32's, can be very helpful.

What always seems to happen is that they shoot 22's until the excitement wears off and they're a little bored. Then they are very interested in trying the 32's, which are a little more "spicy" and fun. Then after a while that seems ho-hum, and they're ready for something with just a little more "oomph". It's not unusual for them to be shooting 44's and 45's within 90 minutes or so, though that certainly varies with the individual.

I think it's very important that the handguns used in teaching have good sights and triggers and fit the student's hands well. If they are getting bullseyes or close to it pretty early on, they will enjoy the experience. If they are all over the paper, they are more likely to get discouraged and start losing interest.

My job probably gives me an advantage. I've been a public school teacher for 25 years (middle school). I know how to teach people how to do things, and by now my patience is practically infinite. I absolutely cringe when I watch some people giving lessons at the range. It's typically a guy and his wife or girlfriend. I will observe him going against every principal of how to teach someone something, and generally using unsuitable firearms to do it. His "victim" will probably never enjoy shooting as a result. SMH.

 

[doubleh]

I'm a firm believer that new handgun shooters should start with a 22LR. Very little bang, boom, and bounce to bother them while they learn the basics of safety (always first), stance, grip, sight alignment, and trigger control. After they get all that down and have gotten to the point where they can reliably hit what they are shooting at then the upgrade to larger calibers can be started. It should be remembered that a lot of new shooters are actually afraid of shooting even they won't admit to such feelings. The soft recoiling and reasonably quite 22 (it still needs ear protection) is the most comfortable and least intimidiating of all the handgun calibers.

My grand daugher-in-laws father gave her a SCCY last year and I took her to the range or her first shooting session with it. As far as I know that was her first pistol shooting experience and the only thing she managed to hit was the ground. One mag was enough for her and as far as I know she has never shot it again. I handed her my Ruger MK IV with the Voquartson trigger system upgrades with the warning that it's trigger was much lighter. She did quite well at keeping all her shots on the target with it.

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

I use a Buckmark for my beginner training purposes.
Works pretty well, but I will say that ours (after thousands and thousands of rounds) prefers CCI mini mag ammo.

The Smith 617(?) is just an awesome revolver. Squirrels don't stand a chance.
Hard to keep them as clean as they deserve, however.

 

[Mike OTDP]

As for a semi I'm thinking a PPK/S as I just think they are the sexiest gun and who doesn't want to feel like a secret agent? I've heard mixed reports about them jamming a bunch but not sure if that is for the .22 or the .380. Any experience with them? Any other pistols I should look at for this spot?

Depends on who made the gun. Prewar guns are good. Postwar guns made in West Germany (or France) are good. Guns made in the USA are spotty. The new Umarex-made .22 PPKs are even more spotty.

Other options: I'd be looking for a used but good condition S&W Model 17 revolver. Those have good triggers. The Rugers? OK guns if you get a trigger job done on them. With the exception of the Ruger revolvers, which are good to go. The Beretta 70 isn't bad.

The biggest issue is a good trigger and good sights. Those will help a novice to learn good skills.

 

[somethingbenign]

Thanks for a the great advice. It just dawned on my that there is a kadet conversion kit for my P07. While I'd rather get another gun for the sake of getting another one that could work. Anyone have any experience?