22 Handgun Recommendation

[shooter32]

Ruger single - six is what I started on and all three of my boys did also. Can't go wrong with any of the above choices.

[PegLeg45]

Ruger Single Six is a good gun. A friend of mine has one. Ruger MKII and Browning Buck Mark are fine guns. I have a Ruger MKII, and my uncle has a Browning. The Ruger is a pain to field strip and put back together right, though. Even after you've done it 30 times. I don't know how easy the browning is to strip. It would be hard to go wrong with either of those 3. 

The Browning is pretty easy to strip. Take two screws out of the top rib and the slide comes off in your hand. Take one screw out of the front of the frame and the barrel tips right off. This also allows you to interchange different barrel lengths. Spare barrels are available through Brownells and several custom makers.

[jaybet]

In the middle are the twins Whoop and Ass  A matched pair of New Vaqueros in .357 mag.

Enjoy!

Ah..named after old Uncle Jay.

[MikeBjerum]

Jay,

Were you the one that picked those names for me?

I can't remember

Got one of those milestones coming soon, and I can't find my damn walker ... much less the keys to the gunroom 

[jaybet]

Yes, I believe Whoop and Ass were my choice.
Hey...does anyone know anything about the S&W 22A? They come with a 5.5" bull barrel.

[Sponsor]

[MikeBjerum]

I have one.  That is what I used for bullseye prior to buying the Mark III Target.

Mine is the two tone and not a bull, but still a nice gun.  The only complaints I have are the mag release is in the middle front of the grip, and my extra flap would drop the mag once in a while; and it has a lite little plastic flap inside on the firing pin (I tried everything I could to not call it a do hickey or thing a majig) that I folded over when reassembling once.  Not expensive, but seems cheap for a firearm.  The only other issue is that it does not like Remington Thunderbolt ammo, but my Mark III and 10/22 don't either.  Thank God for the Single-Six, because it will eat anything I stuff in it.

[hollandm]

Ok, looks like there is general agreement that for a revolver it's the Single Six.  For a pistol either the Mark II/III or a Browning Buck Mark.  I like the looks of the Mark II/III but the disassembly sounds painful.

Do any of these present size problems for an average size woman's hands?

Anything I should be careful about if getting a used one of either of these?

Gun show tomorrow!

[Rob10ring]

My wife shoots all of those, and my daughter started shooting a Ruger Mark II when she was 10. Hand size shouldn't be a problem.

Disassembly isn't all that bad. Occasionally, if it's been a long time, I'll refresh my memory with the manual. You can probably find some great prices on all of those choices. Have fun at the gun show!

[MikeBjerum]

The only thing that could be a glitch with small hands is the target grips.  The picture does not show it, but on the left side of my Mark III there is a ledge at the top of that grip that the thumb rests on ... DON'T get one with that and it will not be an issue.  Other than that, my wife and kids at firearm safety shoot my Single-Six and S&W 22a (same basic size as Mark III) with not problem.

Have fun at the Show!!!

[Rastus]

I can echo an excellent recommendation for the Ruger Mark II/III, the Ruger Single Six and the Browning Buckmark.  Stay away from the Sig Mosquito...they are "cheap" for a reason....

Yes Haz...mine has morphed into a POS after 100 rounds and no cleaning.

I would like to add if you can find an old Colt Scout in 22...they have really fine and slick actions.....to pick up one of those as a "good deal" used gun.  I like them better than the Single Six.  Also....the Ruger Bearcat is a fine 22.