Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns does 22lr handgun deserve a spot in your arsenal?

I'm currently without a 22lr handgun.

I wasn't planning on replacing it as I thought I would shoot 38spec out of my GP100 for similiar effect.

Due you guys believe a 22lr handgun deserves a spot in one's arsenal?

Here's my reasoning I'm asking. I was debating whether to buy another GP100 to add to my collection or instead add a S&W 617 22lr

Leo

I went for a long time without one in mine. They're pretty handy but not essential. I'd rather have one than two of the same model .357, unless the .357's had totally different missions.

You can cure a lot of ills caused by larger calibers by keeping yourself tuned up with a .22LR handgun. Also, new shooters should be started with a .22LR in my opinion. My fiance had never fired a gun in her life until I started teaching her to shoot.....she loves shooting my Colt Woodsman more than any other firearm I own.....

I went without one for many years, now I own a couple, I use them more than any other pistol when I am working on my hunting leases. Not many problems in the southeast you cannot solve with a 22LR pistol. Get one of those inexpensive auto pistols, the ruger sr22 comes to mind. I have a new smith 63 and I am not impressed with it's accuracy, lets just say at 7 yards I shoot 5 38 wadcutters from a titanium centennial into a smaller group than the 63 shooting CCI pistol match. It may be the stupid red fiber sight but it's headed back to smith a second time this month for sure.

Since I have reloaded since the day I bought a centerfire handgun, and a .22 on the same day, my .22 didn't see a lot of use. Now I shoot them a lot.

They are 100% necessary if you are planning on teaching anyone to shoot.

With the cost of even reloading centerfire ammo right now, 550 rounds of .22 for $20.00 goes a long way.... Get a .22 that closely matches your centerfire gun and you can get in a lot of effective practice for pennies instead of dollars...

Bob

I have four, and wouldn't be without them. Like others have said, it is essential for teaching newcomers, and occasionally for refining the mechanics of watching a front sight and squeezing a trigger. (Even in us old comers).

WHAT!!??
You mean you didn't give her a 500 Smith and Wesson and then video her getting slapped in the forehead so you could post it on youtube?

You must really like this girl.

(BTW, I am just joking. I know you aren't the type to do a silly stunt like that, but I've seen it done so often all I can do is shake my head these days.)

Everybody needs a .22 pistol. It's the closest that you can get to being a kid with a BB gun again. You don't have to worry about noise, recoil or ammo cost.

Hmm, ok. You guys are making a very convincing case

A 4" S&W 617 would be a good understudy handgun to compliment my 4" GP100.

The GP100 I have now is the blued version, wanted one in stainless but that may go on back burner while I get the S&W 617 22lr instead.

...back burner...no, sell the blue, buy a stainless and then get the 617....that way all will match...

If you want all blue look for a Dan Wesson .22...I have one with interchangeable 4 and 6" barrels and it is a great shooter...

Bob

Yes.. Most definitely..

617. Without question.


Travis

Everyone needs the best shooting 22 pistol they can afford.
A guy at the shop handed me an new Ruger 22 semi auto.. the SR?
the poly frame one.
Nice gun but the trigger needs work.
He says" who cares, it's a 22?"
I says " life's too short to go through it with a bad trigger!"

We shoot something like 10 000 22's a year.
Family competition with pistols, pins with Ruger 10-22's you name it.
No matter what else is in the gun case a 22 is in there too.

I need another one now. I'm thinking Smith model 41.

There is something seriously wrong with someone who does not own a good 22 LR handgun. Perfecting shooting techniques or refreshing old ones is best done with a non recoiling handgun so that the shooter can focus on techniques and not recoil.

I've had my S&W K-22 with target hammer trigger and grips since the the 1960's. It was my trapline gun for many years and I couldn't tell you how many critters it's dispatched including rabbits, squirrels and grouse. That's one handgun that I'll never part with.

Without a .22LR handgun or two you really don't have an "arsenal."

You will never look for another 22 after it!

I don't think anyone should be without a quality .22 LR pistol or revolver.

^ this.

Nothing better than paying 18 dollars for 550 rounds and spending the day shooting with out all the noise and recoil.