I have a Ruger Super Blackhawk .44 magnum with a 4 5/8" barrel. It is quite an idiot getter ridder of-er on an indoor range.

Like some of you have mentioned, I don't think I've ever gone to a range without at least one .22.

Back when the Dirty Harry craze was going on ( I was 16), a couple of guys with a 44 Mag approached the firing point where my Dad was critiquing my latest groups with a Model 17 .22 and a Model 14 .38 Special. One of the fellows commented how the two revolver's were "ladies guns". My Dad observed my quarter to half dollar size groups (at 25 yards, firing offhand) to their buckshot pattern at 15 yards and replied that quite frankly he would be more worried about me shooting at him with the .22 than them shooting at him with the .44. They pretty much slunk off and we didn't hear from them again.

I really dont remember every having that experience in the last 30 years. I do see lots of 22s at the public outdoor range I frequent. I wouldnt care if somebody thought it was a wimp gun or whatever. I have a wonderful CZ452 Lux that makes 5/8 inch groups at 50 yards with either Remington Golden Bullets or Federal 38 gr. HPs. My old Mossberg 46B-B keeps right up with it. It has a peep sight. I shoot my M617 at an indoor range and I only practice double action and I am good!!!!. I dont know if anybody comments on it but I notice more new shooters using 22s and I commend them for it. It makes for a good learning tool and a fun one. I rediscovered my 22s (revolvers) and I got respect for anyone that can use them. However I do shoot my 629 with full loads double action and I do hear people comment on that. Usually they complain about the noise and the concussion. I must admit its funny to me. If you ever shoot competition you must get over the noise or just shooting for fun on a crowded range. It comes with the territory. Everyone enjoy your 22s and shoot safe. Have fun!

PS. Respect every gun regardless of caliber. A Smith 648 is also a good revolver just a little more expensive to shoot. ( I love mine)

Let me guess. The guys laughing didn't want to shoot for money, did they?

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Wayne
Torn & Frayed

I always wear hearing protection at the range so I wouldn't hear 'em anyway...

A half dozen or so of full house .357 that light up the whole range might shut 'em up tho...

Funny you should mention that. I was commenting on another forum about the large number of VERY fine ladies at my range recently.

Of course everybody demanded pics... yeah..OK...

I don't care. They still make sure you aren't ready to shoot before they go downrange. lol

I guess the .22lr still has some respect. haha

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SW Sigma 40VE, 22a, M&P 15-22

Thanks for all the replies.

I enjoy my pellet rifle at home when I think about it, too. Fun is fun and practice is practice. Sometimes the simple things in life can bring big smiles inside.

Guess S&W was pretty smart when they weighed the 22, 32, and 38 all the same in the 17, 16, and 14 Masterpieces.

Enjoy and be safe!

If some one does not like .22 , they don't like shooting. Sounds like a fashion show , bring your big gun, become somebody .Whether is guns, guitars , or motorcycles , it ain't the equipment that makes the man (or woman) , it is the "doin It" .

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Idaho , Elmer and Milt

I laugh at the guys and gals sitting in the lobby because the 50 rounds, of center fire, they brought are now all in the backstop.
Low cost trigger time for me, you can laugh all you want, from the lobby.

And THIS is why I like to bring at least 3 rifles...
1 centerfire magnum, 1 military surplus, and 1 .22.


Jim

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Big bullets leave big holes

The Lays Potato Chip of firearms. You can't just have one

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You do what you are.

My wife and I always take a 686 and a 617. Same feel and weight but the .22 is much cheaper to shoot. We also take a Sig P226. I bought that one as a .22 and then bought the 9MM conversion for it. We start with whatever way it was configured when I cleaned it, then change the top and mag and start shooting again. The only difference is the larger number of rounds we shoot when it's a .22. Let 'em laugh, we have a real good time and it's all about enjoying it.

I had an experience like that, but they were in their early 20's and shooting Glocks. I sat down my High Standard .22, picked up the Ruger Super Blackhawk .44, and after a full round they had a much different expression.

It's because of that .22 that I can make an identical target at 25 yards, just with a much bigger hole .

