I took my daughters to the gun shop today

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Duckster

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I was looking at shoguns for my retirement present to myself. Still haven't figured out what I want yet:eek:. I also looked at a used Taurus 65 w/ wooden grips. I spent alot of time trying out .22 pistols for my girls. We tried out 3 I thought were nice. The Walther P22, SIG Mosquito and Browning Buck Mark. I thought any of these would be nice, but I do not have knowledge of any of these firearms for my girls. They are eleven and thirteen and love to shoot with daddy (They are pretty good too!:D ). I just want them to have a nice pistol that shoots accuratly w/o additions straight out of the box.
Any input would be appreciated or experience w/any of these pistols.
 
Skip the Mosquito. Not up to usual Sig standards.

The P22 is a small version of a carry pistol. The Browning is a targel pistol. Both are good guns, but very different.
 
I'm not going to throw off on a Buckmark because it's a Browning and it's been around a long time. However, I really like my Ruger 22/45 but I shoot 1911A1's, so whether it'd fit their hands is a question they'd have to answer by trying one. What I will say is I've had a lot of enjoyment with my 22/45... and I've hit some mighty small targets with it.

Now, in a departure from the autoloaders, I also tend to like a Ruger New Model Single-six .22LR and also a Rossi double action 4" stainless, but at the moment I can't recall its model designation. Those are good shootin' guns, IMO.
 
I agree, the Sig isn't up to standards.

The p22 is a very "cute" gun that resemble the p99 walther. If your girls like the look and esp the ergonomics, I'd say go for it. You can find them used for less than $250. Theres a compensator that helps a bit also.

I like the Buckmark, but I'd still prefer a Ruger MKII. I learned way more shooting on a Ruger then i did on anything else.

All in all, its up to what your girls want. The p22 being a "cute" gun, I think that might be what they would prefer. It also comes in plenty of colors, even a tacky (IMO) carbon fiber print.

-Elmer
 
I could be wrong but when I was researching .22 pistols, I thought I read a lot about the P22 having some internal cracking problems. Maybe someone can better tell you. My vote out of those three would be the Buckmark however I would add a Ruger to that list.
 
There are plebty of good choices for .22 plinkers and target guns. The Buckmark and 22/45s are awesome little guns. The High Standards are also excellent guns although a bit more money as I recollect. My next .22 however will be a Whitney Wolverine. I love the little things. My friend has one and it's probably my favorite .22 pistol.
 
I'm currently teaching a 9-year old to shoot using a Single Six and Chipmunk (he doesn't know about the Chipmuk yet- this is gonna be fun). He loves the 4" Single Six with Williams Firesights. Wonderful, solid little gun; someday he can give it to his kids.

My 2c,
Jeff
 
Daughters and guns

I had the girls try holding each pistol. They liked them all. I thought the P22 fit them best, but too small for me:uhoh: . I already have a single six for them, but it isn't a tack driver. Being an Army Sniper, I want them to be as accurate as possible and teach them the importance of making very round count. I believe they would grow into the Browning, but like I said the P22 fits them now.
Any body shoot these?
 
The range I go to has a P22 in the rental counter and according to them its junk. I rented it once to give it a try when I was looking for an alternative to the Ruger MKII and I will agree it is junk. Terrible trigger, inaccurate, and after about 2 mags it started to short stroke nearly every round. I would look into the Ruger its a solid piece, or the Beretta NEOs I have heard good things about (kinda funky looking though).
 
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I can speak for the Browning Buckmark being a great .22.
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I'll second that. I bought a Buckmark Camper just a week ago, and was very pleased with how it shot, especially the trigger. Very nice trigger.
 
I've had a P22 for almost a year, no problems yet. I think they ironed out most of the issues on recent pistols. Very fun, decent trigger, and your girls really might like the carbon fiber version (cooler looking than the straight black). Not the most accurate pistol around in the 3" version, if you're looking to teach marksmanship, but it's a great plinker.

I got a Buckmark Hunter (7.25" barrel) two days ago and took it to the range for the first time today. Fantastic. Accurate, great sight picture, easy to hold. Might be a little nose-heavy for young hands with the long barrel, but the shorter versions should be fine.
 
I've got the P22. It's NOT a target pistol, but very capable of nice little groups. Mine is really ammo sensitive, but it's a hoot to shoot. I bought it for the stepsons this summer, and they love it.
 
