Need: Your opinion on a pistol for new shooter

[exbluelight]

This will probably open up a debate but...I want to buy my grandson a pistol for his 10th birthday. He can shoot my ruger 10/22 pretty good. Being an ole wheelgun guy, I was thinking of 22 revolver of some type with good sights. I want him to learn sight picture & not anticipate a big kick when shooting. I have a new neos but want to keep operations simple & safe for him. What's out there these days that is reasonable?? Thanks, ebl

[papajohn]

If he already shoots the Ruger Auto pretty well, why not get him one of his own?  I'm a wheelgun guy too, but a 22 autopistol with a decent trigger can be a great learning tool, and it's also the perfect plinker, too.  I'm partial to the Browning BuckMark, it's a lot easier to tear down and clean than the Ruger is, and mine is every bit as accurate as any Ruger I've ever seen. 

My initial reaction was to suggest a 357 revolver, and load 38's, but with ammo costs these days, that's not the great option it used to be.  Getting him a 22 will allow more trigger time, and that's how good shooters are made. 

[mikld]

I agree with exbluelight about a revolver to start out. I'v seen a couple kids at the range who inadvertently wave the muzzle of their Dad's semi-auto 22 around. Learning to shoot with Grandpa is pretty exciting for a young boy and he can have lapses of concentration on safety, so the safest possible handgun is best. My first gun was (is) a Ruger Single Six and I taught my daughter how to shoot with it (she was 13), before I let her shoot my Mark II. You can't go wrong with a Ruger Bearcat or Single Six and there are lots of 22s out there that would fit your grandson; higher end would be S&W K-22 and used guns from H&R, High Standard, Taurus, etc. can be found inexpensively.