For more "seasoned shooters", do you still shoot .22 or .380 handguns?

[Che762x39]

.22 rifle and pistol great for showing new shooters the basics.

.380 ACP? I had one 30 years ago and I even reloaded for it but it is a rather useless caliber, JMHO.

[Che762x39]

The correct answer was bacon.

[k1dude]

I agree for newbies that .22s allows the practice of the basics, but well "seasoned shooters" should already have that down with the larger calibers. Maybe I'm misunderstanding this, but do you mean you periodically go back to .22s to focus on the basics?

Some of the top 3-gun pros in the world use .22's and airsoft in their daily practice. Trigger time is trigger time no matter the caliber. It's to maintain their muscle memory and trigger discipline. That smooth and fast trigger pull without moving the gun matters regardless of the gun you're shooting.

Drawing fast and consistent doesn't matter what caliber. Reloading fast and consistent doesn't matter what caliber. Pointing in and being right on target doesn't matter what caliber. Perfecting and maintaining your grip doesn't matter what caliber. Perfecting and maintaining your trigger squeeze during rapid fire doesn't matter what caliber.

The pros use .22 because it's way cheaper to practice those fundamentals without breaking the bank. The pros use airsoft because they can practice at home any hour of the day or night without having to go to the range.

You need tens of thousands of cycles to practice each and every aspect of shooting to be competitive. As an amateur, how can you afford to get good enough to go pro unless you're rich? .22 and airsoft are your friend.

[hambam105]

My vote is the .380acp cartridge is beyond useless. But the pistols that are chambered for that cartridge are fun to shoot. So I'll just have to sacrifice and force myself to shoot & reload a couple thousand more 380 rounds. Poor me.

McRifle Mayor;
If you want to keep up you have to lighten-up and see the humor. Look at the OP's question;" "Seasoned shooters"...do you still shoot .380s & .22 handguns?" "

Of course I'm still shooting those calibers, but shooting those two calibers at what? Paper targets, tin cans, steal targets. Geeze.

[Lead Waster]

I used to bring a Ruger 22/45 to every range session...until the flippers grabbed hold of the .22lr market and skyrocketted the price of .22lr when you could find it. Though it was still cheaper, I wanted to save the .22 for my kids. I see .22 in stock in good quantities now, probably the only good side of the Ammo Restrictions.

[NPFreedom]

Yes on 22.
No on 380. They are too expensive, rather shoot 9mm.

[CSACANNONEER]

I own more firearms chambered in .22lr than any other cartridge. I also own a few chambered in .22 short, .22 long, .22 mag and .22 shotshell (both lr and mag in different guns) only. They will always be the most fun guns to shoot and the best training guns possible. As far as .380 goes, it took me several decades before buying anything chambered in .380. Now, I own a .380 Hi Point and a P238. Both guns are very fun to shoot. .380 is actually a little cheaper to reload than 9mm but, both cost about the same as .22lr. Cost of ammo is not an issue for me.

[Calif Hunter]

I have an LCP on my CCW so whenever I am at the range, I run a mag through it, at least. I have several .22 pistols and shoot them as well. I usually keep an H&R 999 on the dashboard when I am prairie dog hunting for the close shots that happen occasionally.

[keith1911]

I still shoot a lot of .22LR, it's cheap and fun.

[CinnamonBear723]

Yes on .22LR. I actually just picked up a S&W M41.

Very nice. Shooting .22 is a lot of fun

[pkc168]

What's not to like about the .22LR? 380 is more expensive than 9, so i'd prefer 9 over 380.

[hambam105]

.380acp 1x fired decent brass is getting a bit more difficult to find hence more expensive. Must be an, 'Economy of Scale', thing but I wouldn't know such business terms because I only went to public school.

I hear that many European LE types still consider or refer to both 380acp and32acp as major calibers. Their rendition of Inspector Calahan must shoot a 38 Super equivalent.

[area51]

What's not to like about the .22LR? 380 is more expensive than 9, so i'd prefer 9 over 380.

Not if you reload....

[tuna quesadilla]

I own more firearms chambered in .22lr than any other cartridge. (snip)

Same here. You absolutely cannot overlook the training value of .22LR or its other rimfire companions. I shoot more .22 now than I ever have.

[Libertyvirgins]

22 will outlive every other caliber