.22 Pistol or Laser Trainer?

[Ralph III]

Hello Everyone,
I am contemplating getting either a .22 semi auto pistol or a laser trainer of some sort? I want to start teaching my wife and daughters to shoot and in giving them something to practice with.

Anyhow, there are pluses and minuses as I see with both. So your recommendations would be much appreciated. My budget is $350.00 max.

1. I prefer to get a .22 semi auto pistol as eventually they will go to a .380 semi or a Kahr 9mm for ccp. My first pistol was a Ruger Mark II, so I am considering a used one of those otherwise a new Ruger Lite Rack LCP II. If not a semi auto .22 pistol, would you recommend a .22 revolver? The drawback with a .22 pistol is they would only see very limited range time, for various reasons.

2. In considering a laser trainer. The benefit of a laser trainer is they could practice quite a bit at home. I could then let them practice with a Bersa Thunder 380 at the range which has a fairly light recoil. I just don't know anything about laser trainers though. Are they effective as a training tool and which one would you recommend? I prefer something that would help with accuracy.

Thanks,
Ralph

[Bawanna]

I'll have to check on this but right before I retired we got some Laser trainers at the police department that were really good. They had a switch that activated a second laser that the shooter couldn't see. One showed where the gun hit and the other showed where they were aiming but the shooter isn't able to see the second laser? Did that make sense.
Probably quite spendy, I didn't order those, the firearms guys went on their own on those.
I'll try to find out what brand and cost was involved.

My personal input just to keep the caliber wars alive and well, skip the 380 and get them each a 9. Once they get comfy with a 22 they can handle a 9 just fine. Make sure they are able to handle the slide rack on the kahrs, they can handle that too but they might have to work on technique a little bit.

I broke my new shooters in on a Ruger Single Six single action 22 revolver. Super safe, plenty accurate and fun. Slower to load perhaps but that gives time for input and discussion.

[340pd]

Hello Everyone,
I am contemplating getting either a .22 semi auto pistol or a laser trainer of some sort? I want to start teaching my wife and daughters to shoot and in giving them something to practice with.

Anyhow, there are pluses and minuses as I see with both. So your recommendations would be much appreciated. My budget is $350.00 max.

1. I prefer to get a .22 semi auto pistol as eventually they will go to a .380 semi or a Kahr 9mm for ccp. My first pistol was a Ruger Mark II, so I am considering a used one of those otherwise a new Ruger Lite Rack LCP II. If not a semi auto .22 pistol, would you recommend a .22 revolver? The drawback with a .22 pistol is they would only see very limited range time, for various reasons.

2. In considering a laser trainer. The benefit of a laser trainer is they could practice quite a bit at home. I could then let them practice with a Bersa Thunder 380 at the range which has a fairly light recoil. I just don't know anything about laser trainers though. Are they effective as a training tool and which one would you recommend? I prefer something that would help with accuracy.

Thanks,
Ralph
Ralph, you need both but maybe the 22 comes first. If you go with the Ruger which I recommend, you can safely dry fire that gun with no damage. Any of the MK pistols from Ruger are good and if you watch a couple of videos they can all be field stripped in seconds and any parts ever needed are readily available. I have added the Tandem cross Halo cocking ring which really makes racking the gun a piece of cake.

https://i.postimg.cc/SxTsRQMr/Ruger-halo-s.jpg (https://postimg.cc/FYSmn4Gd)
A laser trainer will help with sight alignment and practicing draw etc., put probably best for more advanced skills.
For that type of training I teach using a SIRT laser trainer.
https://i.postimg.cc/zvyw6cHW/20180919_164850.jpg (https://postimg.cc/gLP664Dk)

[Bawanna]

Excellent choice, I'd get a MKIV if you can pull it off, way easier to clean and open up. The others are great quality but you have to hold your mouth just right to break em down. Fortunately you don't have to do that very often, hardly ever.

[Ralph III]

Ralph, you need both but maybe the 22 comes first. If you go with the Ruger which I recommend, you can safely dry fire that gun with no damage. Any of the MK pistols from Ruger are good....A laser trainer will help with sight alignment and practicing draw etc., put probably best for more advanced skills....


Thanks for the input guys.

