Zendude
Member
For a low cost 22 with a decocker, sa and da action, the Bersa Thunder 22 is worth a look.
Good .22 pistol?
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As many others have said a Ruger Mk II or Mk III or a Browning Buck Mark. I bought a Buck Mark to get my wife shooting a handgun. She loves it. Accurate and reliable and tames all the recoil for even the most sensitive types. I actually like Mk II's better but the price is too high on them these days because they don't make them any more and most everyone likes them better than the Mk III. Not a lot better but some. There are no lawyer gadgets on the Mk II. Best shooting pistol I ever picked up was a Mk II with a 10" barrel. Good luck finding one of those for sale. I've been looking for years. But my Buck Mark works very well even if it is a bit picky about ammo. I haven't had it long enough to work out the kinks I guess. It's the only one I've seen that actually has feeding issues but they are slight and I'm not betting my life on that pistol. I'm sure Browning would fix it if I asked them. We'll see.
mbopp
Member
I had a Ruger MKI that would eat anything I fed it and was more accurate than I could hold....
But one of my 1911's has a 22 conversion kit on it and that's the one I shoot now.
But one of my 1911's has a 22 conversion kit on it and that's the one I shoot now.
texasred777
Member
I don't think I missed any of the ones named. I haven't shot a lot of different .22 auots, but the one I've liked the most is the little Walther PPK/S. It might a little smaller than what you want your daughter to use, but it's been the most reliable little .22 auto that I've shot so far. If you don't use a low powered bullet, it will consistently fire all 10 rounds as fast as you can pull the trigger. I ran 4 magazines, of ten rounds each, through it as fast as I could pull the trigger. One round failed to fire. I tried it twice more, but it was just a bad round; not the gun.
JWH321
Member
Almost on a whim, I bought a Ruger SR22P back when there was no .22 ammo and I found one really cheap.
I was pleasantly surprised. Its a VERY nice shooting little gun, and it may be the most comfortable gun to hold that I have in the collection. It shoots straight, isn't hard to rack, doesn't malfunction (ever), and its inexpensive.
Well, that about solves that problem, huh?
I was pleasantly surprised. Its a VERY nice shooting little gun, and it may be the most comfortable gun to hold that I have in the collection. It shoots straight, isn't hard to rack, doesn't malfunction (ever), and its inexpensive.
Well, that about solves that problem, huh?
aarondhgraham
Member
Zendude's recommendation isn't bad at all.
Zendude's recommendation isn't bad at all.
I have owned one of these (and the Thunder 380) for several years,,,
It's trained several young men and women in handgun shooting,,,
In fact it's one of the most reliable rimfire pistols I own.
The reason I didn't mention it before,,,
The OP started asking about a polymer compact pistol.
I just kept the recommendation in the same vein.
If you want an all metal (no zamak) DA/SA pistol with de-cocker,,,
And especially if you like the 60's James Bond style,,,
This may be what you're looking for.
Aarond
.
Zendude's recommendation isn't bad at all.
I have owned one of these (and the Thunder 380) for several years,,,
It's trained several young men and women in handgun shooting,,,
In fact it's one of the most reliable rimfire pistols I own.
The reason I didn't mention it before,,,
The OP started asking about a polymer compact pistol.
I just kept the recommendation in the same vein.
If you want an all metal (no zamak) DA/SA pistol with de-cocker,,,
And especially if you like the 60's James Bond style,,,
This may be what you're looking for.
Aarond
.
softmentor
Member
- Joined
- Jan 10, 2007
- Messages
- 22
At the bottom end on cost the Crickett or Chipmunk; single shot, bolt action, manual cocking 22. Its lots of fun, and teaches you a lot about the basic working of a gun. single shot, not semi-auto Crickett 22LR little single shot bolt action .22.
http://www.crickett.com/crickett_22_pistol.php
Chipmunk 22LR same gun, also sold under the name Chipmunk some interesting variations, and different stocks.
http://www.chipmunkrifles.com/chipmunk_22_pistol.php
For cheep plinking the Beretta Neos, VERY easy to clean and shoots/runs on most any ammo, great price. Put a little red dot on it for $20 and you have a super fun plinker. I love mine!
Next up in price and quality are Rugar, Buckmark, and Beretta 87 Target.
If you are a tinkerer and like to work with triggers, options, and customizations, the Rugar is the only way to go. LOTS of options like triggers, grips, even high end match quality improvements. (But then, so much for the price point) Great for those who like to customize or just want a relable accurate shooter. Some people have trouble with take down and re-assembly, there are a few tricks to it, but not impossible. There have been more than a few brought into the local gun store in pieces begging for help : ).
Buckmark also has a fair number of models and options. Probably a close neck and neck as to which is most popular with the Rugar line.
Beretta 87, not as well known but very nice gun.
For high end accuracy at a price you can still live with, the HAMMERLI XESSE; match grade chamber, barrel and trigger. Intro level gun for genuine
target competition. starting at under $700 ($699 : ) This gun is designed to run on sub-sonic ammo. Use target grade, the gun deserves it.
