I was looking at getting my GF a 22 , carry gun , for valentine's day . I was looking at the Walther P22 . This will be her first pistol . I realize she will have to pick out what she wants in the long run . I was just looking some opintions .
Maybe a 22 for the GF
- Thread starter RKellogg
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ColtPythonElite
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IMO, there are better options than a .22 for CCW. I guess it's better than nothing, but not my choice if I were out looking to buy a new gun.
harmon rabb
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why a 22? i think you're underestimating her. we men tend to think women will be recoil sensitive -- sure, some are, but a lot aren't. my wife is little, but any cartridge i find comfortable to shoot, she finds comfortable to shoot.
a much bigger concern for most women than recoil, i think, is the diameter of a gun's grip and the distance to the trigger. this is where my wife will have issues because her hands are small.
a much bigger concern for most women than recoil, i think, is the diameter of a gun's grip and the distance to the trigger. this is where my wife will have issues because her hands are small.
docnyt
Member
isn't there a sticky for this already?
Some helpful tips:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=564531&highlight=wife+girlfriend
Some helpful tips:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=564531&highlight=wife+girlfriend
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Ok , let me try again . I am going to get my GF a 22 , carry gun , for valentine's day . Because I would like her to start out with something she can shoot all day with and not go broke , this is going to be her first pistol . What do you think of the Walther P22 ?
Sniderman
Member
I would suggest a different approach to her first firearm.
Rather than buy a firearm that she possibly will/won't like, take her on an afternoon date to a range that has rental guns, shoot lots of stuff. Let her start out with the .22s and slowly work up to larger calibers and see what she likes and can handle. Let her do the shooting, you do the guiding and focus on what works for her.
Of course you know that the rest of the date will have to be something that she wants to do, nice resturaunt, roses, Standard Valentines day fare.
Then suprise her later in the week, (A "delayed" Valentines gift) with a gun that she likes and that really fits her style & needs.
Rather than buy a firearm that she possibly will/won't like, take her on an afternoon date to a range that has rental guns, shoot lots of stuff. Let her start out with the .22s and slowly work up to larger calibers and see what she likes and can handle. Let her do the shooting, you do the guiding and focus on what works for her.
Of course you know that the rest of the date will have to be something that she wants to do, nice resturaunt, roses, Standard Valentines day fare.
Then suprise her later in the week, (A "delayed" Valentines gift) with a gun that she likes and that really fits her style & needs.
docnyt
Member
OP you're gonna get a lot of opinions since that's what you wanted. I guess what people are trying to tell you is that the .22 while it may be a great starter platform for a beginning shooter, it may not be the best carry weapon. Added to that the lukewarm reviews of the Walther P22 in particular, then you see how the responses are going.
It's good that you're taking the time to get a new shooter started. I would definitely take her to a range date if she agrees, especially if there is a range that will let you rent. Who knows she might like the 9 mm better?
Also, I personally recommend a 9 mm or even 1911 with .22 conversion slides. My 11 year old daughter loves the Kimber 1911 conversion when we go to the range so it will be an easier transition should she decide to try the .45 later. Another good one is the CZ75 with .22 conversion slide - you can then transition to 9 mm later.
Good luck and have fun!
It's good that you're taking the time to get a new shooter started. I would definitely take her to a range date if she agrees, especially if there is a range that will let you rent. Who knows she might like the 9 mm better?
Also, I personally recommend a 9 mm or even 1911 with .22 conversion slides. My 11 year old daughter loves the Kimber 1911 conversion when we go to the range so it will be an easier transition should she decide to try the .45 later. Another good one is the CZ75 with .22 conversion slide - you can then transition to 9 mm later.
Good luck and have fun!
MICHAEL T
Member
I would suggest he buy her something bigger than a 22 . If its going to be for carry .
I gave my X a 22 for carry after we parted. Because I thought so much of her and was worried about her safety. . Present wife has a 9mm .
I gave my X a 22 for carry after we parted. Because I thought so much of her and was worried about her safety. . Present wife has a 9mm .
Right, and it's not just the ammo that can be less reliable than what you'd want in a carry weapon (although there are a few rather reliable brands), as .22 LR autoloaders generally tend to be less reliable in my experience (probably has to do with the low recoil and rimmed cartridge).
The Smith & Wesson 317 revolver holds 8 rounds and is sized well for carry--this would be my personal recommendation, for what it's worth. Get the one with the 3" barrel if that's feasible because for defensive purposes you'll want all the power you can squeeze out of this small caliber. The ammo that I would recommend for personal defense is the CCI Velocitor. Use any cheap ammo you like for general target practice, although I'd avoid Remington rimfire ammo altogether.