Yes, I'd love to get both a .22 and some sort of laser trainer but my budget won't allow it. I'm really leaning toward the .22 pistol because for me nothing can beat live fire, so your input has helped. I learned how to shoot pistols accurately with my Ruger Mk II as a teenager but I'm really leaning toward the Ruger Lite LCP after watching a few YouTube demonstrations. It's just a more similar pistol to what they may end up with.

I was just curious to see if any of you emphatically and enthusiastically recommended a laser trainer. That really doesn't seem to be the case so I will be looking to pick up a pistol. We will just have to make the best of range time and I can let them dry fire at home.

God Bless,
Ralph

[JohnR]

I hear the new Keltec .22 is both very reliable and accurate, and under $200. I’d check those out.

I agree the laser trainers are great for more advanced practice, like close range point-shooting. I have the device that you insert into hthe muzzle of your favorite gun.

[dao]

Advantage of a laser trainer, or at least some of them is that you get to use your gun, with its trigger.

[getsome]

My 2 cents is this, for a brand new shooter forget lasers and semi auto pistols and start at ground level....I bought a Ruger Bearcat .22 single action to teach my kids how to shoot, it's a very accurate gun for the sights it has and now Ruger has the Wrangler .22 for around $250.00 and is a real nice starter gun to teach with....You have to uncomplicate things for new shooters and keep things as simple as possible to make it a fun thing they want to continue doing....Get a single action revolver and some snap caps to teach grip, sight alignment and trigger press, then go to the range and use a simple bullseye target and pull it up really close and let them see where their shots go then once they see that they can hit what they are pointing at then move the target back a little until they feel confident in their ability to shoot a handgun accurately and you will have a life long shooter....The wrong way to teach is to give a new shooter a handgun they are intimidated with and don't understand how to operate.....Keep it as simple as possible, Grip, sight alignment, trigger press.....no more, no less

[Ralph III]

My 2 cents is this, for a brand new shooter forget lasers and semi auto pistols and start at ground level....I bought a Ruger Bearcat .22 single action to teach my kids how to shoot, it's a very accurate gun for the sights it has and now Ruger has the Wrangler .22 for around $250.00 and is a real nice starter gun to teach with....You have to uncomplicate things for new shooters and keep things as simple as possible to make it a fun thing they want to continue doing....Get a single action revolver and some snap caps to teach grip, sight alignment and trigger press, then go to the range and use a simple bullseye target and pull it up really close and let them see where their shots go then once they see that can hit what that are pointing at then move the target back a little until they feel confident in their ability to shoot a handgun accurately and you will have a life long shooter....The wrong way to teach is to give a new shooter a handgun they are intimidated with and don't understand how to operate.....Keep it as simple as possible, Grip, sight alignment, trigger press.....no more, no less

Thanks for the tips getsome. I do not have the reservations about starting them on a semi auto .22 as you do having learned on one myself and having been shooting for nearly 50 years now. I have no problem with a revolver, own and shot many, but it would be better to get them a similar gun as to what they will eventually use for self defense, IMHO.

In regards to teaching grip, stance, sight alignment and trigger pull, as well as safety; that is something I stress and allow them to practice long before we go to the range. My wife has experience shooting guns but she hasn't had a lot of practice or truly proper instruction. I started teaching my 17 yr old last year with a .380 and recently with a 9mm. She was a little scared of the 9mm at first but settled down after a bit and then shot fantastically. Her last outing was a lot of fun because it was outdoors with various targets/distances. I indeed start them at a short distance and then prior to leaving I challenged her to lastly shoot from 80ft away (Kahr S9). I always end with that. She actually put every round into the 3ft x 3ft target and one round within our 8in bullseye.

I'd still prefer she practice a little more with a .22 and then the 9mm. The .22 would most definitely be preferred for my 11 yr old daughter though as she has never shot a gun.

