Ok..maybe is a stupid thought...convince me why I should get a .22 cal gun...

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saturno_v

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I know it sounds weird or stupid (we are into guns after all right?? any gun...) but I cannot find a reason why I should spend my hard earned dollars to buy a 22 caliber rifle and/or handgun.

Disclaimer...My dad, RIP, had an impressive collection in Italy and it included several .22 guns. These guns now are in my mother's house in Italy and one day I will eventualy get my share (I have a sister) and bring them in the US but it is something way into the future...however let's not digress...

At the moment I'm building my small collection, growing by the day, here in the US...

I do not have kids, only one teen ager stepson that hunts already with a 300 Win Mag :D:D...so, for example, no need for a "training" gun.

I'm not a professional target shooter, I like to plink here and there and spend some good time at the range...

All of my guns have a "practical" aspect in regard to a possible use..for example, I have a big revolver in .44 Mag for wildlife protection during my hiking trips, few semi-auto handguns and considering getting another revolver for CCW, my pistols are full size and pocketable (for summer carry), I own several high-power and medium power rifles (all kind of actions, semi-auto, bolt, lever, "assault style", etc..).
I do not hunt but if I need to, I can put meat on the table.
In a SHTF type of situation I'm well defended...:neener::neener:

Then I have couple of 12 ga. shotguns for skeet and HD

You get the picture..all of my guns can serve a specific practical purpose....I have no interest in historic "not shootable" weapons, antiques, etc...

I just do not see the practical purpose of owning a .22....I know I know ammo is dirt cheap.....but I really enjoy the noise, kick and blast when I shoot, the strong sensations...I honestly get seriously bored after a couple of .22 magazines...

A .22 is hopelessly inadequate for personal defense.... some loads, stretching a little bit, could take a coyote but there are way better tools for that and I already own rifles that are definitely a more adequate choice for varmints...

If I would ever need to get rid of rats, I would use poison and mousetraps, where I live I cannot shoot all around my yard anyway :D:D:D

Still once in a while a thought "torments" my mind...how come you have a gun collection and you do not have a 22??? Seems like owning few 22s is a "must" for a gun collector...

So far in my state (WA), going around gun shops and shows I been unable to find a dirt cheap (below 100 dollars) decent .22 shooter in good conditions..I know that once in a while big sporting goods stores run sales of .22 rifles at $99 or less but I been unable to "lock on" one of these offers yet and I suspect they will not come around often in the future anyway....

What I usually find (used or new) runs around $150 or so, rarely a bit less....at that point an other kind of thought "assails" me ....for few dollars more or sometimes significantly less (Mosin-Nagant anyone??) I can buy another more "serious" rifle or pistol....a milsurp, a sporterized military rifle, a well used hunting rifle, a decent revolver or semi-auto, etc...

My mind "refuses" to cough up that kind of money for just a plinker with no practical use (to me).

Granted, if I could find a decent Ruger 10/22 for $50 I would get it...

What do you think?? Am I being irrational or idiotic?? Anyone is in my same "situation"?? Any advice or comments??
I apologize for the long post, I just need to rant...:D:D:D

Thanks!!!
 
I bought a .22 because they are cheap to shoot. I can spend $13.49 and have a weekends worth of ammo.

It does not serve a real purpose other than enjoyment.

basically I love to shoot and .22 is the cheapest ammo to shoot so that is what I end up shooting the most.
 
I love to shoot too, but, as I said, I really get bored after couple of mag of buzzers...no kick, no noise, no blast...:D:D:D
I seriously get more enjoyment after 20 rounds of 30-06 than after 200 round of .22...
 
Having a 22 pistol and rifle means more trigger time for less money spent on rounds.
Who doesn't like more trigger time. :D
 
Besides cost of ammo it's a great way to relaern fundamentals. or if you develop a flinch or something it's good to go back to until you fix the issue. I wouldn't say .22's aren't a "serious" gun either. Some people use them for plinking but people can become excellent shooters and develop skills really well with a .22. It's also great to have when introducing new people to shooting.
 
Yeah, .22's are for those of us who get more enjoyment out of hitting the target than hearing the boom and feeling the recoil. If you think they're boring, I can't see a reason to get one.
 
Do you own a 1911-style pistol as a personal sidearm or carry gun?

Get a Ruger 22/45 for practice; The handle rake is the same, the controls are in the same location for muscle memory, and here's the bottom line:

"Cheap Ammo."

You can practice all day long with that 22/45 for the same price as about three boxes of .45acp.

When proficiency with that firearm, hitting what you aim at, is the difference between living to come home to your kids and never seeing them again, I'd say that having an inexpensive practice option in order to keep your marksmanship skills honed razor sharp is absolutely worth it.

Also, in a SHTF situation, there may come a time where someone who has never fired a handgun may need to get proficient with one quickly. And you have precious little combat ammo to spare as it is considering there IS no resupply, there IS no chopper landing with fresh ammo for your sidearm; You have to make do.

Part of "making do" will be to train your new additions on the 1911-pattern firearm, and to do so, you're going to need something that imitates the .45 without the .45 muzzle blast, recoil, and most critically, AMMUNITION.

Another option that would work as well is the Kimber Rimfire Target if you have the money for it, for even more realism; Compare to the Colt Ace .22 trainer used by the US Military.

Which brings me to another possiblity -- while you say you don't like collectibles, how about a FUNCTIONAL collectible? How about a REAL Colt Ace if you can find one? A piece of history AND an excellent trainer.

Not everyone you meet during/after a SHTF event is going to be a natural shooter. Necessity is going to make a lot of people who have never owned firearms into gun owners; Some of those people you may end up sheltering or sheltering with.

