Looking For A Small .22 For My Wife, Help!!!

[Gadget Guy]

I am looking for a small .22 caliber handgun for my wife. This gun is only going to be used for target shooting. It needs to be as light as possible, but not so small that it doesn't fit in your hand nicely. The NAA .22 is out! :laugh: Any help would be greatly appreciated. :)

[JonSidneyB]

If this is to be a target gun why is weight a factor?

None of the accurate .22's that I am aware of are that heavy and I think I know of everything on the market.*
A little bit of weight in the gun will help steady it and make for better control while trying to keep the front sight settled.

What classification of target shooting is to be used for?

[Gadget Guy]

Jon, My wife went shooting with me and she shot a .38. She shot about 20 rounds and the next day she said here arm actually hurt. I want to get her something just to plink cans with and small desert targets. I figure if I can find her a small and light .22, then her arm wouldn't hurt. This is a big step for her even holding a gun, so I want to make it as painless as I can for her.

Thanks for the help! :) I don't mean to be vague, I just don't know all the correct terminology.

[traveler]

+1, JohnSidneyB.

The price factor comes into play as well. How much are you willing to spend?
Are you looking for an inexpensive weapon, something for casual plinking for instance, or as stated in your post, a gun more target oriented, i.e. very accurate and therefore costs more $$.
Many variables on this subject.

[smokelaw1]

Might want to consider the Ruger .22s. The Mark III has everything from the "standard" through competition target models ($$$).
Not the lightest gun, not the cheapest. BUT, not heavy by any means. My ex, 5'0" 99 pounds, put about 500 rounds through mine the first day she ever touched a gun. If I knew then how crazy she was, I probably never should have taught her to shoot!

Of course, the single best way to do it, is to find a range with .22s to rent, and have her spend an hour or two with a few different guns (ideally on different days) and find the one that works for her.

[Gadget Guy]

I wish I could give you a better answer, but even if I bought the most expensive .22 target gun in the world, my wife wouldn't hit the target! * :lolhammer: *I would say a mid price point would probably suit her needs. I guess the most important factor is to get her comfortable shooting. I don't want to start with something cheap only to have her want to move up. If I buy a mid-range gun, then if she doesn't like it I'll keep it. To answer your question, just a plinking gun! *:)

[smokelaw1]

Then the Ruger "standard" might be just the ticket. IMHO, one of the best general plinking handguns there is. Don't know whaat the sell for these days...let me see if I can find one....looks like MSRP is right around 300....damn, I know I didn't drop that much, but that was the better part of a decade ago, and it was a very lightly used model.

[JonSidneyB]

traveler:

Small gun does not always translate to small price. If price is a big factor the Ruger is one to look at. Not exactly small but not big either.

[interscape]

I agree with the Ruger MKIII. They are pretty light now that they have a plastic frame. Also look at the Walther p22. A little cheaper and if you get the class III itch you have a place to start. I have shot the Walther with a gem tech surpressor and I swear I can snap my fingers and make more noise than shooting the pistol did.
Cool factor = 10
Les

[JonSidneyB]

smokelaw1:

Take her out with .357. *I know many women that love it. *A couple of ladies didn't mind the recoil because they didn't know it was supposed to be a bad thing.

I don't personally know that many women that do not shoot.

[smokelaw1]

smokelaw1:

Take her out with .357. *I know many women that love it. *A couple of ladies didn't mind the recoil because they didn't know it was supposed to be a bad thing.

I don't personally know that many women that do not shoot.


Well, if you re-read the post, it was my crazy ex I was talking about....so "Take her out with .357" has crossed my mind....but probably is not too good an idea for my continued freedom.
She shot a few fun guns with me. A big heavy large frame revolver that she could barely hold up with some .44 spl (the weight of the gun ate the already tame recoil) was fun, because she liked the bang (compared to a .22) and the feel of a big heavy revolver (for at least a few shots). A bull-pup .223 was great just because it is a wonderful thing to see a woman with an assault rifle ripping up targets at 75 yards. Then she dropped my Kimber Custom (grip was a little big for her, first time she fired a .45), got flustered and proceeded to examine it while waving the barrel at me and the rest of the world BEHIND the firing line, all the time with the hammer back and had not yet put the safety back on. We didn't shoot much together after that. She also never got over my "over reaction," which was something like "Oh good GOD, POINT THE GUN THE OTHER WAY AND PUT IT DOWN!!!"

