Looking for tips on my first .22 handgun.

Joekingnf

Joekingnf

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OK... so I've been wracking my brain for WEEKS now trying to pick out the perfect starter handgun, at first i was hellbent on a .45, but after doing some homework I've decided to go with a .22 simply because I've heard that if i start with a .45 i could develop some bad habits down the road. I really want to get into competition shooting, so I'm sacrificing the glory of the .45 for a few months while i train on a .22.

Some of the things I'm wondering are should i progress slowly up the sizes of bullets to a 9mm, then a .38, .40, to a .45?? What else should i do to make sure I'm not developing any bad habits?

So that being said, the pistols I'm looking at buying are the Sig mosquito, GSG 1911, Chiappa 1911 and the Walther p22. So far the GSG is ahead in the races but I'd love some more feedback before i make what seems like the biggest decision of my life! All i care about is accuracy.

Thanks
Jon
 
Just sold my GSG 1911 in favor of the new M&P 22lr. This is a decision I do not regret. The M&P 22lr ROCKS! Now in saying that, there was nothing wrong with the GSG but I'm left handed and like the M&P series of pistols for that reason. It also matches my 9mm. ;)

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I just bought the GSG 1911. I have the conversion kit for my Sig 226 elite and I must say that the GSG is almost more accurate, especially for the price!! If you want a 1911 platform which is alot of fun go with the GSG and buy some bricks of ammo for what you will be saving.
 
You can't go wrong with the GSG, or the M&P 22.

It's personal preference between a 1911, and polymer striker-fired style.

I like the M&P!
 
depends on what style of gun you want to upgrade to in a larger caliber....
If you want a 1911 9mm or .45 down the road: GSG 1911, the rest of the imitation 1911's are crappy in comparison

If you want to go with a striker fired polymer gun: the S&W M&P 22 seems like the way to go for practice

If you want a sig sauer later in life: go straight to the sig p226 classic .22, you can change the slide later to 9mm or .40


You dont have to progress up calibers as slowly as you mentioned. A .22, to 9mm, to .45 is fine. 9mm just to experience SOME recoil (as a .22 is almost recoil-less)
 
If you're looking at "run&gun" events for later than a service style .22 such as suggested so far makes a bunch of sense. But for shear reliability I'd toss in the Browning Buckmark and Ruger 22/45 as well. The grip size and angle is very similar to the service style pistols you will get later so they are good for your practicing now.

For a lot of us we enjoy the rimfire handguns once we get some of the big bang stuff out of the way as a cheap and relaxing way of shooting that keeps the skills up and costs down. Very seldom do I go out for a practice session without at least one rimfire pistol to spend some time on maintaining the basic skills needed for accurate shooting. Even if your goals are to enjoy the fast Run&Gun events there's no reason why you can't shoot such events with the higher degree of accuracy that some slow bullseye time gives you. A common skill I like to practice with my rimfire guns is to raise the gun from a low ready in a manner similar to a holster draw, gain the sight picture and squeeze off that first shot. Getting the time down on this aspect is a big part of cutting my overall stage times down. And it's just as valid to do this with a rimfire pistol as a centerfire.

Time with a rimfire pistol is also a great way to work on the basics and learn to ignore the BANG! of the round going off. Folks that focus on the BANG! and recoil kick often develop a nice flinch issue. Alternating between a .22 and the center fire gun can be a big help in learning to focus on proper trigger pull and sight picture which banishes ol' man Flinch.
 
geologist said:
For accuracy, a S&W 41.
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Or a Browning, or a High Standard, or a Colt, or a Ruger, or a -------

Accuracy with a handgun is such a relevent thing. Every 22 handgun made has far more inherent accuracy built into it than has the shooter who holds the gun.
So practical accuracy boils down to balance and how it fits the hands of the shooter.
I have used all the guns I mention above and my judgement is that the S&W 41 is near the bottom of that list.
That is because the handle is too near to a right angle to the frame of the gun. It wants to point low for me, thus it requires a constant effort to keep the muzzle up when shooting.
Just not comfortable for me. And I have shot the 41 along with it's sister 46, quite a bit.
 
Joekingnf said:
the pistols I'm looking at buying are the Sig mosquito, GSG 1911, Chiappa 1911 and the Walther p22. So far the GSG is ahead in the races but I'd love some more feedback before i make what seems like the biggest decision of my life! All i care about is accuracy.

