What should my birthday handgun be?,,,

[aarondhgraham]

Saturday the 17th was my 61st birthday,,,
I am now officially as old as some species of dirt.

So now I am trying to decide what new handgun to buy for myself.

I have all the centerfire handguns I need and/or desire,,,
So my next handgun will be a .22 rimfire of some ilk.

In all actuality I probably won't keep the gun for very long,,,
I have two young friends who are graduating from university next May.

Whatever I purchase now will be for me to play with for a while,,,
Then I'll wrap some leather around it to enhance the gift.

A lady friend of mine has a Charter Arms Pathfinder in .22 LR,,,
I have fired that gun on many occasions and like it,,,
The trigger action smoothed out very nice.

I'm also considering the Ruger SR-22 pistol,,,
I like it because it emulates many duty pistols out there.
I especially like the fact that it employs a safety/decocker as well.

Both of these guns are available today at the Evil Pawn Shop.

I like the old world simplicity of a DA/SA revolver,,,
No worries about the type of ammunition you can feed to it,,,
With no magazines to worry about it's a simple point and click interface.

But even though it is the physical shape (read tactical) that I'm not fond of,,,
I do appreciate the way Ruger has designed the controls of the SR-22,,,
Two mags, ambidextrous safety/decocker, and two grip inserts,,,
This is a very nicely equipped duty style .22 pistol.

Oh decisions decisions decisions,,,
Which one do I want to play with before gifting it away.

Aarond

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[Sparks1957]

Buy 'em all, Aarond. Happy birthday, I'm not far behind you.

[aarondhgraham]

I wish I could "buy 'em all",,,
But for now I'll have to make a decision on just one of the guns,,,
After the new year passes I'll probably have enough squirreled away for another purchase.

I'm leaning towards the Charter Arms Pathfinder for the young lady,,,
When we went shooting for the first time she liked revolvers,,,
She wasn't enamored at all by the SAA single action guns,,,
She thought my Bersa 22 and Beretta Model 87 were ok,,,
But she fell in big love with my Model 18 and Model 15.

For the past 6 months I've been trying to find a Model 18 for her,,,
But the people who own them are like me and won't sell,,,
At least they won't sell for a price I'm willing to pay,,,
Even on gunbroker the prices are $600.00 or more.

The Evil Pawn Shop Guy will sell me a brand spanking new Pathfinder for $325.00,,,
That's cheaper than a Taurus Model 94 and is a gun I have some faith in.

If she had shown more interest in the semi's,,,
I would definitely lean towards the Ruger SR-22 pistol for her.

The young man on the other hand shot several revolvers of mine,,,
But he gravitated towards the duty style semi's I own,,,
In true testosterone style he liked the priciest one,,,
I'm not buying him a CZ-75B Kadet.

It's a SR-22 for him or nothing at all.

This pistol purchase is definitely for the young lady though,,,
She is graduating with honors this May and moving to Washington State,,,
I want her to have a handgun that she will continue to practice/learn to shoot with.

Aarond

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[pgdion]

Hey Aarond, I have no idea what to suggest. My short list contains a CZ75 compact on it and the Smith & Wesson M&P22. I think it will be the M&P22 first as that's what I can afford. What I like about it ... I like the machined aluminum slide, it looks like it is really nicely done. And I like the fell of it and how well it mimics the M&P line. Haven't shot one yet though (maybe tonight).

Hope the 60's go well for you. I just tipped 50 this year myself. Would be traumatic but except for a few more pains, I don't feel much different than 40 ... and my wife still thinks I act like I'm 20.

But hey, whatever .... Happy Birthday Man!!!

(btw - I took your Caje & Kirby post and hung them on my cube wall ... it's gets some good laughs)

[twobit]

If you do not already have one I would suggest a clone of a Peacemaker 45 colt.
I've had one for over three years. Mine is a Cimarron Artillery model 5 1/2" barrel in 45 colt. I'm 52. I've been shooting since I was five and have several types of rifles, shotguns, and handguns. The Cimarron has become my most fun gun. I've just recently acquired a Rossi 92 lever action rifle that will arrive next week for my birthday.

You can get a Peacemaker clone in 22 caliber also.

We all wanted to be cowboys... so get some cowboy guns and have fun.

[nate45]

I like the Ruger 22/45 and Browning Buckmark for 'new' .22 pistols. Of old ones I really like the Colt Woodsman.

You say you already have an S&W Model 18, or I'd suggest it, or the Model 17/K-22.

[aarondhgraham]

I hear what you are saying about SAA style guns,,,
One of my favorite plinkers is my Colt Frontier Scout,,,
My Cimarron .357 SAA Clone sees some range time as well,,,
Not to mention how cool it is to strap on a gunslinger belt & holster.

