9mm or .22?

[tgunsmoke]

I'm new here, so hopefully I'm posting in the right place for this question!

I'm a female and new to guns for the most part... I am making my first handgun purchase and have been going back and forth between choosing a 9mm or a .22. I initially wanted the Ruger SR22, but I am aware of the shortage of ammo and I have heard from most people that it is not a good choice for self defense. (And yes I know it is not CA approved but I was going to opt for the SSE)

The main use for a gun right now would be target practice, in which I think a .22 would be a good first pick because of price and lack of recoil. However, the lack of available ammo is a concern for me. Is there any sign of increased availability of .22 lr ammo? I would like to avoid ordering online if possible.

I am taking a handgun class, a few lessons, and I will be renting a variety of guns before I make my choice, but any input and knowledge is welcomed! And specific gun suggestions are welcomed too, that might help with choosing which guns to rent.

Thanks!

[spitter3]

9mm, centerfire is more reliable then rimfire for self defence,

[hossb7]

For target practice you're on the right track with .22lr, however prices are still highly inflated (think 4-5x the cost).

For a good all around shooting caliber 9mm is an excellent choice. Ammo is available for decent prices and there are a number of excellent guns to choose from. I'd suggest first looking at the Gen 4 Glock 19 or S&W M&P 9mm and if for some bizzare reason those don't jive, then branch out.

[Standard]

For target practice you're on the right track with .22lr, however prices are still highly inflated (think 4-5x the cost).

For a good all around shooting caliber 9mm is an excellent choice. Ammo is available for decent prices and there are a number of excellent guns to choose from. I'd suggest first looking at the Gen 4 Glock 19 or S&W M&P 9mm and if for some bizzare reason those don't jive, then branch out.

This man speaks sense.
.22lr is a great caliber for fun, practice and small game.
9mm is great all around.

[pkc168]

Get a 22 to practice first. My wife could never hit the target with the 9mm at 7 yard, but she did nicely with the 22.

[madoka]

Take a look at the M&P 22. Great 22LR gun and it would be cheaper than the Ruger SR22. One box of 22 would last you a while and would still be WAY cheaper than 9mm. I just took my cousin out shooting for the first time and she preferred 22. You should try both and decide what you like. Remember shot placement is more important than the stopping power of a round. Plus, you're a lot less likely to go deaf from shooting 22 indoors without hearing protection in a SD situation.

Try going out to one of the Women on Target events if you can.

[Fishslayer]

The biggest knock on .22LR as a self defense round is reliability of the rimfire ammo. Personally, I would not be overly uncomfortable with 10 rds of Mini Mags on tap. Don't recall one of those failing to go bang.

10 rds of .22 center mass > .44 Magnum that misses.

And ammo is available.

[steel30]

.22 ammo although inflated is still cheaper than 9mm being around $55-$65 per brick 500 rounds, I would go with .22 and be on the hunt for a 9mm. Shoot as many 9mm as you can so you can make the best choice. Good Luck!

[sholling]

I agree with the others, 22LR ammo is in too short supply, and 9mm is much-much-much more suitable for self defense. Unless you have large hands I'd look for a Smith & Wesson M&P9 (1st choice at ~$530) or a Smith & Wesson SD9 (~$400). Glocks are good guns but the thick-blocky grips can be too large for small-medium sized hands. You'll find that working the slides on the S&Ws are easier than most $400-500 pistols.

[Javi]

If it were September 2013, I would have recommended that Ruger as your first handgun for target practice but it's hard to find & way too expensive when you do(for the most part). Go for 9mm!

[smith and wesson]

I'd go with a 9mm first. Then if you really want to get good at shooting supplement with a .22 to really hone your accuracy.

[Section 101]

go rent one of each at a gun range. Start with the .22 then try the 9.

[plumbum]

A good .22 makes for a lot of training and practice, but isn't ideal for a defensive firearm. I carried a .22 for a year and a half, and I felt confident it was sufficient - until I found myself in a position that I realized it would not be. Thankfully, the situation was resolved without giving myself an opportunity to find out.

Stick with a 9mm; you can train with it and enjoy shooting it, and not break the bank.

[don_W]

Welcome tgunsmok,
Depending what you price range is, there is the Sig P226.
You can get it 9mm or 22.Then get a caliber exchange kit and
end up with one gun 2 calibers.

[mievil]

Agreed. Best thing to really do here if you are unsure would be to get a pistol that can do multiple calibers. Advantage Arms does a upper for a Glock that will do 22lr. So you could drop that on a G17 and have a 9 and a .22 on the same frame. Great for target and saving money on ammo, and practice with the 9 and keep the 9 upper on while stored at home for Self Defense. CZ has this option as well, but the Kadet upper is about impossible to find these days.