Some of you may recall my story about my first handgun shooting experience. It was with a Smith & Wesson chambered in .357 magnum. Though that was a memorable and, in the end, favorable experience, it’s not the way I choose to help new shooters get started.
My children are getting old enough to begin shooting, and they are showing some interest. They’ve been learning with pellet guns, but I’ve been broadening the .22s in my safe to have more options for them as well.
Enter the recent stable of .22s.
The Ruger 22/45 lite.
Ruger’s 22, though not built for small hands, has the advantage of a light weight and easy to hold form factor. In addition, it’s pre-threaded native state is perfect for attaching a silencer. Removing the noise that can be intimidating for new or young shooters is a big step in the right direction.
I like the Ruger.
The 1911 style grip is familiar and pleasant to shoot. The blade style sights are easy to use, and the experience gained is easily transferable to other sight types. The included picatiny rail allows for other sighting selections if one should choose to avail themselves of those options.
The safety is located in a relatively convenient position and will be fine if you’re used to 1911s. It may prove a bit annoying if 1911s aren’t your jam, but either way, the safety is certainly no deal breaker.
Specs:
Width (overall) 1.13in
Barrel length 4.40in
Weight 23.0oz
Capacity 10 rounds
The Smith & Wesson Victory.
I like the easy disassembly, the clearly quality-made construction, the modularity, and the overall form factor of the Victory. The gun has some distinct advantages for the .22 plinker. The fiber optic sights that come standard are easy to pick up. The threaded barrel is perfect for suppressed use. The grip angle may be preferred by some and discounted by others; it really comes down to personal preference.
Specs:
Barrel Length: 5.5″ / 14 cm
Overall Length: 9.2″
Weight: 36.0 oz / 1,020.6g
Capacity: 10+1
Out of the box, neither the Ruger nor the Smith performed very reliably with budget .22lr ammo.
I don’t hold rimfire to the same exacting standards that I’d hold centerfire handguns to. However, I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that I was a little disappointed by their finickyness. With a little nicer ammo, the problems improved and with cleaning things improved significantly.
Overall, I’d call the Victory to traditional MkIV a draw. Honestly, I would probably lean toward the Smith in that scenario due to its take down. However, in my current situation, the weight savings of Ruger’s lite offering is a pretty big deal, so I’m going to select the 22/45 lite.
Every Ruger 22/45 lite these days needs a 10/22 counterpart. My kids need to learn to shoot a rifle more than they need to learn to shoot a handgun. In my opinion, if they can shoot a rifle well, the handgun will follow naturally.
The Ruger 10/22 Lite TD
The Ruger 10/22 lite take down proved very reliable with everything thrown at it right out of the box. It’s a real workhorse. In addition, it’s hard to imagine the rifle coming in a more useful configuration. The black synthetic stock comes with a comb replacement that allows for the cheek rise necessary for optic use. The breakdown feature is easy to use and incredibly useful. If you’re interested in back country adventures, this may be a need— not a mere want.
I’ll continue to take you along for the ride in my renewed interest in .22lr options. Right now, I’d say that .22s are more useful than they are given credit for, that a take down rifle should be considered by all, and I’d give the slight nod to Ruger’s options in the handgun category.
This article was first published at getkickstop.com
