does a man really need a .22 caliber revolver?

[wnr700]

After my 649 and 581, I have decided there is not much of a need for any other larger caliber handguns.

Slowly I have been working on a collection of .22 of varying sorts.

My next purchase will likely be a Model 63, followed by a Ruger of some make, followed by a Bersa...

I have a Model 17, Beretta 21a, and a Walther P22.

Nothing special, but all are a hoot to shoot.

Nothing like killing an hour at the range at very little cost.

I really think the Model 17 has done wonders for my shooting skills.

 

[stevieboy]

I consider myself extremely fortunate to own a 4" 617-1. Of all of my handguns it is the one that gets the most use. It comes with me to the range on virtually every trip; I average 100 rounds per week with this gun. In the past five years I've put over 25,000 rounds through it and it continues to run as well and shoot as accurately as it did the day that I bought it. It is an invaluable tool aside from being enormous fun to shoot. I taught myself how to shoot a revolver double action with this gun and I eliminated a nasty flinch that I'd acquired shooting large caliber rounds single action.

 

[sw44spl]

I have two 22cal pistols. one a model 63 and one a k22.I would say yes get one.

 

[LHS]

My son nd I always take my S&W 617 and Ruger Mark II with us to the range. After wepractice shooting the M&P 9, and shoot the 686 and 629, we go tot he .22's and have fun. Good for accuracy practice and we shoot an hour on about $10 bucks!

 

[Duke426]

Just about 35 years of shooting and I haven't found the need to own a .22 handgun yet.

The money spent on a .22 at this point could be better spent on a ton of reloading components for my .38's and .44's.

JMHO & YMMV

 

[586L-Frame]

I recently purchased two .22 LR revolvers.
They are a hoot to shoot. Fun for plinking!
I bought a 9-shot High Standard Sentinel R-103 snubnose
and a 6-shot S&W mdl 34-1 4" revolver.
I'm very happy with my purchases.
586L-Frame

 

[keith44spl]

I would rather think of all the good reasons I need and use 'em.

They're the outdoorsman's tool, as well as the range or farm hand's handy companion.
Carried in the pickup, a horseback riding fences or packin' into the hills. .22 are just the right tool.

Ya just gotta like usin' them .22 rimfires.
That's the key word right there...Usin' and mine get plenty of it.

Su Amigo,
Dave

 

[Joe in SC]

Every single man that fancies himself as a well rounded man's man should have at least two .22 long rifle handguns in his kit. The first should be a K-frame S&W. The other should be a Ruger semi-auto in one of it's many incarnations.

Shucks, even the women shooters that I know all have the above mentioned handguns in their vast holdings and most can outshoot the average man's man with them.

Seriously, rimfire handguns are among the most versatile that a gun person can have. Most importantly, they are without doubt the most fun you can have with a handgun.

 

[redbos]

YES. For every S&W centerfire handgun I buy, I save up , I wait and lurk, and pay more for another M17, M617,M41, etc... They are just too much fun. I also love .22 rifles.......

 

[ikor]

Sadly I no longer own any S&W .22 revolvers...but my son and grand sons do. It is a sad situation when a man has to beg his 10 year old grand son to shoot his little M34-1 or the 12 year old to pop off a few with his M17-2. But I am once again on the hunt...this time for an earlier M17 for myself. In the meantime I will have to console myself with an unfired High Standard HD Military 4 1/4in. that I am torn between selling and shooting...sigh.

 

[TAROMAN]

Ah, yes! The 34-1:

This little 2-incher has joined my 18-4:

Which, in turn had joined my 17-6:

And these guys share time with my BuckMark:

Sorry, S&W, but 22As were not available when I went shopping for a .22 semi-auto.

As for what's next? Probably a 4" BuckMark Micro.

 

[mkflyfisherman]

Need "a" .22 ??? Absolutely not.....

.............you need SEVERAL.

 

[ldp4570]

Oh man!! I wouldn't know what to do without atleast one 22 rifle and handgun. The Horror!!!!!!

Plus its like asking if you need a spare tire for your car!!

 

[caryg]

I have a Henry Survival rifle in 22 lr and that is all I wan't or need.

 

[CombatController]

I have only one thing to add outside of agreeing with all the reasons like training for yourself, new shooters, the cost, etc.

I had a little raccoon problem the other day at 5 am and the best way to drive them out of the little niche they were in by the gas line was primer fired .22's. Stung them but didn't wound them so they go off and die in pain. Racoons are hard enough to kill, esp with a .22.

Furthermore the neighbors don't like gunfire at 5 am!

So I say pest control plus the odd water moccasin in the yard when the dogs corner one, the snakeshot usually does for them and also does not alarm folks nearby.

 

[Ace-3]

Not sure if every man needs a 22 revolver, but the boy in every man sure does. There is nothing like a 22 revolver a brick or two of ammo a couple of friends and an afternoon of shooting up stuff. Plus it is one of the greatest learning tools for shooting double action there is. Dry fire with a bang.

 

[mkk41]

Judging from your question , "Does a MAN need a .22?" , I gather that you do not think owning a .22 is MACHO enough for you.

Many gun owners do not look at every firearm as a weapon. .22s are great fun for shooting in the basement with shorts/CB caps/Colibris. Great for teaching the kids , girlfriends , and friends who may not be seasoned shooters or like muzzle blast and recoil.

I also know a lot of macho geeks who bought the biggest blasters they could to impress themselves and others , but can't hit the inside of a barn.

 

[fyimo]

I said earlier in this thread that I like shooting 22 revolvers and semi auto pistols and that I own quite a few. I also own lots of other caliber S&W revolvers and most of guns are like new. I reload my own ammo so my cost savings isn't as high as other people who have to buy all their center fire ammo so my only justification for owning that many 22 handguns is the pure enjoyment they provide to me, my grand children, and my friends when we are at the range.

When I was in my 40's I shot a lot of 357 and 44 magnum ammo through my revolvers but as time wore on the need for all that power and punishing abuse to my hands and wrists made me grow tired of all that manly fun. I still shoot those calibers at the range but in smaller quantities but I shoot 5 times more 22 ammo then center fire ammo during the same range visit because it's relaxing and just plain fun. I guess being 67 changes your attitude on things a little as you get wiser.

I also subscribe to the fact that as others have stated and that is a 22lr revolver and rifle are a must have along with several bricks of ammo. This is because if things ever got really bad a man could hunt and protect himself for a long time with 1,000 22LR rounds stored in a light container or light weight ammo pouch.

The last of my revolvers to go would be my Model 18-3 S&W revolver in 22LR and my Model 15-4 in 38 special.

 

[Big'un]

If it wasn't for some of these little guys,I couldn't afford to spend near as much time at the range.They practically pay for themselves in no time.Just not quite as much fun as the magnums though.
Just a few of my mouse guns

 

[jerry46]

When I was growing up, everyone needed a centerfire rifle, a shotgun and a .22 rifle. Everything else was a want. So along with that, I guess I would say, if you have two handguns, one of them should be a .22.