The venerable .22LR.......

So I guess I am a little slow. Despite tons of advice and respected opinions it takes me a while to come around. Stopped by a local gun shop yesterday and picked up an old Ruger Mark 1 .22. I started shooting in January and jumped right in with a Sig P229 9mm followed by several other center fire handguns. I shoot at least twice a week and sometimes more. I have improved incredibly, but I still lack consistency. Some days are great and some days really suck. An experienced shooter was watching me the other day and commented that I was doing pretty well (he was being kind), but suggested that I get a .22 and work on trigger and breath control and sight allignment (duh! ya mean everything?!) I have only heard this a few hundred times from multiple sources so I finally broke down and listened. Hauled my butt to the range early this AM with 200 rds and started shooting at 25'. My first shot from that old Ruger was a revelation. I squeezed off that first shot and pushed so hard anticipating the recoil that I did not even hit the paper. Second, third and fourth shot not much better. Gradually I settled down and was grouping about 4" but to the right of center. I fantasized for a brief second that the sights were out of alignment, but I doubted that was true. I took a break, shook out my arms and started again. Went back to basics and concentrated. By the end of my 200 rounds I was able to put 2 magazines within a 3" shoot-n-c. More importantly I felt a control over my shooting that has eluded me. I was not fighting the gun, I was relaxed, unhurried and really enjoying myself. I have decided to spend at least the next few weeks just focusing on the .22 and improving my basic skills. Today was a bit of an ego deflator, but I learned a lot. I am taking a combat handgun class at the end of June and am hoping that will also help. Additionally I see that the range has some basic pistol classes each week, I should jump in on those. The best part of today was also realizing that I had shot 200 rds and was only out a few dollars. God bless the .22.

Yes you're slow but you've finally seen the light. But even the shooters who go from 22 to 9mm or 45 learn too. There are many , myself included, who found that the 22 scores improved when they started to shoot the 45 because they they developed a firmer and more consistant grip.

I learned the same exact lessons as you when I got my CZ-Kadet slide for my CZ-75B.

Most decent guns shoot very well with even cheap commercial ammo. It's kinda unfortunate how our bodies can react in counterproductive ways to modern technology without constant training. To get the most benefit, you need to keep going back and forth between the .22 and the larger calibers like mete inferred in the above post. I try to shoot both .22 and centerfire in the same session most of the time.

I'm also a slow learner.

Having shot centerfire rifles for many years, beginning as a kid, I decided that a good first handgun for me as an adult was a Ruger SBH .44 mag. At some point shortly thereafter I remembered that my first rifle was a .22, but it took me 3 more centerfire pistols before I finally bought a .22 pistol I've since bought more .22 handguns, and a Glock .22 conversion kit, and now try to practice w/both when I hit the range. Sometimes, tho, I'll forsake all but a .22 when I'm trying to work on something specific.

Nothing wrong with a .22. Ammo is dirt cheap. You can shoot all day for what a meal at a fast food place will cost you.

-Bill

Yep. Now you know why I ordered an air pistol today.

Why does everyone today have to start out with a "combat" handgun and practice shooting at people-type targets? Whatever happened to shooting for fun?

Not many of us are going to be attacked by dozens of screaming Al Qaeda terrorists riding camels and waving scimitars, so I sort of wonder why the "need" to shoot up tons of expensive and high recoil ammo practicing for such an occasion.

Jim

Why does everyone today have to start out with a "combat" handgun and practice shooting at people-type targets? Whatever happened to shooting for fun? For me, it was economics. I wanted a handgun for self defense (ie. something more portable than my long guns). Since I could only afford one gun at the time, a < $300 9mm CZ-75B "combat handgun" seemed like a jack of all trades and the smart choice. I still think it was a good decision. Especially when much later an additional $200 (with no need for a $30 transfer and NC handgun permit) got me a .22LR Kadet slide for practice and plinking.

I wasn't into handguns much at the time. The paperwork and cost seemed like a lot of hassle for little benefit. However, that CZ 9mm got me hooked! I wish all my firearms purchases gave me such bang for the buck!


(I don't shoot sillouettes much though)

For me, it was just plain hard-headedness.:banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

I knew that a .22 was the smart gun for a first one, but I wanted a 1911-type .45 so bad I could taste it. Even though ammo is far more expensive, I've enjoyed shooting centerfires for many years.

A few weeks ago, I bought a Buck Mark on impulse, and have thoroughly enjoyed shooting it, as well as saving money on ammo.

Well, at least none of you started out on a 10mm!:eek:

Folks keep repeating "get a .22lr" for more than one reason.

Jim Keenan makes good points, especially that FUN part. Fun means one is not so stressed, and lo and behold , an overlooked by-product of Fun - is improving one's shooting.

FWIW, granted, the .22lr is not often recommended for defense, but when I was a kid - a .22lr revolver is exactly what I used to defend myself and sibs when the front door came crashing in...

All that learning, and fun...paid off.

Why does everyone today have to start out with a "combat" handgun and practice shooting at people-type targets? Whatever happened to shooting for fun?

That is fun! But I agree that not all of your shooting needs to be grim and steely-eyed. ;)

FWIW, granted, the .22lr is not often recommended for defense, but when I was a kid - a .22lr revolver is exactly what I used to defend myself and sibs when the front door came crashing in...

For someone with CTS or Arthitis a .22lr handgun is much easyer to handle and shoot.
And don't forget, a hit with a .22 is better then a miss with a .45

-Bill

Jim K, you're my kind of guy. I'm 52, been seriously shooting for over 3 decades, and my favorite target is still the tin can.

Goose, good to see a fellow MA resident here. Where in Burlington are you?

granted, the .22lr is not often recommended for defense

A .22 or two in the face beats a .45 in the arm.

Remember that you can't miss fast enough to win a gunfight.

Hey Third_Rail I live off Winn St. and I shoot at the Woburn Sportsman Association. How about you? Steve

I'm about 10 minutes over the line in Billerica, and I've been going to the WSA with my neighbor once a week or so. I'm not yet 18, so I can't join, but when I can, I will.

If you see me, you'll know it. Just look for the young looking male wearing a huge grin and firing or tinkering with a 1917 in 30-06.

I'm pretty easy to spot. :D

Not many of us are going to be attacked by dozens of screaming Al Qaeda terrorists riding camels and waving scimitars, so I sort of wonder why the "need" to shoot up tons of expensive and high recoil ammo practicing for such an occasion

Jim Keenan: You never know... :neener:

I still religiously shoot my .22LR Ruger Mark II Government Model (blued) as much as my .45ACP. I use not-so-cheap ammo, but that's just a personal choice. What the .22LR continues to teach me in the way of good shooting technique cannot be dismissed. This particular model is HEAVY in weight and is excellent training. A trigger job, some sight adjustments and some Hogue rubber grips later, and I have an outstandingly accurate .22LR pistol. :D

We have two .22 League group shoots per year at the local indoor range, and we all (about 30 of us) take it just as seriously as the big-bore league action. High scores are high scores in ANY kind of match. Accuracy and excellence counts in ANY shooting activity. :cool:

Have fun with it. And, yes, it IS cheaper than larger bore shooting....... but then I reload .45ACP and it's cheaper than factory ammo. The price of lead just went up, however........ :mad: