Recommendations: Pellet or BB pistol for target practice

[FERLING]

Code 54, thanks for your suggestions - others (Ferling, bcp, dougtrr2) mentioned the same thing. I will add to that - I had some brief experience with a CO2 pellet gun - it broke before I could have much experience, but I do recall how much it did not feel like a real gun. So, getting a .22 seems like a plan. I will discuss this option with her and check out what is available in that gun.

May I suggest the following. The reason I like is I have owned two of them (his and hers - hers had pink grips). My wife loves to shoot hers because its easy to load. It is the closest to a 9mm you can get for learning. You can actually hit something with it and its reliable.

Smith and Wesson M&P Compact .22 LR 3.6" 10-Rounds Manual Safety

The Smith and Wesson M&P Compact is perfect for self defense. This semi-auto handgun is chambered in 22 LR, has a 3.6-inch threaded barrel, and comes with two 10-round magazines. Finished in black, it features 3-Dot white sights, an ambidextrous manual safety, and has a picatinny rail. Get this...

grabagun.com

 

[kcflhrc]

May I suggest the following. The reason I like is I have owned two of them (his and hers - hers had pink grips). My wife loves to shoot hers because its easy to load. It is the closest to a 9mm you can get for learning. You can actually hit something with it and its reliable.

Smith and Wesson M&P Compact .22 LR 3.6" 10-Rounds Manual Safety

The Smith and Wesson M&P Compact is perfect for self defense. This semi-auto handgun is chambered in 22 LR, has a 3.6-inch threaded barrel, and comes with two 10-round magazines. Finished in black, it features 3-Dot white sights, an ambidextrous manual safety, and has a picatinny rail. Get this...

grabagun.com

I have that exact gun also. Easy to shoot and very, very accurate

 

[fishdrivel]

I built a nice target range for handgun practice - cut into a hillside, with cables for attaching targets and distances marked. I have a 9mm and a .357 revolver. I have not used the range much but plan to use it a bit more and want my daughter to also become comfortable with handguns - she hikes the property, and I would feel better is she carried - once she learns enough to safely do so. Because ammunition can get expensive, I thought I would look into a pellet or BB pistol - one that had similar size and design to my 9mm handgun - to practice shooting - improve our skills. As I see it the choices are pellet vs BB, and C02 vs spring loading. I found some that look a lot like my 9mm. I don't want one with a really long barrel as it seems that would not be as effective to match shooting with 9mm. Just looking for suggestions and wondering if I am missing anything.

I'd be very worried about getting a bb gun that looks like your 9mm handgun. Could your daughter not grab your 9mm and run outside to practice?
Imagine the look on the burglars face when you shot him with that
bb gun?

 

[Jchonline]

I built a nice target range for handgun practice - cut into a hillside, with cables for attaching targets and distances marked. I have a 9mm and a .357 revolver. I have not used the range much but plan to use it a bit more and want my daughter to also become comfortable with handguns - she hikes the property, and I would feel better is she carried - once she learns enough to safely do so. Because ammunition can get expensive, I thought I would look into a pellet or BB pistol - one that had similar size and design to my 9mm handgun - to practice shooting - improve our skills. As I see it the choices are pellet vs BB, and C02 vs spring loading. I found some that look a lot like my 9mm. I don't want one with a really long barrel as it seems that would not be as effective to match shooting with 9mm. Just looking for suggestions and wondering if I am missing anything.

I like to start a new shooter with the .22 equivalent of the full sized pistol they will be carrying. It has enough power that they get more used to the sound. They can focus on marksmanship and safety skills without having to fear the recoil or sound of a 9mm or larger caliber.

 

[Jchonline]

I have that exact gun also. Easy to shoot and very, very accurate

I also have one. Glock also makes a .22 version if you prefer that platform.

 

[FERLING]

Code 54, thanks for your suggestions - others (Ferling, bcp, dougtrr2) mentioned the same thing. I will add to that - I had some brief experience with a CO2 pellet gun - it broke before I could have much experience, but I do recall how much it did not feel like a real gun. So, getting a .22 seems like a plan. I will discuss this option with her and check out what is available in that gun.