[glockstersharp]

I have been a firearms instructor for 20 years. First as a Marine Corps Primary Marksmanship Instructor and now currently an NRA Law Enforcement Firearms Instructor. That said, I'll tell you that all the advice given is spot on! I would advise going to your local range and rent both a Ruger and a Walther P22. Let her shoot both, write down the pros and cons to each and then make an educated decision. You won't go wrong with either handgun.

You've made a smart choice with opting for a .22. When I teach someone to shoot I start them off with a .22 handgun. That way there's no recoil to think about and they can focus on the basic fundamentals of markmanship. :pirate:

[JonSidneyB]

Rural living must create different kinds of people. People I know of both sexes have been shooting Loudenboomer magnums from a very young age.

[glockstersharp]

Rural living must create different kinds of people.* People I know of both sexes have been shooting Loudenboomer magnums from a very young age.


For clarification, I'm not saying that they can't shoot larger caliber handguns. I just find that it provides for an optimal first-time learning experience and the ammo is cheaper. ;D

[JonSidneyB]

Rimfire is very good for refining technique.

On ammo costs, we roll our own practice loads ;D

[loveit]

The Ruger Mark III looks like a nice gun (even though I have just shot the previous version, the Mark II). I am also impressed with the Browning Buckmark slab side. It is lighter I believe than the Ruger and a great gun for a smaller hand (it fits mine perfectly). I have shot a few of these and been very impressed. I may eventually get one. The Walther p22 is an interesting gun, but it has had hot and cold reviews. I thought it shot fine. I had a Sig trailside-- not too heavy, but I had terrible problems with the feed, so I sold it. I would also look into the Beretta Neos. It looks odd, but it is fun to shoot. I personally own a Beretta .22 Cheetah model 87 (not the target version). The four inch barrel is fine for plinking, but I regret buying it since I do prefer a longer barrel for target shooting. I just love the size and the feel as I shoot it. I don't know if I helped or just made things worse. :idiot2:

[JonSidneyB]

I miss the High Standards, they were nice.

I someday would like to have one of the older blued steel 4 inch .22 Smith J-frame .22 kit guns.

[loveit]

Oh yeah! The High Standards are nice if you can find them! Those S & W revolver .22s are great, but they are quite heavy.

[JonSidneyB]

Loveit,

do you find the J-Frames heavy?

[loveit]

I'm not sure the frame classification for those .22 10 shot revolvers, but I do think those are heavy. I have some carpal tunnel problems, so I have to be cautious. Most of that problem is with the barrel. the six inch is about right but very heavy for prolonged shooting.

[JonSidneyB]

Ah,

I bet you are talking about the 617. That one is kind of heavy, and does have alot of weight out front.

[loveit]

Yes, the 617 sounds right. I love that one!

[JonSidneyB]

I grew up with the blued version, the 17 as a grade schooler. Mine was 6 inch also. It was a perfect match for me model 19 .357
Those are fantastic shooters.

[Deaths Head]

Hey GG, maybe your wife needs a heavier gun to deal with the recoil.

[Highvalleyranch]

Suggest you look at the Sig trailside. It's a shorter reach than the ruger, and much lighter, yet controllable, accurate and mild recoil.
They include a 25 meter target with the gun that usually are five shots touching. Mine ran around 400.00, slightly more than the rugers, but worth every cent as far as holding their price, and accurate right out of the box.
The rugers have some trigger issues, which might not be a concern for some. They are accurate, but fairly heavy. If you go with the lighter taper barrel models, then you are sacrificing the weight where it counts. Better to have a light frame and heavier barrel....which the Sig trailside is.

[loveit]

Highvalleyranch: I am glad you like and suggest the Sig, but as I stated earlier in a post, I have had terrible luck with the Trailside from Sig. I am a big Sig fan, but I had jams with this gun from day 1. I would be VERY cautious. I was happy to get rid of mine even though it felt great in the hand and was light enough. I think the first year of production was very problematic, so I would be hestitant to buy anything used. They did change the magazine, but even with the newer magazines I still had jams with each magazine-- usually the last shot.