For beauty, collectability, and fantastic function and accuracy, the S&W model 41 or the Browning Medalist. The S&W is a lot easier to find. Both have been used in top international matches. Both are amazingly accurate. Few shooters will ever be better than these guns. The S&W is still used in matches. The Medalist has been out of production for too long, you won't see too many of them on the fireing line. Like all target guns, they are intended to use sub-sonic ammo.
For serious modern target shooting, there are some amazing guns from Anschutz, Walther, Pardini, Hammerli, Morini, Feinwerkbau, and others. Price about $2,000 and up, mostly up. True Olympic winning guns in this mix.
In whole separate categories are little pocket .22 pistols and conversion kits.
Pocket 22s are just that, very small guns, ranging from VERY cheap (cheaply made too) to the small Walther and the like.
Conversion kits are nice for running some practice, but by and large, they need to run on high velocity ammo to have enough oomph to cycle the action. High velocity mini-mags and the like.
Also consider: If you just want low cost and some basic gun handling skills, there are also air guns, and airsoft guns that could be an option. Many are available in replica models, (ex I have a H&K USP in airsoft that is same weight and controls as my real 45) They are much cheaper to operate that 22 and can be safely shot at home in the yard or with proper back stop indoors. Airsoft is a lot cheaper than 22 and 22 ammo is a little hard to get right now (has been for a while) Seems like lots of folks have been looking for a cheaper way to shoot. The days of 550 round box for $4.99 are long gone.
http://www.crickett.com/crickett_22_pistol.php
Chipmunk 22LR same gun, also sold under the name Chipmunk some interesting variations, and different stocks.
http://www.chipmunkrifles.com/chipmunk_22_pistol.php
For cheep plinking the Beretta Neos, VERY easy to clean and shoots/runs on most any ammo, great price. Put a little red dot on it for $20 and you have a super fun plinker. I love mine!
Next up in price and quality are Rugar, Buckmark, and Beretta 87 Target.
If you are a tinkerer and like to work with triggers, options, and customizations, the Rugar is the only way to go. LOTS of options like triggers, grips, even high end match quality improvements. (But then, so much for the price point) Great for those who like to customize or just want a relable accurate shooter. Some people have trouble with take down and re-assembly, there are a few tricks to it, but not impossible. There have been more than a few brought into the local gun store in pieces begging for help : ).
Buckmark also has a fair number of models and options. Probably a close neck and neck as to which is most popular with the Rugar line.
Beretta 87, not as well known but very nice gun.
For high end accuracy at a price you can still live with, the HAMMERLI XESSE; match grade chamber, barrel and trigger. Intro level gun for genuine
target competition. starting at under $700 ($699 : ) This gun is designed to run on sub-sonic ammo. Use target grade, the gun deserves it.
For beauty, collectability, and fantastic function and accuracy, the S&W model 41 or the Browning Medalist. The S&W is a lot easier to find. Both have been used in top international matches. Both are amazingly accurate. Few shooters will ever be better than these guns. The S&W is still used in matches. The Medalist has been out of production for too long, you won't see too many of them on the fireing line. Like all target guns, they are intended to use sub-sonic ammo.
For serious modern target shooting, there are some amazing guns from Anschutz, Walther, Pardini, Hammerli, Morini, Feinwerkbau, and others. Price about $2,000 and up, mostly up. True Olympic winning guns in this mix.
In whole separate categories are little pocket .22 pistols and conversion kits.
Pocket 22s are just that, very small guns, ranging from VERY cheap (cheaply made too) to the small Walther and the like.
Conversion kits are nice for running some practice, but by and large, they need to run on high velocity ammo to have enough oomph to cycle the action. High velocity mini-mags and the like.
Also consider: If you just want low cost and some basic gun handling skills, there are also air guns, and airsoft guns that could be an option. Many are available in replica models, (ex I have a H&K USP in airsoft that is same weight and controls as my real 45) They are much cheaper to operate that 22 and can be safely shot at home in the yard or with proper back stop indoors. Airsoft is a lot cheaper than 22 and 22 ammo is a little hard to get right now (has been for a while) Seems like lots of folks have been looking for a cheaper way to shoot. The days of 550 round box for $4.99 are long gone.
Armed 24/7
Member
My wife loves her Browning Buckmark. She also likes my Dad's Ruger 22/45. I own and would recommend against a Sig Mosquito.
jhb
Member
Browning 1911 22 is the best ive had for the money and i own quite a few. Feeds anything i put in it. Most others combat looking pistols require high velocity ammo or they dont feed. They are also sometimes finicky on which ammo they will feed. I own two 1911 22's. The standard in full length barrel and the black label with rail version.
Only other i feel good recommending is the cz kadet(not sure if still available or not without buying a cz75/85 and the conversion). For a full size it feeds and works. Cant say the same on many other full sized conversion and stand alones.
Only other i feel good recommending is the cz kadet(not sure if still available or not without buying a cz75/85 and the conversion). For a full size it feeds and works. Cant say the same on many other full sized conversion and stand alones.
jhb, call me weird but I have always used standard velocity ammunition in my .22 pistols when I can get it.
