.22 and the Newbie

[Aero_Plane]

As a newbie, i call out to other newbies.... i know we all want center fire pistols....and we will get them. I started out with an NP 58, which is a .40 sig p226 clone and its a great pistol, but trust me and listen to the experienced shooters when they say start with a .22 . There is such a learning curve, it just costs so much money learning the basics on a center fire pistol. I ended up also picking up a Beretta Neos U22 even after reading tonnes of bad reviews. I can tell you i love this thing, shoots great, shoots everything i've ever jammed in it with over 2500 rounds so far, adjustable sights,sight rail. I've Learned so much on this pistol. I still bring both to the range but obviously shoot the .22 the most. At $25 for 500 .22's or $25 for 50 .40's as a beginner the choice should be easy. Trust me as a fellow newbie, get a .22 at first or at least!!! you'll have a lot more fun. My first 100 shots with my .40 where o.k. then the next 500 got worse and worse!!! lol welcome to that learning cuve. With the .22 every time gets better and better. Anyway about the neos. Grip is a little small but thats all subjective to what you like. The s&w 22a-1 looks good maybe some one else can comment on that. Also the ruger is a very solid pistol. I just wanted to try something that looked different.
Would all you experienced shooters agree with this? Any other recommendations in the first pistol or learning pistols?

 

[prproulx]

I wonder if you get hired in a police service, armoured car guard, military, border guard, conservation officer.
Do they tell you to get a .22lr first?
Not likely. Learn to shoot the gun you have, what ever it is.

 

[agent_mango]

I wonder if you get hired in a police service, armoured car guard, military, border guard, conservation officer.
Do they tell you to get a .22lr first?
Not likely. Learn to shoot the gun you have, what ever it is.

Most shooters do it as a hobby, not in preparation for a job. Besides, I doubt F1 drivers took their driver's test in an F1 car.


Anyhoo, I don't have the Neos so I can't comment on that.

I have a Ruger Mark II 22/45 as well as two 9mm pistols, and I agree 100% with your recommendation of starting with a 22 pistol. The lack of noise, recoil, and sticker shock on ammo is great. Also, a 22 pistol is the most appropriate way to introduce a person with no shooting experience to handgun shooting.

 

[Aero_Plane]

I wonder if you get hired in a police service, armoured car guard, military, border guard, conservation officer.
Do they tell you to get a .22lr first?
Not likely. Learn to shoot the gun you have, what ever it is.

Are you saying police, armoured guards, boarder guards and conservation officers are great pistol shooters? lol...I would consider all having good basic tactical training on average. Not knocking those guys, have some friends in each... I was just referring to the cost and ease of learning over time, not the shoot a few thousand rounds in 3 months then your an officer.
But i'll agree with shoot what you got.

 

[daanpeters]

I find your story interesting.
I’m a compleet beginner myself and I am doing my PAL in 2 weeks from now.
For years I have wanted to start shooting, and finally I have decided to get the things organized.
For now my focus is on a Beretta 92fs. I have heard good stories and I have read some good advice about it on the website.
I have not considered buying a .22 handgun.
The Beretta goes for around $750 I assume a .22 will cost less.
What could you advice me for a .22?

 

[mckutzy]

I have the neos pistol, 6" model. its great well made and it feels not too bad either. as a first pistol its a good one.

 

[Robert0288]

I find your story interesting.
I’m a compleet beginner myself and I am doing my PAL in 2 weeks from now.
For years I have wanted to start shooting, and finally I have decided to get the things organized.
For now my focus is on a Beretta 92fs. I have heard good stories and I have read some good advice about it on the website.
I have not considered buying a .22 handgun.
The Beretta goes for around $750 I assume a .22 will cost less.
What could you advice me for a .22?

Keep your eyes peeled on the E&E section both under pistols as well as rimfire. I picked up my ruger mk3 22/45 for 220 + shipping

 

[Nestor]

I wonder if you get hired in a police service, armoured car guard, military, border guard, conservation officer.
Do they tell you to get a .22lr first?
Not likely. Learn to shoot the gun you have, what ever it is.

Really?
I'm in one of the above professions and I train often with .22 because of the ammo price.
Only once in a while I do the same with the service caliber gun.
You know what?
My score during the re-qualification improved dramatically.

 

[graydog]

I have shot handguns for years now and I could not agree more. Everyone should start with a .22 They are fun and the ammo is a pittance compered to center fire ammo. There is, as one poster stated less noise, less recoil and less cost. You van spend a little or a lot on the gun depending on what you want. A good choice is the Smith & Wesson 22A as well. They can be bought for under $400.00 and they work great. I agree that the lack of recoil will make you a much better shot much sooner then if you are shooting a gun with a lot of recoil. Just my 2 cents worth.

Graydog

 

[Cantstoptherock]

I wonder if you get hired in a police service, armoured car guard, military, border guard, conservation officer.
Do they tell you to get a .22lr first?
Not likely. Learn to shoot the gun you have, what ever it is.

It makes a difference when you start to pay for your own ammo.

 

[Skinny 1950]

I am a Newbie and my first gun is a Browning Buckmark Camper. I am very happy with it after finding the ammo it likes the most (Blazer Bulk). It didn't cost a lot either $380.00 after tax. Here is a picture of it.....notice the ###y Gold trigger.
Last weekend at the range there was a Neos on either side of me, between all of us we shot about 1,000 rounds

 

[Aero_Plane]

I find your story interesting.
I’m a compleet beginner myself and I am doing my PAL in 2 weeks from now.
For years I have wanted to start shooting, and finally I have decided to get the things organized.
For now my focus is on a Beretta 92fs. I have heard good stories and I have read some good advice about it on the website.
I have not considered buying a .22 handgun.
The Beretta goes for around $750 I assume a .22 will cost less.
What could you advice me for a .22?

