Should beginners start with .22 or a major caliber?

Should beginners start out with a .22LR pistol to learn fundamentals?

  • Yes - start with .22 and move to a major later

    Votes: 105 80.2%

  • No - start with whatever major caliber and learn on that pistol

    Votes: 26 19.8%
  • Total voters
    131
  • Poll closed .
There is nothing wrong with starting with a pellet gun to learn sighting and trigger pull. I have seen many frustrated new shooters at the range. They all started with center fire pistols. Most of them trying to start with .40 caliber. I have offered to let them try a .22 pistol before giving up on the idea of pistol shooting. Those that tried a .22 pistol started talking to the people they were with about the need to get one and how much better it felt to shoot one and also hit the paper target too. I like starting people out with either pellet pistols or .22s. I think revolvers are the best and then move up to semi-auto if that is what they want to learn next.

I still shoot .22s a lot and probably always will. I believe about half of my pistols are .22s. Shooting should be enjoyable. If people don't enjoy what they are shooting what makes you think they will continue to practice enough to become proficient, let alone not develop many bad habits. There will always be the exception, but this works well for the majority of people.
 
I hope this question is appropriate for the thread. As someone facing this very decision, I was wondering what people thought of starting with 9mm then a month or two later getting a conversion kit for .22lr?

Not looking for suggestions on specific make/models(dont want to get it off topic), just what people think of someone new to handguns, going that route?

Any suggestions on makes/models are more than welcome in a PM though. :) Already suggested and being considered, cz75, sig22x and 1911 in 9mm.
 
I think a major caliber. I got a Ruger MKII .22 for my first gun and I didnt like it much and wanted something bigger after a few months. This was about age 13. I wanted a larger caliber and ended up with a Sig 220 which I did not like. I moved to a Beretta 92FS 9mm which was awesome but finally got my dream gun a 1911. I got rid of the 92FS and got a S&W 1911. I also got a S&W 5906 9mm. I missed the Beretta so I got another 9mm and I liked the 5906 which is an excellent gun. I prefer the 45 and I am better with it. However to the point I believe the 9mm is the best starter caliber. Any big bore caliber from 38/.380 and above is better to start with in my opinion. The 9mm is cheap and gives the shooter a good idea of the major calibers.
 
The first pistol I learned on at around 13 years old was my neighbors Colt 1911. We only had long guns in our house when I was a kid. The .22 is a great thing, but I don't believe its an essential learning tool, except to save money on ammo.
 
I only wish there were a pistol - something like a modern BHP but cheaper that had a .22 adapter for it.

If only someone made a setup like that...
 
I also learned on pellet pistol and I still practice with a pellet pistol. Breathing, grip, sight alignment, trigger control and follow through are all the same. Its not like if you screw these things up with a pellet pistol it's not going to matter - it definately is. Anything I do wrong will immediately show up - I'll miss the bullseye.

I actually like a trio of guns that gives a shooter the opportunity to shoot 4 different calibers.

The first one I'd get is the S&W 585-4 CO2 pellet pistol. It is a steel pistol with the heft and feel and action (for the most part) of larger S&W revolvers. It is a S&W revolver made for S&W by Umarex. The second one I'd get would be a S&W 617, and the third pistol I would get would be a S&W 686. I would get the 4" barrel versions of these pistols.

To me that would be a really nice progression and a wide range of calibers to fire.
 
Everyone should start with a .22lr. I understand the desire and fun that goes with shooting larger cartridges, but the .22 has low recoil, it's cheap and that means you can spend a lot of trigger time learning and or practicing to shoot.
 
.22, absolutely... for several reasons (most of which already pointed out):

- cheap ammo allows sufficient practice to be affordable

- light recoil and low muzzle flash do not intimidate new shooters and do not instill fear and flinch as do larger calibers. allow easier correction of bad habits

- low recoil and accuracy of the round instills confidence in new shooter, encourages them to shoot more and more often
 
I could make an arguement either way.

