The true value of .22 firearms

[minimalbrat]

I'm always on the look out for the next rimfire! Al tho not in the same sense as some would think, a 22 rimfire pistol has been my SD pistol of choice for a lot of years. its my carry gun while I weed whack, or ride the tractor. I carry with shorts or recently CCI Quiets. When the need arises I dont always have ear protection available. DR

This is something I have often thought about. I have never shot without ear protection. If I ever need, I pray I never do, to shoot my gun is the sound going to distract me? I have no idea what gun shots sound l like without ear protection except those we hear from hunters off in the distance.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[gasmitty]

This is something I have often thought about. I have never shot without ear protection. If I ever need, I pray I never do, to shoot my gun is the sound going to distract me? I have no idea what gun shots sound l like without ear protection except those we hear from hunters off in the distance.

You can shoot a .22 rifle without earpro nearly forever with scant chance of damaging your hearing (and that's not a recommendation!), but a .22 pistol is pretty loud.

[gasmitty]

Love owning and shooting .22s and need more of 'em.

My favorites here among the .22 rifles on hand are:

Winchester Model 1890 pump
U. S. Springfield Model 1922
Winchester Model 57

Favorite handguns:

Smith & Wesson Model 17 K-22
Colt Woodsman Target 1st Series

Want to add some or all of the following:

Rifles
Winchester Model 52
Winchester Model 63
CZ 455
Remington Model 24/241
Marlin Model 39

Hanguns
Smith & Wesson Model 41
Smith & Wesson Model 18
Smith & Wesson Model 34
Colt Officer's Model Match
Colt Diamondback

I dearly love my grandfather's 1890, and it's in very good condition. The two things that keep me from shooting it more are its .22 Long chambering and the peened chamber from too much dry firing over the years. I occasionally trip over bricks of .22 Long, but I hesitate to have the chamber damage addressed - don't know if it'll do mare harm than good. But what a great, fun gun!

Bryan, your RF collection sounds like a national treasure... a Model 52 and a Diamondback .22 alone get my juices flowing!

[dangerranger]

This is something I have often thought about. I have never shot without ear protection. If I ever need, I pray I never do, to shoot my gun is the sound going to distract me? I have no idea what gun shots sound l like without ear protection except those we hear from hunters off in the distance.

I wouldn't target shoot without ear protection But Ive hunted all my life without any. When I'm focused on my shooting I don't even notice the loud report. But that's only an occasional shot mostly with a long gun, and out in open fields. Handguns are a different story tho. They are closer to the ear and a higher pitch that can quickly do serious damage to your hearing. One or two unprotected shots from a hand gun would leave me repeating "What?" for most of the day after. I can imagine what it would sound like in a confined space! The 22 shorts, and the 22 CCI Quiets are still loud but not punishing. Even with them if I were target shooting Id cover my ears. I will say this tho, In the last few years electronic hearing protection has come a long way. They are to the point now that I could wear them while hunting. I think Ill let the kids know that if they all went in together on a good pair of muffs for Christmas Id get more use from them than a few new ties or shirts! DR

[dangerranger]

I dearly love my grandfather's 1890, and it's in very good condition. The two things that keep me from shooting it more are its .22 Long chambering and the peened chamber from too much dry firing over the years. I occasionally trip over bricks of .22 Long, but I hesitate to have the chamber damage addressed - don't know if it'll do mare harm than good. But what a great, fun gun!

Bryan, your RF collection sounds like a national treasure... a Model 52 and a Diamondback .22 alone get my juices flowing!

I have a Remington model12 that I had the chamber swaged to repair some dry firing damage. Its not a target gun But being able to shoot it is a lot of fun and I still take it out once in a while to hunt cottontails. Its a simple repair if you have the right tool. And made an old gun shoot again!

.22 CHAMBER IRONING TOOL | Brownells

[neverenough]

.22 lr.......(could stand for Lots of Reasons)!

Pretty hard to beat .22 for fun and practice!

I have a Colt "Pre"-Woodsman (1920-1921). What a tackdriver! Also a Colt Government Model .22lr (although not REALLY a Colt), but what a good time I have with it!

neverenough

[Scramble4a5]

My favorite .22 is my only .22 - Ruger SR22. Fun to shoot, inexpensive ammunition, great practice shooter.

[bmcgilvray]

I dearly love my grandfather's 1890, and it's in very good condition. The two things that keep me from shooting it more are its .22 Long chambering and the peened chamber from too much dry firing over the years. I occasionally trip over bricks of .22 Long, but I hesitate to have the chamber damage addressed - don't know if it'll do mare harm than good. But what a great, fun gun!

Bryan, your RF collection sounds like a national treasure... a Model 52 and a Diamondback .22 alone get my juices flowing!

No, no, no! That's the direction that I'd like to take my .22 menagerie. I currently only have three .22 handguns and don't know the number of .22 rifles, six or seven? Only the special favorites were listed though I also love the old Remington "500" series: Models 510, 511, 512, and 513T. Outstanding shooters they are and with dimensions to fit an adult. Shame they aren't still produced as they were, and are, a great value.

Wonder if that peened chamber would clean up. Does it affect reliability? Not certain how a gunsmith could clean it up if it was truly bad and am wondering if it is not that big a deal. I'd probably be shooting the hooey out of it like I do my Model 1890. The design is very robust. Browning intended to take the design into a center fire direction for cartridges like .25-20 and .32-20 and with tweaking .38-40 and .44-40 so the .22 rim fire is no big deal.

Can you just imagine a Winchester pump .32-20?!

[kapnketel]

I have been in the market for a 1911 in .22. Just haven't "pulled the trigger". After a Shield for the wife...

[Smitty901]

.22 put a lot of food on the table.

[ANGLICO]

Up close and personal (< 100 meters scoped long rifle or < 15 meters for a pistol), and if it is what you have, I will count on my .22 for well aimed shots. Granted, that is probably more than one well aimed shot to have desired effects on the Tango. And I am talking about the hottest grain LR frag type. But lead will do.

[HotGuns]

I've got around a dozen .22's and I like them all.
I recently got a CZ 455 that is different from all others.
It has a Thompsom Machine Integrally Suppressed barrel on it. Its so new that I havent scoped it yet, but I will.
Serial No. 002.
It's that new.

[rammerjammer]

I have Ruger MKIII Target Model, an SP101 22LR and have access to a 10/22 amongst other 22lr rifles. I don't plan on buying anymore 22 firearms anytime soon but I love shooting them just for cost reasons.

Back when I started shooting pistols my first gun was a Ruger P90 45ACP. I soon learned how expensive that is to shoot so I had to add a 22. Every gun guy should have some sort of 22, a revolver and a 1911. I'm just short the 1911 now.

[lizjimbo]

Any 22 autoloader will do just fine. I dance with all the girls!

[ghost tracker]

When you're old it's only natural that you've owned & shot a LOT of .22 rifles & pistols. I still have several with some sentimental value. But if I'm going shooting, nothing matches my Volquartsen factory rifles.

I have been in the market for a 1911 in .22. Just haven't "pulled the trigger".

One, single word solves your 1911/.22 pistol quandary. "Marvel", just ask anyone who owes one.