And as i said before, nothing wrong with having the Beretta as well. But all i can do is highly recommend getting a .22 with it or before it. Most .22"s are under $400...NEW. Way less used. I understand that when us newbie's first were attracted to the sport.... it probably wasn't a .22 that caught our eye!! More like some big shinny 1911 or 44 mag Desert Eagle!!! All in due time.....

 

[Major Commander]

The Ruger MKIII 22/45 is definitely one to look at, too. After 1500 rounds: It eats everything, no failures; it's accurate, easy to keep clean (though a full take down can be a PITA), comes with a scope mount & 2 mags. A black 5.5" Bull barrel was $309. @ Epp's. In the end you need to see what fits your hand the best and points most naturally. The NEOS felt good to me too (I never did read a bad review of it, some guys did not like the looks of it though), but I just liked the Ruger better. It's a personal choice. I'm very happy with mine.
MC

 

[Anthrax]

I'm relatively new to firearms and shooting. I purchased my first hand gun in July. I purchased a CZ 75B 9mm. I had read the posts that said get a .22 pistol and learn to shoot with it, but because I had already been shooting center fire (thanks to various members of my club) for several months before hand, and I am an active IDPA shooter, I chose to ignore this advice, and went straight to my CZ.

I absolutely love this gun. After spending some time at the range with a very experienced shooter I learned that I have several things that need to be corrected. I found that the amount of trigger time and ammo required to work on these issues (which I am still, and will likely always be working on) were not overly cost effective with factory ammo.

I purchased the Kadet Adapter .22LR conversion kit for my CZ. This has drastically increased the amount I can shoot with out feeling I have wasted a bunch of money on ammo.

I find that this option gives the best of both worlds. I get the low cost option of shooting .22, and get to always use the same receiver with the same trigger pull all the time. I like this idea vs a Rugger Mark II or some such other .22LR pistol, and then a center fire gun with a different trigger and feel to it.

And yes I do understand that my Kadet Adapter will never be as accurate as a dedicated .22LR pistol like the BuckMark or the Mark II, and I'm fine with that.

The long and the short is that any one with an interest in hand guns should have a .22 pistol.

 

[aridan]

I recently got a GSG1911 - a nice 1911 gun in .22LR. My kids & I use it for our 200-300 warm-up rounds before we get into 9mm, .40 and .45. Same weight & shape as 1911s, same trigger & handling skills are required, costs almost nothing ($28 for 500) to shoot, and instantly cures flinching that most of us have now & then from firing the .45's.

For $380 or so - cheaper than any kit, AFAIK - highly recommended...

 

[nelly]

I wonder if you get hired in a police service, armoured car guard, military, border guard, conservation officer.
Do they tell you to get a .22lr first?
Not likely. Learn to shoot the gun you have, what ever it is.

Wow.

So, I wonder why I have to spend so much time RETRAINING LEOs who have a bad flinch, who were not shooters prior to employment, and who get 100 rounds PER YEAR to practice with their service pistols?

.22 training would be an excellent, low budget, way to improve marksmanship, IMHO.

But what do I know?

 

[The_Sicilian]

My brain hurts...

Wouldn't a 9mm represent a good starting point? Reasonable ammo costs and a controllable platform for a newbie.

The OP has brought up some great points and has me re-thinking my game plan.

 

[sillymike]

I wonder if you get hired in a police service, armoured car guard, military, border guard, conservation officer.
Do they tell you to get a .22lr first?
Not likely. Learn to shoot the gun you have, what ever it is.

1. Most of these individuals couldn't care less about their shooting skills, as long as they can it a target at 10 feet and pass their annual test... they are happy.

2. They don't have to pay for the ammo.

Back in the days when shooting skills were an important part of a soldier's training... every body strated training with a 22lr, whether it be a Enfield #3, Enfield #7, FNC1 with sub-caliber... or if your unit had the budget (and a shooting team) you'd get to play with Anschutz 190's or Match 54.

Samething goes for pistol, the units had access to Colt Target revolver (in 22lr) and I've seen a few S&W M41 and Browning Medalist floating around...

There are no secret to be a good shooter, you simply need to be able to do the same thing over and over again... and the best (most cost efficient) way of building muscle memory is with a .22

 

[age]

I wonder if you get hired in a police service, armoured car guard, military, border guard, conservation officer.
Do they tell you to get a .22lr first?
Not likely. Learn to shoot the gun you have, what ever it is.



I wonder why people buy 22 convesion kits for their AR's and semi pistol I thought they were for traing. LOL As all they guys say. Buy your self a good 22 shoot it, you will have it for years,

 

[Aero_Plane]

My brain hurts...

Wouldn't a 9mm represent a good starting point? Reasonable ammo costs and a controllable platform for a newbie.

The OP has brought up some great points and has me re-thinking my game plan.

Don't forget the differance between a 9 mm and a .40 is one mm! lol and a .45 is 12mm. So obviously centerfire's are much larger and hit harder than a .22. Cost is a personal issue of course. If you can afford to send thousands of rounds down the range trying to learn what you could with a .22, i want your money!! I think if you want to become an excellent pistol shooter, the process will be long and dedicated and we should start with the basics first .... If you just wanna go to the range and impress your friends with a monster hand cannon... than screw it...buy the biggest, shinniest gun you can afford and blast away!!!