What is your main use for a .22 RF?

[Murphy]

I think this may be an interesting thread. Given the lack of, and current price of .22 RF. What would drive some to pay so much for it? I'm doing fine on my current stock given what I use mine for. Which is mostly plinking, and the occasional squirrel hunt now and then. If I'm plinking, 50-100 rounds usually quenches my thirst for a few weeks. If I'm hunting, I probably won't need more than 20 rounds, if that many. I have a Remington 541-T with a 2X7 Leupold that just doesn't miss, I do. I have a couple of plinking .22's as well. A Remington Nylon 66 and a Remington 510 single shot.

Chime on in guys, I'm curious!

Murphy

[fc60]

Greetings,

I only shoot 22lr during the 22 phase of an NRA Pistol Match.

Cheers,

Dave

[Landy88]

The wild price surge and shear scarcity of .22RF flipped it from my most shot cartridge to my least shot, since I've been forced to view my stock of it as practically irreplaceable. It used to be my first choice for skill maintenance, plinking, pests, and small game; but now I only turn to it when anything center fire would pose a specific danger or nuisance. Light CF handloads have replaced the bulk of my .22RF round count.

[MUSTANG]

22RF current usage by me is:

(1) 1st Step Training for Revolver/Rifle Shooting to new shooters in the family & Friends circle.
(2) Rifle and Pistol Shooting with the Grandkids when they come to visit.
(3) Range pick up of my and others 22/17 Brass to be used as "Donor" material for Swaging Rifle Bullets.

P.S. I have accumulated over the decades so I do NOT need to buy more for some time. When supply/prices return I will slowly replenish stocks.

[frkelly74]

I am going through all my jars of found 22 ammo. I have picked up thousands of dented, bent, and /or dud cartridges over the years and most will fire if straightened out and single loaded. If they don't I pull them apart and recycle the lead, burn the powder and smash the brass for the scrap yard.. Occasionally I will find a bunch with nothing wrong and those go through the High Standard or the Ruger for practice and just for fun. I was thinking of getting another 22 rifle to go along with the 5 or 6 i have already. I have had a Remington 550 , a 10-22, a Mohawk C10 Remington, and a couple of others and I would replace a couple of those if the opportunity came along, especially the 550.

[tazman]

Plinking, hunting, and target shooting. I accumulated quite a bit of ammunition after the last shortage so I am in decent shape.
I am getting too old for walking in the woods the way I used to so that part will be less used now and in the future.
Most recently, I have begun benchrest shooting which requires match grade ammunition. I have been able to fill my current needs so far, at normal match grade prices.
I still use a lot of my 22lr ammo for handgun practice. A couple of revolvers and a couple of semi-autos get the use for that.

[bullet maker 57]

I use my 22's for groundhogs and new shooters.

[THG]

Primary use is for squirrels, 100+/- a year.
Varmint control for garden and home orchard, coons, possums and armadillos.
I’m still loading 9mm for $40/1,000. Shooting about 200 rounds practice and one PPC Match a week keeps me smiling.

[tazman]

I use my 22's for groundhogs and new shooters.

Why would you want to shoot someone just getting started in the sport?

[MrWolf]

Why would you want to shoot someone just getting started in the sport?

For their ammo? :bigsmyl2:

[Gewehr-Guy]

As I get older about the only time I shoot a 22 rifle, is for trapped coon, and varmint shooting around the farm. Lately I've been shooting gophers and ground squirrels with a 17HMR. It really tears them to pieces.

[pworley1]

Plinking

[2A-Jay]

Plinking and Varment eradication

[ShooterAZ]

I use mine for formal and informal target shooting, pest eradication, and plinking.

[sghart3578]

plinking

training children, grandchildren and soon great grandchildren

hunting very rarely any more


Steve in N CA

[Mk42gunner]

Mostly in the varmint eradication role this year, given the almost non existent replacement stock.

Robert

[Kylongrifle32]

I use a lot for plinking but if I run low I will reserve enough hollow points to be sure I can do all the squirrel hunting I need to do. I can plink with other calibers but limited to rim fire for small game hunting

[Gtrubicon]

Informal target shooting of the back porch while we are bbq’ing dinner

[grayscale]

As entry level for new shooters. I had three ER nurses out yesterday. Started them with a ruger mark 1, moved up through .380 to
9mm , 38 spc., .45acp, .44mag and 10mm auto. By easy steps I had first time shooters shooting full house .44 mag rounds and cheering each other on. Then I had them picking up all the brass and shot-gun hulls they could Find. I always come back from
the national forest with 5 times as much brass as brought.

[GhostHawk]

In the last shortage my Ruger 10/22 got cleaned, oiled, put away.