More of the same

The Browning is, without doubt, the most accurate of the three that you mentioned. I prefer the Ruger Mark II with a heavy barrel but only by a small margin. I believe that the grip on the Ruger is smaller than that of the Buckmark.
 
1. Ruger MkII 22/45, ~$200 if you look around. Get the short barrel version.

2. Walther. For some reason every female I've run across seems to like these.
 
believe that the grip on the Ruger is smaller than that of the Buckmark.
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On the Mk1 and Mk2, it is smaller than the Buckmark. I'm thinking it's about the same size between the Buckmark and the 22/45 of the same Ruger receiver, it's about the same.
 
I'll throw a plug for the Buckmark as it's in the list of what you had the girls handle.

Still I'll say that a pair of matching Ruger MKII's for the girls would be the cat's meow. They or a Buckmark are very accurate out of the box. Even though I like the Rugers better, for what you can do with them, -the 1911 of the target .22, I will say that the Buckmark has a better trigger out of the box. That said, either of these will be the best fit for the girls to grow into, learning the fine attributes of being accurate shooters. My boys when they were 11 and 13 shot MKII's without issue.

I would suggest Ruger MKII's target model with 5" bull barrel.

-Steve
 
I have a P22- was the first pistol I bought. I had some issues that I had to work out that have been talked about Ad Nauseum at Rimfire Central - the safety walking and ears on the trigger bar. Newer versions have been fixed up alot, seems to have fewer problems. Mine is fairly reliable, but it isn't a self defense pistol so that doesn't bother me. It is not something I would want to hunt with, as it is fairly inaccurate. It is a gun for fun and working on my trigger squeeze, at a discounted rate. Keep a Walther to that, and it will serve you well. You want a target gun, go for a Buckmark or a Ruger.
 
Thanks for the reply's

I really liked the Browning, plus being used it is cheaper. I had my oldest shoot a 1911 a couple of years ago, but she hated it. Too pwerful. I got rid of my 9mm. Most of my guns are in Alabama, due to Army's change in duty stations. So they don't have their guns here (A single shot .22 rifle and a single action revolver .22) and I'm not sure when I will get them back:banghead: . They mentioned to me several times they want to shoot. All I have here is My great grandmothers S & W .32 Long (Over a hundred years old), FN .40 and single shot .270.
So I buy more guns:D !!!!
 
I would suggest Ruger MKII's target model with 5" bull barrel.

-Steve
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My Ruger 22/45 has the 5" bull barrel. It balances great. I was lucky enough to get the shorter barreled version in my hands at the range... a guy I got sorta aquainted with had one for his girlfriend and she was doing pretty good with it, but I could tell accuracy needed something. When I got it in my hand, it felt good but balance was wrong. So, when I had my main dealer order mine, I ordered the 5" bull barrel and I didn't even have to shoot it to know it was going to be great. And when I shot it, sure enough, it was.

I'm reminded of this one time it was me and Daddy at the range... we were supposed to shoot a steel plate match that day but it was real cold with rain blowing sideways. A couple of other guys came out for the match, but we all wound up plinking chewing up wood blocks and rocks and various and sundry pieces of anything that would fly when hit. I think I ran close to 500rds through that gun that day just to see how long it'd run. It never failed. The high point of that day though... I picked out a empty shotshell on the ground at about 15yds and lit it up. First shot and that shotshell went flying. This other ol' boy over to my right was shooting and Glock 9mm and when he saw that hull go flyin', he hollered "OOOOOOHHHHHH" and Daddy though the guy'd been shot, but he was just reacting to seeing that shot. Next thing I knew, he was setting up empty 9mm cases and trying to hit 'em.
 
Skip the Sig

I love my 229, but that 22 is nothing but trouble. Had a buckmark. It was a good gun, shot well, no problems, it just wasn't for me. I sold it and bought a Ruger 22/45 and I really like it. I have used that 22 to teach lots of people to shoot, and it never skips a beat. I know that it wasn't one of the choices, but, IMHO, when it comes to 22 pistols, its Ruger all the way.
 
Ruger

I would recommend a Ruger MkII, 5 or 6 inch heavy (bull) barrel.

That is, I WOULD recommend a Ruger MkII, but I have to recuse myself as strongly biased.

Full disclosure: I'm taking myself off this case since I own three of the MkII pistols, two of which are bull-barrel, and they shoot like silk. My wife loves the darn things.

Therefore, since I own them, they shoot really well, my wife (with her small hands) loves them, and I really like them myself, I will not offer an opinion.

So there.
 
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