Economics 101 (intellectual debate purposes): You can only have one (.22LR v 9MM)....

[dogsoldier0513]

Would you choose a high-quality, full-sized .22LR auto with unlimited quality ammunition (resulting in more practice), or a duty-sized 9MM auto with limited quality ammunition (resulting in less practice)? Quality CCW lholsters are available for both. Remember to consider all potential uses, overall effectiveness for self-defense, ammo costs, etc, etc, etc.

 

[FMF Doc]

.22Lr

.22LR is THE ALL AROUND round. It is not ideal for many things, but it will get them done. If you don't think you can hunt medium and big game with a .22LR, go look at the poaching statistics. They love .22LR because it is quiet. As long as you put a quality round where it needs to be, it is quite lethal, be it for pest control, hunting or self-defense. There was a time when a Ruger 22/45 was the only pistol I owned. It was my range/truck/ccw/HD gun. Thankfully I never had to use it for anything other than the first, but I was able to practice 2,000+ rounds a month, so I knew that if I needed it, I could put those 10 rounds where they needed to be. 10 rapid-fire head shots of 40gr hypersonic JHP will stop an agressor be they a cayote or criminal.

 

[mljdeckard]

Poachers are much less concerned about quick, clean kills too. They don't care as much about watching wounded animals run away. I'm not going to try to drop a moose or a bear with a .22. (I probably wouldn't do it with a 9mm either. Just because it's POSSIBLE doesn't make it a good idea by any stretch of the imagination.

Practice doesn't make perfect. PERFECT practice makes perfect. It's not effective practice if it doesn't train you for the intended goal. No matter how well you can deliver those ten rounds, ten rounds of pretty much ANYTHING bigger would work better.

 

[mavracer]

If I had unlimited 22 ammo I'd trade a couple cases for a good 9mm.

 

[Sam1911]

Would you choose a high-quality, full-sized .22LR auto with unlimited quality ammunition (resulting in more practice), or a duty-sized 9MM auto with limited quality ammunition (resulting in less practice)? Quality CCW lholsters are available for both. Remember to consider all potential uses, overall effectiveness for self-defense, ammo costs, etc, etc, etc.

You have to define what "all possible" uses are. Some things a .22 LR is simply NOT appropriate, ethical, or realistically capable of doing.

If your all possible uses include hunting anything over very small creatures, neither one is acceptable.

If your uses include self- or home-defense, simply take .22 LR off the table. It has been used, but it is a very poor choice for many reasons. Kind of like driving your riding mower to work (possible, but a bad idea) except that your life will be on the line.

I don't care how good a shot you are, believing that you'll make the perfect shot you'd need to HOPE TO stop an aggressive criminal, under the incredible stress of a violent attack is madness. If it was the only gun you had, it would be better than nothing. But if you are making a choice, choose more wisely.

 

[smalls]

.22's currently don't serve any purpose to me besides cheap plinking. I would never use one for self defense duty (Sam's riding lawn mower analogy was perfect), I don't hunt, and I don't have pests. In fact, a .22 makes as little sense to own as a .50 BMG in my case.

I do, however, carry a 9mm. So If you're giving 'em out for free, I'll take one

 

[Queen_of_Thunder]

Its not the number of.founds.shot in practice that counts but how the practice session.was conducted. I've shot as few as 20 rounds in.a.practice session and accomplished the goals.set.for that session.

 

[Skribs]

I will never own a .22 LR, so its an easy question for me.

 

[Certaindeaf]

I've shot a whole bunch of rounds but really not that many .22lr. Sure they "work" and all but you might as well just dry-fire, almost and pretty much. Yes, the .22 is fun and all but so are a lot of things in life. I'd prefer to and have, spend/t the money and or time (reload) and send something downrange that actually will have more viability/effectiveness.

 

[1911Tuner]

The ubiquitous, omnipresent .22 rimfire. In overhearing many survival/SHTF fantasies, and all the armament claimed for that scenario, I've often tried to explain that...in such a nightmare...you'd have far more need of a .22 rifle and a good knife than a belt-fed machinegun.

Most of the time, it doesn't make a dent.

 

[2zulu1]

I would keep my Hi Power and buy an air soft.

 

[Bobson]

It depends on what exactly the "limited" quantity is for the 9mm. 100 rounds per year is a limited quantity, and 10,000 rounds per year is also a limited quantity. If the limit is closer to 100 rounds, I'd say you're better off with the 22LR; but if its closer to 10k rounds (or even 3k), I'd say buy the 9mm.

There's no magic number for rounds fired to attain or maintain proficiency. Frankly, its hard to define proficiency. If you can fire 100 rounds per month and be confident in your ability to use your firearm safely and effectively, that great. Just be aware of your needs (or expected needs) and buy whatever you'll be able to use to meet that need.

 

[mooner]

Economics 101 - Buy an inexpensive 9mm and buy a 22 with the money saved on 22 ammunition vs 9mm (at $10 per 50 vs $15 per 550). Best of both worlds - 9mm for self defense and 22 for cheap practice.