.22lr stocks got stacked back up but I never really felt the desire to get the .22 out.

Now .22lr prices are even higher. I did burn 50 rounds sighting in a H&R sportsman in .22lr.
Shoots pretty good. But I'm not aching to get it back to the range.

I can have as much or more fun with centerfire rounds that still cost less and have more whump on the far end.

[jim147]

I still have bricks from Clinton and before but I only use it for yard pests these days. That old Coast to Coast and Canuck might be worth something one day.

[uscra112]

I quit using the .22 on garden raiding 'chucks and raccoons years ago in favor of a reduced load in a .223. More positive kills and no ricochets.

Can no longer walk far, so no woods loafing or pasture patrolling. Only thing left is porch pirates - opossums and 'coons within 5-10 yards of the kitchen door, molesting the birdseed barrel and/or the cats' kibble.

About twice a year I shoot paper when I can get someone to accompany me to the club range. ( I need a runner to go out and pin up targets.) Still interested in getting the best out of my old Ballard and Stevens single-shots.

The two dozen +/- bricks of commodity ammo in the locker are now for barter, should the fit hit the Shan.

[slim1836]

Anything I want. Seriously, I just don't need to shoot .22's anymore since I live in the city. Hope to move in the near future, but I bought in '99 and it's done it's job for us. Other than sighting in one on occasion, they don't get shot anymore.

I did pick up a 325 milk carton of LR for $17.99 2 weeks ago at Walmart just because they were cheaper than other places I've seen.

I've got other play toys to shoot at the range with cast boolits that keeps me happy.

Slim

[Goldstar225]

My .22 ammo falls in two categories, hunting and practice. I have a couple thousand rounds of my preferred hunting ammo (squirrels) and several thousand rounds of mixed brand ammo that I primarily use in my M&P 22 compact for sub-caliber training/practice ammo. At my current rate of consumption I should survive yet another shortage and restock when things stabilize (like I did last time).

[Texas by God]

I carry a .22 single action often on my walks here on the farm. I hunt squirrels in cool weather and bullfrogs in the summer with a. 22. I also dispatch trapped hogs with one sometimes.
Skunks, Raccoons and Armadillos in Mama's St. Augustine get shotgunned because it is one and done....
But mostly I plink and occasionally print groups on paper.
I noticed last year that I must prefer Remington .22 rifles- because that's all that's left after all these years of lots of different brands. My self bubbaed 581 with a 60's Valor 4x scope, an iron sighted 510, and two Nylon 66s. They do what I need from a .22 so even though I desire other fancier .22s- I can do without them easily.

Sent from my SM-A716U using Tapatalk

[JimB..]

I went through a Ruger Mkii phase, then a S&W m41 phase, then a S&W m17/617 phase. In total 24 or 25 handguns. The pistols get used mostly for suppressed fun and the revolvers for paper.

Haven’t even been watching the price of 22, but in the last shortage I gave away cases of it for scout camp and new shooters, this time nobody is asking. Maybe everyone I know stocked up.

[Liberty1776]

.22LR is the ideal introduction round for new shooters.

I purposely bought a few .22 guns just so I could help newbies. I learned that even a mild .38 Special scares people who have never shot before.

The Walther PPQ 22 is fantastic. Easy to work the slide, even for kids, women and old guys with weak hand strength, and can then transition to a full size PPQ 9mm and it feels the same, with same controls.

I don't care for the Walther 22 Q at all. Its double action trigger is horrible. PPQ 22 is worlds better.

The Kimber .22 conversion slide and magazine for the Kimber 3" .45 TLE II is very comfortable to shoot by anyone, and teaches 1911 ergonomics. My 70-yr old mother-in-law picked that gun as her favorite. Go figure. She liked the 1911 grip, angle and trigger feel, I guess.

But far and away the most successful .22LR for training, for me, is an AR-15 fitted with a CMMG Bravo .22 conversion bolt carrier group. Installs in seconds, without tools. Just pull the rear pin, tilt up the upper, pull the BCG and replace it with the CMMG adapter. Close upper and push the pin.

Add a cheap red dot or green dot sight on the rail and sight it in ahead of time, and the newbie shooter can't miss. No recoil. Minimal noise. 25 rounds in the mag. The satisfaction of hitting the target is wonderful to behold.

Yeah, .22 ammo is running about 25 cents per round now, but it's still cheaper than 9mm. And I laid in a good supply a couple of years ago, so it doesn't hurt that much to shoot.

[rbuck351]

I do some informal plinking, some small game hunting, and some testing of ammo in different 22s. Any time I take the jeep for a drive I have a brief case with 2 MK I T Rugers or a MK I and a MK II that get put in the back. Got two skunks about a month ago.

