.22 handgun

[Socalman]

After a major breakthrough, my wife wants to learn to shoot, properly, a handgun. She shot my Ruger GP100 with the lowest 38 load I could find and it was "too much" for her, so I am going to get her a .22 to learn. Heck the 22 is fun anyway.

As I begin looking in the stores, what are your suggestions on .22s. I am open to pistol or revolver. I am looking for this to be an inexpensive but reliable gun.

[XDRoX]

Some of your choices are going to be:
Walther P22
Ruger 22/45
Ruger MKIII
Browning Buckmark
Beretta Neos

My favorite is the P22.

Do you live in San Diego? I'd be happy to let you shoot some of my 38spl's that I load myself. They go 600fps and have less recoil than a 22.

[pennys dad]

SoCalman, come to the Tactical Turkey Shoot and bring you wife and I will give her time on my:
Buckmark
Sig Mosquito
ATI 1911 22lr
I am sure a Calgunner will bring Rugers

[Domingo]

My wife loves the mosquito easy to
rack the slide load the mags and is very
reliable with the cheap blazer ammo
if you are in north CA I'll be at USI range
today at the musketere program with my son
and you could have her try it

[jbush]

Turners has the Rugers on sale this week if you're in So Cal. Reliable and accurate.

[Joewy]

Sig mosquito is great. Also there are a few revolvers that you can change the cylinders on and use either 22lr, 22 magnum or 22 shorts.
I have a 22 magnum Taurus 941 that was very cheap and has been very reliable. Only problem is trigger pull for DA is pretty tough.

[Briancnelson]

Having shot all of the .22's lately, while trying to decide what to buy for my wife, I have narrowed it down to two, based on performance, reviews, price and reliability (based on reviews).

Basically for me, its the Ruger Mark III 22/45 or the S&W 22A.

The Ruger feels a little lighter and better balanced, but I like the grip on the S&W more. Also the 22A looks like some sort of movie terminator gun, which, let's face it, is just fun.

Also looks like the 22A is cheaper atm.

Leaning toward it atm, but the long legacy of Ruger reliability and after market parts is keeping me from pulling the trigger.

[Coyotegunner]

Of the many 22s I own.My wife and 2 grown daughters lean to the revolvers.S&W 617 gets used the most.The Ruger MK1 MK 2 and MK3 next.S&W 41 is mine.My wife did not like hers.The Ruger single actions are good also,but have gotten awful pricey for what they are.The others guys on here have good luck with the Sig Mos.I owned 2 of them with major issues.1 used/1new.My wife and none of my grown children would touch them,due to reliability issues.They only shot the hottest ammo with any kind of reliability and spit hot crap in both mine and my wifes face.The little Walthers are reliable,but lack accuracy with all ammo I have tried,Still like them though.The Brownings are nice also.I have a new S&W 22A that is proving great.I have only about 2000 rds through it and has only stove piped once with Walmart brick ammo.It came with a K Rail and I switch a red dot with a scope back and forth,depending on what is getting shot at.The wife and daughters both like shooting empty shotgun hulls,balloons and golf balls.I am in Apple Valley and belong to the club there.Let me know if you get up this way with your wife.We can let her see from a variety what she likes.By the way,the guy mentioning the low power 38s is right on.The wife loves a 38 with wadcutters.

[bh6300]

Since she is used to revolver... I would suggest new Ruger SP-101 .22lr... Even you have to wait little bit to find one, since it's so new. It looks like nice .22lr pistol.

[thenodnarb]

Turners has the Rugers on sale this week if you're in So Cal. Reliable and accurate.

is $350 for the mkIII target a good price? Thats what it is going for right now in the ad at turners.

[sequoia_nomad]

Since she is used to revolver... I would suggest new Ruger SP-101 .22lr... Even you have to wait little bit to find one, since it's so new. It looks like nice .22lr pistol.

This was my first thought, exactly. Shouldn't be too much of a wait hopefully, I know they are roster approved and I've already seen them on shelves back here in Az. Since it's a rimfire, I doubt they'll be as scarce as the Lcp was, or the Sr1911 still is.

If nothing else, the 22/45 is a damn fine gun, perfect for the beginner and seasoned shooter alike. Very fun and reliable.

[OHW]

Small hands tend to perfer the Mk lll over the 22/45. Let her feel the difference. $100 for comfort on your first pistol is not much.

[ThortheDog]

You may want to take your wife to a range that rents a variety of 22s and see what suits her best. If you are renting semiautos, I suggest taking/buying good quality ammo so that reliability issues are minimized.

That said, I bought a Ruger 22/45 this last Spring when my wife got interested in going to the range with me. She has been enjoying it. I expect the Mark III would be similarly enjoyable, depending on her preference of grip style.

Ruger and S&W 22 revolvers also seem quite popular, if that would be her preference.

[dangerranger]

I wouldnt let my wife pick out my next truck. do yourself a favor and let her pick out what she is comfortable with. find a selection for her to shoot and let her find what shes comfortable with. mine liked her ruger MK1 till she started getting artheritus. now shes liking my single actions better. no slide to grip. I have a heritage rough rider, and a ruger single six. both shoot about the same. one costs twice as much. good luck DR

[ExtremeX]

ATI GSG 1911

Its the most fun ive ever had with a .22 pistol