.22LR:The greatest thing since sliced bread?

A

American Eagle

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Has there ever been a caliber that has had a more profound impact in the shooting world than the .22LR? Some may think the .22LR is overrated, or that it is just not fun compared to guns that shoot a bigger piece of lead, but if you ask me, the .22LR is the must underrated caliber in history.

As a teaching tool: The .22LR, with it's low recoil and low cost is a great platform to introduce new shooters to firearms. It is not an intimidating caliber, so it is great for teaching proper shooting stance and marksmanship. Not to mention that it is so cheap that new shooters can practice with it and not break the bank.

As a plinker/recreational tool: Even experienced shooters can get a lot out of the .22LR. It is so cheap that anyone can spend hours shooting coke cans or paper targets without feeling guilty. A .22LR rifle can be incredibly accurate, and the low recoil is easy on your shoulders and body.

As a hunting/pest control tool: Got pesky rabbits/boar/squirrels or small rodents in your property and you need to get rid of them fast? Can you think of a better caliber for the job? Need some food in the woods and the only things you can find are small four legged creatures up in the trees or down in the brushes....or some pesky bird that won't shut up? I hope you brought your .22LR rifle with you...or else you'll be left wondering which plant is safe to eat and which one will kill you.

As a self-defense tool: Yes, the .22LR is not a reliable self-defense cartridge, but if you find yourself in a pinch and a .22LR is all you have within your reach, it sure beats anything else. As a woman in Virginia recently found out when a man tried to rape her, a .22LR to the would-be-rapist's heart was sure better than if she had not been carrying anything. She lived, he died.

As a sporting tool: Just ask Olympic Games shooters what they think of their .22LR pistols now that has become the defacto caliber of the games (before it was the .22 short.)

Availability of .22LR bullets and firearms, and economic factor: .22LR pistols and rifles can be had for very little money, and every gun shop worth your time will have a nice selection of .22LR pistols and rifles. Not to mention that you can find .22LR bricks of ammo just about everywhere, and at $18-$20 for 550 rounds it sure is cheap.

Need I say more about the .22LR? :D
 
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Many people dispise the .22LR because it gives no excuses.
If I am firing .45 I can blame recoil, the heavy weapon etc... But with, say, a Beretta Neos it's just me and the target. If the shots go all low and lateral it's me flinching....

Funny it may seem, in my country (Italy) you can have up to 1,500 round of 308, but just 200 of .22LR because the latter is a "pistol" ammo and therefore subject to the limit of 200 rounds.

K.
 
I forgot to mention, what other round do you know that will work in both semi-auto and bolt action rifles, pistols, and revolvers???:D

And yeah...looking at how long the .22LR has been in existence, I guess it is older than sliced bread. And judging by it's popularity, sliced bread might become obsolete long before the .22LR caliber ever goes out of use.
 
The 22lr is probably the most underrated round being made today. It is a great trail gun for small game. It is a good training and target round. There are cases where it has been used on large game or predators, when it was all that was available. The 22 short dates back to the 1850s so it is one of the oldest cartridges also. If I could have only one gun it would be a toss up between a 22 and a 12ga. :)
 
Amen. The .22 is my favorite for all of the reasons you have listed. My little Savage Mk II is enough to feed my people well.
 
Love the caliber! Would be lost without mine! Love spitting em out of whichever gun I am using and I wish I knew just how many I have fired! Some of the best shots I have ever made have been with my Buck Mark Target that I have had for twenty years.
 
I dunno.

Before .22 LR there was .22 long. Before that, .22 short.

Now there's .22 Magnum, which I prefer over LR. More useful for game and defense and still fun to plink with.

.22 is .22, as far as I'm concerned.
 
Colt Woodsmen. Most accurate pistol I own and in .22LR :D I enjoy shooting a .22 just as much as anything else. I dont have to worry about putting a huge hole into my pocket when I shoot 30+ rounds. I like this post, really gave a good outlook on what other people think of the .22 ... I have a few friends who swear to never own one because of how small the round is... I dont understand their thinking...
 
Nightsleeper: Unfortunately the .17HMR might drive your .22 Magnum into extinction. I'd be surprised if it's around in 20 years. The .22 Long is already an obsolete caliber, and the .22 short will also be there in 20 years (Olympic games just banned their use---> and it was mostly used by professional shooters.)

Only the .22LR has offered so much versatility that it has become a household staple, and has far out-shinned it's other .22 cousins. I think the .22LR will still be around long after many of the calibers we take for granted today have disappeared into the history books.
 
I forgot to mention, what other round do you know that will work in both semi-auto and bolt action rifles, pistols, and revolvers???
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22 Magnum
44 Magnum

But I agree the 22LR is great!
 
Ahhhhh, sliced bread is overrated. The .22LR is waaaay better. I have more .22's than anything else and shoot more 22LR than anything else. Ammo is cheap and accurate and still a whole lot of fun. It's the next best thing to the .22 mag. :D
btw - I don't think the .22 mag is going anywhere. The .17 was all the rage a few years back but lately in my area, I keep seeing more and more offerings on the .22Mag and not so much available on the .17 (although they sure try to push the ammo in the adds a lot).

.22 pistol leagues ... now there's the best thing since sliced bread. :cool:
 
you dont have to sell me, i am a big fan of the 22 in all the forms it takes. i have 22 single action and double action revolvers and semi autos. i have bolt, lever and semi auto 22 rifles. i might increase my 22 inventory but i can't see how i could cut it down.
 
Back in times when trapping was popular, the .22 LR was the cartridge of choice for those who took it up. I still have a Colt Woodsman that's been used more for that purpose than any other. It was my grandfather's gun, and he spent a lot of years on a trapline.

I killed s skunk with it a few nights back, so it's still doing the job after 70 years of steady use. Yep, it was made in 1941. Also have a Win 72 that may very well pre-date it.

So don't forget longevity of the firearms in the list of benefits of this little cartridge.

Daryl
 
It drives me nuts that I can shoot my $200 Buckmark far,far more accurately than any other handgun I own. It's an incredibly accurate little pistol, and a fantastic value.
That said, I've shot some sub-par .22lr handguns as well. My dad's 3"bbl Taurus 94 isn't that great of a shooter, though it's still easier to shoot than my .38 and .357 snubs.
 
Id beg to differ on the whole self defense thing with a .22, as I would never rely on it to save my life. Better than nothing yes, but a true SD caliber, absolutely not
 
Understatement.

.22LR:The greatest thing since sliced bread?
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I can slice my own bread, thankyouverymuch. Or tear of chunks with my bare hands ...... sliced bread is over-rated.

.22 lr, on the other hand, is indispensible......

.......ever try killing a rodent with a loaf of Wonder?

........ though I did actually kill a desert rat witha pettrified popcorn ball .......
 
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