Joe Doakes from Como Park writes:
A friend wants a .22 revolver to teach a kid to shoot. Double action are scarce. Single-action cowboy replicas are plentiful. Autos are everywhere.
For an absolute novice, which is the best trainer?
And who’s got one to sell?
Joe Doakes
Como Park
Good question.
And an important one. Since it is the moral duty of every law-abiding American to be proficient with firearms, training the next generation is vital.
So what do you all suggest?
Ruger Mark III (I’ve got the II and the I, and there’s been definite improvement over the years). Safe, easy to shoot. Bull barrel for accuracy if the kid is big/strong enough. I think I’ve seen them at the local WalMart from time to time.
I’m a big fan of semi-autos as a first weapon since it removes one more thing to remember when they’re learning to shoot a revolver, and since I can flick the safety off and on when they’re holding the gun. If you do go with a revolver, teach single action first even if you get a double action. Again, break it down to as few steps and things to remember at each stage as you can — that reduces a lot of stress.
Novices and kids should learn revolvers first.
Inasmuch as novices fret about utility, durability, and value, ie “am I making a good purchase?”….. there is really only one answer here: used Ruger New Model Single- Six.
Shop the used market first, where you can perhaps get into one for perhaps $250 – $300. You can have some assurance a Single-Six on the used market will be in working order, because they really do not break. If you want to buy new, you’re looking at $450 – $500 retail.
Single-six resembles a cowboy revolver, but it isn’t really. It’s a modern camping / plinking / leisure shooter. You’ll get as much utility out of it as you’ll ever need.
Locating one won’t be hard. Ruger has made 2 or 3 million of them.
Target shooting or self defense training? If target shooting the Ruger would be a good choice. Self defense think about the soft air pistols. The advantages of soft air are you can shoot anywhere, realistic moving targets, chances of injury almost zero. Disadvantage would be the discipline that comes with a real firearm wouldn’t be there.
Another option would be air pistols. You can use them in the basement or garage making training easier.
I think 1st and foremost find a good shooting instructor, there’re gun safety classes around that when completed will meet the requirements for a state hunting license. Many of these classes will cover the use of handguns, rifles, and shotguns, a very good thing whether the interest is in hunting or other shooting sports.
I would go with the pistol, the classics are the Ruger Marks and the Browining Buckmark. There’re other good choices such as the Beretta Neos, Colt Woodsman, High Standard models, the list of quality target guns at affordable prices goes on and on. I’d suggest taking the kid to several of the good gun stores and let them participate in the selection.
my vote is the Browning Buckmark pistol (slightly smaller grip than Ruger & easier to clean) and the Ruger Single Six revolver – both are available used in the $250-$300 range. Then get 8 or 10 “Bricks” of ammo at fleet Farm or Wal-mart – you have a summer of fun in front of you. Also get a good guncleaning kit and make sure from the very start that your child knows how to completely clean their gun after each use.
What Nerd said.
I like the .22 Walther P22. It’s got small, thin grips, which helps if the kid has small hands. And it’s very accurate and no problems jamming as long as the kid keeps his wrists straight (just like any pistol).
You know what I wish existed – a Glock .22. With Glock simplicity and ruggedness, etc – I think that would be super cool. I wonder if they’ve made one just to do it but never put it out in the marketplace.
“You know what I wish existed – a Glock .22.”
There are conversion kits out there.
Scott, you mean the ones that go from 9MM or something to allow, say, a Glock 17 to shoot a .22? I’m aware of those things, and I’m sure they do their thing just fine. I was just thinking that it would be cool if Glock actually went to the drawing board and came up with a sweet little .22. In my mind it would look something like the Walther P22 but be Glock simple to take apart and put back together. And probably have a capacity of 20+ cartridges – in a compact, rugged package.
One more half-serious suggestion for a .22 pistol – if it would work after more than maybe 500 rounds – would be a Lorcin L22. Get a new one for about $80, just knowing that it ain’t gonna last too long. They’re super small, thin, and they work fine for a while. Then they’ll give you jamming/feeding issues and they’re a cool paperweight. But for that first couple hundred shots, it’s a lot of fun.