I think that most men are recoil-sensitive, too, and could probably shoot .22 LR significantly better than more powerful calibers unless they train quite a bit. My 4'11" mom can slow-fire even Magnum calibers accurately, but she can shoot .22 LR a whole lot faster with good accuracy (all hits in the COM at 7-10 yards), so she currently uses a .22 LR for personal defense. Maybe she'll move up in caliber someday when she's more comfortable with recoil, and in that case the great thing about .22 LR guns is that everybody should have at least one anyway, even if you no longer intend to use it defensively.
Obviously, each person is different, so everybody should be allowed to find through experimentation what they're personally comfortable with. All I'm saying is that defensive shooting is different from simply being able to shoot one round at a time at a harmless, stationary paper target, and that .22 LR generally makes beginners better shots, which is a good thing for carry weapons despite the relative weakness of the caliber.
That along with the weight of the trigger pull, which can be rather heavy with some revolvers in DA mode. The OP should find out whether these potential issues apply in this case, and then we can address them.
Lazyshooter
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If I was going to carry a .22, it would have to be a revolver. I've never personally seen a reliable .22 auto that I would trust my life with.
kansersurvivor
Member
I agree with Lazy...I purchased the S&W 351PD that she picked out.
Aim, Squeeze, Bang, repeat.
Aim, Squeeze, Bang, repeat.
ThePunisher'sArmory
Member
The P22 is a fun plinker (My wife wanted,....and got one) but I would not recomend it for carry. I would go at least .380 or 9mm. My wife shoots a 9 just fine.
OperatorKilibreaux
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P22
RKellogg,
I hope you bought that P22.
The P22 is a quite robust, VERY reliable, lightweight .22LR pistol that is not only a good plinker, but an even BETTER "carry gun"!
Forget all those who've never been an a firefight, or never seen what damage and lethality a .22LR has, or all the BS about unreliability versus centerfire.
Ballistic gelatin tests prove that high speed .22LR "solids" will punch every bit as deep as any .45...or 9mm.
Actual shooting incidents bear out the FACT that the .22LR is by no means a joke, nor is it inadequate to "put someone down"...
Review the attempt on Ronald Reagan's life....a SHORT barreled .22LR put four down in short order and almost killed two...had it not been for rapid medical intervention Reagan and Brady would have died, but more importantly, NO ONE hit jumped back up and yelled out, "What was that? A piece of paper? Don't you have a REAL handgun to shoot me with?"
The fact is, the .22LR IS a fight stopper...everyday of the week.
The fact is that .22 ammo 30 years old will go "bang" when the trigger is pulled.
The fact is the .22 is cheap and easy to shoot.
What the .22 is NOT suited for is shooting through walls, car doors, or other barricade material. The .22 would not be my first choice for racing down the highway exchanging shots "car-to-car", but up close and personal..."mano-a-mano the .22 will do it all.
I hope you ended up getting the Walther for your girlfriend and I hope you discovered what a GREAT little carry gun it is!
RKellogg,
I hope you bought that P22.
The P22 is a quite robust, VERY reliable, lightweight .22LR pistol that is not only a good plinker, but an even BETTER "carry gun"!
Forget all those who've never been an a firefight, or never seen what damage and lethality a .22LR has, or all the BS about unreliability versus centerfire.
Ballistic gelatin tests prove that high speed .22LR "solids" will punch every bit as deep as any .45...or 9mm.
Actual shooting incidents bear out the FACT that the .22LR is by no means a joke, nor is it inadequate to "put someone down"...
Review the attempt on Ronald Reagan's life....a SHORT barreled .22LR put four down in short order and almost killed two...had it not been for rapid medical intervention Reagan and Brady would have died, but more importantly, NO ONE hit jumped back up and yelled out, "What was that? A piece of paper? Don't you have a REAL handgun to shoot me with?"
The fact is, the .22LR IS a fight stopper...everyday of the week.
The fact is that .22 ammo 30 years old will go "bang" when the trigger is pulled.
The fact is the .22 is cheap and easy to shoot.
What the .22 is NOT suited for is shooting through walls, car doors, or other barricade material. The .22 would not be my first choice for racing down the highway exchanging shots "car-to-car", but up close and personal..."mano-a-mano the .22 will do it all.
I hope you ended up getting the Walther for your girlfriend and I hope you discovered what a GREAT little carry gun it is!
docnyt
Member
Oh no not another caliber war post...
