Taurus PT-22 for Fiance'

[USMCRotrHed]

This weekend I took my fiance' to a gunshow. We were looking at a CCW weapon for her to learn on and carry in her purse. She's an excellent shot with rifles. She has no experience with handguns at all. We looked at a Glock 17 and several sub-compact 1911s and others. She saw a Taurus PT-22 and really liked the size and feel of the weapon. I'm a little concerned about how well a .22 will work as a CCW. The seller recommended a round he called QuickShock?

I'm asking for comments on reliablilty and effectiveness with different loads and if anyone has a decent idea of what a fair price would be for one of these models.

Many thanks for the comments in advance.

 

[weregunner]

The Taurus p22 is nice pistol and mine feeds most 22s with no hiccups.Quickshok and stinger will function with no failure to feed.That said a purse is not the best place to carry a sidearm.Crooks are after the purse like flies on garbage.Other people checking in can help here.A number of holster makers are catering to women now.32 ACP..380ACP,38 special and 9mm. would be better picks. Taurus, Bersa, Glock, Kahr and others have models that would work.If you want a small pocket auto in .32ACP Beretta makes the Tomcat model. NAA Makes one to and can be custom fit.My PT22 is used more for last backup but I do pocket carry in holster on the property from tome to time.More qualified people than myself I'm sure will be checking in on this shortly.Exit, stage left.

 

[USMCRotrHed]

Good point on the purse carry idea. Being male...I've put next to no thought into methods of carry for a female. I would prefer that she carry something bigger. I'm a fan of the S&W 642 revolver but she doesn't want anything with that much recoil. I'd really like to see her with a Springfield Arms sub-compact 1911, but I think she would leave it at home more than she would carry...and what good is it at home if she needs it.

Thanks for the input, you gave me a couple of things to consider. I'm looking forward to hearing others opinions as well.

 

[Ala Dan]

Well, first of all I don't think that the Taurus PT-22 is a good choice
for a CCW piece for females. Noteably, every one that I have sold
over the past two years has been returned with severe jam-o-matic
problems. Your better half too be would best be served with an
Airweight S&W 642.

 

[Waitone]

My ex packed one only after we figgered out it had to shoot high velocity ammo. Std ammo created a jam-o-matic. Problem went away with HV.

 

[USMCRotrHed]

Thanks for the input. As I mentioned earlier, my fiance' doesn't like the recoil of my 642. If she doesn't enjoy shooting it, she won't practice. If she won't practice, I won't let her carry. If she's going to carry, she needs to be confident in what she needs to do at the moment of truth. That only comes from practice.

I do appreciate the advice on the high velocity ammo. That makes a lot of sense and no one else seems to have stumbled on that.

 

[steelhead]

Since she is recoil shy and you want to stay with a .22lr. You might want to consider the Firestorm .22lr that is fun to shoot and accurate. Loaded with high velocity ammo it has been 100% reliable. However, some jams have occured with standard velocity bulk ammo.

As time goes on, she could step up to the same size frame in .380 and already be familar with the controls, etc..

Of course, you always have the option of going with a revolver in .22lr. Get a Taurus or S&W J frame and you could throw on some CTC lasergrips to aid in training and accuracy.

 

[popeye]

I had a Taurus 941 8 shooter .22 mag. 2". Recoil is nil and the gun is light.

 

[jon_in_wv]

I absolutely agree with the idea that a PT-22 is NOT a self defense piece. It is a plinker, a curio, whatever but I would not let someone I love carry it. My wife bought one and it's never worked well. It's been back to the factory and it is still junk. When she goes out I part with my Keltec or my beloved Mak but she does not carry that crappy PT-22.

 

[Apple a Day]

I own one and it took a couple hundred rounds and a couple of trips to the range/cleaning for it to become reliable. No problems with it after the first couple hundred rounds. It doesn't like Stingers but it lovely with cheap Federal HV HPs. I wouldn't choose it as a CCW, though. The caliber is just too small and the .22 LR is just too anemic and prone not to fire. Shooting at the range is fine but I won't trust my life to one.
I'd REALLY try to introduce her to a revolver. My wife really prefers a .38 Spl. If you have to stick with a .22 then I'd go with a revolver just because if you get a dud you just keep on pulling the trigger. With a PT-22 you'd have to deal with the REALLY STIFF slide or fiddle with tipping the barrel... neither of which you want to have to do with some maniac bearing down on you. If she doesn't like revolvers then at least go with a .32 ACP.
Good luck and God keep you both safe.

 

[ksnecktieman]

I think you should look into the little Keltecs. The P32, or P3AT in either .32 or .380 calibers. Either one will disappear in a mans dress shirt pocket. Light weight polymer, and they offer a belt clip, that fastens on the side. With either of these (they are almost exactly the same size), she might be able to carry it clipped onto a bra strap. I know of one carried that way.

I agree, more than a .22 is needed, and the P32 is gentle to shoot. I have not fired the .380.

Good luck on your quest.

 

[telomerase]

You could work on finding some really light .38 loads for practice. I've read that some guys handload 70-grain wadcutters. If you can stand the price you could use standard-pressure Glasers, they're only 80 grains. Or you could find a .32 snub and use .32 S&W Long, that's very mild, still better than a .22.

I don't think .22 mag is a solution, heavy triggers on rimfire revolvers and lots of blast.

And if I were forced to use the Taurus auto I would get the PT25 and carry Magtech or Glaser. At least it won' t jam in .25.

 

[weregunner]

A couple of ideas. Piggybacking on something just mentioned.The Makarov in 9by18 is a good choice.With Pierce grips and a 94 to 95grain bullet recoil is tolerable and in a slim package.Eight rounds to a mag. Or, a 32 H&R mag from Ruger,Taurus or Smith and Wesson. Ruger SP101 revolver comes in 4in or 3 in barrels.Rugers revolver is on a snubby frame but holds 6 rounds.There are speedloaders still made for the 32. Recoil would be less than a 38.

 

[Shel]

I tried a Taurus PT22 on for size. I hated the thing. I fumbled around with it for a while and said it.

I ended up spending a lot more and buying the Walther P22.

 

[jon_in_wv]

ONe of the 32 or 22 magnum revolvers might be an option also. The 38 snubs really have a nasty kick (most people don't admit that) and the 32 and 22 carry a little more ammo. The 22mag might be the most fun to practice with.

 

[weregunner]

Amen on the 22Maggy.Taurus makes a 8 shot 941 model. .22mags have as much power at the muzzle in a handgun as the .22longrifle out of a rifle.Only catch is the .22mag has a similar decible rate as the 38.Possibly more.

 

[jon_in_wv]

I have a 22mag derringer. The fireball out of the muzzle is impressive. But recoil is light and I haven't noticed that it was excessively loud.