A 22 for fun and training wife/kids

Which 22LR pistol will be suit my needs for my own fun, entry level for wife and kid?

  • Walter P22

    Votes: 3 3.1%

  • Ruger SR22

    Votes: 25 25.8%

  • Smith and Wesson M&P 22

    Votes: 11 11.3%

  • Smith and Wesson M&P 22 Compact

    Votes: 10 10.3%

  • Other

    Votes: 48 49.5%
  • Total voters
    97
  • Poll closed .
R

rpseraph

New member
Hello TFL Gun-Junkies!
So here's the gap I want to fill. I am looking for a semi-auto, 22LR pistol. It needs to be reliable enough to be fun to shoot and smooth.

I want this pistol for my own good times, and also for my wife to shoot at the range. She doesn't love the shooting sports, and doesn't feel comfortable shooting my 9mms. She'll get there, but I think a 22 would do a lot to boost HER confidence and it is great training. I also have 2 boys that this gun would serve as a trainer for them when they get a little older. I am not really interested right now in the Ruger MkI, II, III, IV, etc nor browning buckmark style.

Who owns one or more of these? What can you say about grip size, reliability, ever had a kid try it, etc?

Thanks guys!
 
I personally prefer a Ruger MKII. I bought my daughter a SR22 a few years ago and she loves it. Great for teaching DA/SA.
 
I have Ruger Mark IIIs and the SR 22, and have shot the S&W Victory and Buckmark. If you don't have to have competition accuracy, the SR 22 will likely fit your bill well. It's grip is moderately-sized and would be easy for smaller hands to work with. It is reasonably accurate and I have not found mine to be pick with ammunition. It is easy to break down for cleaning and reassemble. The price is pretty reasonable, and I have heard from the counter guys at the local gun store that the Walther is far more picky with ammo.
 
I really like the Ruger SR22P. It however is not a great range toy unless you are shooting at 10 yds or less or plinking distances. I generally run Federal Champions/Lightnings (510/510B) through it. No problem. Reliable.
 
I've tried a lot of .22lr handguns. For double duty, serious shooting and plinking, I'd go with a Ruger Mark iii. Either a Target, or a Hunter TALO. The shorter barrels make for lighter, better balanced pistols. My Target, with a scope, shoots groups just over 1/2 inch at 25 yards.

I also shoot the Mark ii Government Target, the Mark iii Competition Target, a couple of S&W Model 41's, a couple of S&W 422's and a Hammerli Xesse Sport. Yes, I like .22lr.

For casual shooting, with excellent accuracy, the S&W 422 with the 4 inch barrel is hard to beat. Light as feather and a great fit for smaller hands. My wife says it's her favorite.
 
My personal preference would be a Ruger Mark Anything or a Buckmark if I wanted a little snob appeal :p but I DID read your original post and I know those are out.

So that said I tried a Ruger SR22 and it fit my hand fine and it's got adjustable sights which I would really like on any range gun. It gobbled up any and all .22 ammo we had until we crudded it up so bad it wouldn't shoot anything so I give it high marks for that. I do NOT have any experiences with your other choices so just take this as one vote that the Ruger is solid but the others might be better for all I know.

Any reason the S&W Victory isn't on the list? Lots of folk seem to really like it.
http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/...4_750001_750051_804153_-1_757752_757751_image
 
I am not really interested right now in the Ruger MkI, II, III, IV, etc nor browning buckmark style.
Click to expand...

I'm a coach on a pistol team that only shot 22 for the past 2 years. Your "no interest" group is the most reliable, accurate, easy shooting 22lr pistols out there. SW liberty might be better, but it's untested so far.

The choices you desire....were uniformly troublesome.

I'd get a buckmark or ruger mk3
 
I've been very happy with the performance of my SW22 Victory. Good sights, a better trigger than the Rugers, and very good accuracy from the stock barrel with most ammo. YMMV, yada yada.
 
I have a Walther P22, and like it very much. It is, like many 22 semi-autos, a bit picky on what ammo it will run reliably. But with CCI Mini Mags it runs perfectly.It has been reliable with the proper ammo, and has held up through well in e cess of a thousand rounds.
However, I bought my P22 before Ruger refined the design with better, more easily adjustable sights, and an actual safety/decocker rather than the Walther's hammer block that only functions as a block between the hammer and firing pin.
If I were to buy one today it would be the Ruger because of those features.
But don't count Browni g out completely. You might want to also take a look at the Browning 1911-22. A 3/4 scale 1911 style pistol in 22 rimfire.
 
