Is it best for a new gun owner to start with a .22 pistol?

Question

I'm soon going to be a first-time gun owner. I am in the market for a pistol. Ideally, I would like a Springfield XD. However, I have heard on a few occasions that beginners should learn good marksmanship by starting off with .22s. While I really don't want a .22, I also want to do the "smart" thing, and if owning a .22 is best, I will do that. Also, I would greatly prefer to save my money and just go straight to the XD and not have to buy a .22 first.

Some educated input would be greatly appreciated...thanks

Answer 1

Bound's hubby here:

If you want to become skillful and proficient with a handgun, I would strongly suggest that you purchase a .22 first. There are many skills and good habits that you can develop by learning to shoot a .22 first.

I will be the first to admit, when I graduated to a pistol, I started with a .45 ... and I developed a lot of bad habits that took a long time to break. Of the 11 handguns I own, one is a .22 ... and it taught me alot about shooting a handgun. When you are dealing with recoil and loud bang, you develop very bad habits ... flinching being just one bad habit. Many people think loading a handgun and pulling the trigger is all it takes to shoot a handgun. In reality, you have a sight picture you must maintain while squeezing the trigger and breathing ... and placing the shot where you want it! Concentration is key to this ... and report and recoil break concentration while developing a hard to break flinch.

In all honesty, you need to do some soul-searching, to determine what you want to shoot a handgun for. If you want to be skillful and proficient, you need to practice ... a $1 box of .22s goes a lot farther in the practice regimine than an $8 box of .38s or 9s, or $11 a box for .45s.

The suggestion to get a .45 with a .22 conversion kit is smart, because you get to learn the same trigger while practicing on the cheap. Precision is important ... a .22 will foster that precision.

If you are looking to be a bulls-eye target shooter, get a S&W 41 or a Ruger MkIII Semi Auto and a .45 M1911 Wadcutter pistol.

If you are looking at hunting or silhouette, look at either a Thompson Center Contender with a .22 barrel and center fire barrel of your choice, or a S&W .22 revolver and a centerfire S&W revolver in a caliber of your choosing.

Build your collection oriented to the type of shooting you want to be proficient at.

Good luck!

Answer 2

If your are inexperienced the .22 has a lot going for it. As others have mentioned the .22 is cheap to practice with and since recoil is so mild you can concentrate on the basics of good marksmanship like trigger control, sight alignment and follow through. I would much rather see you spend a little less money on the pistol and more money on practice ammo.

It was suggested by another poster that you get a 1911 in .45ACP and also purchase a .22 conversion kit. This makes a certain amount of sense but be aware that a single action auto like the 1911 tend to have superior trigger out the box and they will spoil you. BUT YOU NEED PROPER TRAINING! Single action autos are safe as any pistol but they require more time and handling to assure they are safe.

There are also .22 conversion kits for Glocks and I believe I've seen them for Beretta 92s.

It will cost more but you will effectively have two guns for about 30%, (give or take) more. You will also have the advantage of the trigger, grip angle controls and grip being the exact same and the weight will almost be the same. This will be a huge plus when you are ready to move to the center fire caliber.

Best of luck to you.

Answer 3

First and Foremost Thank you for asking a very intelligent question.

Let me ask you some easy questions only you can answer, then you decide.

First a foremost you must get proper safety training so as not to shoot your self or others.
This learn as you go is unsafe.

My Questions.
1=You say you are concerned with economics?
What can you afford to shoot the most to acquire this level of accuracy you desire, this is a puppy you have to feed.
Good quality 22 shells that can be bought in bulk packs containing 500 shots for under $20.00
Where as Good quality center fire hand gun rounds with in the same price range you get 50 shot.
2= if by some unforeseen reason some on gets shot, your self, or one of your loved ones in the Foot, which will do the less damage, knowing both can readily and easily kill you if shot in the right place.

Example = being a new gun owner you make just one mistake, you and your kids go to the range, you put the loaded pistol on the shooting bench, and for some reason you turn to look at the oldest child, and the youngest one garbs the gun and in so doing accidentally it fires and some one is hit.
Everybody makes mistakes, new gun owner and old gun owner it will and does happen.
See where the training comes in.

That’s all the questions, my advise 22 first to make it economical to get the Knowledge and accuracy desired.
Next if you do buy a 22 or bigger caliber by only Quality, no substation for quality.
If you buy 22 get in the same action style you wont your bigger caliber in.
It don’t have to look identical just action wise, your dream gun is lets say 45 Auto then you buy a 22 auto.
357 revolver you would buy a 22 revolver.
I have and truly enjoy shooting my Ruger Mark II auto.
I would recommend only adjustable rear sights.
I don’t like fixed sights, all that is, is a grove cut in to the receiver.
I want be able to adjust both up an down left and right. I wont accuracy, close don’t get it.

Answer 4

There is some debate on this issue.

If you start with a .22, it is said that you can have some problems when you go to a larger caliber due to increased recoil.

The nice thing about a .22 is that it is cheap to shoot and often are cheap to buy the firearm.

Based on what you have said, since money is an issue, I would just go with what you want. Do spend the time and effort to practice shooting quite a bit and consider taking a firearms training course so that you start out right. The NRA has NRA Certified Instructors and teach basic safety classes, which everyone should take, as well as teaching shooting.

Answer 5

The big plus with a .22 is the price of the ammo. You might have to go through thousands of rounds before you get decent. The .22 pistol is fairly cheap and the noise isn't that bad. Another thing you should be doing is building arm strength. If you are right handed, hold a three pound weight in your right hand with your arm stretched out as if you were going to shoot. Holding it for three to five minutes before your arm starts to wobble is decent.

Answer 6

For target shooting any gun that shoots small groups will give you a satisfying day at the range. I have from 22 to 50 s&w, and the 22 is always pleasant to shoot. I let a friend shoot the 50 s&w. He handed it back after one shot and said never again.

Answer 7

In my experience, it would be best not to start with a pistol at all. Your first gun should be a bolt-action .22 rifle. It will be easier to shoot accurately, and simpler to operate and maintain. Be patient, you have your whole life ahead of you. Don't mess around, learn to shoot the right way first off.

After you've put about 250 rounds through the rifle, then you can think about a .22 pistol. Then you move up to small-bore autoloading centerfire rifle, then medium-bore bolt-action centerfire rifle. After that, try shooting a centerfire handgun. Your final step is the 12-gauge shotgun. After all that, you will have a solid basic knowledge of how these guns operate and the different ballistics and maintenance.

If you're still having fun(and you will be), you can step into long-range rifle shooting, and quick draw, high accuracy pistol shooting. It's a big world, take it one step at a time.

Answer 8

i suggest finding someone with a collection of guns that is willing to let you shoot them. go to the range and get used to a .22, then try shooting a larger center fire. by having someone there with you who knows what they are doing, they can help you out, and give you some pointers. a larger handgun may come as a bit of a suprise to you if you have never shot one before. also by shooting some different guns, you might get a feel for what gun you want to get. before buying any gun, i like to shoot one first to see how i like it.

Answer 9

I would ask around at gun shops or shooting ranges for some good advice. The first gun I shot was a .22 pistol and I didn't care for it much.

Answer 10

If you would use the .22 it would be a wise decision, but if you would just use it until you got a different one, save up. I have a Ruger 10/22 ( a rifle) and it is extemely fun, low kick, low sound and just overall fun to shoot, have fun!!!