.22LR for practicing point shooting really does work (for me).

[jlbraun]

When I went to the range this Saturday, I brought a few IDPA targets with me with stands. I first went through 100 rounds of 9mm in my CZ P01 doing continuous movement while drawing and putting 2 rounds into 2 targets at about 7 yards. The two shots center mass in each grouped at about 5-6", occasionally catching them out of the A zone. Remember, I was moving at about a fast walk the whole time.

Next, I swapped the 9mm upper for a CZ Kadet .22LR conversion kit. I walked around, chasing empty 12ga cases around at a slow walk with the 22, just because they were everywhere and quite reactive. Range was between 3 and 10 yards. You know, you hit those things in the bases and they can fly about 15 yards. Anyway, after about 800 rounds of that and 3 hours later, I swap the upper back to 9mm and do the same drills I was doing initially. 7 yards, two opponents, fast walk with draw and two rounds into each.

The first time I ran it, imagine my surprise when the double taps were 1.5" apart on both targets' A zone. I continued to run the drill through another 200 rounds and the groups continued to be much smaller than before I ran 800 rounds of .22. Though I was using my sights when shooting .22, I wasn't using them when running the drill with 9mm - look, poppop, look, poppop.

If I wasn't a believer in .22 practice before, I sure am now. I have heard people say that "shooting .22 in a combat pistol only makes you good at shooting .22 in a combat pistol" or similar. I'm not sure if I believe that now.

Discuss.

 

[Glock_10mm]

In my opinion, practice is practice. Yes the .22 behaves differently, but you obviously have put in time with 9mm enough to be prepared for the difference and shoot well with it.

I too have heard that practicing with a .22 only makes you better with .22, but in all honesty, as long as you keep going back and fourth, you're still logging range hours which will sharpen your skills. Its also alot cheaper which allows you to log more time!

I'm recently new to the 10mm crowd, but have never turned back since! But I always take along my P22 and run several rounds through it at the range along side the 10mm. Its something I also used to do with other various 9mm's / .45's in the past. I've also done it quite often with rifles! Their different guns and different calibers for sure, but all in all I'm getting more practice at drawing, quick siting, and improving my follow up shot placement. If I had hands of steel and unlimited finances, I would only shoot 10mm, but the first throws me back to 22 faster than anything, and the second begins to add up.

I dont do any tournament shooting so this method may not be advised for those who have truly mastered skills, but I find it has only helped improve my shooting by practicing with a 22 along side my other weapons. I wouldnt advise only shooting .22 for practice and carrying a different gun/caliber for other reasons, but a good mix has helped me hone my skills far past where I would have been able to with only the larger calibers.

Lastly, I've read where skeet shooters are actually doing a similar sort of thing by switching to .410 bore and 28ga. Its cheaper and has lighter recoil allowing them to shoot more for less. The difference is, its also alot more challenging because the shot count is so reduced. The people who have trained with the .410s and 28ga's have come out better shooters and say the 12ga is a breeze compared. I dont think the difference in any pistol caliber will have the same effect unless you are shooting at pencils from a bench, but the initial recoil / cost thing follows suit.

My opinion is that it is a good thing and should be used in parallel. I dont think training someone on a .22 and handing them a 9mm would translate well, but for the experienced shooter on a budget, you can shoot more for longer periods!

 

[ChickenHawk]

The great thing about conversion kits is that the TRIGGER doesn't change.

I actually had Meprolite night sights put on my AA Conversion kit so my sight picture would be the same while practicing with .22

Shooting at 7-to-15 yards, for the 1st shot you are pulling the same trigger and I think that hole is going to be in the same place no matter what. Arguably, the non-existent recoil of a .22 makes double-taps much easier. But, it's still good practice and good trigger time.

Besides. It's cheap and it's fun. How can that be bad?

Stay safe,
ChickenHawk

 

[MrZ]

Sub cal's are great. While the big bore gun will highlight fundamental errors that a .22 may not, the bottom line is that you are still required to apply the fundamentals. A sub cal device is a very good compromise between dry fire and big bore training.

 

[TallPine]

"I've read where skeet shooters are actually doing a similar sort of thing by switching to .410 bore and 28ga. Its cheaper and has lighter recoil allowing them to shoot more for less. "

I've always found the opposite to be true: 12 gauge are by far the cheapest among shotgun ammo.


But cheap pistol practice with a .22 is great. After 800 rounds in one session, you should be able to shoot quite a bit better

 

[Mac Attack]

I shoot my .22LR conversion on my 1911 every time I go to the range. Not only is it more fun to shoot than a .45 ACP but it is easier on the wallet. I have noticed that if I start off with .22 then switching to .45 really has improved my eye to hand cordination as well as trigger control.

 

[jlbraun]

But cheap pistol practice with a .22 is great. After 800 rounds in one session, you should be able to shoot quite a bit better

Yeah, I have a callus on my thumb from loading those CZ magazines. Need to grind down one of my CZ mag loaders so it will work with the .22LR mags.

 

[rudolf]

The cheapest way to train the pointing part of point shooting is a laser. Point gun at varying targets, activate laser, and see if you'ld have hit.

 

[Trebor]

"I've read where skeet shooters are actually doing a similar sort of thing by switching to .410 bore and 28ga. Its cheaper and has lighter recoil allowing them to shoot more for less. "

I've always found the opposite to be true: 12 gauge are by far the cheapest among shotgun ammo.

It might be cheaper to reload .410 and 28 gauge then 12 gauge though. Less powder and shot required.