I enjoy shooting 22lr much more than any other caliber.

Sometimes. I was without a 4wd for a little while, but now I'm back in it.

When I feel the "need for speed" (burning gunpowder), I usually dump a box of 22s through my Taurus 94 to take the edge off! Then I can get serious and do some real shooting with my centerfire reloads.
Sandy Hook did raise the anti for the price and availability of rimfire!

I have preferred rimfires for most of my life for plinkin' fun, no chasiing brass or casting or reloading, yet they're inexpensive to keep going, or used to be. The last year and a half have frustrated my shooting because of the lack of ammo. I have to go to pains to find and order it, can't just run down to the Walmart anymore. I'm thinkin' that might be the new norm. We may NEVER see a box of .22 on the shelves anymore for more'n 10 minutes after it comes in at 3 in the morning.

I prefer my rimfires to any .44 magnum for squirrel hunting, too.

Oh, yeah, I shoot a lot of cap and ball, too. So, I guess I'm out of the mainstream here.

Since I started loading and casting I rarely shoot .22s. To me they were just a cheap chance to get to the range. Now I can load 1k rounds of .38 Special for about $50-$60 and 1k .45 Colts for not much more. At those prices, I'll take the bigger bang every time.

Just one fellers opinion.

I just plain ole love shootin 22's. My favorites are a couple of MKII's, a K22, and a 34-1. That being said, I've returned to shootin 38's and 45's more often as I reload and components are easier to find (or order) and doesn't cost much more than 22 ammo costs.

Sometimes I think I should get into reloading, but the upstart cost seems like it would take quite a while before I would break even. Too many pieces, components, and use [gunpowder, primers, bullets] products to get from the start.

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The start up cost is a little high. But the satisfaction of working up your own ammo is half the price, so it dose not take long to recoup the cost. Especialy if you can get to the range often.

Doesn't surprise me at all. .22RF has been my favorite caliber since forever. I love my .45s and 9 and 10mms as well, along with all my other rifle calibers, but .22 far overshadows them all at the range. Whether I'm blasting away with a GSG-5 or relaxing at the bench with my old Steven's bolt-action, shooting at 100 yards for accuracy, the .22 spells fun, relaxation, excitement, you name it-it provides. Cheaper than anything else, too, though getting more expen$ive. I have eight .22s-more than any other caliber, and I'm likely not done buying them. Would still love to have one of those new full-sized Rugers, so that's likely next.

Couldn't agree more...from the 10/22 to the Mark III to the Sears bolt action single shot...hard to beat the true enjoyment.

How can you not love rimfires! They have virtually no recoil, they're quiet, accurate and easy to shoot well. Even at the inflated prices (when you can find it at all) 22 LR is still much cheaper even than 9mm. Probably can't reload centerfire as cheaply as 22.

If we judge by what we most carry it is my NAA Black Widow in 22lr / 22wmr. It see's more action than any other gun. If I am going to hunt for small game it is either a Ruger Single Six or Ruger Mark III. I teach children how to be safe and enjoy shooting so I go thru a lot of 22. When out and about on the farm I also carry a 44 but the BW is used for rabbits & such when on the tractor since I can get close to them with the tractor running.

I'm a big fan of. 22s, too. They are especially fun when shooting through a suppressor. Unfortunately, busy-ness at work in recent months has seriously cut into my range time.

But much as I love .22s, I find that I'm shooting a lot more light reloads in revolver calibers of late. I like the weight and feel of my .357 and .44 mag revolvers, and shooting cast bullet reloads over light charges is pretty economical to boot.

Nevertheless, unless I am going to the range for limited time specifically to sight in a new rifle/scope combination or work up a load for a particular gun, at least one .22 comes along for the ride. Just hope the .22 ammo shortage passes before too long. Given how hard it is to come by, I currently lean toward plinking with light .357 loads.

