CMV
Member
Doing some "intro to shooting" type sessions with some church members in near future. People who have fired a gun never/once. This will be at a private range, very casual atmosphere. Goal is to cover basic safety, how handle a firearm, basic operation of the gun, basic pistol marksmanship, etc.
What I want to do when it comes to actual shooting is start them with a .22LR pistol, let them get comfortable with that, then move up to a full size (but mild shooting) 9mm pistol like a VP9 or P320.
Problem is I only have a U22 Neos & 22/45LITE for 22 pistols. While either would be fine if that's all they were going to shoot, I don't think either is a good building block to go to full size, higher caliber.
So what I think I'm after is something like a M&P 22, M9-22, etc. I just don't know what's out there or what would be good as far as having a very similar feel to a novice shooter. I'd like the 22 to feel and operate a lot like the 9mm. i.e. I think it would be a step backward to go from the way you'd load & operate 22/45 LITE, then once you're comfortable with that you have to re-learn and do things a different way when handed a CZ P-10C or whatever. Or you go from the small grip and top-heavy U22 to an M9.
Oh....and I don't want to spend a whole lot. $300ish?
What they would transition to I'm not sure. I'm thinking a larger size gun would be best vs something like an LC9, P365, or P938. Even someone with smaller hands (2/3 will be female), I think it would be better with something not toward the micro end of the spectrum. What I have to choose from in that area are:
Sig P226
Canik TP9
Beretta M9
Sig P320
Walther P99
A little smaller:
HK VP9
CZ P10C
Sig P229
A little smaller:
Taurus PT111 G2
So whatever the .22LR "starter gun" is, it should pair well with one of those - transition to it without feeling like something totally foreign to them - if that makes sense. Hard to think like a beginner and in terms of what would be best for them.
Maybe I'm way off - you won't hurt my feelings if you tell me I'm wrong - but I think something small & light like a Ruger SR22 or Walther P22 would be bad to start with if the goal is to get a larger 9mm in your hands at end of the day. Even if the controls are similar, seems it would be intimidating going from small & light to big & heavy. Last thing I want to do is scare someone off or have it be a bad experience for them. When it comes to the actual shooting I want it to be "oh that's not as scary or difficult as I thought" with the .22 so it builds confidence, then let them build up from that.
What I want to do when it comes to actual shooting is start them with a .22LR pistol, let them get comfortable with that, then move up to a full size (but mild shooting) 9mm pistol like a VP9 or P320.
Problem is I only have a U22 Neos & 22/45LITE for 22 pistols. While either would be fine if that's all they were going to shoot, I don't think either is a good building block to go to full size, higher caliber.
So what I think I'm after is something like a M&P 22, M9-22, etc. I just don't know what's out there or what would be good as far as having a very similar feel to a novice shooter. I'd like the 22 to feel and operate a lot like the 9mm. i.e. I think it would be a step backward to go from the way you'd load & operate 22/45 LITE, then once you're comfortable with that you have to re-learn and do things a different way when handed a CZ P-10C or whatever. Or you go from the small grip and top-heavy U22 to an M9.
Oh....and I don't want to spend a whole lot. $300ish?
What they would transition to I'm not sure. I'm thinking a larger size gun would be best vs something like an LC9, P365, or P938. Even someone with smaller hands (2/3 will be female), I think it would be better with something not toward the micro end of the spectrum. What I have to choose from in that area are:
Sig P226
Canik TP9
Beretta M9
Sig P320
Walther P99
A little smaller:
HK VP9
CZ P10C
Sig P229
A little smaller:
Taurus PT111 G2
So whatever the .22LR "starter gun" is, it should pair well with one of those - transition to it without feeling like something totally foreign to them - if that makes sense. Hard to think like a beginner and in terms of what would be best for them.
Maybe I'm way off - you won't hurt my feelings if you tell me I'm wrong - but I think something small & light like a Ruger SR22 or Walther P22 would be bad to start with if the goal is to get a larger 9mm in your hands at end of the day. Even if the controls are similar, seems it would be intimidating going from small & light to big & heavy. Last thing I want to do is scare someone off or have it be a bad experience for them. When it comes to the actual shooting I want it to be "oh that's not as scary or difficult as I thought" with the .22 so it builds confidence, then let them build up from that.