Beretta model 87 Cheetah?

[Bait O' Eggs]

My wife took a pistol shooting class a while back which included the certificate to get a CWP. (god I love her )

We are shopping for 22 pistols so we can go to the range and afford to shoot a bunch of ammo. When I am hunting/camping it is not uncommon for her to come along with the kids, when I am off, she feels vulnerable around camp with the kids, she is most worried about bears and cougars, myself I think she needs to worry about the 2 legged type. we never camp in a campground

For myself I was drawn to the Sig Mosquito until somebody on here mentioned the sights falling off, I looked it over and sure enough it has plastic sights both front and rear It dropped a couple notches, I didnt even notice they were plastic till somebody mentioned it.

as far as 22 pistols:
- Neither of us like the Ruger Mark 3
- I dont mind the Browning Buckmark
- Neither of us like the S&W semi autos
- We both think the Walther looks and feels cheap
- We both like the Kimber but we could buy several guns for the price of one of those.
- wife likes the Beretta U22 Neos, (its ugly IMO)
- Last night we found the Beretta Cheetah model 87 Fits both our hands pretty nice, seems to feel like a well made gun. Not a great target gun, but small enough to pack.

I know 22's are not recommended for self defense, but IMO, load it up with hollow points and your going to do some damage, quite a bit of damage if you can get the clip emptied in the right direction It certainly is better than having no equalizer.

I am surprised how hard the lever is on a lot of guns to drop the slide forward. I never paid much attention, but when the wife cant reach up with her thumb and drop a slide to get a shell in the barrel, that gun gets ruled out. There are a lot of pistols that have very hard slide releases to operate for women, even in the small 22 models.

Wife is not comfortable with a bigger gun, I think in time she will be, but she has not shot a lot, but she thought the class was fun as she got to shoot a bunch of guns and decided there was something to shooting for entertainment and wanted to do some more. Who am I to deny her a gun

If she gets a longer target type pistol, it isnt for squat for carrying, and I will end up getting her a small pack gun and a target gun we could afford to shoot at the range in bulk. Not really wanting to buy 2 guns at the time, we are looking for something that might accomplish both. Her comments last night were, guns are like boats, one doesnt do everything.

The Cheetah isnt cheap, at around $500 anybody else have one, have comments on one. I have read some reviews on other forums, but was looking for a few more opinions. It is kinda out front right now. Or comments on other 22 pistols, we have kinda ruled out wheel guns, but they are always an option

[ajfishfinder]

Hammerless .38 snubnose!!! The elimination of a slide and hammer to think about, and also the snag on your cloths factor, make these about the best option for the intended use. When was the last time you heard of a wheelgun jamming???

[jvp]

Hammerless .38 snubnose!!! The elimination of a slide and hammer to think about, and also the snag on your cloths factor, make these about the best option for the intended use. When was the last time you heard of a wheelgun jamming???

My wife loves her walther p22 for practice and extra backup but is still wants a snubnose. Lucky me she owns more guns than I do. :smile: :smile: :smile:

Oh yea the last time I saw a wheel gun jam this guy shot himself(sitting right next to me) in the leg with a 22 ruger. It does happen.

[Catching Nemo]

I am surprised how hard the lever is on a lot of guns to drop the slide forward. I never paid much attention, but when the wife cant reach up with her thumb and drop a slide to get a shell in the barrel, that gun gets ruled out. There are a lot of pistols that have very hard slide releases to operate for women, even in the small 22 models.

Teach her to slingshot the slide. It should take minimal force to pull the slide back, the fraction of inch needed, and then release.

The Walther P22 is a very troubled firearm with sight problems, cracked slides, extraction problems, etc, etc..

The 87 has been around for a long time and is an excellent pistol. I do, however, have an alternative recommendation called the Firestorm .22. It is of good quality, above average reliability and an excellent value. I paid approx. $200 for mine with 2 10 round mags. The slide release is very easy to operate, has a decocker, the rubber finger groove grips are comfortable, and the rear sight is adjustable. The pistol is also very conceable and fairly lightweight. I've shot about 1500 rounds without a jam. Although it is not my most accurate .22 (but it will be comparable to the 87), I find it more fun to shoot that my other rimfire pistols and revolvers.

Click here for a review on the Firestorm.

[baltz526]

that is a slick 22 auto. i'm sold. where can you get them. gi joes?

[Catching Nemo]

I got mine at the Rose City Gun Show from Philomath Gun Shop. Anyone who uses Davidson's, as a distributor, should be able to get you one.

In your area, it looks like Sportsmans, H&H, R&K and Guntraders should all be able to order one in.

[OregonHuntress]

I have the same problem I am girl with small hands. My husband just taught me a trick to pulling the slide. Basically you hold the slide and push you the gun. A person has more strength pushing than you would to pull the slide. Also in my case I have to slide my hand around a tiny little bit to push on the lever (sorry I have forgotten the correct name).

I use a smith and wesson model 36 .38spc snub nose. It is nice and small and has enough kick. In regards to .22's I know a female gunshop owner that carries just that. Anyway that was my two cents.

[gottafish]

Will a 22 kill a person? Yes My cousin was killed by a 22 lr one shot to the chest in the High school parking lot. apparently he stole some guy's girlfriend. They said the bullet bounced around inside him and made several holes in his lungs and heart. the kid who shot him got out of jail last year. But thats another story.