[Highvalleyranch]

Oh, sorry, I must of missed that somewhere.
I haven't had any problems with my Sig jamming....................yet!
HVR

[loveit]

I've heard that Sig has re-designed a bit of the ramp and magazines, but I still won't get another. Boy, when it shot, it was beautiful! I've been looking for something as nice but more reliable.

So many guns... so little time...

[shrap]

My understanding is that Sig stopped importing the Trailside to the USA and has stopped all support. No longer on their web site or from distributors. Not a good sign.

[loveit]

Interesting. I started a thread earlier about their new plinking .22 Mosquito. That too seems to have problems. I hate that since my favorite gun is my Sig 228 9mm.

[JonSidneyB]

This might be off topic a bit. But if you ever get a chance shoot a Hammerlie. Oh my those shoot good.

[loveit]

Believe it or not, the Hammerlis were the maker of the Trailside! They made it for Sig. It is a poor man's version Hammerli for the common masses. If you look carefully at the slide and grip of the Trailside, you can see the resemblance. I'd like to get my hands on an upper end Hammerli, but I don't see that happening any time soon!

[MatthewVanitas]

Has nobody mentioned the S&W 22a yet?

One of the most inexpensive of the decent .22 pistols. Here in TX they go as low as $180.

I coach for the campus shooting range at UT Austin, and it's one of our most popular and reliable pistols. Pretty surprising for a very inexpensive gun, and a new design on the market.

The Ruger MkII and MkIII series are also great, and their 22/45 (which have a polymer grip) variants are pretty light.


Both of the above guns (and also the ever-popular Browning Buckmark) come in several different configurations. Probably the best bet is to take your wife shopping, show her several of the good choices, and have her decide which one feels best for her.

I'd resist the urge to buy something uber-tiny and cute, like the Beretta miniatures (size of a deck of playing cards). Cute though they are, tiny guns are hard to shoot accurately, and can be frustrating for a beginner. An adult of either gender can hold up a normal-sized pistol just fine, so long as it's not some huge 10" bull-barrel specialized target gun.

If you want small/adorable but still accurate (and also very retro-cool), check out the Ruger Bearcat, old-style cowboy gun. Tiny and cute, but solid steel and dang well made. Runs about $325 in TX, but ammortize it over the several generations it'll survive, and that's not a bad deal.

Here's a good Bearcat review: http://www.gunblast.com/Bearcat.htm

http://shootinshop.com/db4/00339/shootinshop.com/_uimages/RugerBearcat.jpg

-MV

[grayelky]

Walther P22 - if you encounter accuracy problems, adjust the tension on the barrel retaining nut. A great little gun and fun to shoot. A good option.

Ruger mark II/III - Excellent gun, great value. If she can handle the weight, good choice. I have read a number of people prefer the Mark II. I have no experience w/ the Mark III. I love my stainless Mark II. With a ten round magazine, relatively light trigger pull, the inexperienced shooter will tend to burn more ammo, concentrate less on sight alignment/breath control/trigger squeeze. Slightly more hazardous for the instructor, due to semi-auto action and light trigger. Most of this also applies to the Walther

Taurus/Charter Arms/S&W - Small frame, 6 shot revolver w/ adjustable sights. Easy to hold, easy to shoot. Being 6 shots, less time is spent holding it up, good for a less experienced shooter, and more time to cool down between reloads, less shots to heat up the barrel. More time will be spent on hitting targets, due to less shots to hit with. Has the option of single/double action. Due to heavier single action trigger pull, a little less likely for unintentional discharge. (Good point for the instructor's health.)

Ruger Bearcat - Small frame, relatively light. Single action, requires a deliberate effort to cock before it can be fired. Slower to reload, more time for idle chat (also known as passive instructions). Allows the student time to reflect on where bullet landed, why it didn't land where it was supposed to. I am a little prejudiced, single actions are my personal favorite. If the weight is not an issue, the Ruger Single Six is also an excellent choice. Due to the various barrel lengths, the owner can pick a barrel length that balances best for her/him.

