First .22 hand gun for me and the wife to share suggestions

[silverfoxdj]

Two votes here for the S&W Model 41 - only, buy one with a couple of magazines. The pistol is VERY expensive - I've seen them used here for $850 - but awesome trigger and a very long sight radius (which is rare in a .22) and if you don't put them all in the X-ring, it's your fault.

The other one I'd recommend is the Browning Buckmark camper, bull-barrel in stainless steel. "SWMBO" bought one and has since relegated her Model 41 to me. Awwwwww...

^^^^ This but the URX has nice grips plus fiber optic sights.. but 41 is the nicest IMHO

 

[zader1]

I own the browning 1911-22 and the GSG 1911-22. I have about 1000 rounds through both. My wife shoots both and doesn't have problems with either of them (She wears a Men's Medium sized work glove)

Browning Pros/Cons:
- compact 1911 feel is neat
- beaver tail is big enough that the slide won't bite
- eats all ammo, had 3 FTE /1000 rds
- Easier to load the mags than the GSG
- only real negative is the sights are a bit difficult for new shooters and poor lighting.
- excellent accuracy


GSG Pros/Cons:
- Mags are a slightly harder on the fingers when reloading
- sights are easier to use but don't seem very robust
- more picky with ammo ( need the higher velocity stuff)
- There are documented issues with wear on the slide and some internals failing on older models (google)
- accuracy is good, but I shoot the browning better.
- more aftermarket parts, holster and upgrades available

 

[BBSE120]

Do yourself a favor and try out the Browning 1911-22. I bought one a year ago and put about a 1000 rounds through it every range trip. My son, daughter, and wife love the feel, and really enjoy shooting it. Out of all the rounds shot with just about every type of 22lr bullet made, I have only had one issue, and it was a failure to feed, but upon closer inspection, the lead bullet had a big split in it. I have very large hands, and it feels very comfortable for me and I really enjoy shooting it as well.

 

[lone ranger]

Browning Buckmark the URX model has fiber sights great trigger and super grip for boys and girls.. and works out of the box plus very accurate

for the WIN !!!!

 

[Riven]

I can afford a used Ruger mkII or a Beretta Neos right now. She is no fan of the mkII but i like it...
Im just afraid if i sit one the money i have saved ill grow an conscience and spend it on something useful.

 

[hercster]

I would get a Sig p226 in 9mm, with the .22 conversion kit. Then you will already have two options when you're ready to move up.

I would agree with this choice. As much as you can, try to think where you might go in the shooting games. Sometimes a .22 will light the fire but get old quickly. Either a SIG P-226 Classic or one of the other routes with options may make the path easier on the wallet and the transitions to heavier calibers easier. CZ Shadows have a big following and the CZ Kadet gives you the .22 option. I'm not sure if you can buy a .22 and then move up but getting a .22 Conversion is common with CZ owners.

Buying a SIG .22 and the 9MM conversion is a very good way to enjoy two guns in one. I have a .22 conversion for my 1911 too.

 

[Riven]

Go with the Walther PPQ M2 .22LR.

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/foru...®-ppq®-m2-22-tactical-model-(threaded-barrel)!!!

Stop showing me new cool guns. Thats a seriously nice .22!
Time to do some more research on this one. I like the interchangeable backstraps makes it very appealing.

 

[84fuegoturbo]

If she wants a M&P22 get her a M&P22. I have one and love it.



It's not just the M&P22. It's because we live in Canada and it's really hard to get anything repaired under warranty if it has to go back to the US. I have a different handgun sent to Murray Charleton for warranty, in another 11 days mine will have been at S&W for 12 months. I called S&W last week and still no idea on when it will be coming back. Calling Murray Charleton is a waste of time, they never call you back with any info. I guessing another year before I see it again.

I agree to some extent but......with the GSG i emailed Blueline, got parts sent to me free of charge within a week even though the gun wasn't even bought there. Also another strike for me as far as the MP is NO parts. With just about any other gun you can get replacement parts. I recently bought a Beretta M9 and have been able to get just about anything from Brownells

 

[jackrabbit000]

I agree to some extent but......with the GSG i emailed Blueline, got parts sent to me free of charge within a week even though the gun wasn't even bought there. Also another strike for me as far as the MP is NO parts. With just about any other gun you can get replacement parts. I recently bought a Beretta M9 and have been able to get just about anything from Brownells

Any word from S&W if they will replace the gun with a new one? Even until lately, magazines were impossible to get. I guess the main reason is the gun is made by Walther in Germany and not S&W. The only thing S&W on the M&P22 is their name.

Another gun made by Walther is the Colt 1911-22 something the OP might want to look at also. Same fixed barrel design as the M&P22 in a different package.

 

[IM_Lugger]

Browning 1911-22 is an awesome little gun, would fit even smallest hands, I'm 6' and wear L size gloves and the gun fits me fine too.

 

[84fuegoturbo]

Any word from S&W if they will replace the gun with a new one? Even until lately, magazines were impossible to get. I guess the main reason is the gun is made by Walther in Germany and not S&W. The only thing S&W on the M&P22 is their name.

Another gun made by Walther is the Colt 1911-22 something the OP might want to look at also. Same fixed barrel design as the M&P22 in a different package.

The last email i got from Smith was that the gun was "there".....that's a good thing as they could not locate it for about a week. Now they are in the process of returning warranty items. That was also 1 month ago. They must really put a lot of effort in packaging items for return, which still has to go to Murray Charlton then back to me. Way too much hassle and time wasted for a 400$ gun, this is why i would never buy another one of these or another Smith product for that matter.

