Looking for recommendations 22lr pistol for small hands

[Rick in Oregon]

Another vote for a Smith Kit Gun, either the M63 (22LR) or the M651 22WMR..
Shown is my M651 in 22WMR along with a factory supplied 22LR cylinder at 11:00 in the photo.

The 22WMR is great for woods wandering and plenty of power for most chores, and we all know the virtues of having a small quality 22LR handgun for range, home and outdoor kit.



The Smith M651 is now discontued (WTH?) and commands silly high prices if/when found, but this combination revolver is one of my gems and gets desert and woods carried a lot. Great little high quality revolvers, and with the addtion of Pachmyer Compac grips, great for small hands too. One of my all-time favorite handguns.

 

[Gary in MD]

Another vote for the Woodsman along with a Double Nine.

 

[RCE1]

My mom gave my dad this Woodsman as an engagement present. How about that?!

As a wedding present, she got him a Marlin M39. Family heirlooms.

 

[jds holler]

Also, the Woodsman's mag has a thumb button that makes loading the mag much easier than ones without.
I've seen gals who don't have man-type finger and hand strength, lose interest in shooting a gun that is difficult to load. jd

 

[CF Junkie]

My late wife was 5'2" and was initially convinced she could only small pistols.
She tried a S&W Air Weight and then Kahr 9s but found that small light pistols recoil.

I had just bought a full-size Kimber 45 ACP. It shot great and, after my first session, I recommended she try it. Her response was "It will knock me right on my butt." I told her it was far heavier than the pistols she was shooting and she should try it.

She put her first round in the bull and turned and said: "I've got to get me one of these."
She bought a Para LDA (she didn't feel comfortable with single action pistols) and always had it with her when we went to the range.

She also ordered a Baretta Neos .22LR semi pistol when they were introduced and mounted a red dot on it. It was her favorite .22LR pistol and she shot it great. It wasn't oversized but it wasn't small and 22 LR pistols are pretty light, even with 10 round mags.

Somehow she had graduated from believing that she could only shoot small pistols to performing great with full size pistols. I can't explain it other than she got over the belief that she couldn't shoot full size pistols and just went and did it.

 

[jds holler]

"Somehow she had graduated from believing that she could only shoot small pistols to performing great with full size pistols. I can't explain it other than she got over the belief that she couldn't shoot full size pistols and just went and did it."

Frankly, I think that almost no one shoots little pistols better than full sized ones. jd

 

[Fern]

My wife is 5’3 and she wanted to choose her own couple years ago. She ended up picking up a Walter p22 and loves it. We have let her friends try it and they also liked the comfort of it and were able to stay on target

 

[ebb]

^^^^^^^ Let her choose her own!!!! Take her to a gun shop that rents guns and let her handle a bunch then pick 2 or 3 and let her shoot them. Ask me how i know? Wife insisted she needed a handgun, asked what I would get if I was her, easy Glock 19. After a few years and some training, she wants a small SIG. Let her pick then it is all on her and you have no dog in the fight. She will be happier, and you will be the guy that spent the time to make it happen.

 

[cmillard]

Taurus tx22

 

[varmintshooter]

I picked up a FN 502 tactical ( has threaded muzzle ). My wife started calling it her gun after only shooting it for 2 days. She is 5'1" and has small hands. We have put about 1200-1400 rounds thru it so far. I have a Co lt Woodsman that I thought she would like but it did not have an optic on it. The Woodsman was my mothers gun and she shot it well.

 

[varmintshooter]

The things that I liked about the 502 was it was cut for an optic and is ambidextrous as far as the safety and mag release are concerned as I am left handed.

 

[Aim-far]

My wife has tiny hands. She is able to grip this and position her trigger finger properly with no problems. However, a K22 with the magna, or service stocks fits her also.

 

[AccelR8]

My wife has a Walther P22Q. It has not had a whole lot of rounds through it yet so maybe not broke in.

It's reasonably accurate and functions flawlessly for everyone but her. In her hands, it often fails to fully chamber rounds when shooting. She has to bump the slide forward in order to fully chamber. I remind her to hold it firmly and the malfunction will go away for a wile, then return. It is a small pistol and I think she is allowing it to move in her hands as it recoils and then the slide goes forward.

She has no trouble with a Ruger MKII or a Buckmark.

 

[Lefty2506]

My teenage daughter really likes shooting the Taurus TX22. I happen to really like the Ruger 22/45 or Mk3 or Mk4, but my hands are bigger.

Now, as a training tool, I happen to think that the S&W 617 was the most impressive tool I've ever handled. I REALLY regret not getting one of those when they were affordable.

As others have said, let her pick out her own. Go find a bunch of them for her to try to see what she really likes. Amongst our instructors, our #1 rule for buying our wives a gun is to let her pick it out. Even if you would have both picked the same gun, if she picks it out, she will like it more.