Have the 22's lost some of their lustre?

[59Lover]

I have seen in recent years model 17, 18, 617 prices skyrocket.

I dont see it personally. I have no need for a 22 revolver. I dont see it as a training tool because of the difference between 22 and 38 ammo.

But now it seems with ammo prices so high for 22, there is even less of a reason to own/shoot the 22 guns. I see people trying to sell a brick for over $100, sorry, no thanks, I will pay a couple cents more and shoot 9mm or 38spl.

 

[fat tom]

The answer to your original question is an emphatic "No". You are,of course,entitled to your opinion.
f.t.

 

[kudzu3]

I can't imagine not owning at least two .22s, one for target and one for woods walking. The .22 is the best round (IMHO) for, learning, plinking, small game hunting and just all around fun. there is no better round/gun for family fun in the back yard.

 

[DR505]

This year I have purchased two Model 17's...both unfired and in their boxes: an 8 3/8" 17-4 from 1978 and a 4" 17-6 (non-underlug heavy barrel) from 1989. I like them! I don't own a 9mm and only have one .38 spl, a Model 67 (no dash). I prefer big bores.

 

[sophie]

I can't imagine not having my 22 pistols. I have several and enjoy them. I sold a Colt Diamondback .22 cal. 6" barrel 99% gun w/box over the weekend at the gun show here to a vendor for $1500.00 and he was glad to get it and admitted he had several. The lustre is not gone for the 22's as evidenced by the prices of the guns on the auction sites. The S&W 17, 18, 617, 63, 34 revolvers and the various semiautos and many more still bring huge sums of money. So therefore I rest my case. The price of the 22 ammo will even out here pretty soon and may still be higher than before but will become available.

 

[FPrice]

This is one of the great things about firearms ownership. YOU are free to like/dislike/own/not own/shoot/not shoot any particular firearm/cartridge or combination thereof which you want.

Many of us like and enjoy shooting .22s for a variety or reasons. It's still about the cheapest round out there (not saying much these days) and you can take your .22s out and just have fun.

I personally feel that starting a brand new shooter with a .22 is the best way to introduce them to the sport.

 

[CSG]

I have no interest in these high zoot .22 revolvers because of their price. I'd love to have one to shoot but not at the crazy prices they're selling for.

I have a number of .22 pistols and rifles and they are my most common caliber. I also have many thousands of rounds of .22 that I've accumulated over the years at regular prices and am still able to get a couple bricks now and then at normal prices due to some friendships with the right folks.

 

[JPriest]

I too thought I had no need to a .22 pistol. I love shooting my .44 magnum more than anything, but then I saw this really cool .22/.32 for sale at my LGS. So I bought it. I should be able to pick it up later this week. I'll post photos when I get it.

When I was a kid I started out on some old top-break .22 revolvers my uncle had at this farm. I loved those things. Haven't shot one of them in years. Really looking forward to getting the .22/.32.

Maybe the luster will return if you find that one really nice .22 that speaks to you.

 

[410bore]

From what I see, fine vintage rimfire revolvers are about as non-existent in the retail market as .22 LR ammo so NO they havent skipped a beat!

 

[fyimo]

Well I own all of the pistol calibers and the one I own the most guns in is 22LR so I guess I'm on the side of really liking them. I own (3) rifles and (7) S&W Revolvers and (2) semi auto pistols in 22LR. I also am a person that keeps a healty supply of 22LR ammo on hand so the current ammo situation hasn't bothered me.

 

[radar1972]

My wife and I have several larger caliber guns for SD/HD.

We also have lots of .22's for FUN!!

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

The .22 most certainly is a training tool, particularly for young shooters, but really for everyone. It IS possible to learn to shoot without a .22, but it is usually best to start out by removing a couple of variables from the slew of things that the new shooter must contend with.

The present price situation seems to be a pretty natural result of suddenly having a lot of new shooters who feel that they need to stock up while they can. The manufacturers have not noticeably increased prices. My local dealer still charges normal prices whenever he gets stuff in. The present situation will change within a year or so, barring significant additional scares. When it does, it will be quite clear that the .22LR still holds a significant price advantage, aside from its other training advantages.

I understand that some folks shoot food with .22LR that they would rather not shoot with a larger cartridge.

Some woodswalkers may actually like the idea of carrying 200-300 rounds of ammo in a small pocket or two with no noticeable weight, unlike 50 rounds of anything else.

My Model 43 probably weighs less than anything as useful that you can carry, unless you're carrying a pretty accurate Airweight or Airlite .38 Spl. But don't worry - I'm carrying one of those, too.

I reckon the .22LR will be around longer than you or I.

 

[Fishinfool]

It's funny how some people equate small caliber with "cheap", or "undesirable". The fact is a lot of rimfire handguns and rifles are just as well made as their centerfire cousins (The S&W model 17 and 41 series are good examples), and just as accurate, or more so, as well as cheaper to shoot. $100 a brick for .22's? You can get them cheaper. What would a case of 500 38 spl.'s cost? Savvy shooters know the value of a good .22

Larry

 

[Mike McLellan]

One thing that the recent shortage of .22LR ammo forced some of us to do, was to rethink the utility and fun of .22 longs and .22 shorts. It had been almost 50 years since I shot .22 shorts, and had forgotten how much fun they can be. Lost luster? I don't think so. More like, enhanced appreciation for things we once took for granted.

 

[fyimo]

I even have a full size AR in 22LR and I love shooting it as it's a S&W 15-22.

 

[Dave T]

l have nothing against 22 LRs as I own several (rifles and pistols) but I wonder what all the lovers of this cartridge and its guns are going to do when their current supply of ammunition runs out. I fear the rimfire is soon to be a thing of the past, just because there is no reasonable or reliable supply of ammunition.

I don't buy the line about the manufacturers working 24/7 to turn out products. Bull! Ammo would have to show up eventually. At 100 rounds per customer the one (1) case that came into a Sportsman's Warehouse recently didn't even make a dent in the line of people waiting for the doors to open.

I fear there's going to be a lot of 22s for sale a year or so from now. If you can't feed them they have no appeal.

Dave

 

[mc5aw]

Only an idiot would pay triple figures for a 500 round brick of .22 ...

.22 revolvers are still the best handgun shooting value irrespective of currently inflated ammo prices. How much is 100 rounds of any popular caliber vs. 100 rounds of .22? Yes, I know ammo is tough to find, but all calibers can be ferreted out if one looks hard enough, and not for gouger prices either.

I'd argue that .22 revolvers continue to grow in popularity and demand.

 

[Dave T]

...but all calibers can be ferreted out if one looks hard enough, and not for gouger prices either.

Well gee, after four months of searching for 22 LR I still haven't found any (except for Eley from England and Aguila from Mexico). Guess I'm just not trying "hard enough"!

Dave

 

[gdogs]

A 22lr revolver is like a hammer, every home should have at least one. Eventually the hoarders will have enough, production will catch up with demand and it will once again be on the shelves. The 22lr isn't going anywhere.

 

[fat tom]

If you can't feed them they have no appeal.

Dave

Well,yes and no. I have guns that are made for .22 WRF,.22 Win. Auto,.22 Rem. Special,.22 Rem. Jet and a few others chambered for obsolete,or very difficult to acquire,ammo. They all still appeal to me,and also to the guys who keep trying to buy 'em from me.
f.t.