Today was "Final Decision Day". Just 22lr for me here on.

I could be happy with just my .22s- if all the bad/crazy/hostile people and animals in the world disappeared overnight.

Im sure youve got your reasons, but no, I cant see not keeping at least one serious defensive arm. The SAA could get it done of course, so theres that.

I'm not there yet but my boss retired last year and that is the same decision he has made. He does keep a 20ga bolt action shotgun by the back door, otherwise it's just 22's.

Orion8472

Today, I took a few guns out to the range to test out and after I was done, I made the final decision to downsize my collection to just 22lr pistols and rifles. The only thing different than that caliber will be a 17HMR that belonged to my late brother, and my 1873 Taylors that I'll shoot 38 Special out of.

I'm okay with this. When I go to the range, I have the must fun with 22's anyway. I find them far more pleasant to shoot. I have plenty of ammunition for each types [target rifle, pistols, lever actions, "tactical", etc].

Has anyone else gone this route, or am I the only one in this forum?

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Nope, and extremely doubt I ever will go that route. Don't get me wrong as I enjoy shooting my .22s but I also enjoy shooting my .38s ' my .357s, my 9mm.s, my .44s, and my .45s. I can't think of a single reason why I would want to limit myself to just one particular cartridge. Probably because I'm having too much fun shooting and using all of them!

I'm at 80% .22 lr. I've owned lots and lots of guns. Sold almost all of them. When the dust settled, I was left with a Winchester 72a for plinking; 69a for silhouette shooting; 513T for smallbore matches; and Ruger Mark I Target for bullseye pistol shooting.

I also have an M1903a4 my grandpa bought from the DCM in the 60s. That's never going anywhere. But I don't shoot it much.

Oh and my Red Ryder.

I’ve always loved shooting 22s. I guess that’s why I have so many. But I still enjoy shooting many other guns. Maybe one day, if I live to be old enough, I’ll just shoot 22s.

I have .22s I really like. A Winchester 9422, a Uberti Stallion, a Ruger, and a Remington 550-1 that was my father's.

But I'm keeping my centerfires too.

As someone who lives to reload no I can say for a fact barring some unforeseen circumstances I won’t be going rimfire only

I loved to shoot 22lr and that's what most of my range time evolves around.
But I shoot Skeet, Trap and Sporting Clays 2-3 times a week as well.
Then there's all my SHTF stuff, I might not ever shoot or need to shoot. Kinda like a fire extinguisher, it's there, hope I never need to use it.

I reload everything and my 9mm costs less than .22 so it’s cheaper for me to shoot 9mm. I could sell everything but the 9’s and be happy, but I’m not there just yet.

I've increased the number of .22's I have but not getting rid of anything else and picked another shotgun in the last week or so.

Orion8472

bannockburn, it's mostly because larger calibers kind of hurt my ears [even with ear plugs and good ear muffs].

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I'm sorry I didn't mean to be so dismissive of your decision to only shoot .22s. To me it seemed like for reasons of economy or streamlining your guns and ammo selection, you were going only with one cartridge to handle all of your shooting interests. I also use both ear plugs and ear muffs, especially when I'm shooting indoors.

Nothing wrong with .22s but I'm not giving up my .44 mags,.357s and on down. Nothing better than the feel and pleasure of a few rounds down range with .44mag.

I am getting to that point in my life too. I'm down to 1 30-06 and 1 22-250 for center fire. I have the 30-06 listed for sale on another site but the 22-250 will never leave. I have shot tens of thousands of rounds in 30-06 in CMP and NRA match's, but i just don't enjoy the recoil much anymore. I do enjoy shooting .22 pistol and rifle much more than center fire.

I am pretty much down to shooting only 22 caliber rifles now but not just rimfire. I doubt I will ever become rimfire only with them. I do enjoy my rimfires though.

You better not let KrisBingle see this. He may declare that you are asking for death in haiku poetry form for not having/owning/carrying something of sufficient caliber and capacity.

[sarc] Because if you aren't talking defense and CCW - then what the heck are you wasting time talking about??!! [/sarc]


Just joshin' around, of course...
My collection runs about 50% .22 long rifle, myself.
Have fun!

I shoot more 22 than any other cartridge. More 22s survived my most recent purge than any other caliber.

At this point at least I'm just the opposite. For many years the only firearms I owned were a .22 revolver and a 10-22 rifle, neither of which I shot all that much. A few years ago I got more interested in shooting and added a .22 pistol and an AR style .22 rifle to my little collection. I started shooting a lot more, decided to move into some centerfires and added a few pistols in .45 and 9mm and an AR15. Now I hardly ever shoot the .22's.

Then recently I got into black powder with both a rifle and pistol which I shoot more than my centerfire guns. The .22's are almost forgotten. Maybe I just got burned out on .22's when they were all I had for 40 years.

Almost all my shooting the last several months has been 22 rimfire due to economic factors. The center fire rifles,handguns and shotguns will see some use with upcoming hunting seasons. I would have a hard time giving up my modest collection due to family members who will get them when I'm gone. But also will admit that shooting 22's is a lot of fun for any age.

To me every firearm caliber has a purpose. The .22 fit in there for plinking/practice and pest control. So does my 223, 308, 300 WSM, and my 500 NE. Honorable mention to a couple dozen others inbetween too. I can see the reasoning you have. For me the boom of my 500 S&W just brings a smile to my face. For a lot of years my Mosin with the fireball out the barrel and loud report when using surplus ball ammo was so fun as well.

I had reduced calibers over 10 years ago. .308/.223 centerfire rifle, 12 ga, and 9mm,.45 acp/Colt, .38/.357 and .44 mag. That's bare bones as far as I'm concerned. Joe

Orion8472 said:

Today, I took a few guns out to the range to test out and after I was done, I made the final decision to downsize my collection to just 22lr pistols and rifles.

. . .

Has anyone else gone this route, or am I the only one in this forum?

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Orion8472 said:

Updated to add,......I do still have an AR, but won't be shooting it much.

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I love the idea of just owning .22s, at least if I could throw .22 Mag into the mix. Unfortunately, .22s don't make me feel well equipped for a self defense or home defense scenario.

Of course, you still have the AR, which I assume is a .22 . . . 3.

not for me