It was my intention to start my daughter with the single six, but here's how it went:

When the time was right, I happened to have my Blackhawk with me, so I started her out on .38 special. She liked it, but didn't like the loading/unloading process of a single action revolver. Next time out, I took the Hawk and the single six, she shot both, preferred the .38 over the .22. We trained with these 2 guns for a few sessions.

I then introduced her to a 9mm auto, and she's never looked back. She loves the gun and the round.

I'm glad I did get to teach her the basics with the revolvers.
 
The 9mm is a great starter round when getting into the major calibers. Plus it's just an excellent round in all aspects. I dont care about people who say its whimpy, it is more than enough to do the job. The caliber is cheap so you can shoot alot, has low recoil for beginners, and has good terminal ballistics. I am a 45 guy too mostly but I really like the 9mm. The high round count is very nice-- Some hollowpoint loads can get 400+ ft/Lbs and thats quite a bit of energy. @Leejack What type of 9mm is she shooting?
 
She has a 9VE and loves it, shoots the lights out with it too!;)

I mostly shoot my PT92 but she thinks it's too big.

Great ergos on the sigma for sure!
 
Nice thats cool you got her shooting to. We need as many people understanding firearms as possible. The Sigma does seem to have nice ergonomics. I am more of a steel guy my 9mm is a 5906. I fired a 9mm Sigma at my range though and did like it. How is the PT92 I have tried a Beretta 92FS but have always wanted to try a Taurus. Can you carry it cocked n locked or is it a decocker. The PT92/92FS is a big gun though and to think its a 9mm. I believe many comments have been made about them being oversized but they are nice smooth shooting guns.
 
I have years of experience with the PT and M9, love-em both!

The PT has a frame mounted 3 position lever, you can carry condition 1 with it. You can also decock it and carry with safety on or off. I've put thousands through them, never a problem.

I've heard similar complaints like my daughters, from some in the military about the size of the M9, but for me it works just fine.

As far as the sigma goes, if you can master the trigger, the gun is as natural a pointer as you'll find. My girl says it was molded for her hand, again she loves it to death.
 
Thats awesome you can Cond. 1 the gun and decock it as well. The size is fine to me to I love the way the Beretta feels and shoots. Come to think of it a guy at the range let me fire 10rds out of his PT92. I did well with it and hit all in 9's a little group. It had a sweet trigger just like the 92FS. I know what your daughter means about the gun molded for her hand. I feel the exact same way about the 1911.
 
I vote .22LR. And I will add a note; most people can't shoot handguns very well at all. I know this will get me flamed and draw out lots of great shot stories, but stop and think and picture what you see at the range when you're shooting. Do you see lots of little knots of holes close together? Or do you see target uprights blown to bits from 7 yards? Yeah, I've rebuilt a few target stands too...

What really amazes me is when I watch somebody struggling and obviously frustrated at not doing as well as they think they should. If they're willing to accept a few pointers, I will give a couple of tips (Watch the front sight, squeeze the trigger, don't mash it, let the gun recoil, etc.) and then let them try one of my .22s. Normally it's like night and day as they really focus on what they are doing and clang the steel plates with mild little Plinks. I like to think at least one of those people went out and started practicing with "only a .22" a little more and became a better shot after that.
 
I started with a Black powder Revolver. Remington Army replica. Mostly because I was 18 and wanted a pistol. I learned good basics from a classmate. Later I moved on to the CMSU Pistol team were SSG Schoengert beat even more of the basics into my head.

I recommend the BP as a starter pistol.
 
I think the only .22 anyone should start with is the Walther 22 because it resembles the P99. I still think people should start with a major caliber and get used to what its like. I did that and I consider myself a pretty good shot and thats not just my opinion. I am not trying to boast mind you.
 
I just started out my lady with a .45 and she did
excellent. However, we now use a .22 as well with
the duty calibers.
 
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