Buying a .22

[u/Random_Reddit_User_5]

Everybody on the internet is saying to get a .22 because it is easy and cheap to shoot. But honestly, what can you do with a .22? Plinking and very small animals. Am I looking at this the wrong way? My FSC instructor sayed to get a .243 because its relativity cheap to shoot and still powerful. And another friend told me to get a 25-06 but its ammo hella expensive. Please fell free to give me another point of view.

[u/MasterScore8739]

The only down side I ever found with .22LR was when a gopher was father than 100 yards, then I’d sometimes find myself wishing I had a .223… then I’d become a game of who could hit the gopher first with the .22 and suddenly I’d forget about the .223.

Outside of doing something beyond 100ish yards, a 22LR will cover damn near everything else you’d typically do on a range trip. When you used to be able to purchase handguns, it covered even more for cheaper.

Want to mag dump and pretend you’re John Wick? 22LR lets you do that, but without destroying your wallet.

Want to go for tiny little groups? Set a target at 50-100 and challenge some friends to see whose rifle is able to hold a tighter group.

Want to introduce someone to shooting who’s never shot before? The piddly 22LR won’t leave them sore if they don’t properly shoulder the rifle. It’s also great for recoil shy shooters.

Want to get into the ‘long range’ rimfire game? There’s some nicer bolt actions that cost a decent bit but are absolutely worth it for their repeatability.

Want to try a couple different ammo types and see what your rifle likes? Pfft. Easy, grab a couple different boxes of 50rds that range from $8-$20 instead of the pricey $1+ a round of anything more than .223 nowadays.

As much flack as 22LR gets for being “useless”, the average person can easily afford 5-600rds a year at the range… some can even afford that every month or even a week. Try doing the same with anything centre fire.

Moral of the story: the more you can get out and shoot, the more fun you’ll be having.

[u/Halfbloodjap → u/MasterScore8739]

I regularly shoot my .22 out to 200 yards, for me its more fun to shoot that distance with a .22 than my centerfires are

[u/MasterScore8739 → u/Halfbloodjap]

200 is the farthest I’ve been able to consistently hit with almost every 22 I’ve owned. Mind you I’m counting a ‘hit’ as being within about a 6” metal plate. I haven’t actually taken it out past that for a known distance.

That said, I have absolutely played the “can I hit that” game. Buddies and I would pick out large rocks at ungodly distances (for 22s), then see if we can get any hits on them.

I do have to agree though, trying to stretch those little rifles out past anything reasonable is a lot of fun.

[u/DuperCheese → u/Halfbloodjap]

It’s like the saying “it’s more fun to ride a slow motorcycle fast than a fast motorcycle slow”