looking for recommendations for .22 pistol

[dyson]

Good choice op, now practice til you are deadly accurate. Shot placement is key

[softmentor]

[Anthony S]

Gun is listed at $289.99 locally. Already said no rifles and any shot gun is definitely out. Went at looked at them today. Have to do a gun safety test and guess that's it. Lay away is 1/3 down and must be paid off in 60 days which won't be a problem. Just need to ssee if I can put a deposit down with this paycheck or next.

[croc4]

P22 Ca is a good little pistol, eats everything I have given it, and decent accuracy. Only thing I have changed is that I painted the rear dots red. It helps my eye focus on the front sight blade

croc4

[Anthony S]

Ok everyone. I appreciate all of the input on the Walther P22 CA but I came across this S&W SD9VE 9mm last night for less than $100 more than the Walther. I can get it for $349.99. Can anyone give me some input on this firearm? I`ve looked on youtube and it seems like a decent gun for the money and probably a bette home defense weapon which I already knew the P22 wasnt really known for.

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product4_750001_750051_811049_-1_757962_757752_757751_ProductDisplayErrorView_Y

[softmentor]

That's a good gun at that price and I think much better choice for self defense. I like S&W. They are better known for their revolvers but they have done a pretty good job with the semi-auto as well.
At that price point you may also want to consider another 9mm the FMK. Made here in CA. List price is $399 but I have seen them for $333. The FMK is a LOT like a glock. link below
Either would be a good gun. Both are low end so bear in mind they are not tanks, the will not run 10,000 rounds and go forever, but they are decent and both good guns fot that price.

http://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2012/3/12/fmk-9c1-gen-ii-9mm-pistol/

[softmentor]

also, for just a pinch more, about $385, you could get a S&W M642 5RD 38 Special revolver. Easier to operate, and rock solid reliable.
Just food for thought.

[Anthony S]

That's a good gun at that price and I think much better choice for self defense. I like S&W. They are better known for their revolvers but they have done a pretty good job with the semi-auto as well.
At that price point you may also want to consider another 9mm the FMK. Made here in CA. List price is $399 but I have seen them for $333. The FMK is a LOT like a glock. link below
Either would be a good gun. Both are low end so bear in mind they are not tanks, the will not run 10,000 rounds and go forever, but they are decent and both good guns fot that price.

http://www.americanrifleman.org/arti...ii-9mm-pistol/

I dont know that the FMK is California legal. And I`m not interested in a revolver. I`ll be getting a semi-auto. I`m not sure about the trigger on the S&W though. My wife has strength issues in her hands and she may not be able to fire more than a couple rounds without shaking much. THe P22 might be a good starter gun that will become hers when I get something else. Still unsure at the moment and dont want to rush into any purchase.

[tankton]

Heh. Some people just like semi-autos. I'm definitely in that camp.

FMK does make CA legal versions (they are based in CA), but I haven't seen any in stock at my local gun store (it's a small shop). The larger stores may have them.

There isn't anything wrong with the SW SD9VE. A friend of mine initially bought a Springfield XD9 (similar to the SD9VE) and found the 9mm recoil was more than she bargained for. She eventually got a Ruger SR22 (a 22LR semi auto) before it fell off the roster.

Whatever you buy, just enjoy it. The SD9VE is a solid choice. The Walther P22... not so much (but still okayish). Its primary selling point (IMO) is the P22 looks like a normal semi-auto.

[softmentor]

I am a semi-auto fan too, although my wife likes revolvers. I think that S&W is a good choice. and yes, FMK is on the CA DOJ roster, it is CA legal.

Note: just for information sake, just because something is not on the roster does not make it illegal. It only means that a Dealer can not sell a new one (unless it is on that list.) It is perfectly legal to own a gun that is not on the roster. It is also perfectly legal to buy a gun that is not on the roster IF it is already in CA. It is called a Private Party Transfer and most any gun shop can do the transfer paperwork for you.

Anyway, check out the FMK if you can. Lots of folks are huge Glock fans, and the FMK is like a Glock on a budget.
Also, it would definitely be worth a day at the range with your wife. Let her fire a 9mm to see how she does with it. If it is too hard to handle, then it doesn't matter how good a deal of how good a gun it is. If you find she can handle it well, then you can make the choice with confidence and she will be much more willing to practice and use it. Even better would be if you could find a range that has rental guns, and try the S&W and the FMK for an hour, Shoot them with her. See what you like, what she likes. The ol' try before you buy really makes a difference with hand guns. Besides it will be fun!

[Anthony S]

Unfortunately I'm only able to buy a new gun at this point so it does need to be California legal. I don't have the money to buy one outright and the local shop does lay away which is the only way I can buy one at this point.

We do plan to hit the range. I haven't put a deposit down on anything yet. This is my first gun and Im not going to impulse buy like I have done in the past with other things. It might be several months before I actually buy something.