North American Arms mini revolver- lousy choice for an inexperienced shooter. Due to no where to get a good hold on the grip, and the extremely light weight, recoil is a bear. It may "jump" out of a newbie's hand. Excellent dire emergency weapon. Since 1977, the only time I have been w/o mine was when on an airplane.

There are a number of others that would perform well. There has been some very good suggestions made by a number of posters. Glean the portions that apply to your situation, and your wife will enjoy her new hobby. If you are at an outdoor range w/ a dirt bank, cheap cookies make great targets. They break easily, giving immediate recognition of success, and leave no residue, once the birds and ants, etc, get finished. Plus you have a built in snack.

[Roadkill Bill]

smokelaw1:

Take her out with .357. *I know many women that love it. *A couple of ladies didn't mind the recoil because they didn't know it was supposed to be a bad thing. I don't personally know that many women that do not shoot.


I don't know if Paxton still has her shooting school for women, but she said that the two guns her gals liked the most were the Ruger GP100 (healthy sized .357) and the 1911 (.45 ACP). Most women don't focus on the recoil and it doesn't bother them. My wife carries a .357, and loves my .45 most of all. Her instructor told her to focus on the front sight, and that's what she has always done. Never says a word about recoil.

However, if you want a .22 target pistol for your wife, the Ruger is a great choice, as many folks here have said. I perfer the Browning Buckmark. The Browning will be MUCH easier to clean. Putting that blasted Ruger together again can drive you to foul language and drink faster than anything I know! (Traded mine for a 4" SP101 .22!)

I have heard a lot of negative comments about the S&W 22A. I know one guy who has one. He hasn't had any trouble with it, but then he hasn't shot it but twice since he bought it about ten years ago. Have also heard that the Wather P22 and Sig Mosquito should be avoided. Again, no first hand knowledge, just what my gun dealers have told me. They want to keep me a happy customer, so they tell me when they think I'm about to make a choice I'll regret.

Three of my best .22s are S&Ws. The most accurate is a scoped 617. It has taken more small game than any of my .22 rifles. (Though I have killed more turtles with a Ruger 22/VT.) I have a 2206 semi-automatic, but they don't make these any more. (Unfortunately.) And I recently picked up a 17-3. I've only had it out once, but it was a might fine shooter. Again, I kinda gravitate toward wheelguns!

[oceanbeamer]

Look at the taurus small frame revolvers in 22, 22mag, .17 mag,, small very light and not much recoil at all,,and reasonably priced...jon

[Roadkill Bill]

If I didn't already have 5 .22LR pistols and revolvers, I'd be inclined to look seriously at this one.

www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10001&storeId=10001&productId=14742&langId=-1&isFirearm=Y

Small, light, and a S&W. Hard to beat!

[Gadget Guy]

Thanks to everyone for their help, I really appreciate it! I will be taking my wife to the range and trying out several .22's and will try as many listed on this thread as possible. We will then go to the gun store and see which ones that we didn't try feel light and comfortable for her. :)

[a35335]

While you're looking at the Rugers, try the 22-45. Same action as a MKII, but with the grip angle of a 1911. Very decent trigger job by someone who knows how can be a big help, but still very decent out of the box.

I teach a bit ;D, and have found the 22 to be perfect for a first timer, man or woman. To start a newcomer out with a J-frame and factory ammo can be very overwhelming. Never met anyone yet that enjoys full loads from a 442. It has to be fun for them, or they lose interest. Easier to hit with a 22, less noise, no flip, etc., so they build that confidence level quicker and are able to concentrate on one thing at a time. Work them up to a puff 38, then a 9mm, then maybe a 45. I would try and stay away from 357's, both Mag and Sig. Too abrupt, too violent, too obnoxious at her current skill level.

After you locate a gun that SHE likes, find a good instructor. Do shooting fundamentals first, then tactics. Don't mix the two at first, too much to think about. Ask around locally for a USPSA/IPSC club, you'll probably find a female that would be willing to do a class with your wife. Any decent IPSC shooter can teach her far more about HOW to shoot than many of the "trainers" out there. After that, you can find a different instuctor for WHEN to shoot. Your wife must be comfortable with both the gun AND the instuctor, or all this goes for naught...........

