rimfire handguns with modern safety devices

[duke21]

i am looking for smaller size( pocket guns) pistols or revolvers that i can feel confident letting family memebers use. that i dont have to be afraid of accidnental misfires if dropped or bunped or ?    In other words , if it is a revolver ,  it would have a transfer bar or something in it. The liitle key locks and that crap is not what i am concerned about.   I would appreciate some input prior to making a purchasing decsion.

d

   

[K.K]

Is this gun to be used for self-defense, or plinking?  You mentioned pocket pistols, so I assume the former.  Personally, if I HAD to carry a rimfire for self defense, I'd opt for a revolver over a pocket .22.  There may be some good autos out there Beretta, etc, buyt there are many more good revolvers.  Rugers have the transfer bar system and are reliable and strong.  

On the other hand, if you want a plinker, I'd not choose a pocket pistol.  There are many more fun guns avaiable in that department.

[duke21]

k.k.

thanks for the reply.   really to be honest,  thinking for more on the lines of self defence than anything.    I currently carry a phoenix hp22 semi auto on me all the time.   but  looking for a bit more power.   she is looking for more likely a 22cal.   especially as she gets used to keeping it on her.    she is very partial to the magnum size north american with the 1 5/8 barrel.   my big concern is one:  there is no trigger guard, two:   how safe are they honestly.     She and i have both shot the north americans and she claims that is what she likes?    i personally would rather have the black widow if we got NAA.   I collect H & R handguns and have several of the little young americans, and she would carry one of these, but they dont have the modern safety features on them.   i wish the ruger bearcat was a bit smaller,  and i might be able to get her into one of those,  the rugers are great little guns.

hopefully this will make more sence now

d

[Keith L]

I recommend that you not use a .22 for self defense.  I would go no smaller than a 9MM.  Frankly unless the perfect shot is the result by the time a .22 is likely to stop the attacker they will have time to kill you.  If you can't shoot the 9MM successfully then the gun will most likely be more of a safety concern than providing safety.  There was a video clip of someone emptying a .22 into a lawyer outside a courthouse including head and body shots, and the person shot was not badly wounded.  I would have thought it more damaging than this, but I know my .45 will have more impact.

You will get other opinions I am sure, but consider carefully.

[Questor]

22 caliber self defense guns are designed to be inexpensive, not reliable or extraordinarily safe. You'll do better if you change your focus to guns designed from ground up as good quality self defense guns.

[Questor]

22 caliber self defense guns are designed to be inexpensive, not reliable or extraordinarily safe. You'll do better if you change your focus to guns designed from ground up as good quality self defense guns.

[duke21]

:grin: ok,

i am game to talk about going to larger calibers.   for me it is not a problem as long as i can conceal while in work situations,  i repair machinery and fabricate steel.  I cannot hang a 1911 on my side or a .44 mag,  so there has to be some comprimise.  Now for her,  she is a bit scared of the larger calibers and primarily wants something to help deter an intruder while no one else is home.   she feels relatively comfortable with the .22.  anything that she percieves as kickback , is going to get tossed in a box as wasted time and money.   so if you guys have some ideas that take care of these needs,  i am listening.   but also keep in mind i am on a tight budget,  i lost everyting i had in a fire a few years ago, and still suffering the effects of that.

d

[K.K]

duke, I think that we talked you out of the 22 for self defense.  There are many safe, reliable handguns that are small enough to conceal comforatably, and are potent enought for personal defense.  If budget is an issue, why not a good, used .38 snubbie?  They are very reliable, concealable and affordable.  There are a good autos on the market and I agree with the above post that the 9mm is a good starting point.  You may take a look at the Kel-Tec 9mm, and otheres by Glock, Ruger, S&W, and KAHR.  There are too many options to list, but I guess the main point is that the 22 is not a good defensive round, and I would not trust my life to it, or my family.  Pick the best gun that you can afford, buy it in a good caliber, and shoot it a lot to failiarize yourself with it and ensure that it is reliable.  Take your family and teach them to enjoy shooting and the safe use of firearms, and have a good time.  Let us know how it goes and good luck.

[jgalar]

A full size 9mm or 38spl doesn't have a kick that would upset most people. My wife shoots about once every 7 years and doesn't have any problems with the 9 or 38. A small 9 or 38 would kick more but would make for a good carry gun.