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Fast is fine;accurate is final

wow i guess this has happened to everyone then. i was at the range a month or so ago and had my winchester mod 190 out. i was just having some fun with it when a... well good word is boob showed up with his beretta px4 carbine. he fired a few rounds quickly at his target and with that im so bad look on he turned to me. i was loading my 22 rifle when i heard him laughing. i finshed loading it and put it to the side. after a cold range and some new targets i put up a full size silhouette. at 25yds i gave that blank target a nice happy face. about the time he noticed i picked up my 5906 and put all 16rds into the head. after which i turned to him and said have a nice day. its never almost never the gun but how much the shooter holding it practices.

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why am i in a handbasket???

i had that happen once then the laughter stopped after the saw my target that was set a three times the distance of theirs with a 50 round shot group the size of a dime size doesnt matter if youre accurate......lol

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bodypiercing by Smith&Wesson

.22.........yup, I love 'em. I'm the kind of a jerk that cares not what MOST others think.

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Go big or stay home

I like 22s..some people just dont know what they are missing out on.

Our club is heavily populated by shooters in the county .22 bullseye league. Were you to hassle people for shooting .22s, you wouldn't be very welcome there.

I do enjoy the stories about the .44 Mags et al shutting up bigmouths, but I have occasionally had the opposite problem. While I'm not such a good shot anymore, I do mostly manage to stay in the black, using two hands. At my local indoor range, we seem to have had a rash of beginners lately, safe, and not rowdy, but usually shooting humongous humanoid targets at the closer distances with their wondernines or other autoloaders. They are lucky to cover their results with a serving platter, much less a dinner plate. Meanwhile, I am quietly plinking away with a .22 at a target at the end of the range. I felt embarrassed for them when I reeled my target in, and I think they did, too, but at least they could tell themselves I was shooting a target pistol (my H&R USRA pistol). They'd have really **** if they had seen me do the same thing with my (accurized) Government Model.

Years back, my old boss and I would occasionally take an afternoon to do some serious .22 shooting at the local strip-pit dump (I miss the old illegal pit dumps-all have been reclaimed and closed). We were both very good shots and had a blast challenging each other to hit tiny bits of junk. I always had my .357 Magnum with me loaded with a HOT load of W296 under a 125 GR JSP, but I rarely shot it.

Every once in a while guys would show up and start blasting away with their wondernines. They couldn't hit the side of a barn. They would, however make snide remarks about to big grown men with their little kid .22's. We could shut most of them up by shooting a tight group around one of the 9MM holes in an old fridge. When that didn't work, I would quietly switch from my 617 to my Ruger GP100. Waiting until the scoffers were aiming their crunchentinkers (Jeff Cooper-woot!) to fire six quick, accurate shots with the ear splitting W296 loads from my Magnum. One guy dropped his Nine he was so startled

I recent years, I've not had anyone question my manhood for shooting .22's. People realize the value and fun to be had form the little rimfire.

I've seen the other range denizens shoot... their comments don't bother me... usually. I had to combine my hobbies on my last trip... I decided to bring my 617 and crossdress. One big meanie noticed my range bag didn't match my shoes - and told me I didn't know how to accessorize. I just hiked up my skirt and left!

Seriously, who cares what you plink with? I always offer a detractor - or just a new range mate - the opportunity to shoot my 4" 617. Their minimal response after shooting it is "Wow!". I've had several questions as to what I'd sell it for. Share the knowledge as to why you enjoy shooting it - including the ammo availability and cost.

At Tuesday's range trip, I had actually gone 'minimalist'... I shot the 4" 617 and 4" 64. My 4" 651, a .22WMR, came home clean. No 625, 627, 629, or even that 632 would be found in my bag - just a .22 and a .38. I had fun... lots of fun. I may go back this week - with the same revolvers. Oh... I don't crossdress... don't have the legs.

Stainz

I like .22 caliber guns and when good weather comes around i will shooting my .22 revolver at the range.

I have ran on to a few people at the range that have been curious as to why someone would shoot smallbore instead of a bigger caliber. I shoot both but it doesn't cost near as much to shoot 22 and its a blast.
Usually the ones that like to impress everyone and belittle the small bore shooters have an ego problem.
Sometimes they want to shoot your 22's which I have done after a little conversation and feel comfortable.
Very good practice and fun besides that.
I shoot HS Trophy and S&W M17 and Ruger Single Six. Great guns.


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James

I would imagine most of us learned to shoot using a .22lr. My grandad had me shooting big jacks at age 6 with an old marlin, still enjoy shooting 22lr today. If I find I need to feel macho I drag out my 300 H&H magnum, it brings me back to reality real quick!

