Something To Be Said For .22 Handguns
As a concealed carry instructor, I do whatever I can to keep abreast of current issues, laws, and tactics. Of course, I also like to read opinions from other instructors in the field. Recently I read a blog from another instructor stating that he did not and would not train with .22 handguns and vehemently encouraged his students from doing the same. He stated that one should train with what they carry.
While I agree to a point with this line of thought I do believe it does not hold true for everyone. If you have a budget that allows you an unlimited source of 9mm, .40 caliber, or .45 Caliber (or whatever you CARRY) then by all means abide by this doctrine. However, if you are like the typical American (like me) you have felt the shock waves of this economy from the grocery store to the gun shop. I would submit that there is a place in your collection of training equipment for the .22 handgun.
In general, why do people go to the gun range to practice? Outside of the fact that it is pure fun, there is only one other answer. We go to the gun range to build skills by practicing the fundamentals of marksmanship. These skills are built through practice and the development of muscle memory. This objective can be met with the .22 handgun. Perhaps even more so than with more expensive ammunition. How many rounds of ammunition can you purchase with $23.00? About fifty, right? For that same dollar amount you can purchase a thousand rounds of .22 long rifle ammunition. You can spend a lot more time developing your skills on the range with a thousand rounds than you can with fifty rounds. While I know some instructors may be inclined to disagree with me on the value of the .22 handgun for practical skill development I can tell you that there are a lot of good shooters out there who will attest to the fact that they learned on their dad’s old .22 Smith & Wesson revolver or the .22 Ruger target semi-automatic.
Now that I have established why I feel the .22 handgun is a valuable asset to the modern shooter I would like to add that the pistol you practice with in this caliber should closely resemble in weight, size, grip, and action the weapon you choose to carry for self defense purposes.
By no means am I suggesting that you neglect your carry weapon in practice sessions. Practice with it as much as your budget allows you to (in my case, even more) but supplement that practice with rounds and rounds of good ol’ .22 target shooting, utilizing with conscience effort the execution of the fundamentals of marksmanship.
About the author:
Jason Curtman
singingcop@gmail.com
Former Police Chief and Founder of Concealed Advantage
Comments (3)
As you stated in previous articles on the subject, gas blowback airsoft guns are amazingly cheap tools for muscle memory. The ammuntion is about $10 for 3,000, and propane adapters and propane(or green gas) is cheap enough. Spare mags are about $30-$40 each, and the gun itself will run about $140-$200.
In fact, if your gun is 240-280 FPS, a Tanio Koba Twist Barrel can make an airsoft handgun even MORE accurate than a real steel .45!
Just thought I’d remind everyone of airsoft being used as a training tool. It’s been invaluable to me.
whatever weapon you choose,you should train with it to be consistant.I generally recommend 38 cal or larger,but even a 22 placed correctly(head shot/eye/temple) will work,NOT recommended,but still better than nothing.IMHO
While caliber plays a small part in the equation, the real factor is shot placement. If you can get two quick shots on target with a Ruger Mark II, that’s totally better than getting one out of 5 shots on target with a 9mm. — The larger calibers offer a louder bang to scare away the criminal, but I’m pretty sure that unless they get hit, a determined mugger and rapist won’t stop unless they are severely hit. If it takes a .22 caliber gun to do that, then so be it! Shoot with what you can hit something with; and train with it as well.