The smallest I feel comfortable with is the 380acp.

[duke21]

guys,  i really appreciate the feedback...but it is becoming more apparent there is not a perfect solution to the issue.    i went to my local gunshop yesterday , who is a good freind of mine and we went through guns, guns and more guns.   I think all it did was make matters worse.   I did some experimenting with a Kel-tec 32 and 9 mm,  charter arms 38 snubbie,  Makarov P 64,   North amerian magnum revolver with 1 5/8" barrel, NAA Black widow revovler in 22 mag, with 2" barrel .   Tauras little PT22 semi auto,  and who knows how many other ones.   Personally i like the size of the kel-tec, though i would consider a 380 or 32 to downsize just a bit more.   What i did not like was with that safe DAO on the Kel-tec it has a very hard pull,   i will be shooting it tonight so  iwill see how it does with ammo, but right now i find mysefl having a hard time not pulling the gun to the side a bit with that ressistive trigger.   I have been giving some extra thought to the NAA black widow in 22 Mag.   It doesnt fiti in the pocket bad, and with the rubber handgrips is quite controllable,  i  can rattle off 5 shots pretty quick and close to the target.   Personally, if it where not so bulky, i would go revovler,  being a ruger fan i wish i could carry a sp101,  but just dont see how i can get comfortable with it.   so that leaves me with the Makarov,  to be quite honest , i tried not to like the gun.   Mr red white and blue american, thinking about a commie block gun,   but to be honest , though it is not overly pretty( it is a military gun) , the size was not bad, and with the single action  she has a soft trigger,  the double action trigger was stiff but not as bad as a keltec.   I will be shooitng it tonight to see if we can be friends.   Now bake to her,   aint no way i am going to talk her into that stiff trigger kel-tec, even if it is lightweight.   The charter she already said no to(too big) and she doesnt like the complexities of the other pistols.   Guys this is not looking real good here.   We may be going north american magnum revolver, simply because i cant get her into something else.   Better than a stick or rock or nothing at all.   If she is not comfortable with it, you know damn well she is not going to keep it around her, no less use it if she had to.

any further ideas or imput would be appreciated.   especially input about he makarov.   I have been to a few shops in the last few weeks and truthfully have not seen a lot to chose from on the smaller stuff.   If i want a full size smith, ruger, tuaras, 1911 or something , there are a blue million of them.   maybe everybody else is bying the small ones also?

Please dont give up on me, i am just tight on funds and dont want to make mistakes

d :?  :?  :?

[Questor]

In most cases it's probably the noise and the flash more than the recoil that scares people. If you actually concentrate on feeling the recoil, only the big bore magnums have recoil that you can feel in any significant way.  Good ear protection, shooting on a bright day, and shooting at an outdoor range help a lot in reducing perceived noise and blast.

[jgalar]

The kel-tec 380 has a different trigger than the P-11 9mm. The new Kel-tec trigger, when its finally available, will be similar to the 380s. What you need is 2 seperate guns. A full size for your wife's home gun and a small gun for you to carry. Forget the rimfires and and NAA pocket guns. There are plenty of DOA full size pistols that your wife wouldn't have any trouble shooting. The Kel-tec P11 trigger isn't really any worse than a typical small revolvers pull.

One gun you may want to look at is the Taurus model 85. It is small enough to carry, but heavy enough not to kick so bad. To many women a gun is also a fashion statement - Lots of women find the little model 85 cute.

Here is a pic of one...
http://www.taurususa.com/products/product-details.cfm?model=85BULGRC&category=Revolver

[Keith L]

None of the rimfires get the job done for personal defense.  If that is your only option you are truly better with the stone and the stick.

[K.K]

I may thought of another possible option.  I carry a Glock 27 (sub-compact 40 S&W), However, it may be a bit of a handful for your wife.  How about a used Glock 26 (9mm)?  I saw one used today for $300.  You can shoot all day long with inexpensive surplus ammo.  It is more effective than any rimfire or Makarov.  It is also dead-reliable and safe if carried in a holster covering the trigger guard. The recoil in minimal and these pistols need little if any TLC.  They simply go bang every time you pull the trigger.  Try one, you may like it!