[Conook]

I am new to this Forum and looking for information.

I have been hunting with rifles since I was 9 years old. I have won several shotgun shooting competitions in my area and a couple target shooting competions with my rifles. Shooting a rifle is very comfortable and I am very concerned with safetly and education concerning all firearms.

I want to buy a .22 target shooting pistol. I have looked around and found many options. I have no real experience in pistol target shooting so I figure it is a good way to cut my daughters and my teeth on target shooting.

What are some good pistols to look at that are economical and reliable? Price really isnt a concern but I am frugal. I am not frugal if there is a reason to spend the money on quality.

Is there a difference in the ammunition I should use when shooting Paper or Metal targets?

What is a good website with good information concerning target pistol shooting?

Eventually I will get some confidence and upgrade to a larger caliber but until then I will take my time. I am steering towards a 9mm but I love the .45. I have a love for the look of a 1911 style pistol. I have also looked into the Sig p250. I have small hands so grip size and the ability to adjust its grip size is very important.

I have rambled on enough so I will end this now.

Thanks in advance to everyone for your information.

 

[mjyeagle]

the only advice from me is buy a nme brand(ruger S&W walther etc. and practice over and over again i think you will find that pistols take more practice to shoot accurate every time i admire you are bringing youth into the great world of guns i dont have any kids but i absolutly love takeing my nephew shooting and cant wait till the other one is old enough to go i would get some targets that bounce ar move when you hit them little kids get bored with papier targets good luck and good shooting

 

[Combat Diver]

First welcome to the forum and kudos to want to teach your daughters. Reference a pistol I would suggest that you look at any of the Ruger .22 autos, Smith 22xx series Browning Buckmarks or High Standard series. No experience with the Beretta Neos. Another consideration would be a Smith and Wesson Model 17,18 or 617 Revolver, these are all on the K frame, Double Action in either blue or stainless.

Each pistol will like its own ammo but in .22 any ammo would work for paper targets or steel as they are all lead bullets. If shooting steel avoid copper/brass bullets at close range due to spatter (even with lead).

As for a target shooting website only one I can think of is RimfireCentral.com.

CD

 

[JPaulF]

My vote goes to a good revolver for a first pistol. Safer and less complicated. Once you and your daughter are comfortable with that, go to a good semi, like the Ruger.

 

[fcfirearms]

The best recommendation is a single action revolver for a first-timer, in 22LR there is only 1 choice for quality, accuracy and reliability... a Ruger Single Six. If you must have a semi-auto and have a leaning toward the 1911 style in 45ACP for later, go with the Ruger 2245. It gives a similar feel in your hand and is accurate and reliable.
For practice ammo cheaper is better. You get more bang for the buck. Any number of offerings from CCI, Winchester and Remington are good.
My advice comes from owning a gun shop for over 25 years.

 

[MikeG]

If you're going to end up with a 1911 anyway, I'd suggest the following -

One of the Ruger .22 autos that is called a "22/45" as the size, controls, etc., are quite similar. Choose barrel length, weight, that is comfortable to you (there are a bunch of combinations). Or -

Buy a 1911, and get a .22 upper for it, also.

Depends on your budget! I have both...

 

[VictorLouis]

The Browing series is the one in which you can experiment with different barrels. Controls also mimic a 1911 pattern .45. On the Ruger's, the barrel is connected to the receiver, which is the serial-numbered component.

 

[zb338]

Get a Ruger .22 have a gunsmith do the trigger and mount a dot
sight onto it. Later on if you can get up the money get a .45. If you
are shooting bullseye, take it to a gunsmith, have him do the trigger
and mount a dot sight.

Zeke

 

[jodum]

Welcome to the forum. I have been an avid pistol shooter for 45 years and have numerous handguns in my vault. I shoot more 22lr than any other round. I would highly recommend the Ruger 22-45 as it is a quality gun and easy to care for. Mine likes lots of different ammo so it is cheap to feed also. With a red dot halo sight mounted on it, it is a tin can killing machine.....

 

[2Bits]

I agree with Mike G. on this thread!!!

 

[mikld]

Tough to say, but for a beginner and safety, a revolver is a good choice. My very first handgun was a Ruger Single Six, purchased in '69. But then, an auto loaded single shot, only one round in the mag., would be ok. My most favorite handgun, amoung 5 other .22s, is the Ruger MkII with a 6" bbl.. Very accurate (much more than I am), extremely reliable, and didn't break the bank.

