22LR for training/cheap practice

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nksmfamjp

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My daughter owns a Hellcat and me a Shield Plus. I’m just wondering if there is value in a training 22LR?

If so, what are my options for $250 street price? or $350 street price?
 
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There is a lot of benefit to shooting .22LR. In addition to working on the basics of grip, sight alignment and trigger control, the low recoil,also laws it obvious when you have developed a flinch due to recoil, and or have developed a poor trigger pull trying to shoot too fast.

&250 will get you a new Bersa Thunder on sale and $275 will get you one at regu,at real world prices. It large enough to generalize to larger handguns and has normal DA pistol controls in terms of safety/decock lever, slide release and mag release.

It’s also reasonably accurate, reliable and has a decent trigger.

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The Ruger LCP in .22 LR is a bit more expensive and also has a lot less utility for training.
 
Check out the Ruger SR22. I have had one for at least 8 years. 10 round magazine. Never had a problem with it.Very reliable. Comes with two different size grips. I put the larger one on mine. Shoots just about anything you feed it.

I bought it as a training pistol for my wife.
 
Few “ reasonable” priced 22 revolvers out there, try one of them too. I agree, start with a 22 for a new shooters less chance of developing a flinch or jerk. Get them started right as mentioned above, grip, stance, trigger control, sight alignment, everybody will be pleased.
 
Old_Cop said:
The Taurus TX22 is a full size plinker that is fun to shoot. It is lightweight with 16 round magazines.
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+++++++++1 for the Taurus TX22. Everyone I have talked to loves them. And probably one of the most economical pistols out right now. I also like the GSG Firefly, but many are temperamental with anything but CCI mini mags.
 
.22 revolvers and semi-autos have been a far better means for me to improve shooting skills rather than dry firing. Try several ammos, however, and stick with one that's accurate in your gun(s), operates a semi-auto action reliably, and always goes bang. Such requirements will eliminate most, maybe all, of the cheap bulk stuff so many like to buy and then complain about. Spend a little more and get CCI SV or something comparable.
 
You might want to take a look at the glock 44 (22LR). It has a trigger similar to both of your carry guns and street price should be close to your upper end.

I recently acquired a Bersa Thunder and it has become my favorite 22 semi. Mine's a bit picky about ammo. For under $300, it is a bargin.

FWIW,

Paul
 
Paul105 said:
You might want to take a look at the glock 44 (22LR). It has a trigger similar to both of your carry guns and street price should be close to your upper end.

I recently acquired a Bersa Thunder and it has become my favorite 22 semi. Mine's a bit picky about ammo. For under $300, it is a bargin.

FWIW,

Paul
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Spot on.

I’m not a Glock fan but I’m interested enough in the G44 that I’d buy one as I like .22 LR pistols.

I didn’t mention the other pistols I have that are comparable to the Bersa Thunder .22 LR as they are all well above its price range…but that’s also a very useful comparison point.

My Bersa Thunder will hold its own or beat all of the pistols here. It’s more reliable than my Walther PP in .22LR (an ex British military L66A1) with its old, cranky, and expensive to replace magazine. The PP .22LR examples start at $500 for well used examples and reach up around $1500 for pristine examples with box and accessories.

It’s also as accurate and reliable as my ex-Israeli Beretta Model 71 and my Umarex Walther PPK/S .22LR. The Beretta 71 was a $300 gun when imported 6-7 years ago, but they currently sell for $600-$800. A new PPK/S currently sells for around $400.

FullSizeRender(28).jpg
 
The problem with 22s is that revolvers tend to have a pretty heavy DA trigger, and semi-autos tend to be finicky about ammunition.

Fun, yes; but for training you might as well just buy more ammo for your existing gun.
 
mikerjf said:
The problem with 22s is that revolvers tend to have a pretty heavy DA trigger, and semi-autos tend to be finicky about ammunition.

