Practicing with a .22lr...Does it really help?

[Stevie-Ray]

Does anyone carry a 22 auto for CCW? I'm not looking for a comparison to larger calibers....just wondering if anyone does, and if they care to comment.

I carried a Taurus PT-22 for a while when I wanted something tiny. Then along came the Keltec P32. It's even tinier. But the PT-22 is still a blast to shoot for fun, and as the cliche goes: I'd rather have it with me than no gun. It has also NEVER failed.

.22s are a great inexpensive tool to keep yourself sharp with the basics, as was said. For me they also let you relax your nerves over recoil. When I shoot a heavier recoiling weapon later, I find I have no trouble holding the grip more forcefully, yet I flinch less.

 

[NMshooter]

Yes.

 

[enfield]

Does it help?

Sure it does! Shooting my CO2 pistol in the basement helps. Some months that's the only range time I get.

 

[ClarkEMyers]

Bill Jordan wrote about wax bullets

Can't speak for any particular individual but for myself I have two (2) Service Ace conversions which I believe helpful. I'd say the Service Ace is most helpful but other choices are better than none.

Looking at the record there are many both famous and infamous who certainly had the trigger time with a .22 and think or at least said it helped them.

 

[YodaVader]

Does it help?

Sure it does! Shooting my CO2 pistol in the basement helps.

Yep I agree - as much as 22 shooting has helped my marksmanship with larger calibers - practicing with air rifles and pistols has helped my 22 shooting!

Shooting my Beeman P3 air pistol and R7 air rifle for most of last winter has definitely made my 22 shooting that much better. The slow muzzle velocities of the air guns really teach you to stay on target!

 

[middy]

Yes, it does help with trigger control and aiming, plus it's cheap and easy on your bod.

As far as controlling the flinch when firing more punishing weapons, I find it helps to remind myself that there will be plenty of time to flinch after I pull the trigger.

 

[itgoesboom]

Thanks everyone.

I thought that would be the case, but I had heard some anectdotal evidence to the contrary.

I was mainly asking because of how rarely I can afford to shoot. I no longer belong to a range, and I have to drive well over an hour to get to the national forest where I normally shoot, so I only get out maybe 6-7 times a year. I don't like that arrangment because I do carry everyday, but I just can't afford to shoot more than that, since I would run out of ammo too quickly.

So I usually shoot quite a bit of .22lr when I shoot, trying to get as much trigger time as possible to make up for the lack of opportunities I have to shoot.

Ofcourse, I also do a bunch of dry fire at a small target on my wall when I am in my office.

Thanks again.

I.G.B.

 

[shep854]

To get the most out of .22 time, get a gun that closely matches your C/F guns. I shoot a BuckMark a lot, but the single-action trigger doesn't help for the long trigger pull of a DA auto. I recently bought a Smith & Wesson model 34 revolver, and it has been a great help for cheap DA shooting. With the original grips, it also provides the same economical practice for a J-frame snub. There are also .22 conversions for most popular semi-autos, so you can shoot the actual lockwork you may carry at a much lower cost.

 

[Jon Coppenbarger]

I do not use it but I do know allot of others that use a 22 for small bore in the winter to keep up their skills for the summer highpower season.

Does going to a larger center fire round cause problems.
Yes it can and does. The most common effect you will experience is in a off hand position. Anticipation of recoil and noise has to be over come.
Some folks like myself feel that the noise increase along with the more powerfull recoil in a more or less unstable position is one of the leading causes for good shooter to have poor off hand scores on a consitant basis.
It really shows on some small bore shooters that convert to highpower for their off hand.
What myself and a few others feel to combat this you need or can try a few things.
#1The use of better ear protection to muffle out more noise will help overcome allot of this.
#2 Also the use of lighter bullets can also help with recoil that will also help this.
#3 After you have used either or both of the above and even if you do not. Try the ball and dummy practice in your off hand till you get that flinch out.
Take 5 dummie rounds and mix them in with 15 loaded rounds. have a friend put them in your rifle in a random order as you shoot off hand loading 1 shot at a time. you will see your self flinch or any other bad habits that you may have that you do not notice in practice.
It is a problem I see on allot of even experienced shooters.
Can it be cured? YES if you have the will power and knowlage to over come it.

 

[TRLaye]

itgoesboom,
I would recommend that you get a good gas operated airsoft pistol and then you can practice in your house with a "firearm" that actually recoils. This requires you to regain the front sight and reset the trigger as you come back on target for the next shot. They are accurate enough that you can shoot dime sized groups at 21 feet if all your basics are in order.

Alternatively you can use your carry piece, unloaded of course, with a laser system (I recommend BeamHit). You don't get the recoil but everything else is there. There are other laser systems, a thread is ongoing somewhere at the moment.

I use laser equipted firearms and air softs in my classes to prepare new students for the range experience.

Tom
NRA Training Coordinator

 

[shoot870p]

you bet it is

reinforce the fundamentals and this will lead to better shooting. but you have to practice good habits.