Help me narrow it down...

[eg23]

That's why I suggested both a MP9 and a Ruger 22-45. Used mp9's go for about $600ish maybe score a good deal $500ish. A used 22-45 $300ish...still lots of room for ammo and fun!

 

[BCP]

i was looking at a .22LR pistol for a bit. here's where such a plan goes wrong in my opinion. i have shot pistol before, a very limited amount, but i have done it. recoil doesn't phase me at all, i have no flinch etc. i'm a very fast learner, especially when it comes to hands on skills like shooting. with good instruction i won't have a problem learning the basics and improving myself.

and one of the biggest reasons, i'd get bored too fast with a .22LR. with no challenge of controlling recoil, i'd be starting to shoot too fast and if anything would rush through the practice, totally defeating the purpose of starting with a .22LR.

starting with a 9mm would force me to focus more on technique, thus keeping me from blazing through rounds. i did this with rifle, learning to shoot with a 7mm Rem Mag, and then buying a .22.

maybe i'm bass ackwards, weird and/or out to lunch, but i feel that although a .22LR would be a fun toy, it wouldn't help me to build the basics due to the lack of challenge.

Bass ackwards? No, I would say you have a different definition of a challenge. I know shooters who enjoy recoil! Dealing with recoil has never been a problem for me. I've shot .454 Casull, .300 Win Mag, 3.5" Super Mag 12ga slugs, etc... My definition of a challenge is consistently hitting a loonie sized target at 25m with a pistol. Once that challenge was met, move the target back to 50m. As others have mentioned, you can get a lot more trigger time for your $$$ with a .22. But to each their own. BTW, I did vote in the poll.

...And, just to please the limpwristed pea plinkers, you can get yourself a kimber .22 kit and shoot to your hearts content.

The problem with the .22 kits is they cost as much as a whole .22 gun. You might as well just buy a .22 pistol instead of the kit and have two guns and not have to fiddle with conversions.