DaveB57
Member
Is there a "no brainer" .22 revolver that my son can handle? Little guy wants to plink. THINK SMALL HANDS>
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best .22 revolver for small kid.
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Crazy K38
Member
well you can get him the best to last for ever, also know as the S&W or just pick him up a temporary beater from the pawn shop for him to beat up and learn the basics on and move up from there
OP
DaveB57
Member
Interested in a S&W...What model is best?
Nope, they're all good. A Model 17, 18, 34, 35, 63 or 617 would be a boys dream, just look for a good deal on any of them. I'd stay away from the 2" 317, only because of the heavy trigger pull.
Crazy K38
Member
+1 with an old smith you can't really miss, they were built like a tank but are tuned like swiss watches.
Freischütz
Member
If he likes single actions, don't forget the Ruger Bearcat
My son shot his first revolvers this week. He's 11.
Both J frames. One a 317 3", and one a M34 4". His hands are too small for a K frame.
He liked them both, and given the choice he chose the 317. More shots (8) and lighter to hold.
Any .22 J frame should do the trick until he's big enough for the K.
Munster
Both J frames. One a 317 3", and one a M34 4". His hands are too small for a K frame.
He liked them both, and given the choice he chose the 317. More shots (8) and lighter to hold.
Any .22 J frame should do the trick until he's big enough for the K.
Munster
Pisgah
Member
There's no doubt that a S&W J or K frame woulde be the Rolls Royce of a .22 revolver for a kid. But don't forget that for decades both Harrington & Richardson and Iver Johnson made simple, inexpensive, but rugged and reliable .22s. An Iver Johnson a friend bought for $50 in a pawn shop years ago is still the most accurate .22 wheelgun I've seen in my life. I have bought and given away several to youngsters through the years, and every one was tickled pink.
skeeterbait
Member
If you can find one, a 10 shot 617 is nice! To me it is the ultimate rim fire revolver. Mount an optic on it and it makes a fun and challenging small game rig. And with just a little care, he can hand it down to his grandson one day.
I think Peter nailed it. A J-frame is appropriate for small hands. A two-inch barrel is too short for a beginner, and a six might be a little long; so a four-inch barrel is indicated. I remember how long a six-inch barrel looked and how much the far end wiggled around when I started shooting at about the same age.
If money is no object, find him a Prewar Kit Gun (I-frame, a little smaller than a J). He can learn on that, then sell it later and buy five or six different guns for the money he gets for the one he sells. There's a pretty good KG on Gunbroker right now with a starting bid requirement of $3000.
I think a K-22 would be a great revolver to move into after he grows some, but I know from experience that trying to use a gun that is too large for one's hands can impede progress and hurt enthusiasm. When I went to buy my first .22 (with my parents' permission), the gunsmith talked me out of an Iver Johnson and put me into a Hi-Standard Double Nine. Good gun, but I had to grow into it over the next couple of years.
David Wilson
The Ruger Bearcat is the only scaled down revolver that I can think of.
The good news is that Ruger brought it back into production a few years ago after decades of absence from the line up. It is available in blue steel or stainless.
The second best choice for a child with small hands is a J-frame kit gun like the 4" model 34 in blue or the model 63 in stainless. While this will fit some fairly small hands if the revolvers are wearing the standard wood stocks, it still has a standard J-frame action which many small children find difficult to pull the trigger double action or cock it for single action.
I like to transition children with small hands from the Bearcat to the model 34/63 as they grow larger and their hand strength improves. As the child continues to get larger, the standard service stocks can be replaced with the J-frame target stocks and the model 34/63 can follow the child all the rest of the way to adulthood or a K-frame, whichever comes first.
One of the significant advantages to the Bearcat as a first revolver is that it is a traditional SA revolver. So there is no swing out cylinder. This forces the child to slow down their shooting as putting fresh cartridges in the revolver is more time consuming than with a swing out cylinder. Cocking the action for each shot also slows them down a bit.