 

[au2183]

A S&W model 41 is what I recommend. They are extremely accurate, and fit the hand much like a 1911. They can be addicting though, so be careful! I now have 2 41's, and a 46.
If you decide to go with a revolver as some have suggested, I highly recommend a S&W model 17 or a model 18. Again, either one can be more accurate than the person shooting them. I have a model 18 that shoots as well as my best model 17, and I love the shorter barrel for carrying while hunting.
Good luck, and let us know what you decide. Pictures are mandatory!

 

[tacklebury]

I would recommend the Chiappa 1911-22sport pistol. It's identical in overall size to the std. 1911's and is on sale right now.

http://www.galleryofguns.com/genie/default.aspx?item=1911-22SPORT

 

[Marshal Kane]

A S&W model 41 is what I recommend. They are extremely accurate, and fit the hand much like a 1911. . .

Plus 1 here. Model 41s have won their class at the Camp Perry championships. Drawback is Model 41s are pricey.

Whichever .22 you purchase, I would strongly suggest you get one with adjustable sights. Adjustable sights will let you move the rear sight so that you are shooting into the center of the target. With fixed sights, you may need to shoot to a different point of aim on the target to hit the center and compensate for where the gun shoots. This gets old fast if you are truly interested in shooting accurately.

 

[Skull13]

I'm gonna have to cast my vote for the Ruger MKII had one for over 25 years shot in competition for 10 years both bullseye and NRA Hunters pistol still shooting it today still as accurate as I can shoot.There are others with better triggers and ergonomics but you can't beat them to start with not nearly as fussy about ammo as some.

 

[William Iorg]

I would recommend the Chiappa 1911-22sport pistol. It's identical in overall size to the std. 1911's and is on sale right now.

http://www.galleryofguns.com/genie/default.aspx?item=1911-22SPORT

Tacklebury, My wife and I were on the range this week tormenting some clay birds. I was shooting my S&W M-63 and she was shooting her Ruger 2245. Another shooter came up and we shared a few clay birds with him, lots of fun compared to the bullseye targets he was using.
He had a Chiappa 1911 and I have to admit I liked the gun. It is equipped with pretty good fixed sights and seemed to handle well.
Does anyone have any experience with this handgun? The owner we shot with didn’t have much experience with the gun and I believe he shot it more at clay birds that afternoon than he had in several previous outings.
The gun seemed to function well with Federal Champions and as far as plinking accuracy goes, it shot right along with the Ruger 2245.

 

[pmeisel]

All good advice, above. I personally prefer revolvers and think a Smith model 17 would be first choice, but I have a Ruger Mark II and it is a good weapon and sweet shooter. My kids all learned on it.....

 

[bentrod]

I'm gonna have to cast my vote for the Ruger MKII had one for over 25 years shot in competition for 10 years both bullseye and NRA Hunters pistol still shooting it today still as accurate as I can shoot.There are others with better triggers and ergonomics but you can't beat them to start with not nearly as fussy about ammo as some.

As a bullseye pistol shooter I agree with this. Also stick with iron sights until you understand sight alignment and can shoot well. I am 73 and I shoot irons. I shoot with a dot scope inside because of the poor lighting conditions.

There are a lot of Ruger MK I, II, III pistols on the BE firing lines shooting outstanding scores. And they will shoot almost any .22 LR ammo, which will save tons of money.

Also, if you can find a bullseye club in your area go there.

 

[digisol]

Had several Rugers, the current rimfire pistol is a Beretta 87 target, feeds eveything offered to it, my match ammo for the BR rimfire rifle works a treat in it.
Only bug was having to get the sears worked on, aside from that and the high cost of mags etc its a great gun.

That said many rugers are more accurate than the shooter using it.

Steel or paper makes no difference, accurate is accurate no matter the ammo, but some will show a liking to some ammo brands, my Beretta shoots into 1" at 25 yds with RWS R-50 and they are only std velocity.

Sig ? very nice guns, have a 226 9mm stainless elite on my Xmas shopping list..

 

[JackMerlin170]

hi i am Jack and i am new here i just want guide lines as i am learning about hunting. and also what should i buy for hunting?