lady needs a 22... help me help her.

[pauli]

alright, a lady friend of mine is clearly in need of a 22. she's currently got an xd9, but agrees that something more basic (er, you know) is in order. the hope is that if she has an easy to shoot 22, she'll do a lot more shooting. so, here are the points i can think of...

one, she has a muscle condition. hand and arm strength are very limited - unless she's having a really good day, operating the xd9 usually requires that i rack the slide for her. similarly, she can shoot my model 13... if i cock the hammer. holding it up for more than a few shots is a challenge for her. basically, think in terms of a ten year old girl. and not that scary one out there playing lacrosse.

two, she wants a semi auto. she's very clear on this.

three, she really likes my p22, other than the mag release. she can operate it unassisted.

three, she does not like the slide release on rugers. takes too much force - see point one.

four, ease of cleaning is probably fairly important here.

five, this is just for punching paper at the range. don't need competition grade accuracy.

six, don't need competition grade prices let's set $400 as the ceiling here, but under $300 would be best.

seven, i remember from last year's gunshow trips that she liked the feel of the sig trailside, and could operate the slide easily.

now, the big show is hitting the dulles expo center next weekend, and i'm hoping we'll find something for her then. so i need suggestions from the experts (and that means you guys... ) as to what to look at.

ruger is out; buckmark sounds a bit on the cuckoo clock side of cleaning difficulty. how is the trailside for cleaning and general operation? neos? what else should we look for and at?

 

[firefighter4884]

I'd suggest the Ruger 22/45...but you said ruger was out.

I'd look at the Sig, see if she likes it. Maybe see if you can rent or borrow one at a range to shoot a few mags worth of ammo down range.

I'd also look into the Beretta Neos.

Not sure how she feels about pistol vs long arm, but Walter has a G22 .22LR carbine.

Or, if all else fails, maybe the Walter P22, considering she likes yours. Do you know why she doesn't like the mag release though?

--Jim

 

[pauli]

same reason i don't like it: unless you (or at least, she and i) consciously work around it, the mag gets popped at LEAST twice per magazine.

 

[unclestu]

You might look at the Browning Buckmarks. Several different finishes, barrel lengths, etc. Most peope who own them seem to like 'em a lot.

 

[resq854]

Try the Neos. My wife and I owned one(her first 22) for a while. If I remember correctly, the slide was pretty easy to rack. A friends' 9 year old daughter loved it. A carbine kit is available for it as well.
Good Luck

 

[valor1]

Try the Bersa Thunder/Firestorm in .22. It is cheap, reliable, accurate and durable. It is like shooting a Walther PPK but at a fraction of the cost.

 

[R.H. Lee]

The magazine release on the new Ruger MKIII is on the side of the frame, right behind the trigger, like on a 1911.
http://www.ruger-firearms.com/Firearms/FAProdView?model=10103

 

[RoyG]

same reason i don't like it: unless you (or at least, she and i) consciously work around it, the mag gets popped at LEAST twice per magazine.

What are you talking about? On the 22/45 the controls are setup just like a 1911. So that makes them pretty close to her xd also.

Cleaning??? Spray it down with brake cleaner every few thousand rounds.

Prce??? You should be able to pick up a Mark 22/45 for around $200 or less.

 

[17RemFan]

How about a Smith and wesson 422. They are lite as a feather, easy to operate and have great triggers.Often priced under $200, the pistols are accurate and easy to clean.

 

[XavierBreath]

Ruger. Your choice, MKII or 22/45.

I know you ruled it out, but you ruled it out for the wrong reason. The "slide release" is actually a bolt stop. Teach her to slingshot the bolt and she will do fine. You can actually get an attachment for the back of the bolt that extends the ears out more. You can also make the same part yourself, or have it made.

 

[wrench]

another vote for the buckmark, I am a woman with small hands, and I find it very comfortable to hold and operate.
they come in different finishes, barrel lenghts, etc.
well in your price range.