This is why I never start a child with a 22 auto loader. It is just Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom
change mags, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom.
gunlovingirl
Member
+1. A quality gun that he can keep and teach his kids and grandkids to shoot with. Cheaper plinkers can be had, for sure, but why not start out right, and get something he will be proud to own and pass down.
lafayne
Member
I agree on the 4 inch model 63. He can learn to shoot it and keep it for the rest of his life. I assume that one day it will be his revolver.
While I like the idea of a 22 don't rule out other options. My daughter bypassed the 22 for a 4" 31-1. As she helps me cast and reload the cost is very similar to a 22 these days. Last bulk 22s I saw at Wally World was $40/1000. Last primers I bought were $32 for Remy SPBR.
SuperMan
Member
Depending on how "small" is you may also want to try and find a M34 or M63 with a Round Butt. Using the stock grips or stock grips with a Tyler T-grip is about as "small" as a S&W comes in the grip department.
I teach both NRA and 4H shooting sports and many of the boys and girls we have are all the way down to 8 years old. We shoot handguns about 3-4 times a year and they do fine with the Js...of course then there was "Johnny"...very stalky kid who out shot the 16 year olds with my 6" M57 .41 Magnum...all a case of attitude.
Bob
I teach both NRA and 4H shooting sports and many of the boys and girls we have are all the way down to 8 years old. We shoot handguns about 3-4 times a year and they do fine with the Js...of course then there was "Johnny"...very stalky kid who out shot the 16 year olds with my 6" M57 .41 Magnum...all a case of attitude.
Bob
FHBrumb
Member
I know this is a S&W forum, but I really want a stainless Bearcat...
I have three kids, and I'd like them to shoot more handguns. A 38 isn't bad, but a small 22 sure makes shooting cheaper and easier for newbies to deal with.
I have three kids, and I'd like them to shoot more handguns. A 38 isn't bad, but a small 22 sure makes shooting cheaper and easier for newbies to deal with.
4" Model 34, or Model 35.
David LaPell
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I have to really say the Ruger Bearcat. As much as I like Smith 22's, for small hands the Bearcat is hard to beat. I was going to pick one up for my wife because she really can't get her hands around some of the K-frame Smith's, and a Bearcat is usually alot cheaper than trying to pick up a J-frame S & W.
TSQUARED
Member
I would opt for the S&W Model 63, an older Model 36 or the curent I-frame variation in 22 LR. You might also consider a used K-22 with 4 inch barrel or the S&W 617 with 4 inch barrel. The latter two are on the slightly larger K-frame but you can get some small sized grips especially for the round butt 617.
depicts
US Veteran
While I love my Model 34s and 35s, if it were me, for my first gun I would want a stainless gun. It will help me take care of it.
That brings it to the Model 63 S&W, or the Ruger Bearcat.
Personally, I like the idea of learning on a single action handgun. It's slower to load, teaches patience and safe gun handling. So I guess I vote for the Bearcat in Stainless although I love my Smiths.
I have my first Ruger Single Six from Oh so long ago, and it's a dream to shoot. For smaller hands, the Bearcat is great. Even now I like to plink with one. You might want the single six if you want/need adjustable sights. I'm not aware of a Bearcat with adjustable sights. As you try different .22 ammo, you may want to be able to sight in for the load.
the Stainless 63 is a great gun, but the double action trigger pull might be a little tough, but the single action is great to learn on.
Best cost wise, Ruger Bearcat.
Good luck to your son.
That brings it to the Model 63 S&W, or the Ruger Bearcat.
Personally, I like the idea of learning on a single action handgun. It's slower to load, teaches patience and safe gun handling. So I guess I vote for the Bearcat in Stainless although I love my Smiths.
