Start cheap or money to blow?
Your choice is about as good as any.
Join the club and seek out advice from knowledgeable shooters.
A 22 cal is really only good for target shooting. Why not get a pistol useful for self defense too, like a 9mm?
Buy a .357 mag and shoot .38 special in it.Then you have a really useful weapon.>38 has low recoil and is easy to shoot,then move up to .357 loads.
Consider getting some instruction first and also do your research and talk with other shooters. Your opportunity to join a local club will facilitate this immeasurably.
You may think you want the model gun you state here but upon talking with others at the club and even having an opportunity to fire other handguns, you may decide on something else.
For a 22 caliber pistol I think the new easy to disassemble Ruger Mark 4 as excellent and as a 22 rifle the Ruger 10/22 is fantastic, there is so much aftermarket stuff for it.
it’s hard to go wrong with those two.
later if you get a shotgun the Remington 870 is fantastic, affordable, durable as before lots and lots of aftermarket stuff for it.
and if your state allows for it, I would consider getting an AR-15, there’s not a lot of recoil to it.
I leave off a recommendation for a full size pistol because they’re so many excellent choices these days and many people will jump on me for whatever I say so, I’ll remain quiet.
Shoot it often.
L
Start with a small caliber and work your way up. When you have them all start on long guns, and again, work your way up. Finally, buy lots of ammo!
Sarcasm, just another of my fine qualities.
Rimfire ammunition is ridiculously dirty. Clean after every use if you want maximum reliability. Even if your pistol is meticulously clean, you’ll still have periodic misfires with most rimfire ammunition, even with top shelf Eley tenex, albeit significantly less than say...Remington’s bucket o’ bullets.
Also, consult your medical professional before use. All forms of competitive shooting are highly addictive!
Suggest a S&W revolver. No tricky “safety’ to mess with, even decades old Smiths continue to work. The “K” models are worth having in your collection if you’re just getting started.
Should be a good choice to learn fundamentals. Save some pennies for a center fire down the road.
Use eye and ear protection, a baseball cap is helpful, buy a cleaning kit and learn to use it properly for your handgun. Don't let your wife wear a low-cut top when you take her shooting.
Take other people shooting who are trustworthy...
22s are a hoot. Don’t listen to anything negative about them. Use it, enjoy it, keep it forever. There’s always a place for a 22 pistol.
It’s the oldest fixed cartridge for a reason.
I've got a Ruger MKII 22 that I really like though.
They're fun to shoot and the ammo is finally getting back to regular price so you can shoot all day if you want without refinancing your house.
While a 22 is not the gun I'd chose for HD, it'll work. I know a couple of guys that have been shot with a 22 and neither of them had good things to say of the experience.
Watch yourself though. It's a real easy hobby to spend a ton of money on.
Enroll in the NRA basic pistol course first. You’ll get a chance to fire a 22lr and 9mm.After that, you’ll have some knowledge to try different rental guns until you find something you like.
In todays environment, I recommend a semiautomatic over a revolver. Just make sure you can pull the slide back first.
Find a way to comparatively shoot as many models as possible before making your final selection. Many options have already been mentioned here. I’d personally put Ruger at the top of my list and your selection would be right behind it. The revolver option should be included in your tryouts as it has some good attributes for developing shooting skills.
Have a gun friend take you to a range that lets you rent/use their guns to practice with. Try as many different makes, models and calibers if possible before buying.
< /Samuel L. Jackson >
Stay out of boats.