I go to the range to shoot, not to chat. I can't imagine giving a **** about what the person next to me shoots ... or his opinion of what I'm shooting.

I have an AA conversion for my Glock 17. It's a hoot. So's my M&P 15/22.

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Get off my lawn.

I enjoy plinking with my .22's. I got really good shooting my old Remington Model 33 single shot and my Colt Woodsman. I used to buy bricks at a time and go through them pretty quickly.

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Vaya con Dios

I got snickered at by a couple of "tacti-cool" bolt-gun shooters at the range last fall. They had heavy-barrelled, scoped, very expensive rifles, and were shooting tiny groups at 100 yards. I whipped out my old Mossberg 340KC .22 bolt-action w/ iron sights and took aim at some clay pigeons that had been left on the 100 yard berm by a previous shooter. After a magazine's worth of ammo I figured out my hold, and then began busting the pigeons with the old gun. They stopped shooting and started watching, even spotting for me a couple of times when I had reduced the clay pigeons to pieces and started shooting them.

It was a fun time and they were impressed at how well the old rifle shot, even with less than great iron sights. I took a look at their one hole groups they'd been firing all afternoon and grinned. They took their shooting MUCH more seriously than I did, but we all had fun in the end.

At my club I am always getting people coming to look at what ever .22 I am shooting that day. One guy was commenting on how nice my model 18 looked. I offered to let him shoot it and he turned it down because he said if he shot it he would have to buy one. It is nice to be in a club where people are adults and respect each others preferences. One of the weekend competitions we have is a black powder cartridge silhouette, seeing those guys shoot open sighted at 500 yards is fun to watch.

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Jim
Many K and N Frames

Several comments:

Those Mossberg 340 and 640 models were great.

I live in a pretty rural area with large animals scattered around (moose, grizzly, etc). Everybody from 6 months on up seems to have a 44 mag and too much testosterone. What seems to shut them up was my 458 (before I traded it) or my Sharps with black powder. Interestingly, the "ping" of a Garand clip draws people like a magnet.

The little woman carried a j-frame in various shapes and styles for about 5 years. She never could get the hang of it. For various reasons, her shooting sucked. Oh, she got her SA shooting down somewhat but it was still more of a pattern than a group. I mean most would be in the chest area at 10 yards. Lack of hand strength, grips, etc. I've been shooting over 50 years and we tried everything I could think of.

She did not like semi-autos. I knew this was most likely just not being familiar. So, I insisted she shoot a .22 auto (my Woodsman). She got down to a 3-4" group with a couple of flyers per mag. Based on the premise that it's better to hit with a mouse gun than miss with a cannon, I had her start working her way up in calibers. From the .22 to a .25, then a .32, .380, 9mm & 38 Super.

We found her limit (at this time) was my Walther PP in .32 acp. She's shot enough to realize the limits of the cartridge. She did not like the .380 Colt and she definitely likes a DA pistol. Unfortunately, she fell in love with the PP (a collector's specimen).

Anyway, for Christmas I bought her a Bersa in .22. Same general size and shape as the PP and LOT less expensive to practice with. Importantly, fire controls are the same. She immediately got her groupings limited to the chest (as opposed to mostly in the body). Now, she's head-shooting zombies at 10 yards and starting to try for the eyes.

I have a simple solution to someone laughing at a .22 on the range. I just pull out the Henry Golden Boy and when they quit ooohing and ahhing I load it with .22 LR and say here, give it a try. (Don't want to waste my .22 shorts on strangers.) Usually results in another sale for Henry. I love .22s and in fact, I just bought a Mossberg 702 Plinkster yesterday so I may have to plan a range trip tomorrow. Interesting that Mossberg sells a 25 round mag for that little .22. Also interesting is the fact the 702 receiver looks almost exactly like the receiver on my Marlin 60.

CW

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μολὼν λαβέ

This comes at an appropriate time. Yesterday i went to the indoor range in town with a couple of 22's to check out.As I was shooting my 3" disk i noticed the other people must be shooting shotguns ,because they had holes all over their 2X3 foot bad guy targets. It was funny to see so many 9mm&45 cal holes being punched in the hostage 's the bad guy's were holding on the targets.

