Ruger MK5 good first gun for my son?

[thefamcnaj]

Hello all, My son is 11 years old and this year he has shown a lot of interest in guns for the first time in his life. He's helping me clean them after range visits, organizing our "ammo dump", consentrating on gun saftey, and just trying to pick my head on every thing gun. Which is fantastic. No interest in long guns however, which is ok because I'm sure it will come later.
He's never been shooting with me because his Mother didn't want him shooting until 12(why I don't know)
So since I'm now going to take him to the range now he'll obviously need a gun and I'm excited to get one for him.
I'm leaning toward the mk5 or sig masquito. What do you guys think? what did you start your boys off with. I know I got started with a .22 rifle as do a lot of people but he's not into the rifle thing and I don't want to force something on him he wont enjoy or that may discourage his growing fascination with guns. Its a sickness and I hope he catches a case of it like his old man

 

[rikman]

Go for the Ruger or a S&W wheel gun ...my kid likes both our Ruger mk2 and sw 617

 

[tbutera2112]

dont buy the mosquito - if you are set on that style of pistol, get the walther p22...the updated model is widely available now that takes care of all the crap people say is wrong with them

it will have an all black slide, instead of white lettering (among a bunch of other things - PM if you want me to dig up pics of each kind, and a list of the changes)

 

[thefamcnaj]

I was told that the masquito was finniky by my gun store guy but I have no personal experience with the masquito. I also considered a .22 revolver but he's hung up on semi autos. All he sees and handles(cleans) are my glocks (ooops I've created a mini glock fan boy...) but of coarse he gets nothing like that for another 10 years.
come to think of it I have no experience with a semi auto .22 so I'll be taking a crap shoot when I make a descision on one.

 

[tbutera2112]

i sent you a msg

and the rugers are a better overall target pistol, better quality, and probably the best .22 pistol you can buy.....but theyre a lot heavier and are very ugly...when i bought my p22 they had the rugers on sale for the same price and i still chose the p22 because the ruger just didnt seem like it would be fun to shoot, although they are tack drivers

 

[CraigC]

You could always get him a rimfire version of the Glock and hope he comes to his senses about revolvers before too long.

 

[Rail Driver]

You can also get a rimfire conversion for your glock for around $300 (less than the cost of a new quality .22 pistol)

 

[tbutera2112]

P22Q range report
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=607947

Sig Mosquito reviews
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=608981

 

[9mmepiphany]

I'd also recommend a .22lr upper for one of your Glocks. The standard recommendation is usually the unit produced by Advantage Arms, but based on the reputation and the feel at the Shot Show, I'd seriously look into the unit produced by Tactical Solutions first.

For a dedicated .22lr handgun, I'm partial to the Browning Buckmark over the Ruger...I just like the easy changeability of their top end better

 

[searcher451]

There are lots and lots of ways to go here ... as many ideas as there are members of this forum, no doubt. One I'd mention: The Ruger Bearcat. It's the first gun I ever bought and owned, and one I still have, and one I still take with me to the range from time to time.