Take care,
Ralph

[King Rat]

My 2 cents is this, for a brand new shooter forget lasers and semi auto pistols and start at ground level....I bought a Ruger Bearcat .22 single action to teach my kids how to shoot, it's a very accurate gun for the sights it has and now Ruger has the Wrangler .22 for around $250.00 and is a real nice starter gun to teach with....You have to uncomplicate things for new shooters and keep things as simple as possible to make it a fun thing they want to continue doing....Get a single action revolver and some snap caps to teach grip, sight alignment and trigger press, then go to the range and use a simple bullseye target and pull it up really close and let them see where their shots go then once they see that can hit what that are pointing at then move the target back a little until they feel confident in their ability to shoot a handgun accurately and you will have a life long shooter....The wrong way to teach is to give a new shooter a handgun they are intimidated with and don't understand how to operate.....Keep it as simple as possible, Grip, sight alignment, trigger press.....no more, no less

Agree. Love the 22.cal for training.

[Artie]

I recently purchased a couple of air guns for practice. The son already has a couple of semi auto style and a pump rifle so I grabbed a Red Ryder like a grandson just got and a GAMO PR776 revolver. Just ordered a couple small steel plates from Midway on sale for like $9 with the intent on hanging them somewhere in the yard in a safe direction. I intend to make sure the whole family does some practice every day.

[getsome]

Ralph, I totally respect your thoughts and wanting to train the younguns on the Ruger .22 semi auto pistol and it makes sense to train and learn on a platform you will be familiar with in the future, the Ruger .22 pistols are great shooters, I've had two in the past and somehow let them both go and I wish I had them both again but so it goes.... Let us know how it works out and my hopes are that your children love the experience and become members of the "Gun Culture".....

[Ralph III]

Thanks getsome and everyone!

I actually ended up pulling the trigger (pun intended) on a Walther p22Q (newest version). I got a great price on a used one so couldn't pass it up. I decided against the Ruger LCP lite because it is such a small gun and I didn't want them to struggle with accuracy. I could have gone with a Ruger MK version but the prices were higher even for much older models.

The Walther is a DA/SA which I really didn't prefer but it will be fine for my purposes. In fact, shooting it in DA mode will be excellent trigger control practice for them. The ergonomics on those guns are phenomenal so there is no doubt the girls will enjoy shooting it. I will let you know how it goes but it may be a few weeks. I apologize for the poor image quality. It was taken with a cell phone.

God Bless,
Ralph

17089

[Planedude]

Good choice for a trainer! I have the oldest version if the little Walther (1st year). It was my son-in-laws first gun purchase. When he was looking to sell it to fund another gun, I bought it from him. The plan is to give it back later, but it is so many folks favorite shooter on range day, so it stays for now.
The little gun was very ammo sensitive as he bought it, but once we found a CCI ammo it liked, it ran great. After I bought the little guy I did a few clean up mods to it (safety detent, extractor “tune” and cleans a slide rub up) after which the gun would eat almost any ammo I had. When my S&W target .22 broke a firing pin during warmups for a steel plate league, my little Walther was pressed into frontline duty again. Shooting plates, indoors with CCI Mini Mags was such a hoot I used it the whole season.
It barks LOUD with Mini Mags!
Enjoy the shooting and know that when I have taken all my .22’s and new shooters to their first range trip, the little P22 is usually the gun that most folks are successful with. It never fails to put a smile on both our faces.

Peace

[Ralph III]

Good choice for a trainer! I have the oldest version if the little Walther (1st year). It was my son-in-laws first gun purchase. When he was looking to sell it to fund another gun, I bought it from him. The plan is to give it back later, but it is so many folks favorite shooter on range day, so it stays for now.
The little gun was very ammo sensitive as he bought it, but once we found a CCI ammo it liked, it ran great. After I bought the little guy I did a few clean up mods to it (safety detent, extractor “tune” and cleans a slide rub up) after which the gun would eat almost any ammo I had. When my S&W target .22 broke a firing pin during warmups for a steel plate league, my little Walther was pressed into frontline duty again. Shooting plates, indoors with CCI Mini Mags was such a hoot I used it the whole season.
It barks LOUD with Mini Mags!
Enjoy the shooting and know that when I have taken all my .22’s and new shooters to their first range trip, the little P22 is usually the gun that most folks are successful with. It never fails to put a smile on both our faces.

Peace


Thanks for those details Planedude. Yes, I researched it quite a bit and it looks like it is going to be a phenomenal little shooter. Pretty excited about it coming in.

Ralph