Using .22LR as a training tool?

[Rover]

My first handgun was a 9mm, and even with a few classes, I sucked as pistol shooter. I would be fine if a morbidly obese person entered my home, but if the anorexic mafia wanted my TV, there's no way I could have hit them.

Then I bought a 22/45, and shot the F out of it, along with a few more lessons. It has cured my flinch, which was the majority of my problem, and because ammo is about $0.03/round I can shoot it as much as I want and never even think about what it costs. I'm sure a .22 conversion would have worked just as well, but as far as I'm aware there still isn't one for the XD9, but now that I can shoot my 9mm as well as my other centerfire handguns pretty well, it's nice to have a whole other pistol to teach friends to shoot with, plink with, etc. Having shot many .22 conversions as well, I can tell you the 22/45 is a hell of a lot more accurate than any of them (mine has a 6" bull barrel), which adds a whole other level of fun to shooting .22s.

My recommendation is, if funds allow you to, buy both a .22 target pistol and the conversion. The .22 dedicated pistol will allow you to shoot on the cheap just for the heck of it, and is a great tool to teach new shooters with, and the .22 conversion will allow you to practice the ergonomics of your pistol on the cheap.

Check the local shops for deals, got my Ruger from my local shop for $225 or so with 5 magazines. I need to buy another one though, it's like the last drum stick in a bucket of KFC when I go shooting with my friends everybody fights over who gets it, doesn't matter what else is in our pile of guns for the day, it never gets a break.

[sd1023x]

A good article that breaks it down somewhat. Your opinion may vary.

http://pistol-training.com/archives/2302

[qaz987]

use that $350 to buy a reloading press and all the reloading goodies. then shoot for 10 cents a round. and you wont have to worry about the handgun ammo ban. do the math on that

some guys like to practice with 22. but for me, I didn't get better until I started shooting magnums regularly.

I agree 100%.

[GunNutz]

I was just talking about this with my buddy, who is considering getting a .22 conversion kit for his para. Personally, I chose to buy a separate .22 altogether because it was only like $100 more than a conversion kit to get a target pistol with adjustable sights, which is fun as hell and accurate.

With the kit, you have the advantage of using the same sight picture, ergos, etc that you will be shooting your larger caliber rounds out of. But the gun will shoot dramatically different, most likely have a different point of impact and a different feel about it.

.22 is one of my favorite rounds to shoot, and it's cheap, but I prefer to have a separate pistol. Just my opinion. I mean, what's the point of having that big old safe, if I don't try to fill her up?

[B Strong]

I'm a big fan of high quality .22 conversion kits, with this caveat:

The conversion must run 100%, and you must understand that while you are gaining trigger time, you are not experiencing the exact function wrt recoil as you would with the standard centerfire caliber.

Training with it for anything other than basic bullseye target shooting isn't really training you for real world defensive use.

Even the Colt Ace .22, while it gives a better recoil simulation, isn't that good for practical defensive use training.

My Kimber conversion kit on my TLR/RLII is going on 10K rounds though, so I still vote with my trigger finger.

[Sinixstar]

I'd say go for it. 1900 rounds of 22lr is NOT difficult to go through. I've gone through 500+ in a single range outing.

I think it is definately worth it to have a .22 to train with. If it's a conversion kit that fits to your primary weapon, so much the better. Training your eyes, developing better trigger control, all the 'technical' aspects of shooting - you can practice super cheap and super easy with the .22 over a bigger caliber such as the 9mm.
It's also a great tool for helping rid yourself of a flinch. I bring my Browning buckmark to the range with me every time I go. Once I run some .45 and feel myself getting twitchy, or my grip tightening too much from recoil - I jump on the .22. Few minutes later my hands calm back down and i'm back to normal.

In short - it's absolutely worth the money - do it.

[JakiChan]

I appreciate all the input. I am leaning towards getting my P226 and then picking up a .22 kit a month later or so. Cars, home theater, now guns...why can't I have a cheap hobby for once?

[9mmepiphany]

just a note 2000 rounds is only 40rds (less than a box) per week...if you take 2 weeks off a year. plus 50 rounds of .22lr in focused practice will do more for you than 50 rounds of 9mm...focus being on trigger control

i got the conversion kit for a Sig 226 when they first came out and then i got a 226ST to put it on. i have way more .22lr rounds through it than 9mm, but then i'm still trying to get used to it's trigger. i had the action tuned and sent the kit along to ensure everything was balanced together.

i have a Ruger Mk II target with the 5.5"bbl and nice Hogue rubber grips that i hardly every take out since i got the kit...i'm about ready to sell it

it's a shame we can't get the Sig 2-step 226 here in CA. you get a 226 with the .22lr upper and a coupon for the CF upper, you basically get the conversion kit for free

[Jonathan Doe]

I like 22's. That is why I bought 22LR conversion kits for P226, 92FS and 1911 on top of 22 caliber firearms that I have. It is fun to shoot also.

[stix213]

One thing to keep in mind is when you shoot .22LR, at least for me, I end up shooting more than I would normally with a round with more kick to it.