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

[sledgemeister]

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.

Rugers dont need to be too heavy, I lightened mine substantially by changing the barrel over to a tac sol sone

[Rastus]

I would go with the S&W 22 to bolster transition/training with the M&P 9.  I have a Ruger, S&W, Buckmark, Walther, and Sig Mosquito 22 handguns.  The S&W has a much better trigger than Walther or Sig side by side...no comparison.

The S&W has controls like and feels like a centerfire handgun more than a Ruger or Buckmark.  You will need to decide if you want a primary plinker/hunter or a training gun.  Thw S&W will not be able to support scopes and upgrades like the Ruger and Buckmark to enhance plinking/hunting.  I would choose the Ruger for a hunter and Buckmark more as a plinker.  However, I have used the Buckmark successfully for hunting as the #2 hunting choice.....the S&W would trail as #3 though you may put a dot sight on the rear and enhance it.  The dot sight would also enahance personal defense use/training especially if your centerfire defense weapon has a dot sight.

If you want something to train with and to save money with when training and that will absolutely transition to the M&P 9 or other centefire handguns (I carry a Ruger SR9 and M&P 9 or 45) then it must be the S&W M&P 22. 

Just my 2 cents.  Can't even by a Fireball for 2 cents these days.....

[Jrlobo]

tstand,

      I'm considering the 22-45 Lite for both me and my wife, but Tom's suggestion re the FNH five-seven is spot on! If you can find one, try it out. But, be warned, on the FN: ammo is not cheap and some gun clubs (like mine) won't let you fire the five-seven pistol at the range (even though they'll let me fire the five-seven carbine...go figure).

[jaybet]

My range won't allow the FN five-seven. The reason is that the round penetrates our backstop...goes right through some hefty steel. If you're thinking of it for HD it might not be that great of a choice. It'll go right through walls.

[TAB]

Any thing will go right thru a wall.   from a 22 short cb cap to a 50 bmg.

[Sponsor]

[tombogan03884]

Depends on the wall TAB.

[jaybet]

Sure anything will go through a wall, but most calibers have rounds like frang or expanding that will mitigate some of that. The five-seven is such a high velocity, needle-like little thing, I'm not sure they have much in the way of "slow it down" ammo.

[TAB]

Look at the box of truth and their high volicty light wiegth rounds vs sheet rock.   long story short then tend to go way off track.

[tstand]

I would go with the S&W 22 to bolster transition/training with the M&P 9.  I have a Ruger, S&W, Buckmark, Walther, and Sig Mosquito 22 handguns.  The S&W has a much better trigger than Walther or Sig side by side...no comparison.

The S&W has controls like and feels like a centerfire handgun more than a Ruger or Buckmark.  You will need to decide if you want a primary plinker/hunter or a training gun.  Thw S&W will not be able to support scopes and upgrades like the Ruger and Buckmark to enhance plinking/hunting.  I would choose the Ruger for a hunter and Buckmark more as a plinker.  However, I have used the Buckmark successfully for hunting as the #2 hunting choice.....the S&W would trail as #3 though you may put a dot sight on the rear and enhance it.  The dot sight would also enahance personal defense use/training especially if your centerfire defense weapon has a dot sight.

If you want something to train with and to save money with when training and that will absolutely transition to the M&P 9 or other centefire handguns (I carry a Ruger SR9 and M&P 9 or 45) then it must be the S&W M&P 22. 

Just my 2 cents.  Can't even by a Fireball for 2 cents these days.....

I don't think I can fire the S&W M&P 22 before purchase (maybe if I am serious they will let us try). Can you tell me what the experience is like firing the S&W versus the Buckmark?

Speaking for my myself, when I fire the buckmark, the recoil is so little I can hardly feel anything at all. The S&W is lighter, so I'm wondering what it is like. The only light 22 pistol I have fired is the Walter P22 and I hate it. The grip is tiny and it shakes a lot probably because it is so light (15 oz).

[tstand]

tstand,

      I'm considering the 22-45 Lite for both me and my wife, but Tom's suggestion re the FNH five-seven is spot on! If you can find one, try it out. But, be warned, on the FN: ammo is not cheap and some gun clubs (like mine) won't let you fire the five-seven pistol at the range (even though they'll let me fire the five-seven carbine...go figure).

The 5-7 is so expensive I would probably just spend more and get the P90 before the handgun. Budget is an issue so I would like to keep the pistol at $500 or less.