I am looking for a revolver to plink and teach my nephews to shoot. I think this would be the best gun to introduce them to shooting. The ruger single six had a larger grip, the s&w k22 is a bit expensive, but I liked the ruger sp101 seemed to have small grips and good quality. Any opinions on a accurate, less than 400$ revolver with grips/trigger reach that is small enough for a 12 year old?

You might try looking for a old Savage 101. As much as they look and feel like a 6 shooter they are really a unique single shot. A nice safe way to train youngster's.

Good Luck: Leon

Take a look at Ruger Bearcat. It has a smaller grip then the Single Six (or so I believe). Also check the used guns for a 4" S&W M34 or 63 (j frame)

12 year olds come in a wide variety of sizes...depends on how big a grip he has (and trigger reach). And you have to occasional kid with big hands...really is the hand size more than anything else that decides what's comfortable.

Ruger 101 is a good gun...alternate grips are few, so he'd better like the size as is (and it does have a long reach to the trigger in DA mode).
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Have to insert this. Whne I taught my wife to shoot, she never did get along with revolvers...still doesn't. Was fustrating for both of us, until I tried her with a semi. auto. Took to that real fast.

While the revolver for begiiners concept is usually a very good one, it may not work in specific examples.

my nephews dimensions are fairly small including his hands, he is light and small boned so I thought this would be the least intimidating way to show him a little. I may use my ruger 10/22 and just not load the magazine full, if I don't find a revolver small enough for him to learn on and large enough for me to plink with if he doesn't enjoy it.

Good chocie...see if he likes the concept, and how well he takes to it.

IF that 10/22 has a scope, it will probably be set way too far foreward for him. Let's not fustrate him any more than TV already has (on TV, only the bad guys miss...the good guys just fling the gun up and nail them at 500yards), try to arrange something taht would fit him.

i think the ruger sp101 is a great idea. great gun for low price, and it will never be "grown out of". you may need to get a wolff spring kit (gunsprings.com) when starting the double action lessons, as the da pull can be a bit much. the spring kit from wolff has a series of springs that gradually increase in force so they can be tuned for 100% reliability and lightest double action pull.

monty

Leon, I just picked one up and posted about it in the Single-shot forum. It's the first one I've ever seen, and I didn't know it existed. While it is neat, the BearCat is STILL on my personal list for when my son is ready.

I used an SP 101 in .22 lr to teach the family how to shoot, and moved from there to the SP 101 with soft .38 special hand loads, worked from there up to the .357 and the girls are as handy as anyone I have ever seen with full house loads!

However, I did purchase a 1997 vintage Rossi .22 for a steal and its quite a nice piece to leave hidden in the mountain house! (field mouse shot loads work just great it it!

I am looking for a revolver to plink and teach my nephews to shoot. I think this would be the best gun to introduce them to shooting. The ruger single six had a larger grip, the s&w k22 is a bit expensive, but I liked the ruger sp101 seemed to have small grips and good quality. Any opinions on a accurate, less than 400$ revolver with grips/trigger reach that is small enough for a 12 year old?

I hear great things about Taurus model 94. I plan to try to get one for myself before the year's out.

Walter30-06:cool:

Walter,

I've had a stainless Taurus 94 for nearly 10 years now, and it's an absolute joy to shoot and carry afield. My teenage daughters during the summer go down to our range and will each burn a couple of boxes of ammo three or four times a week, and it's still tight as can be, and shoots as well or better than I do with most ammo.

For interest sake, I cut the average group size this revolver delivered, by simply firelapping it 35 rounds! It's a virtual tack-driver, for a very modest investment.

Good thread.

God Bless,

Heritage arms makes a nice cheap single action revolver with adjustable sights that would be perfect gun to start someone off on.

my nephews dimensions are fairly small including his hands, he is light and small boned so I thought this would be the least intimidating way to show him a little. I may use my ruger 10/22 and just not load the magazine full, if I don't find a revolver small enough for him to learn on and large enough for me to plink with if he doesn't enjoy it.


You know, a good Idea may be to take yur nephew to a gun show with you and let him handle some .22 pistols and revolvers (under your responsible adult supervision, of course.) and see what he likes the feel of and what's comfortable in his hand, that is of course IF it's ok wiht his momma and daddy.

