.22 handgun for my daughter????

Can Can

Can Can

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My 12 year old daughter has grown like a weed over the last 6 months, and her hands are now big enough to handle a normal-sized handgun. Up until now, she's been shooting(rather well, I might add) my wife's old Beretta Neos on a regular basis, and has also mananged to to get some half-assed range time with a Shadow and a Glock. Neither of the "bigger" guns fit her that well, and she isn't a huge fan of the recoil of 9mm an .40, so tonight she asked me to purchase a "normal sized" .22 for her to start shooting. As most of you know, the Neos has a very small grip- it's obviously time to move up a notch!!!

It's been a long time since I've done any research on .22 handguns, so I'm looking for some advice on the models I should be considering. FWIW, I'm not opposed to buying a .22 conversion kit for a 9mm, either. Based on my experience, the following firearms are too large for her hands for the time being:

Sig
Beretta
Glock
1911-style handguns

Based on your experience with shooters with smaller hands, what should I be looking for?

Paul
 
I have smallish hands and found the grip on a ruger mk III just slightly to small for my liking, so it would probablly be just right for your daughter.
 
Browning 1911-22.
I just bought one, really cute light, little gun.

It feeds all the cheap bulk stuff amazing, federal, AE, blazer...

browning-1911-22-vs-full-size-1911.jpg
 
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X2 on Brownings 1911/22. Accurate, lightweight and smaller than a full size 1911. Handgun weight is a big bonus with this model. Can be found for around $535.00.
 
Buckmarks have pretty slim grips, Ruger as well ... both are "target" pistols, so I'm not sure if that is up her alley or not.
Perhaps the S&W M&p 22 - if you can find one : (
My experiences with conversions kits are frustrating at the best of times. At 400-500 dollars, you're better off buying a dedicated .22 IMO
 
A Ruger 22/45 Lite model may be perfect for her. It has slim grips and the light weight would make shooting much easier for her. I love my Ruger 22/45 Target models, but they would be too heavy for a small child. I have a Tactical Solutions Pac-Lite barrel on order, going to try swapping out the target bull barrel and see if that's light enough for my daughter.
 
My daughter began to shoot at 11, she's now 12, from the beginning she's shoot with my Ruger Mark III Hunter Target, she love it, I've put a hogue rubber grip on it, this is now her gun..., she don't like m'y Colt 1911 .22 Gov Model
 
The 1911 style she tried wasn't a "2011" double stack modely by some chance? I've found that most folks with smaller hands liked the single stack 1911 style and size. The GSG 1911-22 is an example of this style. Or maybe she's still one more growth spurt away from it fitting well.

As with any handgun there are so many slight differences and the fact that the reach to the trigger is also a key part. So you'll still want to take all our suggestions and go shopping so she can actually HOLD them and see for herself which style fits her best.
 
I would ask few questions first? What does she like pistol or revolver? Will she be the one to clean and maintain it? How accurate does it need to be? Does she like modern or traditional look ie. lots of black plastic or nice blue with wood? Is there a price range? Who is paying?
 
The Browning is probably the best bet IMHO.

Great little gun, and perfect for smaller hands.

Other than that I am a huge Ruger fan so....

MKIII is the way to go, but I am no fan of the 22/45. Just too thin in the grips, and plastic in general is just not doing it for me.
 
I'd say MK III, I have fairly long fingers and it fits fine for me. You can increase the grip size later on if you want to put a hogue grip on it.

I'm biased towards MKIII though cause I love mine :p
 
Norinco M93.

No pot metal, classic design, cheap.

Or how about a revolver? No magazines to screw around with, lose, or be tempted to buy. Can also shoot shorts.
 
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