The Benefits of .22 LR

By , June 22, 2009 3:52 pm

The .22 LR handgun is often looked down upon. Many people claim that the .22 LR cartridge, a least in a handgun, is “pointless”, “ineffective”, or “a waste”. Still more believe that a .22 LR pistol has only very limited use for training purposes.

In reality, .22 LR handguns have much more versatility and use. For starters, a .22 LR handgun is close to perfection for training. Due to the low recoil and noise, a new shooter will not develop a flinch, or other bad behaviors, if they start off with a .22. These bad habits are extremely difficult to get rid of — it is much better to prevent them from developing in the first place.

But that is only the beginning of the benefits of a .22 LR handgun. One of the most compelling reasons why every shooter should own a .22 LR handgun is the extremely low cost of ammunition. For the price of 50 rounds of larger caliber ammunition (9mm, .45 ACP, .40 S&W, etc.), you can buy 200-250 rounds of high-quality .22 LR ammunition. These extreme savings can easily pay for the cost of an accurate and reliable .22 LR handgun in just a few thousand rounds. And you will have had four to five times the amount of live-fire practice, which will help improve your shooting skills immensely even if you are already an experienced shooter.

The huge cost savings for .22 LR ammunition is even more important due to the rapid overall rise in cost for all ammunition we have seen recently. Too many people are not heading to the shooting range as often as they would like because it simply costs far too much to run more than a couple dozen rounds through their larger-caliber handguns. I have a hunch that the sales and popularity of .22 LR handguns will skyrocket in the near future. Being able to shoot hundreds of rounds for just a few bucks is a very strong driving force.

So we’ve established that a .22 LR handgun is a wonderful training aid for shooters of all skill levels, and that .22 LR ammunition is dirt cheap. What else is a .22 good for? Loads of fun! Shooting a .22 LR handgun, be it for informal plinking or more serious target practice at the range, is simply a great time.

If you are coming to realize the benefits that owning a good, accurate, and reliable .22 LR handgun offers, you may be wondering which models are the best in your price range. That’s where www.best22cal.com comes in — to let you know what is out there, and what is good or not so good. Here you’ll find information, reviews, links to articles, and much more about the best (and not so best) .22 LR handguns out on the market. You’ll also find a public forum where you can talk directly to others about their thoughts and experiences with .22 LR handguns.

91 Responses to “The Benefits of .22 LR”

  1. billynauert says:

    to veegee iv also herd the 22 short will be phased out

  2. billynauert says:

    also i have a friend who is convensed that a 22lr is not deadly and iv tryed to explain to him if theres a man comeing at me and i put 2 or 3 cci stingers into him …its not going to tickle

    • sidneydo5 says:

      Even with higher-caliber weapons, you’ll still be only truly effective going for head-shots, if it ever did (God forbid) come to a home-invasion sitch.

    • Rob says:

      Of all the deaths from gunshot wounds, about 65% are from .22LR. People don’t take the round seriously enough. They deserve even more respect than the larger calibers.

    • Leon says:

      Location,location,location.

    • Steven Archibald says:

      Don’t remember where I found the stats, but:
      Likelihood of death from a single shot of any caliber was about 60%.
      Likelihood of death from multiple shots of any caliber was close to 100%.
      Therefore, more small shots >= 1 big shot…

    • Jim says:

      My buddies x-wife killed a man with a 22lr rifle. He was a BIG guy. Kicked in her door and it kicked in the whole door and frame! Her young son had a fire extinguisher and sprayed him in the face while Mom fired the 22. He’s dead now.

      • Tony says:

        Nice team work.

        • Barney Ruble says:

          I have a friend, we go shooting a lot, he & I have BIG guns, he told me one day that he did not consider a 22LR a real rifle, I politely told him to walk 100 yards away & I’ll shoot you in the head, then try to tell me that again, he would not go for the challenge, then at 100 yards by scope set for 100+ yards I kept a beer can bouncing around til I stopped shooting, he says, DAMN!!! I says YEPPERS!!!!!!!!

      • Barney Ruble says:

        Good for you good for you! Thank your Son for his help brave young man, you’re a brave Woman to have the ability to defend yourself & you did, God Bless You & Your Son, you did the RIGHT thing and I hope you know this!!!

