S&W M&P 22 or maybe Ruger Mark III as first pistol for wife

[tstand]

I'm considering the purchase of a handgun for my wife. It would not be concealed carry, but probably stored safely in a quick access safe at home. We would use it for target shooting and also a gun she could access if necessary. I already have a 12 gauge mossberg and a 9mm high point carbine and I am comfortable with both of them but she is not.  I want her to be absolutely comfortable with whatever we get and enjoy shooting it and build experience level.

After looking around and considering possible uses, I think it would be good to have a 22 since she is not an experienced shooter. We have both fired a Browning Buckmark and liked it a lot. it has absolutely no recoil and a wonderful grip. However, I would prefer to get something that could be accessorized with a laser sight now, and a suppressor possibly later. It does not look like the Buckmark can be easily setup for either a laser or suppressor. However, there is a Ruger Mark III variant that comes with a threaded barrel and the new S&W M&P 22 can be adapted for a suppressor, and both can be fitted with a Crimson Trace laser grip. The M&P 22 is also nice because it can serve as a trainer for a 9mm later.

I can rent a Ruger at several ranges, but I can't rent an M&P 22 anywhere near me. I've fired the M&P 9mm and like the grip well enough.

First question, am I missing anything in my considerations of a first handgun for my wife?

Second, I'm wondering if anyone has fired a M&P 22 and could compare the experience to a Buckmark or Ruger?

Thanks!  
Terry

[tombogan03884]

Tactical Solutions is the place to go for everything BuckMark.

http://www.tacticalsol.com/tshome/trail-lite-barrel-upgrade-for-the-browning-buck-mark-pistol

One thing to be aware of, with the BuckMark you can buy just the barrel, with the Ruger the Barrel is part of the upper reciever, which is the serial numbered part, so replacing a barrel is the same paperwork as buying another gun.

[jaybet]

If you get your wife a .38 or even .357 (shoots 38s too) revolver- the recoil is only a little more than a .22 and it's a much bigger round for the whole self-defense thing.  If she's new and maybe won't shoot that much a revolver would be easier for her to handle.

[tombogan03884]

Jay, I think he posted before that his wife has medical problems that rule out heavier calibers.
Might try an FN 5.7 though.

[Big Frank]

The Ruger 22/45 with a composite frame is lighter than the steel framed guns. It comes in a threaded barrel version and a lightweight too, and it has a nice grip angle. http://www.ruger.com/products/2245ThreadedBarrel/models.html I like the one without rails.

[Sponsor]

[jaybet]

Oops...sorry...I saw that before and forgot who had started that conversation. Knowing that your wife might have difficulty with a revolver, I'm thinking that your idea about the M&P 22 is good. Never had a .22, but my M&P9 is one of the nicer shooting and easy operating 9s I've handled, so starting with the 22 and possibly transitioning to the 9 makes sense.

[TAB]

Something else to think, she may have a hard tine racking a slide.   some of those springs are stiff.   if she can handle a rifle, a 22 rifle is much better choice then a 22 pistol.

[tstand]

Really good points, folks. I'm now thinking of the 22/45 vs the M&P 22.

Hadn't thought about how hard it is to pull/rack the slide. We'll need to make a trip to a range to try that part of it.

Also open to a rifle (my personal preference), but thought my wife might like a pistol better. We can fire a couple of rifles, too, such as the sig 522 which everyone seems to love. Our local range does not have the M&P variant but they are probably good, too.

[tstand]

Oops...sorry...I saw that before and forgot who had started that conversation. Knowing that your wife might have difficulty with a revolver, I'm thinking that your idea about the M&P 22 is good. Never had a .22, but my M&P9 is one of the nicer shooting and easy operating 9s I've handled, so starting with the 22 and possibly transitioning to the 9 makes sense.

I've shot the M&P 9mm several times and like it. Probably the only thing I like better so far is the Ruger SR9, but both are great.

[alfsauve]

For ease of operation a .22 revolver wouldn't require racking a slide.   While most of the better revolvers would be heavier, they also can fire a variety of ammo from CBs to HVs.  Back on the down side, good ones are a lot more expensive than most autoloaders.

The Contour version of the Buckmark does have a "rail" on top.   Not where most would mount a laser but it does allow easy mounting of optics.

Have you looked at the Beretta Neos?   If your wife has smallish hands I think you'll find the Neos easier to grip.  It too has lots of variations so don't just look at the rental one at the range.

Now my lecture on quality.  Plinking and target shooting (heck any shooting) is a lot more fun if the gun will shoot to point of aim.  Nothing is more frustrating for a shooter to do everything correctly and still miss.    See if you can find accuracy tests on the various models before you buy.  Gun Blast might be a good source.