Thanks
Jon
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If you're looking for accuracy...I don't think you'll find it in your choices. I have the Sig 1911-22 and would consider it an "accurate plinker". Lots of cheap fun!
I had a MKiii Target which was more accurate. You can find a used one in VG condition for a decent price.
 
johNTO said:
If you're looking for accuracy...I don't think you'll find it in your choices. I have the Sig 1911-22 and would consider it an "accurate plinker". Lots of cheap fun!
I had a MKiii Target which was more accurate. You can find a used one in VG condition for a decent price.
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surprisingly, the sig mosquito was quite accurate because it has the barrel fixed to the frame
the mkIII target is dead on as well
the sig 1911-22 is just a re-branded GSG
 
I would offer, in the final analysis the choice of .22 is somewhat dependant on the style of shooting or course of fire you'd like to get involved in. For 'plinking' and fun shooting at the range, there's a wide variety of less expensive semi autos and revolvers to pick from. There, I'd be tempted to go for a revolver, inline with a budget level you have at your disposal. For target and bullseye courses of fire, the appropriate choice for me would be a quality semi auto, again goverened by your budget.

When I started out, my first, couldn't live without,:redface: was a .22 Erma Luger. In those first years, my choice was goverened by lack of knowledge and the 'look' of the Luger. After that came a Browning Challenger, S&W 46, two S&W 41s and at the end of my structured or formal paper punching was my Walther GSP with .22/.32 trimmings.

Getting out or away from some of those more structured courses of fire, revolvers became my preference of choice. Started with a Colt Trooper, one blued then a SS S&W kit gun, Colt Diamondback, early flat loading gate Ruger single six and the latest, a Ruger SP 101. The last three I presently have and with a recent;) limited 'resurgence' in bullseye shooting, in the last little while I've acquired a few decent quality semi auto .22s to 'play' with:p.

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The revolvers I mentioned are the three on the right. The recently acquired semi autos, on the left from the top down, Colt Woodsman Match Target, S&W 41, High Standard Supermatic Citation and Browning Medalist.

I assume you belong to a club so probably the best 'tip' or recommendation I can 'suggest', is talk to the guys in your club, get their opinions and try out what they have, then decide. Probably save you a lot of trial & error and save you some coin.
:redface:Sorry for getting so long winded:).
 
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johNTO said:
Johnn P...do you prefer the DA or SA revolver and which one is more accurate?
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I would say, given the choice of one or the other, I'd probably go with DA. I've found, on just about any S&W DA specifically:D, the single action let off of the trigger is like breaking glass so that's probably the main reason for that preference:). On most SA handguns, I've found there to be a little creep or movement before it lets off. A little competent gunsmithing can cure that. I have an old Ruger 44 'Flattop' that's been worked over and now has that;) 'breaking glass' like let off.

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Accuracy wise the difference between SA and DA, I've never really noticed one to be significantly better than the other.
 
M&P 22 without any doubt.... Reliable, well made, and most of all feeds on all sort of .22 brands. Definitely stay away from Mosquitos and walthers.
 
Joekingnf said:
I'm looking at buying are the Sig mosquito, GSG 1911, Chiappa 1911 and the Walther p22. So far the GSG is ahead in the races but I'd love some more feedback before i make what seems like the biggest decision of my life! All i care about is accuracy.
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I know everyone is going to disagree with me, but I love the Sig 220/226 platform (not the Mosquito). I had a GSG 22 and liked it, but got rid of it as I was bored of the round after a while. I did learn a lot with it, then graduated to 9mm/40/45/357. I wish I had purchased the Sig 226 Classic 22 instead, as I would have only had to purchase 1 pistol, then get the centerfire X-Change kits for $355 each. So if you love the 226, you can have 4 different calibers with one frame. Also can buy the centerfire version and buy the rimfire kit for it...

Out of your 4 choices, I would choose again the GSG, but I think it was a waste as I just bought the 226 afterwards.

Now 50 guys are going to disagree with me, but this is what I found out by living through the question you now have (of course everyone is different-individual choice). Have fun choosing!

Accuracy is on YOU, not the gun. Each one will come out of the box shooting straight, rest is on your fit/feel/skill.
 
st1264 said:
Accuracy is on YOU, not the gun. Each one will come out of the box shooting straight, rest is on your fit/feel/skill.
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True for the most part. While the key component in the equation may be the individual pulling the trigger, the probable extra features and additional refinements of a higher quality firearm, that usually come with a price, also play a part in reaching improved accuracy. While they all will go 'bang' right out of the box, those with higher quality barrels, better alignment/lock-up and crisper trigger pulls etc will 'usually' deliver improved accuracy.;) Quality out of the box usually shoots a little 'straighter'.
 
Johnn Peterson said:
True for the most part. While the key component in the equation may be the individual pulling the trigger, the probable extra features and additional refinements of a higher quality firearm, that usually come with a price, also play a part in reaching improved accuracy. While they all will go 'bang' right out of the box, those with higher quality barrels, better alignment/lock-up and crisper trigger pulls etc will 'usually' deliver improved accuracy.;) Quality out of the box usually shoots a little 'straighter'.
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I agree... he's looking at $400 pistols, so I don't think he'll get anything "premium" at this price point. I think the biggest thing for him is the fit and feel of the gun. Something that fits him will be the one he most likely will shoot the best. If he wants to spend a lot more, I am sure there are competition pieces for him.
 
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