1st Gun: .22 but which one?
- Thread starter gators52
- Start date
berettaprofessor
New member
For an heirloom or to teach others, I'd suggest a S&W63, but it's not in your price range.
You guys must have bought a different LCR-22 than I did; mine had a terrible trigger with an extremely hard pull. I couldn't keep it on paper for the lousy pull and traded it within a week after around 300 rounds.
You guys must have bought a different LCR-22 than I did; mine had a terrible trigger with an extremely hard pull. I couldn't keep it on paper for the lousy pull and traded it within a week after around 300 rounds.
Zhillsauditor
New member
Maybe, but if you keep your eyes open, you can find them sometimes. I paid $410 for mine two years ago. A friend of mine found one at a gun show for $325 that same year.
22-rimfire
New member
Like it or not, I think you should be looking at a S&W DA revolver. The M617 will have the best trigger for DA shooting and I recommend the 4" for overall use. Obviously you could choose a M17 or M18 if you found one. They are both classics and high quality.
The 5" M63 or an older 4" M63 might be of interest, but you will have to look for one. They will have a heavier trigger than the M617, but I think still pretty tolerable as they are pretty smooth.
Yes, I know, this is not what you want to hear.
The new Ruger SP101 is probably the closest revolver to your budget. You shot that one. The Charter Arms Pathfinder might be another but both will have heavy triggers and generally a little gritty.
An alternative is to find a Colt Trooper Mark III in 22 which has a slightly heavy but slick trigger in DA. It is a fine medium framed revolver and feels about like the S&W M617. Keeps your eyes open and you might find an old Trooper (original trooper) or Officers Model Target or Match, or Official Police in worn but very good shooting condition.
The 5" M63 or an older 4" M63 might be of interest, but you will have to look for one. They will have a heavier trigger than the M617, but I think still pretty tolerable as they are pretty smooth.
Yes, I know, this is not what you want to hear.
The new Ruger SP101 is probably the closest revolver to your budget. You shot that one. The Charter Arms Pathfinder might be another but both will have heavy triggers and generally a little gritty.
An alternative is to find a Colt Trooper Mark III in 22 which has a slightly heavy but slick trigger in DA. It is a fine medium framed revolver and feels about like the S&W M617. Keeps your eyes open and you might find an old Trooper (original trooper) or Officers Model Target or Match, or Official Police in worn but very good shooting condition.
Theophilus
New member
Do consider the CA Pathfinder. They are not the smoothest machine ever made, but they do have a lifetime warranty and don't cost much. I just saw a 5" target model online for $340 (brand new).
I have had one for almost two years and it shoots just fine.
I have had one for almost two years and it shoots just fine.
OP already nixed the idea of a semi auto, so a CZ or Glock is off the table.
Quality always remains long after the initial sting of the purchase price has passed - is what they say.
Single sixes aren't rare on the used market, but, considering the huge numbers of them sold each year....most people hang onto them for a long time.
The S&W mod 17 and 18 are similar. They will usually be at the upper limit of your price range ($500).
Another dark horse in the D/A market is a used Dan Wesson.
Every once in a great while, one pops up for an affordable price.
Dan's have been rediscovered in recent years though and prices on older used one's have shot up.
If you run across one in your looking, $300 for one in like very good to excellent condition that has the barrel wrench and feeler gauge is a steal.
Dan's use a D/A trigger system with an extremely similar feel to that of a Ruger, only (usually) much smoother and more "refined".
Very true/wise outlook.
Quality always remains long after the initial sting of the purchase price has passed - is what they say.
Single sixes aren't rare on the used market, but, considering the huge numbers of them sold each year....most people hang onto them for a long time.
The S&W mod 17 and 18 are similar. They will usually be at the upper limit of your price range ($500).
Another dark horse in the D/A market is a used Dan Wesson.
Every once in a great while, one pops up for an affordable price.
Dan's have been rediscovered in recent years though and prices on older used one's have shot up.
If you run across one in your looking, $300 for one in like very good to excellent condition that has the barrel wrench and feeler gauge is a steal.
Dan's use a D/A trigger system with an extremely similar feel to that of a Ruger, only (usually) much smoother and more "refined".
johnwilliamson062
Moderator
If I could do it all over I would probably choose a Single-Six as my first gun.
If you know what centerfire you want you can try to buy an 22 copy of it.
AarondGraham started a great thread on center/rim pairs.
If you know what centerfire you want you can try to buy an 22 copy of it.
AarondGraham started a great thread on center/rim pairs.
johnwilliamson062
Moderator
I used to think a MK II and I will tell you why I changed to single six. I take the Single six to the range as a "back-up" so I don't waste the trip if something goes wrong with what I intend to shoot. Such as the scope was so far off I need to remount it b/c it is outside the adjustable area.
I end up shooting it at least a little no matter what.
The guns I take the most are my Marlin 22 bolt gun and my Glock. If I shoot the glock for an hour I do not want to then shoot a MK II semi-auto 22. A single action 22 always seems like enough of a different flavor that it is a fun way to wrap up a range trip.
I end up shooting it at least a little no matter what.
The guns I take the most are my Marlin 22 bolt gun and my Glock. If I shoot the glock for an hour I do not want to then shoot a MK II semi-auto 22. A single action 22 always seems like enough of a different flavor that it is a fun way to wrap up a range trip.
HisDudeness
New member
Before I had a few guns at my disposal I was in the same position. I bought a Ruger GP100 thinking it would be ideal as our home defense handgun. That is until I had noticed my slight of build wife struggling with the D/A trigger one day at the range. It also acted as a glorified .38 special because she was fearful of the magnums. The GP100 has since been replaced with a Glock 17 which I found fits our purpose much better.
If you're worried about the semi's because of complexity, there's not much to a gun like a Glock. In a stressful situation the worst thing I could foresee happening is a failure to fire. This is a bad thing because with a Glock you have no second strike capability unlike hammer fired semi's. Luckily if you practice how to alleviate this the problem is solved rather quickly.
Obviously everyone has an opinion and I'm merely giving you mine, but I feel like a semi-auto can be a great choice for beginners. I am of the opinion that if you can shoot a revolver well, you can shoot just about any pistol well. Practice, practice, practice is a must either way.
And as others have said, you do not want to be thumbing that hammer at 3:00AM. Just ask the NYPD...