Training on a .22

[FongP]

I was thinking of getting a .22 pistol to train on, since the bullets are so cheap for them. BUT, after shooting a friend's .22, I realize there is practically 0 recoil and it feels like shooting my pellet gun. Can some people chime in on the practicality of training on a .22 to ultimately shoot my .40 better?

[NeoWeird]

Training with rimfires is a good way to hone your target aquring, aiming, trigger control, etc. It also helps 'cure' flinch as you learn to not fear the recoil. .22s are great to train on, however you should avoid using them exclusively as it could create problems when you go to use your full size gun in an emergency situation. Still, better to put 2k rounds downrange with a .22 and then finish up 100 rounds with your normal gun than to put 200 rounds of you normal gun alone.

That's just my opinion though (and I love rimfires).

[sloguy]

with a 22 your practicing trigger pull. it will show when you use the 40 later.

what about a compensator mounted upside down on the 22? get that kick kicking( pun intended)

[cobra198]

I aggree with NeoWierd. Its nice to be able to practice a ton of rounds on the .22 to hone your skills. Sure, the recoil is light but you still need to have the basics down. Then you can always finish off with 50 or 100 rounds of the bigger stuff. Its the cost effective way for sure!

[kicker72]

I do the same here, anytime I go to the range the 22/45 comes along, with one brick of ammo.

[WolfMansDad]

Shooting a handgun well involves many skills. The .22 allows you to focus on most of them without the distraction of noise and recoil. It's much easier to learn good form first and then add recoil than it is to learn with the distraction of recoil from the beginning.

With the .22, or an air pistol, you master sight picture, trigger control, breathing, and a steady hold. You also develop the habit of shooting well without flinching. When you move up to a centerfire caliber, you then only have to work on managing recoil and maintaining your good habits, two relatively easy tasks once you have the basics down.

[maxicon]

A good compromise is a conversion kit, if it's available for your centerfire handgun, as it lets you practice with the same trigger, weight, and ergonomics.

That said, I shoot my Ruger MK512 a lot more often than I mount my Kadet on my CZ75B or my Ciener kit on my Milspec. The Ruger's much more accurate than either of the conversions, and allows me to really fine-tune my trigger control, breathing, etc.

So, what you really need is a good, accurate, dedicated .22, a centerfire handgun that takes a conversion kit, and the kit for it. This lets you get lots of lead downrange for a reasonable cost, and there's no better way to get your expertise up!