[tmh1]

I say stay with the P22 at this point. You have made it clear in your posts that money is a significant issue. With that said, you have to think about the whole package, not just the firearm. Not only is the P22 less expensive, but so is the ammo for it: like 6-8 cents per round as compared to at least 22 cents per round for 9mm.

You also need to factor in other equipment - Range bag and hearing & eye protection for both you and your wife. And cleaning equipment and supplies for the pistol. Range fees. And figure that as a new shooter you will need to shoot minimum 1,000 rounds between you and your wife to start to be proficient with whatever handgun you choose, and the more the better.

And then there are the extra magazines you will "need". Magazines don't last forever, and my personal feeling is that at least 5 per pistol is the minimum. As you can load these up at home, this also allows you to maximize your shooting time at the range - More time shooting and less time re-loading.

No, .22 LR is not known for its awesome power as a home defense caliber, but then again folks do not want to be on the side of the muzzle which flashes, and they really don't like to leak, regardless of the size of hole the round makes.

So get the less expensive (all around) P22, and work hard to become very proficient with it. Make sure that you train plenty with the gun, and get to the point where your bullets always go where you want them to go. In the case of a defensive use of the gun, you will naturally fall back to the level of training you have achieved, so train a lot.

And if you have any extra money left over after your monthly ammo and range expenditures, put away $10 into a jar for the next level weapon. By the time you have put away enough money, you will have spent much more time in gun shops and at the range, and you may well have a much better idea which is the next good purchase for yourself and your wife.

Also, don't be afraid to ask the folks in the surrounding lanes if you might shoot a few rounds with their pistols or revolvers. Generally shooters are a friendly lot and are more than happy to show off their guns to those who are interested. This just gives you more input when you go to make your next purchase.

Good luck, and good shooting.

[Jimi Jah]

I recommend a different caliber. Your new gun isn't going to be used much if you can't find the ammo. You won't like the prices either.

[Anthony S]

I say stay with the P22 at this point. You have made it clear in your posts that money is a significant issue. With that said, you have to think about the whole package, not just the firearm. Not only is the P22 less expensive, but so is the ammo for it: like 6-8 cents per round as compared to at least 22 cents per round for 9mm.

You also need to factor in other equipment - Range bag and hearing & eye protection for both you and your wife. And cleaning equipment and supplies for the pistol. Range fees. And figure that as a new shooter you will need to shoot minimum 1,000 rounds between you and your wife to start to be proficient with whatever handgun you choose, and the more the better.

And then there are the extra magazines you will "need". Magazines don't last forever, and my personal feeling is that at least 5 per pistol is the minimum. As you can load these up at home, this also allows you to maximize your shooting time at the range - More time shooting and less time re-loading.

No, .22 LR is not known for its awesome power as a home defense caliber, but then again folks do not want to be on the side of the muzzle which flashes, and they really don't like to leak, regardless of the size of hole the round makes.

So get the less expensive (all around) P22, and work hard to become very proficient with it. Make sure that you train plenty with the gun, and get to the point where your bullets always go where you want them to go. In the case of a defensive use of the gun, you will naturally fall back to the level of training you have achieved, so train a lot.

And if you have any extra money left over after your monthly ammo and range expenditures, put away $10 into a jar for the next level weapon. By the time you have put away enough money, you will have spent much more time in gun shops and at the range, and you may well have a much better idea which is the next good purchase for yourself and your wife.

Also, don't be afraid to ask the folks in the surrounding lanes if you might shoot a few rounds with their pistols or revolvers. Generally shooters are a friendly lot and are more than happy to show off their guns to those who are interested. This just gives you more input when you go to make your next purchase.

Good luck, and good shooting.

Not to discredit anyone else's input but this is the most sensible advice I've gotten. Thanks for taking the time. I believe this is what I'm going to do.

[tmh1]

I recommend a different caliber. Your new gun isn't going to be used much if you can't find the ammo. You won't like the prices either.

He is right, of course, regarding availability, but the good thing is that .22LR is becoming more available, and the prices are coming down from their peak. How long this will be the case, how much more .22 LR will be showing up at shops, and how much lower the price may fall is anyone's guess.

So if you can, try to keep your eye on the Slickguns.com page and watch for Gander Mountain's sales. These folks have seemed to have the best prices lately, and seem to regularly get ammo shipments. Plus no sales tax and free shipping on $25+ orders. If your ammo doesn't add up to $25 to get the free shipping, add an inexpensive plastic ammo box to bring up your total. You will need the box anyway.

Generally in the last couple of months Gander has had .22LR in the 5-7 cents per round range. You will typically be limited to 3-5 boxes per day, but sometimes their .22 doesn't sell out in a day and you can get another 5 boxes the following day. Sometimes you are limited to 3 ea 525 round packs, so you can bulk up your ammo stockpile faster.

It is still pretty much a game right now getting .22 LR for the new current "reasonable" price, but it can be done.