As has been said, the group of guns that you say you don't want are the most reliable ones out there, but of the other ones you mentioned, I have found the Ruger SR22 to be the most reliable with cheap, bulk ammo. The Walther is finicky when it comes to ammunition, and tends to only reliably function more expensive ammo like CCI MiniMags.

When I take somebody new to the shooting range, I always start them on my Ruger SR22. It's a cute little gun, and sometimes that factors into the equation of whether or not people enjoy shooting. Like I said before, it's also reliable, so people don't have to spend precious time clearing jams and such.
 
I recommended an SR-22,,,

I recommended an SR-22,,,
It's just my opinion of course,,,
But of your choices it's my favorite.

I like it because it is my favorite action type,,,
SA/DA with exposed hammer and de-cocker.

I can pop clay pigeons at 25 yards all day,,,
With pretty much any bulk ammo.

My second choice would be the M&P Compact 22,,,
A range buddy owns one and has the same good performance as my SR-22.

The only thing I don't like is the inability to de-cock it with the chamber loaded,,,
If that doesn't bother you then it's a fine pistol.

In my not-so-humble opinion,,,
Those are the best two of your listed options.

Aarond

.
 
Thirty nine years ago I purchased a Ruger semi. Bull Barrel 22Lr. It was my first pistol. I bought it to learn to shoot a pistol. The 22s are the place to start unless you have the opportunity to start with a pellet pistol.

Any way I payed $85.00 for that Ruger and that was a great move into learning how to shoot. The trigger on that pistol was making it difficult to shoot accurately. So I purchased from Brownell a trigger honing stone set and polished the trigger parts. I then took a 2 x 4 and carved out a set of grips to fit my hand. I learned to hunt red squirrel with the pistol. Then one day I joined a pistol league and took first place. That was when I figured I could shoot it well.

Get your self a heavy barreled Ruger. As you learn how to shoot it tune it to shoot better if necessary.

But don't ever sell it. I sold mine for another pistol and have regretted it ever since. I would rather give it to my grand daughter to learn to shoot.
 
M&P 22 all the way.

- Runs well with a variety of ammo
- Very accurate
- Mags aren't that expensive
- Can easily transition to an M&P 9/40/45 when ready
 
One that hasn't been mentioned is the Beretta Neos. It's styling doesn't get rave reviews, but it is very reliable, quite accurate, and the grip is small and comfortable for youth and women with small hands. They can be had for well less than $300. I have the 6 inch version, but I think the 4-1/2 inch version balances a little better. There was a 7.5 inch version made for a while, but I have never held one or seen one in a store, and to the best of my knowledge production has ceased. My bet would be that the balance would be noticeably off with that one, anyway.
 
For your stated purpose; “A 22 for fun and training wife/kids”, it would be difficult to better a Browning 1911-22 (see Cheapshooter’s remarks, above).

It does a decent job of mimicking handling, look, and feel of a full-sized 1911 and is a hoot to shoot, as well.

Not as accurate as a Ruger Mark I, II, III, or a High-Standard Citation, it’s accurate enough to allow most anyone to begin to learn to shoot well and safely learn the operation of a semi-auto. And, did I mention; it's a lot of fun?

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If this question were in the general handgun forum I'd recommend a Ruger Single-Six.

After all, you stated it will be for range fun and training.

If you mean training in alignment/shooting, a revolver would cover the bases [and give you a .22mag option as well].

If you mean tactical training, then you want it to be as similar to your existing handgun as it can.



Another option [that doesn't ignore your 'I am not interested in the following... .' list] might be a .22lr conversion top end for your handgun- IF one is made for your handgun.

The handguns I am most familiar with that you can get a .22lr top end/conversion kit for are:
  • 1911
  • Glock
  • XD
  • CZ
  • Witness
  • BHP [ceiner]

There may be others, but these are the ones I can think of.

You will NOT save money with this conversion kit approach, as they run around $250 [on sale or used] to $500+ for the conversion top end and a magazine.

Some of the conversion kits are quite finicky with ammo. The AA kits for Glocks may not like Ghost connectors or others triggers.

But, the training of clearance drills, the trigger pull, the grip angle and the controls are all the same, because they use the same bottom end.

I repeat- this will NOT save you money compared to a $300 Buckmark or Ruger, or SR22, etc.



I have more .22lr handguns and conversion kits than I do any other caliber of handguns. I don't use the conversion kits often, but I am happy that I have them.

I will say that I am getting to the point that I would prefer to have a dedicated frame for said kit rather than constantly swap top ends back/forth.

But that is hard to come by where I live, with our state's restrictions. :(
 
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