- Location
- Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
After almost 14 years I have decided to go back to in to firearms and I like to hear your opinion on which would be better starter caliber .22 or 9mm. Thanks for all your advise and help.
.22 or 9mm?
- Thread starter Sturmsoldat
- Start date
22LR is a great learning platform for developing good skills but after a while, you'll might get bored 'cause it'll feel like you're shooting a BB gun. 
One option if your like the Sig Sauer P226 platform is to buy the 22LR pistol for around $650 and then get the 9mm X-Change kit for $350.-$400. Cheaper than buying the 9mm version for $1000. and then the 22LR X-Change kit for $350.
One option if your like the Sig Sauer P226 platform is to buy the 22LR pistol for around $650 and then get the 9mm X-Change kit for $350.-$400. Cheaper than buying the 9mm version for $1000. and then the 22LR X-Change kit for $350.
- Location
- YEG Alberta
Both. But a .22 to start will allow you to practice more much cheaper than the nine. Try several out if you can. I would suggest a buckmark or a ruger .22lr. As for the 9mm, that's going to be a personal preference. I absolutely love my CZ75 SP01 Shadow. The M&P 9 range kit is a nice starter too. I actually started with a .45 1911 as it just felt right both holding and shooting.
- Location
- The Badlands
If you are choosing between the two cals. , I would go with the 22 as ammo is so much cheaper....my 22s always get more use than the other cals simply because of the savings on ammo....
.22's are cheap to shoot and are super fun. You get to practice and practice and practice and work out the kinks without breaking the bank. Brownings or Rugers are great pistols and they'll last forever. Don't worry you'll be wanting a bigger bang soon enough so I can tell you it won't be long until you own a 9mm also.
skoal is definitely on to something. Conversion set ups can be a great way to have the best of both worlds. I would just say, go handle a few, head to a range and see if you can pay a fee and shoot a variety of their range guns. See what feels good in your hand and go from their. Good luck!
skoal is definitely on to something. Conversion set ups can be a great way to have the best of both worlds. I would just say, go handle a few, head to a range and see if you can pay a fee and shoot a variety of their range guns. See what feels good in your hand and go from their. Good luck!
It depends on what you are trying to achieve. If you are going to shoot just for fun then .22. However if you want to participate in some action sport such as IDPA, PPC, IPSC or another then I would recommend both - you need to mix them in order to get as much training as possible without loosing feel of recoil.
But only if a SIG is your "cup of tea." Tain't mine!
Me neither
- Location
- Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
First guys let me say thanks for your advise. Lots to think about As I was on a tour in Bosnia in 94 with the German army, the issued us Walther P1 as side arms. Unfortunately the standing joke was you have a better chance to hit something if you throw it. No disrespect indented to owners who like the guns. But its a while and I don't want to break the bank going back in to shooting. So I will look in to a Sig 9mm with a .22 exchange kit and given the opportunity I will try a couple other guns to see what "feels" right. I looked in to the GSG 1911 .22. I don't know yet how she will feel like but I find it appealing. So again thank you so much guys for your input and please let them keep coming. BTW I apologize for any spelling errors. I thank the guy who invented spellcheck on the computer every day
As I was on a tour in Bosnia in 94 with the German army, the issued us Walther P1 as side arms. Unfortunately the standing joke was you have a better chance to hit something if you throw it. No disrespect indented to owners who like the guns. But its a while and I don't want to break the bank going back in to shooting. So I will look in to a Sig 9mm with a .22 exchange kit and given the opportunity I will try a couple other guns to see what "feels" right. I looked in to the GSG 1911 .22. I don't know yet how she will feel like but I find it appealing. So again thank you so much guys for your input and please let them keep coming. BTW I apologize for any spelling errors. I thank the guy who invented spellcheck on the computer every day
Last edited:
First guys let me say thanks for your advise. Lots to think about
A .22 sig 226 with a 9mm exchange is cheaper then 9mm with .22
I just bought a gsg and I love it, works great and will be coming to the range with me every time although the sights suck
I agree, I recently bought a Sig P226 22LR classic for $620 at Cabellas on-line and it seems the the 9MM slide barrel kit is less than $400 but a Sig P226 with a 9mm new is $800- $900 plus ~$300 for the 22 slide barrel kit. Seems to be a no brainer and I do like my Sig, my other handgun (bought before the Sig) was a Walther PPQ 9mm so now I can choose to make my Sig a 9mm, .40 cal or a .357 Sig or leave it as it is.
Tongarirohiker
CGN Regular
- Location
- Edmonton, AB
Agree with everybody else. Both!
- Location
- West Quebec
But only if a SIG is your "cup of tea." Tain't mine!
I've tried hard to like Sig's they look cool but just can't seem to fire them comfortably..wish it weren't the case