Wouldn't it be nice to be able to bring them up to speed on a platform that has a solid defensive purpose?

S
 
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Yeah, .22's are for those of us who get more enjoyment out of hitting the target than hearing the boom and feeling the recoil. If you think they're boring, I can't see a reason to get one.

Don't get me wrong..I like to hit the target of course...but I still like the boom and kick...:D:D:D
 
Yeah, .22's are for those of us who get more enjoyment out of hitting the target than hearing the boom and feeling the recoil. If you think they're boring, I can't see a reason to get one.
I certainly can't tell you to get one as I've never owned a .22 rifle. That little phfffft when a .22 goes off just doesn't hack it for me. Also, I enjoy reloading and I prefer to shoot at 200 yards, which can be a bit tough with one of the .22s.
 
well, I wouldn't want to hunt squirrel or rabbit with that 300 win mag ;)

the real reason you should have at least one .22? Suppose that stepson of yours brings a girl home one day who has never shot before, you two take her to the range, I hope you arent going to start her out on a 300win mag! .22 is the best option for a beginning shooter, if you are going to be teaching anyone to shoot, then you should have at least one in your collection.
 
Why should anyone have to convince you? Get what you want in any firearm!

I own several 22LR firearms. I like to shoot them and not only because it is 'cheaper to shoot'. A lot of bang for your buck! Grin. I like them for plinking and for self defense (Gasp!) practicing. I have bigger calibers for that too. It is a fun and nice caliber with or without physical problems or a weaker left arm/hand = me.

If you want to get one... get one. If you do not want one - do not buy one! I would not want to 'convince' anyone what they should own or buy unless they ask me what kind of 22LR firearms that I own and love because they WANT to get into 22LR shooting.

If a man or a woman only had a 22LR handgun or a 22LR rifle... they could use that for self defense or to deter a criminal if that is ALL that they had too. I know that is NOT considered a 'smart thing' to say to gun people but IF that is ALL that some of those potential victims owned to shoot... use if for self defense and practice plinking with it too.

Best wishes.

Catherine
 
We used the 22's for most family shoot off's. Everybody got to shoot as much as they wanted. and the best shot usally won. The bank never got broke as far as ammunition cost went and the younger kids got as much practice as they wanted. 22's supplied great family bonding time for very little money.
 
Dear Cajun Bass,

Hello fellow 22LR shooter! You type faster than I do! Ha ha. I am glad to see your input here on the 22LR caliber. I just scrolled and saw you here AFTER I pushed the post button.

Here's to 22LR!!! And... 45Colt aka long colt too! My woods/bear gun. I have that Triple K leather western belt with 2 holsters on it. One holds a Bisley or Super Single Six in 22LR and the other one holds my Blackhawk in 45Colt. My Uncle Mike's shoulder holster holds some 22LR firearms too.

Take care. Thanks!

Blessings to you and yours,

Catherine
 
I think there is no reason what so ever for you to get a 22lr. They offer no recoil and no big loud boom so therefor they are no fun to shoot.

I personaly love rimfires, there are just so many things you can do with a rimfire. Shooting varmints, cans, eggs, clays, spinners, ect....

For $26 I have enough ammo for atleast 4 trips to the range. To me taking a break from recoil and loud shooting is a good thing. I own two rimfire pistols and 2 rimfire rifles. With plans to add many many more.

So if you don't buy any that leave more for me.
 
PS to the original poster~~~

PS to the original poster.

I learned to shoot and had gun safety classes using a 357Magnum revolver. It was my late husband's firearm and he taught me. I had NO problems and it did not make me 'afraid or hate firearms'. We are all individuals though and what worked for ME might not work for others. I used 38 Special Plus P and 357Magnum ammunition back then and now too. Later on I bought my own firearms... from May 1998 and on.

Some ladies and gentlemen, not all, might want to LEARN on a 22LR firearm and in MANY cases that might be the BEST thing for THEM. Children usually start on 22LR firearms. I never had children but some gun friends of mine taught their children on 22LR firearms before they took hunting safety classes. Those children now shoot bigger calibers and are GREAT hunters too. I am proud of them and have shot with one of them here @ a 'shoot'! I shot with his Dad and other guys but THIS kid is a natural as his Dad is and his 2 brothers are too!

I hope that this helps you.

Catherine
 
For practice, the .22 has the advantage of being very cheap. Expecially, if the desire is to shoot about 500 rounds per week, to stay warmed up for matches.
 
Oh, oh, oh, I know why you should buy a .22.

Shooting a .22 is a pleasant way to pass the time while you're waiting for your real guns to cool off. ;) Wouldn't want to melt the barrels off of them.

Don't mind me, I'm a squirrel hunter at heart and I like .22s. I even spent $1600 on a Cooper bolt action .22 a few years back. And it is more accurate than any of my other good .22 rifles. Not by much, but enough to be noticeable.

John
 
Inexpensive fun. No other reason needed.
I have a 10/22, G22, Beretta70S, Buckmark NRA and my all time favorite S&W Mod 41.
 
Because the .22 rimfire is the first, and still most useful, primer contained metallic cartridge ever invented.

Everybody who even thinks they have any interest in firearms should own one firearm in this caliber.
 
The 22 is a recreational caliber.

If this doesn't interest you then I won't waste my time trying to convince you that you should buy one. If you don't one then you don't want one.
 
I used to alternate between my bigger caliber handguns and the 22LR ones @ my former ranges back east! I did that because my hands needed a rest and I wanted to save on ammunition costs.

I do that out here too!

I don't take SO many guns to the range @ one time anymore either... unless we are having our 'shoots' with our gun friends and EVERYONE has a truck load of guns! Grin. It is much easier to clean them all the way that I do it NOW.

Catherine
 
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