The first time I went shooting with these young folk,,,
I took a variety of handguns as a "Tour",,,
SAA and SA/DA style revolvers,,,
SA, SA/DA, and DAO pistols.

The one style neither felt interested in were the SA cowboy guns,,,
If it weren't for that I would be looking for nice used Ruger Single Six's.

Aarond

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[aarondhgraham]

Caje was a pure romantic,,,
Kirby was a cynical realist.

Aarond

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[aarondhgraham]

I own a pair of the newer 22/45 pistols with wood grip panels,,,
Mine are stainless steel and have the 5.5" slab-side barrels.

They are very reliable, accurate, and simply sweet to shoot,,,
I call them my Modern Dueling Pistols.

For gifts for these young men and women though,,,
I prefer to stay away from the single-action target pistols.

I don't even have a well articulated reason for this way of thinking,,,
I just feel that the Charter Pathfinder or Ruger SR-22 would be better "first guns" for them.

Aarond

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[nate45]

.22 lr can sometimes have function issues, in any semi auto, especially in the hands of diagnosing whether its a magazine problem, ammo problem, carbon build up, ect problem, so the Pathfinder may be the way to go.

[aarondhgraham]

.22 lr can sometimes have function issues, in any semi auto,

I think about that factor quite a bit.

I know I can teach anyone to deal with those issues,,,
I would hate to gift them something that stays in a closet,,,
So I'm tending towards revolvers just for their pure simplicity.

Several months ago I gifted a slightly used Ruger 22/45 to a graduate,,,
It was the very basic 4.5" slab-side barrel with fixed sights,,,
It was a pistol I had purchased new and knew it worked.

A few months back I said, "Hey, lets go shooting.",,,
He was very embarrassed to say he disassembled it for cleaning,,,
And was never able to get it back together again and reluctant to ask for help.

After I bopped him up-side the head for not telling me,,,
I helped him learn the procedure and he's back to shooting again.

That's one reason I am tending towards a revolver,,,
As you said, the Pathfinder has some definite good qualities for a first gun.

Aarond

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[twobit]

Of course the 'cream of the crop" is a Browning Medalist. I've had one since 1972 when Papa bought it for me new. It is a Belgian Browning. I still see very good ones for sale on the auction sites. I'm 52 now. It is 40.

[KMAX]

I have no experience or knowledge of the SR-22. I did buy a Pathfinder with a 3" barrel, blue, in 1986. A few months ago I gave it to my 22 year old daughter who loves the gun with the stipulation that if she decided she didn't want it anymore I get it back. I used to hunt rabbits, successfully, with it. I would recomend one to anyone who wants a DA revolver in 22lr. I would suggest more than a 3" barrel, however.

P.S. Happy b'day.

[aarondhgraham]

I would suggest more than a 3" barrel, however.

The one at the Evil Pawn Shop has a 4" barrel,,,
So does my Model 18 that she liked so well.

I'm with you in that regard,,,
This pistol is a range trainer and bedside gun,,,
If she wants to get a carry pistol she can look at snubbies.

Aarond

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[KenL]

My first thought would be a used handgun manufactured the year they were born, but that would be difficult to come across without some searching.

I agree with your logic, however, of the Charter Pathfinder for the young lady and the SR22 for the young man. Good choices, great learning tools.

They are both very fortunate to have you for a mentor, Aarond.

[Grant D]

Happy birthday young man, and many more!!
I say,buy the pathfinder.

[45_auto]

I looked at an SR22, but since I shoot many other weapons I found the bass-ackwards "up for fire, down for safe" thumb safety very aggravating.

If the young man has any intention of one day acquiring a center-fire pistol such as the CZ he admired, do him a favor and get him a .22 with the controls that at least operate in the same direction.

[aarondhgraham]

My first thought would be a used handgun manufactured the year they were born,

I wouldn't mind a used revolver at all,,,
In fact I just went to a very large gun-show,,,
All of the DA/SA revolvers (in .22) that I could find,,,
Were so over-priced that I almost embarrassed myself laughing.

It seems it's not cost effective to buy used,,,
Not when S&W Model 34's, 63's, and 18's are starting at $600.00 and more.

I can't make myself buy a used semi-auto,,,
I simply don't know the mechanism well enough to evaluate one.

So for semi's,,,
It's new or nothing for me.

Aarond

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[vostracker]

Well what do you know, my birthday was on the 17th too!!! I like the looks and reviews on the Charter Arms. Whats your thoughts on a Ruger Bearcat?

Anyway, Happy Birthday. Now go buy yourself a toy at the Evil Pawn Shop!!!! I need to go there and look at there used ol .22 rifles!!

[aarondhgraham]

I didn't know we shared a birthday,,,
You should have been at Joseppi's Saturday night.