If standards are not available as is so often the case now, I'll use whatever I can get but CCI standards and Winchester T-22s have always been my first pick for shooting in the pistols.
Both my Browning 1911-22 and my Walther PP thrive on the stuff.
If standards are not available as is so often the case now, I'll use whatever I can get but CCI standards and Winchester T-22s have always been my first pick for shooting in the pistols.
Both my Browning 1911-22 and my Walther PP thrive on the stuff.
CZ discontinued the dedicated Kadet .22 pistol, but still offer the Kadet Kit conversion unit. So, yes you need to buy both a 75 based centerfire pistol, and Kadet Kit. I have both the Kadet pistol, and conversion. Yes, redundant, but I can't bring myself to sell either. They are both excellent.
KB0VSO
Member
I gess it is safe to say you use to have a friend. LOLMy daughter likes shooting this Browning 1911-22 as much as I do.
She is also quite fond of this S&W 2214
enough so that I may end up giving it to her someday.
Edit to add.
With all the "Get a Ruger" posts on this thread, I must say that I bought my daughter a Ruger Mklll 22/45.
We took it out twice and she absolutely HATED that gun.
Sold it to a friend of mine.
Vern Humphrey
Member
A Browning Buckmark or a Ruger MKII or MKIII is the way to go. The Smith and Wesson Model 41 is top of the line, as is a Colt Woodsman (if you can find one.)
Just for the record there are several .22 revolvers that would make great handguns to learn to shooting. A Ruger Single Six, a High Standard (which also makes a .22 pistol that's very nice BTW), S&W 41 (among several Smith models actually), etc.. There are some advantages to revolvers. For example Ruger makes Single Six models where you can change the cylinder and shoot magnum rounds. There are Single Nine models too which hold 9 rounds in the cylinder. You can also shoot short rounds with a revolver also which is how I start very young people off. There are some rounds available that wouldn't scare a nervous nellie worse than a balloon popping would.
I don't know if you're dead set on a pistol but if not there are several revolvers that are worth looking at.
I don't know if you're dead set on a pistol but if not there are several revolvers that are worth looking at.
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Delford
Member
I have a Beretta Neos. My son bought a Smith & Wesson M&P 22. We both have fun plinking when we have cheap ammo. I've been fortunate to find a couple hundred rounds so we meet up from time to time. His is a fine shooter but at $65 more than a Neos I think he paid too much for an accurate fun to shoot .22 pistol. The Neos does what it's supposed to do with minimal fuss. My daughter in law likes to shoot it and it's just like what I used to qualify for my CC permit.
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PJSprog
Member
I've had a S&W622 6" for about 25 years, and I love it. It definitely doesn't like Remington Thunderbolts, but eats everything else very well. I get tight groups even with Winchester Wildcats, which is what I shoot most.
I shot a 22A a few weeks ago, and liked it even more. Very comfortable in the hand, and chewed up the X-ring standing at 15 yards.
My wife has a Walther P22 (in pink digital camo) that she absolutely loves. It's also a very nice shooting gun.
Several years ago, I shot a friend's Springer 1911 with a conversion kit. It was a terrible experience, with every type of failure imaginable. However, other people seem to love theirs.
I shot a 22A a few weeks ago, and liked it even more. Very comfortable in the hand, and chewed up the X-ring standing at 15 yards.
My wife has a Walther P22 (in pink digital camo) that she absolutely loves. It's also a very nice shooting gun.
Several years ago, I shot a friend's Springer 1911 with a conversion kit. It was a terrible experience, with every type of failure imaginable. However, other people seem to love theirs.
sappyg
Member
Tried the MP22 off the rental rack a few times. This gun had a lot of rounds through it. Accurate, had a tendency to walk the roll pin out of the slide and burp the 1st round from the mag.
The Ruger SR22 would be my choice. Had one. Sold it. No real regrets though. It's new owner wanted it for his daughter to train with. She loves it. Hits are easy to make and the grip is comfortable for smaller hands. Pretty darn accurate too.
The Ruger SR22 would be my choice. Had one. Sold it. No real regrets though. It's new owner wanted it for his daughter to train with. She loves it. Hits are easy to make and the grip is comfortable for smaller hands. Pretty darn accurate too.
Zach S
Member
I second this. I rebuilt an old 1911 frame to be a dedicated host for a conversion. I later built a rimfire AR around a conversion.
I prefer the Ruger Mk 2 to the Mk 3, but both are very good pistols for teaching someone to shoot.
CajunBass
Member
Ruger or Browning. They're not the most mentioned for no reason.
I've been thinking about a Smith & Wesson M&P 22 myself...just because.
I've been thinking about a Smith & Wesson M&P 22 myself...just because.
PowerG
Member
I would also be in the Ruger Mk or Browning Buckmark camp, both are high quality for reasonable cost and very accurate as a rule. I do prefer a Single Six for teaching very young children, having to cock it for each shot adds a safety layer.
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