TexasCHLforum.com

The Annoyed Man wrote:

Mama Abby wrote:I agree it's the best to start a new shooter on something other than a 357, but I don't own one and I don't know any other gun owners out here.

I don't live in your area, but I'd be willing to bet that other forum members do, and that some of them have a .22 pistol. I would further bet that at least a couple of them would be willing to meet you there and let you and your daughter shoot their .22. I know if ya'all were up here in NE Tarrant county, I'd be happy to oblige. I'd bring my wife so that you'd feel safer about it.

Location is the only reason I hadn't already offered for my daughter and I to meet them and let her share her guns.

I guess it might depend on the .38 special. I have only fired one and won't ever do it again with that one unless I'm extremely desperate and that's my only weapon. It was a .38 snubbie with a small grip that hurt more than the .44mag blackhawk. Maybe not, but I thought so back then.

Sounds like a nice little place. If you or your daughter don't want to wait for her to be strong enough for the .357 it might be time for a .22 handgun. My own 10y daughter, last year, was ready. She had fired several different .22 handguns, rentals and borrowed, and ultimately chose the Colt 1911-22, made by Walther and imported by Uramex. It has been a very reliable handgun that we both enjoy shooting. Two friends of mine have the Sig 1911-22 and both of them say theirs is finicky and really liked the Colt when I let them shoot it.

I like it because it is very similar if not practically identical to a .45 1911, rather than the Ruger Mark series handguns. I like those too and they shoot very well, but they are different. I liked the idea of starting my daughter off on something that she could later transition to in a larger caliber with little or no difference. I took the same approach with our rifle choice in the S&W M&P15-22, but I digress.

Your daughter might also enjoy a .22 revolver. Many here have advocated starting a new and especially young shooter out with a .22 to develop good shooting habits. When starting out with a larger caliber, even the 9mm, a smaller or young shooter can develop bad habits that might be difficult to overcome later in life. My daughter has fired a 9mm and liked it a little. It was only 6 rounds and even though nothing bad happened I decided it was still just a tad too much for her. She hasn't asked about it once and enjoys shooting her .22's.