My wife Hoss traded me!

[exbrit49]

Wow got my wife started shooting this year and let her use my only light caliber I had, It was the original Ruger Target Mk 1. She got on with it real well and as it was the only .22 auto we had. I never got to shoot 22 pistol all year. I suggested she might want to go buy one for herself.
Off we went to visit all the LGS and we looked at about 10 different models and she kept saying it doesn’t feel as good as the Ruger. So after looking at them all she turned to me and said “Let me have the Ruger, and you pick out a new one and we can call it a trade” I asked if she was sure and she said YES, I like the way that gun feels in my hand.
SO we went back and I looked at the Berretta U2 Neos with the 6 inch barrel. It seemed a little futuristic looking. (especially as I am a revolver type person), Anyway, that Berretta felt right as I held it and seemed like it was real fast to point. I was not sure what to do as I had no research or reviews to see what others had to say about them. After looking it over I figured Berretta has always had a decent reputation and the gun feels like it handles well.
Took it home and did some reviews and thought, mmmm did I make a mistake here? Most of the stuff on Youtube was showing groups about 2 to 4 inches from 7 yard., Not impressive.
Anyway I took off to the range this morning and took a folding hair with me to rest my hand on. Loaded it up and took six shots to see where they would go. WOW BIG SHOCK all 6 were in a 1 inch group at 4 o’clock about 3 inches from the Bull. Made one sight adjustment and I was stunned to see all 6 in the 10 ring! Mmmm interesting, So then I loaded six more and shot them offhand in to a new target. Less than a 2 inch group at 20 yards. Closer to 1 ½ inches.
Repeated it a couple more times and realized this thing is a real shooter.
Filled up two clips and went to rapid fire and mmm some of the best .22 groups I have ever shot offhand, No jams, no hang-ups and I was using cheapo Remington value pack. No FTF.
Guess I will have to say the first impressions are great. Got back to the house, the wife saw the targets and I got a feeling I am going to get the Ruger back, Although she still says she doesn’t like the feel of the Berretta, Guess I will have to wait and see.
PS She just told me she still wants the Ruger!!! So I think I have a Berretta I like!
Any other owners out there that have comments on their U2 Neos?

 

[MikePGS]

Congrats, it looks like it worked out for both of you

 

[Skylerbone]

Read on. http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=678423

 

[Fishbed77]

I would say your wife got the better end of the deal, but maybe the newer Neos pistols are better than earlier ones.

My uncle has one that is a few years old, and I've been pretty unimpressed with it. The ergonomics are weird (of course that is a subjective thing), but the trigger is terrible. Very "hard" and "numb" feeling, if that makes any sense.

But maybe the new ones are better?

 

[bannockburn]

I haven't shot groups as nice as your Neos has but still is a decent enough pistol for the range and for plinking. The trigger is just okay; not as nice as my Rruger Mk.II but still very serviceable. I have the 4" barrel and I like the way it balances in my hand. Magazines are well made and easy to load. Reliabilty has been great with just a few duds from some less than stellar bulk pack ammo.

 

[Pilot]

I would have just bought another Ruger, especially if they had a used MK II in the case. But, hey if you like the Beretta that's all that matters. Enjoy!

 

[Skylerbone]

I doubt the trigger has changed much though the original NEOS was recalled and IIRC the strikers among other parts were replaced.

Mine was slightly gritty and heavy. Some work on the sear and a spring change definitely improved things and now I have a crisp, grit free 5-5.5 lbs. perfect for my 8 yr. old. I had it out last week and with the black on black sights from my front rifle rest managed ~2-2 1/4" groups at 25 yds. I had an inexpensive RDS mounted at one time and could shoot better than that without a rest. May revisit that set-up once my son has more time with the irons.

Ain't a Mk I but it's (now) a nice little dependable shooter.

 

[Sheepdog1968]

My wife growing up in the country used to shoot a 22 rifle and a 410 shotgun a lot to keep the birds from eating their grapes for their homemades wine (as if there was any doubt I would marry her). She hadn't shot pistols much so I started her on a Ruger mk II target model Well, I spoiled her. Nothing else I own shoots as nice. She's not recoil shy. She just likes the crisp aftermarket trigger I have in it. Normally I don't do much modifications to pistols except for sights. The Mk II was an exception as it was a target pistol.

 

[exbrit49]

For sure the Trigger on the Ruger is crisp and definitive, The trigger on the Neos is a littl longer pull and feels a little gritty but it shoots so accurately I can live with it. TOok it out again and got the same accuracy as the first day. One thing I did notice today is the long trigger pull but I found that I can easily pull it halfway and then squeeze the last to the let off point.
All in all I still like the way it shoots, no it isnt my style but she isnt going to part with that Ruger. I did look at the Mk3 Ruger and it just isnt built to the same quality standards as the Mk 1. I looked real hard and almost bought one but with that bull barrel on it, it just didnt come up to point well for me and felt unbalanced. That coupled with the poorer finish I decided on the Neos for the price.
Hopefully it will prove to be a good piece for my target work.
PS the wife says I can use the Mk 1 when she isnt using it !!!
Have a great day