Overlooked basic.

[Rusty S]

In the thread " I need help picking a handgun " there was some interesting and helpful advice given.

But I've been getting tired of the hype on the latest ultimate hi-cap defense pistol and assault rifles for defending your home. I openly admit I need to take my own advice on this as well. Matter of fact, I plan to buy two guns, a rifle and pistol, ASAP.

A lot of people told "need help" to get a DA revolver. NOBODY told him to get a DA revolver that had a direct 22 counterpart.

If you own a S&W J or K frame you can get a matching rimfire. Colt Diamondbacks come in 38 and 22. Ruger SP101's likewise. Got an old K-38? pick up a K-22. A Chiefs Special? get the Kit Gun.

Who's going to be better defended - A guy with a double stack 45 racegun and a 50 round box of ammo thru it for practice or a guy with a K-38 who's burned a 50 caliber ammo can full of 22's ( about 6,000 rounds ) thru his K-22?

I'm going to take my own advice. My eyes are now on the lookout for an old K-22, a 22 counterpart to the 4" K, or a Diamondback. Also a 9422, even if I have to sell my Glock 17Longslide to pay for it.

We get toyhappy and forget it isn't the gun but the man behind it who should be feared. Anyone see anything wrong with the above logic?

 

[Andrewh]

I don't see a flaw, but any practice will do. And it doesn't have to be a 22 counter part. Even an air pistol for practice is better than no practice. My thoughts have been learn to shoot. Not any gun in particular. Once you get shooting down, you should be able to pick up any gun and shoot accuratly.

 

[Coronach]

I agree wholeheartedly, and no, I didn't mention it when I advised him to get the DA revolver.

You're correct, of course. The best training is with the gun you will use and the ammo you will feed it. That, however, isn't likely to happen with many people. The further away from this you get the less valuable the practice is....but ANY practice is wildly better than no practice at all...and if the option is practice with a .22 rimfire or no practice at all, I'll take the former any day.

BTW, I followed this logic and bought a .22 S&W a few years back, since I was a po college student at the time and feeding my 9mm would have meant a lot less beer money. Priorities.

Mike


------------------
"A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects." -Robert Heinlein

 

[Matt VDW]

Obviously, practice is important. Each shooter will have to examine his or her own circumstances to determine the best strategy to maximize the amount and quality of practice time.

For many shooters, time is a bigger constraint than the cost of ammo. If, for instance, I only have enough time to shoot 150 rounds a month, it will take me about a year and a half to recoup the cost of a .22 revolver in ammo savings, and I still won't have the full benefit I'd have from shooting the actual defense gun in practice.

Then there's the psychological hurdle of buying not just one gun, but two. A new shooter contemplating a $300-$500 investment in a handgun, plus eye and ear protection, ammo, cleaning gear, and perhaps a quick access safe is not going to be very receptive to the idea of laying out another $300 or so for a second handgun.

A novice might be better served by investing in some professional training to learn HOW to practice before buying a .22 handgun to practice cheaply.