  3. paulallen says:

    You should tell your friend that the .22lr caliber is responsible for more firearms related deaths every year than almost all other calibers combined. Truth.

  4. Bobchuck says:

    The shooter used a Ruger Mark III in killing the three kids in the Ohio HS shootings.

  5. BOOG says:

    I have a p22 and a 40 cal and i love the 22 more

  6. rcflyr says:

    Why are these comments stating that pistols kill people. Get real. PEOPLE KILL PEOPLE

    • Raymond Stone says:

      Glad too see someone else knows that it is people who kill people not the firearm.I think we need to express that more often.

    • Mac says:

      People kill people way more effectively with guns. Thats why everybody likes them. Lets not be simple about it.

    • justin says:

      The comments are merely reinforcing the fact that even small .22 LR pistols can easily cause a lethal wound. Too many people don’t respect the lethality of these tiny little rounds of ammunition.

      It’s still a gun, and it needs to be handled and respected with the same amount of caution as any other gun.

  7. Shoe says:

    If i remember correctly, the Isrealis, at one time, tried to use .22cal for crowd control. But the high number of fatalities it caused forced them back to rubber bullets.

    • Kerplunk says:

      As did the Nam era SOG teams and SEALS and worked well for their purpose. Not a self defence caliber but great for assassination.

  8. Jethro says:

    Working in a Trama Center, Seeing an average of a shooting every Fri and Sat Night, the worse out comes have all been from anyone shot with the .22 – Vers – A larger shot. The larger shots for the most part are though and though even through most large bones, where when the person is hit with the 22, we always have to shoot xrays to see the path of the bullet, meaning that we see where it went in, and look for where it stopped. So for those saying a 22 stings, or wont do any damage, think again!! I would much rather be hit with a large Cal Gun -vers- the .22

  9. Paul says:

    My fire arms expert friend insists that a .38 Cal revolver is my best choice for home self defense. However, From what I have been reading lately, it seems like a .22 would do just fine and would cost way less as does its ammunition. What’s going on…help!

  10. Mike says:

    My wiife has has decided on a Taurus 941 mag for that very reason. She can practice alot, and it is comfortable for her to shoot. She is small in stature and large cals are too unpleasant to shoot. We feel .22 hollow points will do the job.

  11. Bob Poskus says:

    When will they come out with a good semi auto that’s small and light for pocket carry…..say around 9oz

    • Steven Archibald says:

      Accordig to specs, The Ruger 22/45 comes very close to that weight. At least a lot closer than other pistols.

  12. Bob Poskus says:

    Add to my comment I’m talking about a 22lr

  13. Antonio says:

    Why don’t you have a complete list of ALL of the pistols chambered for e 22lr. From the best to the worst. From the Well known to the obscure. Sure would be nice to find the information in one place.

  14. Dennis777 says:

    I have just acquired a charter arms pathfinder snubbie chambered at .22 lr. I have no complaints. The gun is just perfect for self defense, home defense and ccw.

  15. paul says:

    Is it tree the 22 cal is the favorite of the Israel assassins in the IDF.

  16. bruce s says:

    I’m wondering if the slide on a 22 LR pocket pistol is easy enough for my 18 year old fragile granddaughter??????
    She cannot pull the slide back on my 9mm ruger.

  17. bruce s says:

    I have been looking a a small pocket pistol for a ccw. I like the 22LR pistol to get more rounds of ammo(fire power). I at first was thinking about a two shot derringer. What would be your thoughts????