And for the record, women are much easier to teach than men, spec., lower testosterone level and nothing to prove............. :)

Just my $.02.................

[shao.fu.tzer]

Ruger Mk.III - best .22 pistol ever! Maybe you can get one of those USN assassination models with the integral suppressor.

Shao

[adorable_harree]

A Ruger .22 if she could handle the weight. My sister inherited my Grandfather's old Beretta Jaguar .22 (an early Model 70 I think) and she shot well with it. Great gun if you can find one. Inherently reliable with any kind of .22 lr make. Subsonics to high vel. So stupid of me to have chose the RG instead because of the caliber.

A friend's wife carries a Walther P22 as an EDC with 2 mags loaded with CCI stingers. She could shoot so well I advised her husband not to continue with coming home so late at night and **** her off. :)

[jggonzalez]

I just bought a Ruger SP101 in .22lr for my wife. I figure it will be a good gun to use to teach her and then my little girl how to shoot. I wanted the Bearcat or Ruger MKII (not III) at first, but she said she wanted something simpler. As in no loading gates, magazines, or safeties. We looked at the S&W and Taurus revolvers and they were nice, but then we rented a .22lr SP101 at a local range and liked it. It took me a while to find a 4" version with the full-length shroud to comply with the CA laws, but I finally found one on gunbroker.com and it should be here in a day or two.

[Lugsalot]

I just bought a Ruger SP101 in .22lr for my wife. I figure it will be a good gun to use to teach her and then my little girl how to shoot. I wanted the Bearcat or Ruger MKII (not III) at first, but she said she wanted something simpler. As in no loading gates, magazines, or safeties. We looked at the S&W and Taurus revolvers and they were nice, but then we rented a .22lr SP101 at a local range and liked it.


Congratulations on your purchase! I'm sure you and your family will get plenty of enjoyable practice with your new revolver!



It took me a while to find a 4" version with the full-length shroud to comply with the CA laws, but I finally found one on gunbroker.com and it should be here in a day or two.


I'm not sure I'm familiar with the CA State Law to which you're alluding; as far as I know, there isn't any statute mandating a minimum barrel length or style for revolvers (or any other handgun). Then again, it's been a while since I visited the CA DOJ website, and ANYTHING is possible when it comes to stupid laws in this miserable state! :(
Can you elaborate further?

[Vic303]

Another vote for the Walther P22. A fun gun, more accurate than I expected, and a hoot to shoot. If you get one, be sure to search Rimfire Central for the tips on how to make them run best. The older versions did have some issues, but the new ones seem to run pretty fine out of box. But the tips WILL help. It's possibly the lightest 22lr out there.

[jggonzalez]

I'm not sure I'm familiar with the CA State Law to which you're alluding; as far as I know, there isn't any statute mandating a minimum barrel length or style for revolvers (or any other handgun). Then again, it's been a while since I visited the CA DOJ website, and ANYTHING is possible when it comes to stupid laws in this miserable state! :(
Can you elaborate further?


California maintains a list of approved handguns for sale. All transfers and new sales have to go through a dealer and in order for the dealer to process the paperwork ($100 fee) the gun must be on this list. Guns on the list have to meet California's drop test for safety and the manufacturer has to pay a fee for the privilege of being tested. All model variations are treated as separate guns, so if a 4" is tested and placed on the list, it doesn't mean that the 2" version is automatically passed too. The only variation that doesn't require re-testing is night sights.

[Lugsalot]

California maintains a list of approved handguns for sale. All transfers and new sales have to go through a dealer and in order for the dealer to process the paperwork ($100 fee) the gun must be on this list. Guns on the list have to meet California's drop test for safety and the manufacturer has to pay a fee for the privilege of being tested. All model variations are treated as separate guns, so if a 4" is tested and placed on the list, it doesn't mean that the 2" version is automatically passed too. The only variation that doesn't require re-testing is night sights.