I always have a 617 at the range

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Kris
OGCA, NRA LM

They laughed when I sat down to the piano!

Some laugh at a .22 LR at the range? No accounting for some folks taste... or lack thereof. Personally, I delight in taking my 18-2 on outings in the woods and fields and... to the range.

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<><

Interesting comments. I ALWAYS start any range time with my '52 K-22 and work up to the bigger calibers. Most of the knuckleheads l encounter at the range seem to smirk at my little .22 LR... but when the guys take a look at the quality of the K-22 and what l'm able to do with, they usually make some comment bout being "old school". Then l unlimbers me 4506 or 4006, maybe one of the 625s... and let them do the talkin for me!

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Isaiah 55:8-9
Phil. 4:13

ErnieDeBord, you have fine tastes in .22 rifles. My friends don't laugh when I shoot my M17, but they do grin, and ask why I shoot anything else.

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Wayne
Torn & Frayed

Must be nice to be able to afford to shoot 9mm all the time. I'd have to get a part-time job!

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SV,14,17,21,28,29,39,66,586

I started bulseye practice with my Colt Woodsman MT.It was my first hand held gun.Only an idiot can scoff at a guy shooting a gun like that, or a similar one.
They only demonstrates their ignorance, first over the accuracy potential of the round, not to speak of the gun itself, a sure reminder of a time that will not return.
Regards, Ray

Had the same problem at the range. Shooting my K-22 while the guy next to me blasted away with his Glock 19. While he was busy reloading, I slipped my EDC out (a 357 snubby) and corked one off. He jumped about two feet straight up!

Let 'em laugh, they don't know what they are missing...

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"Shall not be infringed"

While I shoot and reload 9mm, .38 spec,. .40S&W, .45acp & .45 Colt, I am a .22lr guy at heart. I can shoot for 2 days for less than $20.00. Whats not to love?

Many of my centerfire semi-autos are setup with .22lr conversion units. I have never been sneered at and I make the range at the club twice a week every week.

Ever notice what caliber the holes are in the roof beams at the club?

LTC

If you want noise to quiet some busybody, The magna-porting on a 629 with 310 grain loads sure can make for some dirty looks. I do try not to do this very often.

on one of our trips to the range we set up next to a man and his two sons. dad was shooting a 308 with zombie killer ammo that he said"with puffed chest" cost 35$ for 20. making all kinds of noise about how well it shot. wife loads up the 15/22 and starts plinking away at the 100 yard target with him chuckling the whole time.
i ask if there is something funny about her shooting and he laughed and said it just sounds so funny compared to his. i asked how much a round cost him to shoot(as he had only fired 6 rounds in 1/2 hour). he said @ 1,25 round. i sat down went thru two mags turned looked him in the eye and said"theres about 75 cents". his boys giggled and he shut up.

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is it just me?

"Let he without a .22, cast the first bullet."

What? There's some other caliber than .22? Actually, it's my favorite caliber because of the the cost and the sheer fun. I just purchased a M&P9 which I absolutely think is the best auto I've ever shot. I have it's .22 counterpart, the M&P22 on order. I have learned a great deal shooting .22 that I can apply to the larger calibers I shoot, which is 9mm and .38. I was very fortunate to come into the possession of a Model 18-0 last fall. This is as you know the same frame and sights as a Model 15. It is really nice to have .22 companions of one's larger caliber guns, it allows a person to cheaply enjoy the pure pleasure and challenge of shooting. Hurray for the .22. And the rest of them too.

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Endeavor to persevere. <><

Sounds like the OP ran into Tactical Tommy.

Anybody who doesn't respect the utility of a .22 for training is no person from whom I would seek any advice on shooting.

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WWSSD?
What would Skeeter do?

Nobody ever made fun of any of my .22s. If they did, I suppose I could break out the .25 cal. Rigarmi pocket pistol and show them a thing or two!

My question is "Who doesn't shoot .22"?

Always remember, when at the range, I guarantee you will always have at least one Donkey roaming around.

The guy minding his own business with his .22 is just slowly eliminating that little center circle in the target and enjoying every minute of it.

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Doesn't hasta call me Johnson

I can afford to shoot all day with a .22.

I always take a .22 rifle and a .22 revolver to the range when I go.

Same here.When they see my grouping with my old sport king someone always seems to migrate down the range and strike up a conversation. Made a few friends.