Walter30-06:cool:

Walter,

I've had a stainless Taurus 94 for nearly 10 years now, and it's an absolute joy to shoot and carry afield. My teenage daughters during the summer go down to our range and will each burn a couple of boxes of ammo three or four times a week, and it's still tight as can be, and shoots as well or better than I do with most ammo.

For interest sake, I cut the average group size this revolver delivered, by simply firelapping it 35 rounds! It's a virtual tack-driver, for a very modest investment.

Good thread.

God Bless,


Marshall,

That's the second good review I've got from u on that gun. I'v absolutely GOT TO GET ONE NOW!!!;) But I plan on getting a good .45 first, so it may have to wait a while.

Walter30-06:cool:

I'll add my endorsement to Marshall's. I've had one also (in stainless) for about 10 years, and love it to death. I also have a '76 Single Six, and others, but the Taurus just carries so well and is so handy. And i agree with Walter30-06 about letting them try some different handguns and see what they like, although that might get prohibitive cost-wise.

I'll have to add a vote for the sp 101. The gun is way overbuilt which I happen to like. The only drawback you might hear is that the rear sight is only adjustable for windage. Mine shoots right where it should so for me is a non issue.

I'll have to vote for the SP 101. It is way overbuilt which has always appealed to me. Some don't like that the sights are only adjustable for windage but mine shoots where it should so for me that is a non issue. I helped a buddies two sons learn to shoot with it, the younger one had some trouble with the heavy double action but both did good enough with the single action. It hasn't been shot a whole lot so I'm sure the trigger will lighten up a bit.

I had an SP-101. I loved it, but it might be kind-of heavy for a 12-year-old to start with. I had a Taurus 94, but it didn't feel like a 'real gun' to me, even though it was reliable and accurate enough. I just never warmed up to it. I'm with Tarheel Catfish, my favorite and most accurate all-time 22 revolver was a Rossi(I think it was a 518). I got rid of it when Taurus bought Rossi and I didn't think I would have much luck with the 'lifetime' warranty. I wish I still had that one(actually two. I paid $215 and $220 NIB out-the-door for them). I haven't seen one in the last couple years or I would probably have one now. Of course, you could look for a used S&W 17 or 617 and start them off at the top of the pile for about the same or less as these others new.

You might try looking for a old Savage 101. As much as they look and feel like a 6 shooter they are really a unique single shot. A nice safe way to train youngster's.

Good Luck: Leon

I don't believe I have ever heard anyone else mention the old Savage before reading this thread.

I have had my old Savage 101 since I was a just a little leverpuller. It was the first "real" gun that I ever shot. This gun is, as you stated, a very unique single shot pistol which looks like a full functioning 6 shooter. It taught me the basics of firearm safety as a kid and provided me with as many hours of "can busting" plinking, that a 10 year old with a $5 a week allowance could afford.

I have never seen one at a gun show, but I'm sure they are out there. To my knowledge, they were last made in 1968. ( please correct me if I'm wrong)

The Savage 101 would be ideal for teaching a young shooter the in's and out's. If the Savage would be too hard to find, I would have to give my vote for a Heritage Rough Rider. The price is about 75 dollars cheaper than a Ruger. Accuracy is very good, and it has a unique safety that is very easy to use and in my opinion doesn't take away from the old Single-action style. The safety also allows the pistol to be safely carried with a full cylinder as oppose to the hammer resting on an empty chamber.

I vote for the Colt Frontier Scout.
Great shooters and ones that are not unfired are reasonably priced.
The unfired ones and those in 98% shape are collectors items.

I say you are on the right track Ruger products are great and the warranty/service is rock solid. I would suggest looking at both the single six convertible as well as the bearcat pistols. Used model can be had for about $200.00 to $300.00. Best of luck

I've got one of the little Rossi six shot stainless 22s and have two granddoughters whom cut their teeth on them. There every bit as nice as my smith kit gun. They shoot and handle well and are a joy to look at. Rossi now makes them in an eight shot version.

chopchop

I purchased an SP101 in .22 for my wife after she complained about breaking her finger nails trying to load clips - "Will you load this for me, Honey?"

We both like the SP101. With the rudimentary adjustable sights, accuracy at 25 yds is very good. Be careful about too light a mainspring to ease finger cocking. My gunsmith gave me back a beautiful feeling and smooth action that had about 10% misfires! Downside? it is no lightweight.