Need recommendation for single-action .22

[Effingham]

Went to the range this week with an older friend (a gent in his seventies). He had a 9mm Glock 19 and found it a bit much to handle. After talking with an instructor, and testing him with a few handguns, we've determined that a .22 is more his speed, and since semi auto is a bit of an issue (loading the magazines, racking the action...), and most double action revolvers are a bit tough on the trigger pull, we've come down to a single-action .22 as the ideal.

Can anyone recommend anything specific?

I'm starting to look at the Ruger Bearcat, but I do have concerns that the "cowboy look" might not be what he really wants.

Yeah, I know. Not an easy issue to deal with, but I'd love to have any help y'all can offer.

 

[Hookeye]

Get a Smith double action and just shoot it in single action.

No "cowboy look" and a bit faster to reload.

 

[Leo]

I cannot think of a single action revolver that is not "cowboy look" The Ruger is a good piece. Like said above, if looks are important, get a double action and cock it each shot to shoot single action.

 

[Bapak2ja]

Take a look at the S&W MP 22. I know it is not a SA revolver, but I think you might find it light enough for your friend to handle. The mages are very easy to load, due to the light spring and the thumb knob to hold the spring down. Very easy to load.

Also, it is very easy to rack the slide. The spring is very, very light. I think it would be doable for an old guy. I thought about getting one for my father, who is 86. His hands are stiff and weaker than he wants to admit, but I know he could handle it.

Check it out. Smith & Wesson M&P 22 Review: Should You Buy One - YouTube

Just a thought. Good luck to you and your friend.

 

[SAILORGOLF46]

Yes double action S&W. Much easier to load with hands that are not as flexible as they use to be. I shoot all my double action revolvers single action due to age and arthritis, plus .22 ammo is small and troublesome to put in a gate load. And double actions are very to clean.

 

[drop45]

Ruger single six or single ten would be my thoughts, I've got the six wish I had the ten. But I think the .327 fed magnum loaded with .32 s&w longs or shorts would do the trick also, that's my next purchase anyhow. Good luck with the search

 

[45fan]

I have to agree that the Ruger is the best single action 22 you will find. If money is an issue, I have a Heritage that has served me well, just not as smooth or substantial as the Rugers are.

As far as eliminating the DA revolvers and most auto 22s, you might want to look into them a little deeper. Every 22LR auto that I own has a thumb button on the Mag, and they are actually quite easy to load. The slide is typically very easy to operate as well, as the springs on the 22 arent required to be that heavy. A good DA revolver would be a bit easier to load, and as long as it had an exposed hammer, could still be shot in SA mode, making the long trigger pull a non-issue.

 

[tk71]

You could also look at a beretta model 21 or Taurus model 22 with pop up barrel makes putting round in the chamber easier. I have the Taurus and mine is a good pistol.

 

[PGRChaplain]

Beretta Neos. Easy to load (has a button on mags to compress the spring) and very easy to operate the slide to load the chamber. This is a good handgun for around $250.00.

 

[mmamom]

I have the Taurus PT-22 with tilt up barrel, I love it. I have small hands, and had problems racking a slide, it is easier with my taurus. It may help with the problems older persons have with hands that are weak or just can't pull to load. I'm new here myself, but hope my input would help.

 

[J Starkey]

I had a Sig Sauer .22 mosquito and the slide was extremely easy to rack and the mags are really easy to load.

 

[sb0]

Went to the range this week with an older friend (a gent in his seventies). He had a 9mm Glock 19 and found it a bit much to handle. After talking with an instructor, and testing him with a few handguns, we've determined that a .22 is more his speed, and since semi auto is a bit of an issue (loading the magazines, racking the action...), and most double action revolvers are a bit tough on the trigger pull, we've come down to a single-action .22 as the ideal.

Can anyone recommend anything specific?

I'm starting to look at the Ruger Bearcat, but I do have concerns that the "cowboy look" might not be what he really wants.

Yeah, I know. Not an easy issue to deal with, but I'd love to have any help y'all can offer.

I would reconsider this complete disqualification of the semi auto. Did he try any 22 semi autos?

My Ruger SR22 is about a thousand times easier to rack and load than a Glock 19, or virtually any 9mm for that matter.

 

[Effingham]

He did try a couple of .22 semi autos. He just can't seem to get a handle on magazines and racking. (Actually, not sure if I even WANT him with a gun, but... not my call.)

Thing is, he wants something that can be CC'ed for when he vacations down south -- and cowboy action guns don't take well to CC'ing. I like the idea of a lighter frame S&W-type with an exposed hammer, so he *can* single-action it.

Thanks for all the input and suggestions!

 

[netsecurity]

The S&W M&P-22 slide is so easy a baby could do it. I think the Ruger SR-22 and Walther P-22 are probably as easy. But I know for a fact that the M&P is 10x easier to rack than its 9mm equivalent. It also seems to have an aluminum slide instead of steel, so it is very light. But I will say that all of the semi automatic pistols I just mentioned are complicated to field strip and clean, or at least much more so than their 9mm equivalents. And I don't imagine an older fellow would want to spend his time fiddling with it.

I would recommend checking out one of those pistols with the POPUP BARRELS mentioned in previous posts. A revolver in SA or DA is more cumbersome to reload than a magazine, and especially so with tiny 22lr bullets.

 

[venenoindy]

Ruger single six all the way.

 

[sheltowee]

My buddy's dad, who is in his late 60's, shoots a single six and it works well for him.

 

[Giddaltti]

What about a .32, .380. Those little .22 can be like jumping jellybeans when trying to load them.

 

[lucky4034]

If you haven't tried a Ruger 22/45, my guess is it won't be difficult for him to operate. The slide is fixed and the bolt is pretty easy to pull back and rack.