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

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Nearly 35% of the guns I own are .22lr's. Probably 80% of the rounds I send downrange are out of a .22lr. But my centerfire firearms aren't going anywhere, I just have a hard time buying or reloading 10k rounds of 9mm, .223, and .38 special a year when a .22 will let me do the same thing for far less.
 
Not that I couldn’t, but I won’t go rimfire only. I’m already rimfire heavy, but I reload and have started casting for my centerfires so I can load low pressure for less noise and less recoil if needed. I can’t imagine letting go of all my centerfires for any reason shy of some major event where it’s a grab what you can grab and run away type scenario. Even then there will probably be a 38 special revolver on the trip.
 
Howland937 said:
Without getting too personal, what are the reasons you feel like you can't do these things?

Or did I miss that part?
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It has to do with me not being able to shoot louder calibers, even with ear plugs and ear muffs. I don't have the best of hearing anymore and am wanting to preserve it as long as I can. Because I have hobbies even greater than the shooting sport.
 
I love .22s and enjoy them more the older I get.
However, I don't see myself ever going to them exclusively.
I love love love big bore handguns. And you can't legally hunt deer with a .22, so no way.
When I'm too old and feeble to get to the woods to hunt (hope I'm dead before then), and too weak to shoot the big bores with reduced loads, maybe I'll go to .22 exclusively.
 
Orion8472 said:
It has to do with me not being able to shoot louder calibers, even with ear plugs and ear muffs. I don't have the best of hearing anymore and am wanting to preserve it as long as I can. Because I have hobbies even greater than the shooting sport.
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Ok, I do remember reading that now. Sorry.

Perhaps a compromise? A full size 1911 in 9mm seems very easy on the ears in comparison to the same gun in 45 or 38 Super. At least it feels that way to me. If shooting isn't one of your higher priority hobbies, I get it. Just mentioned the 9mm option in the event you felt like you need a larger caliber on hand.
 
Unfortunately, I've tried 9mm and it is still a caliber that is uncomfortable. And that was a 5" barrel.

Thanks for the suggestion, though.
 
no, but .22 is the majority of rounds that go down range and some days, I only bring .22 if I want to keep it simple. what the future holds, we'll see ... we shoot mostly outdoors and I wear plugs and earmuffs. Sometimes just muffs or plugs to shoot the .22, but yea - if I had issues with my ears, which I certainly don't want, I'd make any decisions and do whatever needed to be done to preserve the hearing.
 
And the thing is,.....I DO have more fun with my 22 firearms. My Mark II Target is very accurate. My custom 10/22 shoots tight groups at 50 yards with CCI standard velocity. My TCR22 is like my "defense weapon" with Velocitors. I have great looking Henry rifles. Excellent 22lr Single Action revolvers. And at some point, I plan on getting a TX-22 Competition and sticking a micro red dot on it. All of these are good enough for me. :)
 
82 years old, had a BB gun at 5 years of age and have shot ATA trap until I made 27 yard handicap, skeet, high-power rifle across the course, hunted, .22 pistol indoors and .22 Gallery 3 position. Can't get into position shooting any more, now I truly enjoy ARA Factory Class benchrest. I do NOT enjoy the recoil and noise the of center fire guns any more and the recoil is unbearable, even .223's. 22's only for me for rest of my shooting life.
 
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I don't think I even own a .22 LR. I have a .22 mag and a .17 HMR.

But I've never been much of a rimfire fan.

Maybe once my kids start shooting.
 
Orion8472 said:
Unfortunately, I've tried 9mm and it is still a caliber that is uncomfortable. And that was a 5" barrel.

Thanks for the suggestion, though.
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If I followed correctly, you'll have 4 calibers but will mostly just shoot the 22lr from now on. (22lr, .17, .223, .38). I can relate to the # and also the noise issue (& what I call the percussion)

Have you tried .32 Long? I was pleasantly surprised how the recoil and sound was out of a short 2" barreled Ruger LCR when I shot a few rounds, once.

Curious if you've tried it and if you did, what's your thoughts are.
 
You wanna know what I like best about bench 22 shooting? With larger calibers, even .223, there is still enough blast, recoil, and speed of the bullet that you really don't get to fully see the bullet hit. But with 22lr, you can watch it make contact with the object. For example, shooting at my local range at the 100 yard berm. I can shoot at a rock or dirt clump and actually see it being hit and break apart. VERY satisfying! More so than any other round.
 
Up until 3 years ago I did all my reloading for 9s, .38s and .45s firing on average 60000 rounds a year. Do to age we were going to go to an assisted living apartment. They do not allow firearms so I sold all my centerfires and reloading equipment.

Guess what? The powers to be decided our house was better to just stay in then to more. I couldn't buy back my centerfires or reloading equipment so I decided to go with .22s.

I love shooting them and the fact that I don't have to spend an hour or two per week in the garage loading ( terrible in the summer with no AC).

Now I shoot 500 rounds a week, really limiting my practice, along with 2 - 300 rounds at our Steel Challenge matches twice a month. I miss centerfire but I'm really enjoying the .22s.
 
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. 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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No I have never gone that route or thinking about it never considered it or gave it much thought. That said the only one who needs to be happy with your decision is you. :)

Ron
 
I have several means of shooting that are very satisfying to me ... if I were to strip down to the essentials I would not want to give up :

- 9mm from my Beretta 92
- .38 special from one of several S&W K frames
- 30-30 from my 1947 Marlin lever

I shoot a lot of .22 and I like it , but I would retain my "gotta shoot" list and give up the rimfire if push came to shove.
As an aside , soft loaded 9mm from the Beretta is basically an enhanced pop-gun.

(For perspective , I am turning 70 soon.)
 
I like my centerfires, but I've really been digging the .22s lately. Fortunately, I stocked up a little bit on .22 back when I could get it at $0.05/rd. That has allowed me to shoot a lot more in the past couple of months than I would otherwise be able to afford.
 
Cowboy loads or wadcutters come to mind.

Fired some low powered loads around 700 fps that seem like they could be fired sans hearing protection (wouldn't choose that route) and also presented no recoil.

Something like this in a 38 or 44 special, or 45 colt? Big heavy and slow moving is good on the ears and wrists etc, but also does pretty well in stopping threats.

Just some thoughts.
 
I don’t know if I will ever go the “.22 LR only” route but at this point I do not enjoy hard recoil anymore longer. Without going into all my injuries over the years I will just say that I have torn myself up over the years and at 60 my body, back, wrists cannot take jarring recoil.

I can see a time coming where I will be shooting only pistol caliber long guns and the shotguns, .308s and even 30-30’s will be relegated to admiration and remembering the good times. :)

I hope that time is much much later. :cool:
 
Spats McGee, exactly. I stocked up as well and doubt I'd ever be able to shoot up all that I have in my lifetime....because I only get to go out on the weekends, and not every weekend either.
 
defjon, I've actually really would like to find something like that.....but don't know where I'd find such things. If I could find them, then I'd be buying some revolvers to buy! I am already okay with 38 Specials out of my 20" barrel 1873 lever rifle. Of course, they're too loud in a revolver for me, but something like what you're talking about might be okay. :)
 
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Again,.....I didn't make this decision because I'm old....but solely because of the blast sensitivity. If I could find really light 45 Colt Cowboy loads, I'm sure they would work out fine. Just don't know where to find such a thing these days.
 
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