To the fellow that says he will never buy a 22 and the guy who says a 22 makes as much sense to own as a 50 BMG - you are missing out! I have a number of center fire pistols and revolvers from 38 to 44 and a 22 is just plain fun to shoot and great cheap practice to boot.

 

[smalls]

Not saying they aren't fun, but I have no use for one besides just that- fun plinking. I know others opinions differ, but dry firing exercises are better practice than shooting a .22 for me.

 

[Kahuna5]

I will never own a .22 LR, so its an easy question for me.

I believe all shooters should own at least one .22lr be it a rifle or pistol. Not only is it fun to shoot, plink, and practice with, but it also won't hurt your wallet either!

 

[Legion489]

.22 vs. .9mm? What happened to the 9mm vs. .45 ACP debate? Yes, the .22 will kill anything that walks the earth, Grizzly bears and elephants included. The one time world record Grizzly was killed with a .22. Yes, elephants CAN be killed with a .22, there are only TWO places where it will penetrate the hide, but it can be done. Eskimos regularly use .22s on swimming moose and other critters. Not far from me someone shot a buffalo in a field with a .22 and it bleed to death a few days later. Just because it can be done does not mean it should be done.

The 9mm will kill anything out there too, but that doesn't mean I would recommend it for bear or elephants either.

I love the "I'll shoot for the eyes while fighting for my life, in the dark, under stress of fear of death, when surprised" eye wash I hear all the time. These are the same people who miss an IPSC target at 20 (or even 10) yards under the "stress" of being watched and timed. These people are suddenly going to turn into Hannibal Lictor when fighting for their lives for real? Please forgive me for doubting this.

Pick which ever gun makes you happy and live with it.

 

[Certaindeaf]

Griz and elephants, oh my! Sometimes, well.. most times, I just like making a can bounce farther than a .22.

 

[Skribs]

I believe all shooters should own at least one .22lr be it a rifle or pistol. Not only is it fun to shoot, plink, and practice with, but it also won't hurt your wallet either!

It isn't fun to plink with. I have used one before, both in semi auto and revolver format, and I don't like it. I do not have a practical use for one outside of the range (I don't hunt or target shoot). I get cheaper practice with airsoft. So I have no reason to buy a .22. I personally disagree with the notion that everyone should have a .22. Just because you like it doesn't mean I have to have it.

 

[ATLDave]

Why is the person in the hypothetical buying a gun? Realistically, 99.99% of the civilians who buy a pistol will never "need" it for anything but enjoyment. So I would argue that it comes down almost entirely to whatever the owner will enjoy more. The kind of person who owns only one gun will generally find a .22 more enjoyable, and it will almost certainly lead to them being a better shooter.

 

[mooner]

Good golly. I didn't think there was a person alive that didn't think a .22 was just good plain fun! Proven wrong yet again...

I guess it takes all types and leaves more ammo for me!

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Would you choose a high-quality, full-sized .22LR auto with unlimited quality ammunition (resulting in more practice), or a duty-sized 9MM auto with limited quality ammunition (resulting in less practice)?

Since you label this an economics issue, I'd say go with the .22. If it were self-defense oriented, I'd take the 9mm (although I actually carry a .45.)

 

[MachIVshooter]

And what, pray tell, is the point of this thread???

Really, I don't get it.........

 

[coalman]

The 9mm. Then, I'd find another hobby.

 

[tipoc]

"And what, pray tell, is the point of this thread?"

Well the op tells us "intellectual debate". It may be intellectual for pre-teens but what the hey! Aquaman vs. Prince Namur the Submariner. Let's see now...

Economics 101 (intellectual debate purposes): You can only have one (.22LR v 9MM)....
Would you choose a high-quality, full-sized .22LR auto with unlimited quality ammunition (resulting in more practice)...

I'll take that. The "unlimited quality ammo" part tells me that someone is giving me free ammo. On my own I can only afford some quality 22 ammo, so the unlimited tells me I'll be getting it for free. I'm still working with some of the 22 Skribs threw out 20 years ago when he quit the gun. So sign me up Dogsoldier.

or a duty-sized 9MM auto with limited quality ammunition (resulting in less practice)?

I already have that. Do I have to give it up to get the free .22? Does it mean I can't sell or trade some of the free .22 to get another gun and ammo?

Quality CCW lholsters are available for both.

I already have holsters. Granted I don't have a CCW rig for my .22s but I don't need nor want one. By the way the op makes it sound like I'd have to buy my own. I'll trade some of the unlimited quality .22 for one if I need.

Remember to consider all potential uses, overall effectiveness for self-defense, ammo costs, etc, etc, etc.

"All potential uses"...The Mole People who live in the center of the earth highly value the .22 l.r. round, particularly the sub sonic. Being sensitive to sound and there not being a whole lot of large game beneath the earths crust they rely on it for all potential uses. So I can trade with them my "unlimited quality ammo" for precious jewels, platinum and gold. That settles it.

With my new wealth I'll hire Skribs to be my butler and find out what a butler does.

tipoc

 

[Certaindeaf]

I just love intellectual debacles. lolz