 

[pauli]

What are you talking about? On the 22/45 the controls are setup just like a 1911. So that makes them pretty close to her xd also.

that was in reference to the walther, not the ruger.

xavier, i'll have to keep an eye open for that little device... slingshotting the markII was precisely the problem she has with it.

 

[XavierBreath]

Pauli,
If she already has the Ruger (sounds like it), click the pic I posted. It will take you to Power Custom's website. They sell the device. It's high $, but if it means she can use the gun..............

 

[pauli]

no, she doesn't have one at the moment, but has tried one on more than one occasion.

$53.58... good god.

 

[CajunBass]

My wife and I picked up a 22/45 today and we both love it so far. My wife has a lot of problems with her hands also so I can imagine the problems your friend must have.

The wife also has a Bersa Firestorm 22 that is a good little gun, and easy to operate. Controls are pretty much like the 1911, but it's more of a pocket pistol. Shoots good though.

 

[KONY]

Buck Mark Challenge would be a good bet ... its made about about half-pound lighter than standard Buck Marks plus the grip is smaller. Plus, cleaning the Buck Mark isn't too bad. But definitely not like standard autos. I would suggest a P22 or a Sig Mosquito but I've never shot one and I've heard mixed reviews.

 

[38Mike]

I'm teaching my youngest daughter how to shoot...I bought a Buckmark Micro for her ( us!!! )....It's easy for her to handle, and they're not that much of a pain to clean

Nice gun.......

 

[pauli]

ok, my friend picked up a 4.5" trailside at the show this past weekend, and now i'm very, very jealous.

that thing is NICE. sights are a bit weird (here, have three huge black blocks!), and the plastic magazine isn't the easiest to use, but it didn't miss a beat, it's accurate, and the weight is just about perfect. beats the heck out of my p22!

i guess i'll just have to get a 6" target model down the road...

 

[MrMex]

S&W 422....done!

This was my first pistol when I was 9 and stillown it today, probably will forever. Has seen around 10,000 rounds and still going strong, didnt even clean it right for the firrst 7k or so b/c i was little and didnt know.

The gun has now become my gf's range gun, she loves it. The slide's design is unique so there is barely any force needed. I try to get my gf everytime to try my .40 but she says it just isnt for her.

I dont know if they make them any more but i have sen them on gunsamerica for around $250. Buy one for her and you will own her.

 

[TwoGun]

I purchased a Walther .22 for my 14 year old daughter last year. While I'm not all that cracked on double action pistols, she has mastered the trigger well enough to do some pretty good shooting with it. After petting three or four differnet .22s she went with the Walther because it fit her small hands well. She also opted for the model with the built in comp because she liked the longer sighting radius and the slightly barrel heavy feel.

It has proven to be a very nice plinker and my wife shoots it quite a bit as well. Its reasonably priced to boot.

Good luck

 

[svtruth]

Hi-Standard

I have an HD-Military model that is a joy to shoot, very nice, light trigger, mag release is on bottom.
Good luck.

 

[arizona-hermit]

Day Late and a Dollar Short it Seems - 22 Auto (AZ)

Pauli,

That 4.5" Trailside will treat her right I bet.

I was just reading this and thinking I would offer up my LNIB Beretta U22 Neos Inox 4.5" for $225.00 shipped.

I bought it a couple months ago on a whim (inexpensive and looks unusual) and fired 1 magazine through it. It is just too small for my hands or it would be one of my favorite plinkers.

Everything is there, just like you would get it from a store. Guess I will post it for sale one of these days.

Enjoy that Trailside

 

[Geno]

Sig Mosquito is a fine pistol

The Sig Mosquito is a very nice .22LR. The price, mid $350ish. Good luck.

Doc2005

 

[agony]

What Doc2005 said.

This pistol mimics a full-size centerfire SIG very closely.

The only pistol that my wife can reliably rack with an overhand or slingshot grip everytime. I think the nice thing about the Mosquito is that I forsee it easily 'turning on' beginning shooters to centerfire guns....a great transition pistol for sure.