Opinion: learn w/ what you carry?

[sevenpoint62mm]

I got this friend wanting to learn to shoot pistols.
He has limited experience with firearms handling but has great firearms knowledge. He wants to learn to shoot pistols with a .22 pistol but wants to CCW carry later (around a 9mm or 357 he said).
I said "learn with what you carry" because the recoil from a 22 will be nothing like a 9mm or anything else for that matter. Each weapon fires differently, even between models, manufacters and ammo.
This is the same thing my CCW instructor, the range workers, and my friends at the gun shop say. Of course they can be wrong, so I wanted to hear your opinions here for his benefit. I know old habits are hard to break and learning on such a light recoil/boom pistol might lead to limp wristing or kaboom anticipation later.

 

[azrael]

Let him learn with a good .22...It is great for teaching the basics...once he has those down, he can move up to the bigger calibers...THEN he can practice with what he wants to carry...Just having the weapon doesnt mean you can hit anything with it...

.22 Good teaching tool...Low cost ammo

9mm Good rep. for Goblins and ammo is cheap...recoil is mild...Weapons for that caliber are small and lightweight...

my .02 peso's

 

[Croyance]

I would say that he should get a .22 LR with a similar grip angle to what he plans to carry. A Ruger 10/22 has a more radical grip angle than a Browning HiPower, for instance.
Cheap ammo means more practice. Practice is of little value if you don't do things right, so it is more about self discipline and watching the little things.
I don't think the differences between guns is so extreme that a little practice won't overcome habits.

 

[sevenpoint62mm]

Goblins?

 

[Majic]

He can learn the basics quicker and easier with a .22lr. When he moves up the caliber scale the only thing he has to adjust to is the added recoil which most people naturally adjust to as in their minds they know the handgun is more powerfull and tend to grip it harder.

 

[mete]

Learn the basics with a 22 then go on to a carry gun and get the best training you can find....Sevenpoint ,yes goblins , there are various types ,if you have allergies you should know of immuno-goblins but the type he is talking about are refered to in Brooklyn as alleged perpetrators.

 

[Standing Wolf]

I believe the more guns one's familiar with, the better one's likely to shoot. It's much easier to learn good, accurate firearms handling with a .22 rim fire pistol than any other. The skills are transportable from firearm to firearm.

 

[V-fib]

That’s why I purchased my Taurus 94. About the same weight and bbl length as my Ruger Sp101. The .22lr recoil obviously is less than the .357 but you can hone your aiming techniques with the .22 However I always back up that training with range time using the SP since it’s my CCW.

 

[sm]

Yep agree with the .22lr .
I started students with a model 18 , transitioned to model 10.
I started with a semi and transitioned to the semi.
[Woodsman, Trophys..later Bucmarks, 22/45 ...to 1911, BHP, etc.

When the flinch creeps up, pulling shots...real nice to get back to basics and practice fundamentals again with the .22...fun factor with a 22...and when in college and all you have is ketchup soup...a 22 is nice to have to feel like a human being again when you find a box around the place...even buying a box of 50 rds is affordable, when self esteem is at stake.

 

[sevenpoint62mm]

Perhaps I was wrong. Maybe a 22 is the way to start.

 

[only1asterisk]

I think it depends on your goals. If he wants to learn to shoot, the 22 is a great way to go. If he wants a defensive gun he can learn on, then 38/9mm/357 is the order of the day.

Skills learned on a 22 transfer, but do not replace practice with your chosen carry gun.



David

 

[Mil Novecientos Once]

Goblins?

bad guys

 

[nhhillbilly]

Get the best of both worlds

If he is going to carry a Glock or 1911 or Beretta or any of the major brands there are .22 long rifle conversion kits. I have one for my Glock 23 and it works great. Great training aid for practicing releads and shooting skills. cost about $200.00 ammo $10.00 for 500 rounds. For carry or defensive practice I use the 40 smith and wesson rounds.

 

[cratz2]

Usually what I recommend to someone with ZERO handgun experience is to shoot one of my 22s just to get used to the idea of shooting a gun. Then have them go to a gun shop (even better if you can go with them) to see what more serious carry gun they are interested in. I tell them my preferences abd I try to be unbiased, but I prefer 9mms and 45s to 40s or 357 SIGs. Point out that the different recoil levels are to be expected. And if it's possible, have them shoot a G19 and a G23 at the very minimum. If they are comfortable with either one, then they can go from there to picking something that is comfortable in their hand.

9mms are nice because of the cheap practice ammo and so many guns are chambered in 9mm. Once comfort is obtained shooting a 22, I would encourage transition to the actual carry gun as quickly as possible.

 

[azrael]

What Mil said

Goblins to me are the lowest of the criminal "caste"..

 

[stans]

Learn with a 22. Everything learned with the 22 transfers to larger calibers. Learning with a concealable 357? It might take a very long time to get over the flinch and really learn to shoot.

 

[Feanaro]

It really depends. I learned to shoot (handguns) on a .38 snubby and a Kel-Tec P32. Not the most desirable configuration but it worked. A full sized 9mm, .38 and so on isn't too bad. A light and small CCW piece? Ugh! I would go for the .22 first, if possible. Some people are set on getting a defensive handgun and nothing else. Some people can't afford both firearms and can't or won't wait. I tell them I think it would be better to learn on a .22, why and leave it at that.

 

[themic]

why not shoot both at the range every time? (a .22 and a 9, that is)

 

[lycanthrope]

A .22 is fine.

Or.... get a larger caliber and dry fire. It's how several world class shooters practice and is invaluable. Dry fire is a great way to get over a flinch.

 

[Chupacabra]

I started shooting cold with a .40S&W and picked up quite a few bad habits like flinching and slapping the trigger instead of squeezing it.

Recently though I picked up a .22 conversion kit for my 1911 and it has made a huge difference. All my bad habits are easy to identify because of the low noise and recoil. Once I figure out what I'm doing wrong, it's only a matter of willing myself to focus and work it out. 20 minutes shooting .22 gives me confidence in my technique, and the groups with my other firearms start looking like groups instead of a pattern!

 

[jptsr1]

I carry a G26. I use the same gun for every class I take unless there is a test at the end. If there is a test I use my Sig. My G26 will give me good enough results for real world applications but my Sig keeps me from being embarrassed when the targets are scored.

J.

 

[Majic]

Or.... get a larger caliber and dry fire. It's how several world class shooters practice and is invaluable.

There is an extremely large difference in practicing and learning. There's no way to guage your results by dry firing if you don't know how to shoot in the first place.