.22LR for practice

[Arrogant Bastard]

I recently ordered an Advantage Arms .22LR conversion kit (http://www.advantagearms.com/conversion_kit.html) for my Glock 30; still waiting. I may also buy one for my 1911, if i like the one for my Glock.

My goal is to improve my marksmanship using my actual carry weapon cheaply, shooting with .45 only enough to see if the marksmanship skills I'm improving with .22 are carrying over to the higher recoil of the .45.

I also have a S&W 640, and I'd like to buy a .22LR revolver as close to it as possible for the same reason. I'm looking at the S&W 317 (http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&productId=14743&tabselected=tech&isFirearm=Y&parent_category_rn=).

Is this the best for my intended purpose?

[kle]

Any trigger time with any .22LR gun will improve your marksmanship skills--I shoot primarily .22LR out of various semi-autos and revolvers, all "target" guns (and nothing mimicking my larger caliber guns), and yet when I pick up any of my other guns, or even anyone else's gun, I'm always able to get decent groupings, even with guns I've never shot before.

If you want cheap (ammo), realistic practice, then yes, a .22LR version/conversion of your guns will certainly help. Might be a little expensive to go that route, but it'll be the closest you can get to the real thing.

[Arrogant Bastard]

So, perhaps, something along the line of a Ruger mk III would be better than the S&W 317?

[kle]

I think a S&W 63 might be better--it's weight is a lot closer to your 640, and it allows for double-action dry-fire practice--you wouldn't have to cock the hammer every time (just as with your 640). That being said, the 317 would also have a DA/SA trigger (it's just a lot lighter).

The Ruger Mk.III would have to be racked every time to cock the hammer, and it's trigger is quite unlike either your 640 or your G30, so dry-fire practice might not be so useful. If it comes down to cost, then the Mk.III would be the one to get, however.

The key here, regardless of whatever gun or kit you get, is to get in a lot of trigger time (dry fire and live fire) and to shoot a lot to work out any flinching/anticipation problems you might have. A .22LR gun/kit will let you do that pretty cheaply.