 

[Riven]

Browning 1911-22 is an awesome little gun, would fit even smallest hands, I'm 6' and wear L size gloves and the gun fits me fine too.

It fits me too. Hell i could only have two fingers and a thumb on one hand and still easily hold the Browning its so small. LOL

 

[silverfoxdj]

The last email i got from Smith was that the gun was "there".....that's a good thing as they could not locate it for about a week. Now they are in the process of returning warranty items. That was also 1 month ago. They must really put a lot of effort in packaging items for return, which still has to go to Murray Charlton then back to me. Way too much hassle and time wasted for a 400$ gun, this is why i would never buy another one of these or another Smith product for that matter.

Just buy used Smith's that others have tested lol..

just joking I feel less than enthused with Smith's handling of Canadian claims

 

[Tongarirohiker]

Another bump for the GSG 1911. Cheap, runs great, and I've never had a problem finding parts for it. With some work (i.e.: polishing the slide rails and keeping the magazines clean), it'll even fire rounds which are not high velocity.

Regardless of the .22 you purchase, I'd recommend spending time on finding out which ammo it likes. My GSG loves CCI minimags, has no problem chewing through those. It'll happily eat up the Federal Blue Box bulk ammo, but anything else and its accuracy goes to pot. However, another friend uses Federal AutoMatch in his GSG and Buckmark cause they're the only rounds they'll fire.

 

[Riven]

Surprised no one has mentioned the ISSC M22TGT. Very well made firearm and the target version is very accurate and with the right ammo performs flawlessly. I love mine.

I just had my local gs suggest one to us since i have not got anything yet. Was looking at a ISSC M22-B good price and decent reviews as well.
The new 1911-22 Black label looks so much nicer than the GI version but at $720 ouch...

 

[zippp0]

It would be worth having a look for a second hand Hammerli X-esse (XS). I bought one for $500 from the local store. Great for plinking, targets (steel and paper - I shoot it at 25m) my lass stands 4'10" and loves it. It has never missed a beat since I gave it a good clean once I got it home. A very classy little pistol!

 

[Craig0ry]

I just had my local gs suggest one to us since i have not got anything yet. Was looking at a ISSC M22-B good price and decent reviews as well.
The new 1911-22 Black label looks so much nicer than the GI version but at $720 ouch...

Your Local GS is a rip off then, site sponsors have the black label for as low as $595, I love my Browning 1911-22, my biggest regret is I bought to soon, then came the black label and now I want one of them

 

[AaronGer]

My wife has smaller hands and prefers a lighter gun like the s&w m&p 22 while im partial to Ruger 22/45

Others up for consideration

Ruger SR22
Ruger 22/45 lite
Browning 1911-22
Browning Buckmark URX
GSG
Any other reasonably priced .22s you can suggest?

The m&p that I tried cycled well enough but groupings were more of a shotgun pattern at 20 yards. The ruger mk series and various buckmarks are in a whole different league. Take down will be more difficult on the buckmarks and especially the ruger though. If you can get something that works well for her and not bad for you I think you'd be better off keeping her interested if it seems like she'll stick with it.

If she comes around to a buckmark or ruger the fixed barrel and sights are better for accuracy than sights on the slide and a moving barrel. The longer barrel helps with sight alignment and they come with better sights too. The slab side model cuts a bit of weight off from the bull barrel. A heavy barrel keeps you on target better than a pencil barrel. I prefer the grips on the buckmark but the ruger has more aftermarket support if you like to customize things.

 

[gdawg]

It would be worth having a look for a second hand Hammerli X-esse (XS). I bought one for $500 from the local store. Great for plinking, targets (steel and paper - I shoot it at 25m) my lass stands 4'10" and loves it. It has never missed a beat since I gave it a good clean once I got it home. A very classy little pistol!

View attachment 24637

Very nice. too bad they are a little hard to find these days.

 

[BCRider]

Riven, I'm sorry to read that you didn't buy that used Mk II. That was a helluva deal! ! ! !

At one of my club's Speed Steel matches a guy in the group I was RO'ing had a M&P .22. At the end of the day I got to shoot a couple of magazines through it. I found that it shot fine and accurate as any other gun. But like with pretty much all striker fired guns I found the trigger pull to feel like pulling on a rubber band with a "SPROING!" like break. Which would be why I don't have any striker fired guns at all and don't plan on buying any.

All my DA revolver shooting means that I can handle the striker gun trigger without letting it pull the gun but I don't have to like it. However I've found that a lot of folks DO find that such triggers produce the shotgun like patterns mentioned unless they really focus on the basics of a smooth trigger pull and a proper smooth follow through past the break and to where the trigger doesn't move any longer.

Oddly enough just to prove I'm human I have one bugger of a time shooting Sig 226's and the like due to the higher bore axis. I do fine if I really focus on the basics but one little drift and the group opens up to a shot gun like spread in the blink of an eye. So it may be a case of us all having our weak points for something.

Oddly enough a lot of women don't get the idea in their heads that they need to fight the gun's recoil. So they often do better for longer than the guys at using odd feeling triggers. So all in all while the servicing issue might prove to be a gamble odds are that the gun will be problem free. So I wouldn't get all paranoid over it if that's the one she wants.

As for her being all over the "tactical" look? Consider that the M&P has a smoother look than a 1911'ish style gun with lumpy slide release, thumb safety, button like mag release, exposed hammer and the back strap grip safety. To HER eyes all that "stuff" looks FAR more tacky-tical than the smooth lines of the M&P. At least that's my guess. But then having had two marriages and divorces I may not be the best judge of what is going on in a woman's mind....