I shoot a lot of 22 these days. I can't add much to the previous comments: accurate, cheap, relaxing, no reloading, no chasing brass etc. For me the biggest thing is that I don't enjoy getting beat up by big guns anymore. As a kid, the bigger the recoil/blast/flash the happier I was. Testosterone, doncha know? A full load of 296 in a short barrel, was spectacular! In those days I had little use for the lowly 22. I sold too many 22s I wish I still had.

These days, my .458 Win gathers dust while the 45-70 with trapdoor loads is more interesting. 44 Special and 38 Special get more use than their magnum (magnumb?) brothers. And my 22 rifles and pistols get lots of use. Times change and so do we.

It's not all about the money,,,

I shoot a lot of rimfire because it's cheap,,,
But it isn't the only reason.

I like my range time to be leisurely,,,
Me and my single-shot Henry Acu Bolt,,,
If I had a single-shot pistol I would be ecstatic.

But even if money wasn't a factor,,,
I think I would still shoot more .22 than .38 or 9mm,,,
Simply because when I'm shooting for relaxation I want quiet and gentle.

I shoot my centerfire handguns regularly and often,,,
But that's more for training with my SD guns,,,
For leisurely plinking, it's always .22 LR.

Aarond

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I'm not a huge fan of any rimfire. I find myself trading them off almost as quickly as i get them. Theres one I've kept though, Its a heritage RR. Ive gotten so good with the damned thing that I can bring myself to let it go. I was making a can dance at 25 yards about two weeks ago... and it was so easy... Maybe someday ill upgrade it to a long barrel ruger or something...

Anyways, bigger bore stuff is more fun.

but the upstart cost seems like it would take quite a while before I would break even.

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If you don't shoot a lot, it may not be worth it to you. For the guy who goes to the range 2-3 times a year and shoots a few rounds during deer season, it may take a while to pay for the equipment.

However, you can get started with the Lee single stage kit for $128.99 from Midway. Toss in a set of dies for $20-$30 and a cheap set of calipers for $15-$20 and you're ready to load for under $200.

If you've got a friend or relative who enjoys shooting, see if they'll go in with you and you can both be loading for $100 each.

Right now I can load 9mm cheaper than I can buy (if at all) .22 LR. The only one I have right now is a Ruger 10/22 rifle, no pistols at this time. I've looked at a few, but with the difficulty of getting 22LR ammo, not buying at this time! .223 is my new .22 for now...

Russellc

I'm with the OP on this one. Love that little old cartridge!

I have a couple of .22's that I love taking to the range. Usually when I spend time at the range, I split it between rim fire and center fire and I enjoy bith equally. Normally when I am in the woods, I strap on a center fire, usually my BHP, now and then I take a .22 if I want to do some serious plinking.

It's best for newbies as well,,,

It's best for newbies as well,,,
I take a lot of newbies to the range,,,
If it weren't for .22 LR I couldn't afford to do that.

Just last week I took a young lady for her very first range outing,,,
We shot about half a pack of Federal bulk pack ammo,,,
Even at today's prices that was only $12.00,,,
For 9mm that would have been $60.00,,,
And that would be cheap Tulammo.

Shooting for me is relaxation time,,,
I own everything from .22 LR to .44 magnum,,,
I'll almost always take a centerfire to every range trip,,,
But it's a cylinder or a mag or two for fun and then back to my rimfire.

I have My H&R Sportsman and my Model 18 in my car right now,,,
After work I'll toddle out to the Rifle & Pistol Club range,,,
I'll spend a leisurely hour in shooting 100 rounds,,,
All for about $4.50 in total ammo cost.

I get just as much satisfaction in hitting a clay pigeon at 100 yards,,,
As most people would in hitting a silhouette ram at 300 yards.

Aarond

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I am rediscovering the .22 and I like very much. I was fortunate to have a supply on hand. Not much but a good amount so I could keep shooting. But a a reduced amount . I have a .22 pistol that my wife and I share. What I shoot mostly is an ar15 a2 20" barrel . I use a 22 adapter in the .22 mode. Then switch to 5.56 the rest of the day.