You have GOT to be kidding me. I know it's expensive for manufacturers to "pay" (bribe) the state to "evaluate" (abuse) their firearms and approve them, but you'd think Ruger would have the necessary payola to get their entire catalog through the CA DOJ's hoops! :rant:

I swear to God, I'm going to move far, far, FAR away from the absolute failure of logic, reason and common sense that is California. You'd think the 5th largest economy in the WORLD could afford to hire some people with brains to run the show, but I guess that's too lofty an expectation. :explode:

[jggonzalez]

Nope, that's the way it is here in California. First chance I get I'm moving back to Texas. The people are more polite, guns are easier to get and use, homes and gas are cheaper, and I felt a lot safer walking around there!

[cyko]

I would suggest the Walther P22, they are fun guns!

http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/7973/waltherp22right300px7a6oc3.jpg

Edit: Wait, is gadgetguy really banned? If so, what did he do to get banned?

[Ultra]

Yup, the P22 is the ONLY 22 as far as I am concerned. Go with that, nothing alse. But she should train with what she carries, if she carries. All else is a waste of money.


P.S.: Ruger doesn't WANT to make their weapons accessible for all, nor useable beyond the 2-3 shots with cooldown period after shooting a coyote. Ruger himself hates guns and the 2nd amendment. He just makes them so people will be stuck with his guns, if they chose them for self defense.

[temujin]

Jon, My wife went shooting with me and she shot a .38. She shot about 20 rounds and the next day she said here arm actually hurt. I want to get her something just to plink cans with and small desert targets. I figure if I can find her a small and light .22, then her arm wouldn't hurt. This is a big step for her even holding a gun, so I want to make it as painless as I can for her.


Interesting. When I was actively shooting (the old IPSC days), my ex used to come with me to the range for my practice sessions. She used to shoot my 4" S&W Model 29 with full-powered loads. She really liked my pre-1972 Colt Detective Special, though. Mind you, she isn't any kind of Amazon. 5-foot nothing and 95 pounds. She didn't much care for my .22's because they were boring. (She said.)

//platypus

[Diesel]

I might suggest a Sig Mosquito, it is about 2/3 the size of their standard models. It is a great shooter and when she gets ready to move up to a larger caliber there are plenty of choices from Sig. They feel the same only a tad larger. :luck:

[Ultra]

Maybe you should take yor wife to the doctor if her arm hurts from 20 rounds of .38... I'd say it's psychosomatic though.

[eu_roca191]

Ruger Mk III would be great for target practice. :)

[adorable_harree]

Heard a lot of good things about the Walther P22, a close friend has her wife packing a P22 for CCW since this is what she can shoot well with.

If weight is not an issue, then the .22 ruger pistols are tough to beat...and you can also play with it. :)

[dtrain]

I am probably a bit off base with my suggestion,but here it goes anyways.
How about a Taurus PT-22.I have one that I shoot quite regularly.I have never had a problem with it mechanically and can hit pop cans and stuff abot 20-30 feet away with no problems.Bieng a tip up design it is quite easy to make ready when needed.I would say at this point I have put 3 or 4 bricks thru it.Once she gets used to the DAO trigger it is not all that hard to hit accurately with it.I know it is not a target piece but in my opinion it is definely a fun gun to shoot.About the most maint.I have done,other than a thorough cleaning at the end of each outing was a quick wipe down and a quick swab of the barrel every 50 rounds or so while shooting.I have not had a jam yet(knock on wood).If she ever feels the need to take a firearm with her the Taurus apears to me to be easily concealed.

Hope this helps

Dtrain

[SdPunk]

Just my .02, how about the Keltec .32? If no one has mentioned it already.

[Pima Pants]

My wife is sensitive to noise, so she doesn't shoot with me anymore. She doesn't like earplugs and says the over-the-ears hearing protectors give her an extreme headache. I just purchased a Walther P22 and yesterday took possession of a TAC-65 suppressor after all the BATFE paperwork cleared. It sounds like an airgun and she loves it.

[MattR]

Suggest you look at the Sig trailside. I second that I have the standard model without the target grips, super light, very fun to handle and learn on. If not a semi-auto, then my first vote is find a nice RUGER BEARCAT I have both a bearcat and a single six with 5 1/2" barrel and the the Bearcat is what I always go back to for a .22 revolver. Nice and compact little single action. Here is Rugers specs Ruger Bearcat (http://www.ruger.com/Firearms/FAProdView?model=912&return=Y) My .02

Matt