  18. I grew up on a farm, and as long as I can remember, there were, many assorted rifles, shotguns, and revolvers. 10ga dbl, 12ga dbl,16gadbl, and 410ga dbl shotguns, Remington 22 19sht semi-auto rifle,a 38 snub-nose, and a 22 revolver. The rifle only used 22 LongRifle ammo, and the revolver used 22 Longs. Be it said, I loved the light weights, and they can do a lot more damage than given credit for. 22 ammo was dirt cheap. We always had 3 or 4 boxes (100 per box) of 22 ammo around. First of all learn about the gun your shooting and practice. You gotta hit what your shooting at. Adding this, I have seen guys freeze up and hesitate, or not shoot at all, while hunting deer, or other game. WHAT are you gonna do when there is a Human Being in your house or threating your life. ARE YOU GOING TO HESITATE??. IF you pull it, You better be prepared to use it. I did unload a Winchester pump one night about 30 years ago, on a guy trying to crawl thru one of my windows. He heard that familiar “chick-chick” and started running through the woods. I just aimed (at night) and let it rip. I had it loaded with ROCK SALT. I know I hit him, ’cause he hollered real loud. It won’t kill you, but it burns and stings real bad. I never found out who it was.

  19. anyonomouse says:

    Not saying this because a 22lr round is untraceable but it is in a metal detector and anyone could easily make a one shot gun for an assassination out of wood pvc pipes or whatever they like that works besides metal for one projectile to leave like pen or pens, there’s alot of ways to make it undetected not to say you should but its possible

  20. Robert says:

    Well. Wash State Tacoma Wash. NO Stun Weapons.. No we will
    see the Home Invasions. Sad.. WE Need Stun Weapons

  21. ParaRescue78 says:

    The 22lr is one of the most underestimated ammunition rounds there is. I for one believe that it is a great round not only for training purposes but even home defense or personal defense. As a former SF Op I have trained not with the best of the best but we were lucky to have many types of weaponry at our disposal. When I was asked to test the Walther P22Q I was up for the challenge it was very reliable it did NOT fail to feed one time even after a thousand rounds. Now you are probably thinking why is SF Ops testing 22lrs well like everyone we train and train to be proficient at what we do and remember the CIA SAS MI6 and even the Mossad just to name a few BADASSES uses the 22LR for up close and personal takedowns. Now I use the 22LR along with a shotgun for home defense because any other caliber could possibly go through the walls and hurt some else including the criminal with the 22LR it is all about placement and the better the placement of the projectile the less ammo you will have to use- just like any other caliber firearm used less is sometimes better. If anyone is interested in getting a 22LR Pistol give the Walther P22Q a try it will not disappoint you.

    • dennis says:

      my ex gave me 22 ruger long rifle pistol before we were married 1956. Taught 4 sons and daughter to shoot and responsible behavior. several thousand rounds for each plus many rounds myself. Recently took it apart to clean but can’t remember how to return to normal It is 9 inch automatic.

  22. smoke says:

    If using a 22LR Handgun for Self-Defense, ONLY get a Revolver. 1) Quality Revolver ( Ruger, S&W, Colt )…2)at least an 8-shot cylinder…3)only quality CCI type ammo,40 grain or greater solids – the exception being Stingers 36 grain hp’s traveling at 1640 fps.

    These 3 caveats maximize the RELIABILITY of 22LR in a Handgun that gives you ZERO recoil,very fast multiple “hits” on the aggressor to stop the threat.

  23. toganator says:

    Let’s all shoot @ paper, clay’s & cans with are .22 pistols & let the 9mm do the rest…………..

  24. MichelPhigo says:

    Существует такая услуга – добровольное медицинское обслуживание (или ДМО).
    Она предполагает, что пациент платит небольшую сумму за абонемент и посещает врачей весь год не платя за каждый прием.
    Однако опросы показали, что лишь 5% жителей Санкт-Петербурга знают об этом.
    Почему так происходит?
    Да потому что клиникам намного выгодней брать плату за каждое посещение.
    А если честный врач посоветует добровольное медицинское обслуживание клиенту – это сулит ему увольнением.
    Информация о ДМО уже спровоцировала кучу возмущений, сразу после того как информацию об этом рассекретил один возмущенный врач.
    Его уволили “по собственному желанию”, после того, как он предложил ДМО постоянному клиенту.
    Самое невероятное, что официальные положения по ДМО присутствуют в открытом доступе, просто находили на эту информацию только случайные люди.
    Как отстоять свои права?
    О правилах оказания услуги и обязанностях частных клиник можно узнать, просто вбив в Яндекс фразу: “добровольное медицинское обслуживание”.
    Обязательно обслуживание, а не страхование.

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