Fun, yes; but for training you might as well just buy more ammo for your existing gun.
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I've had a number of .22 semi-autos, including a 41, Woodsman (several), Rugers, PPK/S, and a Colt Conversion unit; all functioned well with CCI-SV.

I never gave any thought to firing double-action with a .22 revolver. I don't recall ever trying it with my 14, 18, 63, Troopers, Diamondbacks, and Officer Model Match guns so don't know if they have heavy double-action pulls. Guess I'll have to give it a try as I'm curious now. However, these revolvers all have fine single-action triggers.
 
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I did not learn to shoot a handgun until I practiced Bullseye with my High Standard Victor, since I shoot on indoor ranges 22RF is easier on the ears.
The shooting skills acquired with a 22 carry over, the last time I fired a CF rile-a .270-at 100 yards off a rest I was getting 1.5" groups at 100 yards. Yes 22s are particular about their ammunition-so are centerfires, and given the shortages and high prices of components at present how many reload like they used to ?
 
nksmfamjp said:
My daughter owns a Hellcat and me a Shield Plus. I’m just wondering if there is value in a training 22LR?
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At the beginning of the year I had a hemorrhage in my right eye that distorted the vision out of that eye. I could not focus on a red dot or iron sights. So all this year I basically had to relearn to shoot a handgun. With a boatload of .22LR shells I stashed away over the decades I practiced and practiced shooting cross-dominantly, right hand and left eye. No way could I have afforded at recent prices to shoot the number of centerfire shells that I fired with a .22 pistol this year working to relearn how to shoot bullseye again. I'm not quite back to where I was, but at least I didn't have to leave the firing line for good like I feared I would have to do.
 
mikerjf said:
The problem with 22s is that revolvers tend to have a pretty heavy DA trigger, and semi-autos tend to be finicky about ammunition.

Fun, yes; but for training you might as well just buy more ammo for your existing gun.
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If you speak from experience, describe it.

I have a 3rd Model 22 outdoorsman and a 17-3 and both of them have exceptional triggers.

I had a Ruger SP101 in . 22 LR and it’s trigger was just as good as my SP101 in .357 Mag.

I have a CZ 75 Kadet .22 LR and it is not finicky at all. Neither is by Bersa Thunder, my PPK/S .22 LR, or my Beretta 71. My Beretta 21A Bobcat is also relentlessly reliable.

I also have a pair of S&W 41s, a pair of High Standard 107 victors as well as a Ruger Mk I 678 Target, a Mk II 512 Target, and a Mk II government model. They are picky if I shoot cheap bulk ammo but decent SV ammo runs great in them. Given they are indeed as target pistols that’s not a big surprise.
 
I had stopped shooting 22's for some years, and I had forgotten just how much fun they are. Then I got a Walther PPK/S in 22 LR for my wife, and we both had so much fun with it, that she told me to get my own and stop hogging hers.

So I did. As an aside, I got them both from Sportsman's Warehouse where they sell normally for less than $400, but I got them on sale for less than $300 out the door.

(edited)_Walther1.jpg


They might be a little fussy with ammo, but mine run 100% with CCI either Mini-Mags, or Stingers. With regular bulk pack ammo, they might jam once in a while, but not enough to be really annoying. Yea, the DA pull is heavy, but the SA is pretty good. I've even learned to shoot it with the DA.

I suppose if there is a down side, it's that they only come with one magazine, and spares aren't cheap, but then I haven't seen magazines for anything that are cheap for a long time.
 
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Another for the TX22 Taurus. We've several (many) semi-auto .22LR pistols and the TX22 is the most trouble-free (including the Rugers and Walthers). Quite consistent with whatever ammo you have on hand as feed. Satsifyingly accurate.

Please - no Taurus bashing on my account. I have two of the brand and both are excellent specimens (the other is a Tracker in .44 Mag).
 
If you keep your eyes open and have some patience, you can find a cosmetically challenged Colt Woodsman or High Standard model b or Military in your price range. These won’t be new, but they work just fine.

To me, these are much superior to the contemporary 22’s discussed above.
 
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