I have my first Ruger Single Six from Oh so long ago, and it's a dream to shoot. For smaller hands, the Bearcat is great. Even now I like to plink with one. You might want the single six if you want/need adjustable sights. I'm not aware of a Bearcat with adjustable sights. As you try different .22 ammo, you may want to be able to sight in for the load.
the Stainless 63 is a great gun, but the double action trigger pull might be a little tough, but the single action is great to learn on.
Best cost wise, Ruger Bearcat.
Good luck to your son.
user
Member
No question in my mind, S&W model 63.
On target!
63, or 36: 4" barrel. .22 shorts to start.
OR a Colt single action .22 or Ruger.
Hours of safety-then accuracy.
63, or 36: 4" barrel. .22 shorts to start.
OR a Colt single action .22 or Ruger.
Hours of safety-then accuracy.
TwoPoundPull
Member
My dad had a Bearcat..... I learned with it..... My kids started with it...... There will be a fourth generation shooting it..... Maybe more......2#
cool breeze
Member
S&W 351PD .22 mag
I say start him off with this nice lightweight 351PD. If he can dial that in he can hit with anything! Taking my son shooting real soon. He has shot other handguns before; Sig Sauer Mosquito, Walther P22, Ruger single six. We'll see how he likes this.
I say start him off with this nice lightweight 351PD. If he can dial that in he can hit with anything! Taking my son shooting real soon. He has shot other handguns before; Sig Sauer Mosquito, Walther P22, Ruger single six. We'll see how he likes this.
Double-O-Dave
US Veteran
Dave,
I just went through this for my 11 yr. old son. He's a little guy - short, thin, and wiry. I got lucky and found a nice, used, Model 34 with a 4.0 inch barrel at a great price ($325.00) at the local Cabelas. He shoots it quite well, single action, from the bench. He has no interest in a semiauto pistol at this time. I have a Ruger MkII with a 5.0 inch bull barrel that it is simply too big and heavy for him to handle. I've asked if he wanted to look at a single action .22 revolver, but he is quite satisfied with the Model 34. What he doesn't know is that what he has been shooting will be his first J frame when he gets a bit older.
By the way, what I've learned to do is to take the brick of ammo and open it up before we leave the house for the range. I then ask him how many rounds does he want to take with us to shoot. We take what he thinks he will need and the rest stays home. This has worked out quite well and prevents hard feelings later on.
Best of luck to you and your son,
Dave
I just went through this for my 11 yr. old son. He's a little guy - short, thin, and wiry. I got lucky and found a nice, used, Model 34 with a 4.0 inch barrel at a great price ($325.00) at the local Cabelas. He shoots it quite well, single action, from the bench. He has no interest in a semiauto pistol at this time. I have a Ruger MkII with a 5.0 inch bull barrel that it is simply too big and heavy for him to handle. I've asked if he wanted to look at a single action .22 revolver, but he is quite satisfied with the Model 34. What he doesn't know is that what he has been shooting will be his first J frame when he gets a bit older.
By the way, what I've learned to do is to take the brick of ammo and open it up before we leave the house for the range. I then ask him how many rounds does he want to take with us to shoot. We take what he thinks he will need and the rest stays home. This has worked out quite well and prevents hard feelings later on.
Best of luck to you and your son,
Dave
depicts
US Veteran
I say start him off with this nice lightweight 351PD. If he can dial that in he can hit with anything! Taking my son shooting real soon. He has shot other handguns before; Sig Sauer Mosquito, Walther P22, Ruger single six. We'll see how he likes this.
I don't think a snub is a very goog choice for ANY new shooter.
It will be very frustrating for them to learn to hit the target.
Give your Kid a break and teach him on at least a 4" barrel.
My grandson is 11 yr. old and 2 months ago he wanted to start shooting a pistol. He is using a M43 with bootgrips. It is light enough that his arms don't get tired and he usually shoots about 3 boxes each time. He told me last week he is having a growing spurt and in 1 month he is planning on going to a K22. Kids are fun. Larry
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