Which .22 to get people to start getting into the sport?

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johnson_n

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I have a Sig P229R DAK 9mm and will be receiving a S&W M&P 9c today. I asked a couple of people over the weekend if they wanted to go to the range the next time I go and all were pretty excited. The only problem is that shooting (even 9mm) can get expensive so I want to get a .22 to get people's foot in the door. Like buying only one compact (hd/sd/ccw) and subcompact (ccw), I want this .22 to fill the void for a good fun range gun. Something on the smaller side would be nice too for girls who have smaller hands. TIA.
 
I have a Buckmark and I bought a Taurus 94 last weekend. The Buckmark is a blast to shoot but it is pickier with ammo as most autoloaders are. I've owned a few Ruger .22s as well and they are great guns. My wife has a Walther P22 with both barrels and she loves it.

My normal range session is I bring one of my centerfire pistols and a box of ammo and one of my .22s with a bulk pack (500 rds) of ammo...
 
NGIB said:
My normal range session is I bring one of my centerfire pistols and a box of ammo and one of my .22s with a bulk pack (500 rds) of ammo...
Click to expand...

That's what I want to start doing. Last Friday I shot off 300rds of WWB and then another 70rds of Blazer/Lawman for my CCW class on Saturday. It was an expensive weekend.
 
One nice thing about 1911s, Glocks and CZ-75s is that you can buy a .22 conversion kit. So far I have an Advantage Arms kit for my Glock 19 and even experienced shooters like to play with it at the range. I'm going to get a factory .22 kit for my CZ PO1, too.
 
A fullsize, lightweight .22 pistol can cater well for all new shooters. Guns such as the Browning Buckmark, S&W 22a, or Beretta Neos would be a great start.

The Ruger 22/45 would be a nice consideration as well.
 
I'm glad you guys are starting people off light. I read these and wonder what the hell my father was thinking...

My father's first gun was a Mossberg 500 12 gauge. We couldn't afford a gun cabinet/safe so he kept it in the corner of the house. To make sure I didn't play with it he let me fire it. Sitting down. With my back against an oak tree. I was 8.

It worked. I never touched that gun again and it took years to get over the "flinch" from even the mere sight of a pump action firearm.

The first rifle I ever shot was a Winchester model 94 in .30-30. "Dad, can I shoot my brand spanking new .22?" No. Shoot this first.

And being the glutton for punishment that I seemed to be, I was amazed at my fathers first pistol. I asked for two years to shoot it before he finally let me. It was the first time I ever shot a pistol. I felt like a cowboy when I ripped off the first round of .44 mag out of an 8" Ruger Super Blackhawk. And if it wasn't for my fathers hand over my forehead I'd have the rear sight stamp between my eyes to prove it.
 
My first gun was a BROWNING BUCK MARK BULLSEYE TARGET PISTOL (.22LR) with a 7.5" fluted bull barrel. It was a joy to learn on and I still shoot it regularly.

Kent
 
I have a brand new Browning Buckmark and a 1969 Rugar Standard and I love them both and they are both very accurate.

J
 
Walther P22 is a sweet little gun , brake it in with CCI stingers and it will eat up all the bulk .22 ammo you feed it. The Ruger autos are wonderful trainers. The Buckmarks seem to shoot quite well. S&W's autos work well but their wheelguns are super shooters. There has never been a recorded case of anyone have too many 22's. Good Luck now.
 
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I'd start them off with a "solid/heavy" 22 wheel gun, six shot, single action for safety reasons.
Be sure to take a 22 semi also, just to show the difference between the 2 types

I like the Walther P22, but the screws keep coming lose and it's a real bitch to put back together after a good cleaning.

I also have a conversion kit for my Berettas, which is also great to practice with.

My "female" friends and relations also like the "22LR Beretta" because with the heavier full size auto, there's hardly any felt recoil.

UJ
 
.22

One thing you may consider, The Smith and Browning use alloy frames and slides while the ruger uses steel. I don't much care for the 45 gripped ruger but the Mark II with enough barrel is awfully hard to beat on accuracy. Rugers are about as bullet proof as you can get but they are a little heavier because of the materials.:D
 
Go with the Ruger Mk II or Mk III or the Browning Buckmark.

They are both reliable (for .22's), accurate, durable, and fun to shoot.

Either one will do what you want.
 
[/Bass Pro Shop quoted me $300 over the phone for a normal Camper model. Seems high since the MSRP is $315.QUOTE]

Many shops that sell firearms are not going to give very good quotes over the phone. Most of the time you small local dealer will order for percentage over his cost and shipping which will be cheaper. Asking in person is the only way to wheel and deal.
Click to expand...
 
Bass Pro Shop quoted me $300 over the phone for a normal Camper model. Seems high since the MSRP is $315.
Click to expand...
I would skip the Camper, the sight base is plastic and turns a gun that should last a lifetime into one that's prone to breakage. Spend the extra cash and get a Standard URX at the least. The URX grips are excellent BTW, the ergo's are downright sensuous. The Hunter and Target models are fabulous, but you're bumping the price up to get into their territory.

As for price, that is a little high for a Camper. I don't know about your area, but I recently shopped around and added a Standard URX for $285 on sale at a local gun store.

I'm quite confident you will like your Buckmark, and I think you will have a grin on your face when you find how accurate these pistols are stock. Can't speak for the experiences of others, but my Buckmarks are not picky at all about ammo and shoot very well with the cheap stuff.
 
Probably most quality 22 pistols, like the Ruger MKII, is a good starter pistol.

For the smaller (and bigger) new shooters a Ruger Bearcat is a lot of fun.
My young friend here loves my Bearcat. Even though he's just getting the strength to operate it smoothly you can see he does pretty well with it.


Sunday when we were finished shooting I put the pressure on him.
Six shots left, one clay pigeon left laying on it's side, distance 7 yards.
I told him "No excuses, you have to hit that thing".
He got it on the 5th shot.
A very proud boy.:)

ScottRugerBearcat.gif
 
The Ruger 22/45 is a good gun. It was my first and it's the one pistol I always bring to the range.
 
+1 for introducing new shooters to a .22 (before your 9mm)
+1 for Buckmark
+1 for Standard URX

My single son likes to take friends to the range with my Buckmark and reports that the females really enjoy it -- moreso than the M&P9c and .38 Model 64 that he takes along. I bought my Standard Buckmark several years ago and it now seems to be worth slightly more than I paid for it. No way I'd sell it.

Don't be tempted by the models with shorter barrels. A shorter sight radius is another obstacle for new shooters. You want them to be able to hit the target and gain confidence.

My mom never shot a pistol until last weekend. She was so nervous her hands shook, but she consistently hit the target with my Buckmark. She's asking when she can do it again. A 75yr old newbie!
 
If your intent is to use the .22 purely as a trainer, then a .22 Conversion kit makes a lot of sense. I have two, both for the M1911 (a Ciener and a Colt Service Model Ace.) Neither of these will produce tartget grade accuracy, but for running self-defense scenarios, they are plenty accurate.
 
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