I would agree that a bigger carry caliber is advisable, that being said if you are set on a try it out .22 go for a revolver, 22 autos dont have a great track record, especially since 22 ammo is less than reliable, that and a walther will run you about as much as larger caliber pistol
Oh yea, and I HAVE been in a firefight, about a years worth, though I used a pistol twice, both times i was trying to get to a BIGGER weapon, a 22 is better than nothing, put enough holes in something and it will die, though I have NEVER heard a real operator say i dont need this 9mm or 45, give me a .22lr! But a 22 is better than a rock, first rule in a gunfight is Bring a Gun!
Oh yea, and I HAVE been in a firefight, about a years worth, though I used a pistol twice, both times i was trying to get to a BIGGER weapon, a 22 is better than nothing, put enough holes in something and it will die, though I have NEVER heard a real operator say i dont need this 9mm or 45, give me a .22lr! But a 22 is better than a rock, first rule in a gunfight is Bring a Gun!
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Thanks OperatorKilibreaux . I agree with you 100% . I was just trying not to turn this into another caliber war post .
What I was trying to find out was , how good a pistol the P22 is . But as usuall everyone wants to give thier vast knowledge about everything , but what was asked . I'm supprized no one suggested she carry an AR or AK .
What I was trying to find out was , how good a pistol the P22 is . But as usuall everyone wants to give thier vast knowledge about everything , but what was asked . I'm supprized no one suggested she carry an AR or AK .
kansersurvivor
Member
Specifically related to the P22, my mother in law owns one. Its Pink, and she never shoots it. It was purchased for her, by my father in law. Pink guns are not marketed to women, rather to men who buy them for their significant other.
There are 2 Walther P22's in our family...and none are carried, both are used for plinking. One has a silencer and its a blast...but again, just for fun. Reliability wise...not too shabby, but not without some FTF and stove pipes.
The 22's that are carried in our family are all revolvers, and are all Magnums.
There are 2 Walther P22's in our family...and none are carried, both are used for plinking. One has a silencer and its a blast...but again, just for fun. Reliability wise...not too shabby, but not without some FTF and stove pipes.
The 22's that are carried in our family are all revolvers, and are all Magnums.
W.E.G.
Member
Walther .22 is a POS with monkey-metal slide.
Be very afraid.
See http://www.google.com/search?q=walt...ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7GWYG_en
Be very afraid.
See http://www.google.com/search?q=walt...ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7GWYG_en
dogtown tom
Member
All credibility lost righhhhhht.........there.
The Walther P22 is notorious for breaking into pieces. It's sorry, sorry, sorry zinc potmetal construction does not come anywhere close to being robust. But it is very tacticool....and if looks meet your needs then good luck to you.
Tell us... exactly how many police departments issue .22's? Or even allow them as off duty carry?
Please do not take video games firearms information as "real world".
pingpingping
Member
Maybe a G22 SF for your GF?
RKellogg,
please don't take this the wrong way. Here's a picture of my P22 that almost blew up in my nephews hands. Don't get me wrong, I love the P22 as a "Plinker" but when my wife wanted a "Carry" gun, I got her a Bersa .380cc. The Bersa is in the same price range. Same size & just as easy to shoot.
As I said I love my P22 & S&W is sending me a complete slide for $50 but after what happened to my P22 in my nephews hands, I can't say I would trust it as a "Carry" gun for my wife.
Bottom line, read reveiws, do your research & ask yourself, "Would I trust my life to this firearm?" if you can't say yes to that question, you can't bet your loved ones life on it either. The P22 is a great plinker, but it's not a "Carry" gun.
Just my experience & .02
http://m1229.photobucket.com/albumv...rI+gk36ROXlNwrWLqrIymx8T4IZmlE+6Rgxf5l0E/3yw=
http://m1229.photobucket.com/albumv...rI+gk36ROXlNwrWLqrIymx8T4IZmlE+6Rgxf5l0E/3yw=
please don't take this the wrong way. Here's a picture of my P22 that almost blew up in my nephews hands. Don't get me wrong, I love the P22 as a "Plinker" but when my wife wanted a "Carry" gun, I got her a Bersa .380cc. The Bersa is in the same price range. Same size & just as easy to shoot.
As I said I love my P22 & S&W is sending me a complete slide for $50 but after what happened to my P22 in my nephews hands, I can't say I would trust it as a "Carry" gun for my wife.
Bottom line, read reveiws, do your research & ask yourself, "Would I trust my life to this firearm?" if you can't say yes to that question, you can't bet your loved ones life on it either. The P22 is a great plinker, but it's not a "Carry" gun.
Just my experience & .02
http://m1229.photobucket.com/albumv...rI+gk36ROXlNwrWLqrIymx8T4IZmlE+6Rgxf5l0E/3yw=
http://m1229.photobucket.com/albumv...rI+gk36ROXlNwrWLqrIymx8T4IZmlE+6Rgxf5l0E/3yw=
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