Fine alcohol was consumed in copious quantities!

Whats your thoughts on a Ruger Bearcat?

Great little SA revolver for smaller hands,,,
If I ever see one at a reasonable price,,,
I'll snag it up like a hawk on a gopher.

Aarond

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[BigJimP]

Older than Dirt.....geez man, you're making me feel bad now..../ although I'm only a couple of yrs older than you are.....

Anyway ......buy one of the Browning Buckmarks...even the least expensive one ...the camper....and then dress it up with a rail, a new barrel, a compensator, new grips, etc from Tactical Solutions...and put a small red dot sight on it ....you're under $ 800 probably / for a gun that's a little different ...and a lot of fun to shoot ( and get a couple of extra mags as well..)....

or loosen up the purse strings a little and pick up a model 18 S&W revolver....( but I'm not giving mine up either )...
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a .22 that has a really nice trigger ....and there are so many of them on the used market right now ...are a variety of the High Standards....I have a Sport King model ...( none of them are sexy ) ...they're kind of old school ...but they are fantastic shooting guns ....like the Browning Challenger models or the S&W model 41's....but those are going to cost you more money...

[aarondhgraham]

Notice that I said,,,

I am now officially as old as some species of dirt.

There is still plenty of dirt out there that's older than either of us.

All of the Best-5 .22 target pistols have a model that comes in at around $300.00 to $350.00,,,
I do well financially but want to keep these gifts close to that range,,,
These kids are my friends and I love them dearly,,,
But I ain't their rich grandfather.

loosen up the purse strings a little and pick up a model 18 S&W revolver....

Honestly, that's what I tried to do the weekend before last,,,
I spent 7 hours walking the tables at the Wanenmacher gun show,,,
The least expensive S&W .22 revolver I saw was a snub-nose model 34 @ $575.00,,,
I only saw a few other J-frames and a few Model 18's but they all started over $600.00.

People aren't letting go of their high quality .22 revolvers.

Just on principle I couldn't pay those exorbitant prices,,,
Not when there are other options like the Charter Arms Pathfinder.

If had the money I would get her a S&W 617,,,
And him I would buy a CZ-75B Kadet,,,
Alas, I ain't as rich as I would like.

Aarond

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[Edward429451]

I second the Bearcat, one of the sweetest little 22's I've ever had.

[Hal]

Aarond old buddy (I can call you old because you're six months my senior ),,

You're running into what I've come to call the .22 conundrum.

As gun enthusiasts, we all gravitate to the better/finer fare out there that suits our personal tastes.
When it comes time to introduce a newbie, it's often with equipment that's well beyond their means or ability to buy.
That leads to - compromise...

You served the young lady filet mingon(S&W M18),,,,and now want to give her a gift card to Golden Corral.(Charter/Ruger).
Not that there's anything wrong with Charter/Ruger - it's just that they will never wear the name "Masterpiece".

This, along with other reasons, is why I no longer recommend a .22 as a "first gun".
A .22 is a good introduction, but, I've become convinced that introduction is - as all should be - short sweet and to the point.
Have you considerd a used S&W M10?
The M10 will have the same feel and same S&W trigger as the M18.

are a variety of the High Standards....I have a Sport King model ...( none of them are sexy ) ...they're kind of old school ...but they are fantastic shooting guns ....

As much as I love my Sport King....the under 1# trigger it has isn't anything I like to put in the hands of an inexperienced user - or - even in the hands of an experienced user w/out warning them first.

[aarondhgraham]

I stopped by the Evil Pawn Shop after work yesterday,,,
I wanted to see if he had gotten in any new stock.

There was a very slick Ruger Bearcat sitting there,,,
IIRC he had it tagged at $415.00 which ain't bad.

But again, neither of them were enamored with SA cowboy guns,,,
Although I bet she would look great in a gunslinger rig,,,
She has many of the attributes of Hannie Caulder.

After I left the Evil Pawn shop I stopped at Joseppi's for a beer,,,
I struck up a conversation and asked when we were shooting again,,,
Basically I was trying to be sneaky and ask her about her preference again.

So I said, "What guns should I bring this time?",,,
I was surprised that she said to bring my small semi-auto's.

Hey, maybe I was wrong about her preferring the revolvers,,,
I can't see how I could be though because that's what she kept shooting.

So I'm going to hold off buying either gun for her until we go shooting again,,,
It's definitely (probably) the SR-22 for the guy though.

I will go ahead and get the SR-22 so I can start on the holster for the guy,,,
I can have her shoot it as well, just to see if she likes it at all,,,
If she does like it, I'll get her a Ruger as well,,,
If not, it's the Charter Arms Pathfinder.

Thanks Gentlemen,,,
It's been interesting reading your suggestions.

Aarond

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