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.

[rambuster1]

I would have to agree with the revolver for your 10 year old grandson. It is much simpler to operate and would be an excellent teaching tool. As he learns responsibility and control he could move up to an auto.