I still shoot 22lr as much as I want. I'm almost 73 and I have what I believe to be a lifetime + supply of 22 even with shooting with the four grandkids when they come to visit.

I can shoot the hornets, the 25/20s or many of my hand guns for about 5 cents a round which is only slightly more than most of the 22lr I have stock piled. But, I don't have to load the 22s. I also have a lifetime supply of primers powder and lead, so it depends on what I want to shoot as to what I shoot.

[trapper9260]

My main use for 22lr is for the trap line to dispatch what I have alive in the trap and some hunting . I had got my supply up where i feel good about after Trump got in office. I am set now for some time .

[Pressman]

I love making little round holes in paper targets and these days, and factoring in advancing years, the lowly twenty-two is the perfect rifle for that. Not only rifle but the pre-17 S&W 22 revolver is getting an approving look from me.
It's great therapy especially that I have acquired several military style vintage rifles. They have the heft and feel of a centerfire without the noise and recoil. Going to the range in the evening around supper time I can be all alone and just relax and fire 25/30 rounds. I don't go out with autos and blast off a couple of boxes just to make noise, every shot counts. The latest edition to the family, a Mauser DSM-34 that has been bubbaized is currently getting a nice welcome home.

Ken

[bedbugbilly]

It used to be plinking and 4 legged critters on the farm - woodchucks, coons, skunks, etc. Sold the farm so now I would say plinking but with the price of ammo and availability of ammo at the present, my 22s are parked. I have some ammo - just don't want to shoot it all up. I have a brand new Henry "Frontier: - beautiful little rifle with a butter smooth action - bought it almost 2 years ago and haven't even shot it yet.

[Shanghai Jack]

I found it vaguely unsettling that this post showed up right above "Nosy Neighbor" in my listing.

[Bigslug]

Meditative therapy.

It doesn't beat me up. It doesn't make me deaf or give me nosebleeds. I don't have to pick up the brass or study manuals for it. For most of them, it's not a matter of group size or scoring rings, but rather one of the reactive target being hit.

At the height of my Highpower rifle career, I was shooting a match every other weekend. Nights were often dry fire practice or loading. Shot reduced range "practice matches" with a matched-out rimfire on the in-between weekends with the shooting coat, spotting scope and all the other comp paraphernalia.

Woke up one morning and realized I'd forgotten how to have fun with a rifle. Found a Winchester 1906 pump for $75 and quit taking myself so seriously. There's a time and a place for that crap, but sometimes you just need to pretend you're ten again.

[Edward]

For their ammo? :bigsmyl2:

HA-HA (I think)/Ed

[Murphy]

Meditative therapy.
Woke up one morning and realized I'd forgotten how to have fun with a rifle. Found a Winchester 1906 pump for $75 and quit taking myself so seriously. There's a time and a place for that crap, but sometimes you just need to pretend you're ten again.

Bigslug, I believe you hit the nail on the head for what I'm primarily doing with .22 RF's. I ain't a pup no more (67) and don't get out in the woods like I did when I was younger. A good .22, a Zebco 33, and an old friend sure can make for a good day.

Murphy

[sigep1764]

22LR has a few purposes for me. Its relatively easy for me to obtain 5k rounds in normal times. Its cheap to shoot in normal times. GOOD rifles are cheap in normal times. Theres no recoil allowing me to work out flinches. Theres no recoil making it easier to teach out flinches in others. Kids love 22LR. I don't have a kid but friends do. AND...I like it.

[Jedman]

For me it’s mostly for plinking. When I get a new rifle I usually scope it if possible and shoot it for groups to see how accurate it seems to be. I do shoot quite a few yard pests with them but also use what’s quick to grab most often. When I can get my wife to shoot she prefers 22’s as she ain’t going to shoot something like a 45-70.
I buy, sell and trade a lot of 22 rifles and pistols but always have 6 to 8 that I have had for 40 + years and they don’t get sold so I always have 22’s and ammo in stock.

Jedman

[Mr_Sheesh]

Read tazman's post & chuckled, then MrWolf's and chuckled again... You guys' humor is like mine, not sure if this is a good or a bad thing LOL

In past mostly accuracy practice and small game / varmint hunting.

Not done enough those lately, need to fix that.

[Shawlerbrook]

Pest control these days. Eliminated 2 garden raiding woodchucks this week. As a kid I would shoot hundreds of 22’s a weekend busting bottles at the dump or shooting bull frogs.

[sharps4590]

Skwerls and varmints. Haven't been much of a 22 shooter since I was about 20. That's soon to be 50 years ago and I expect I have a life times supply of 22LR ammo.....which wouldn't take a lot.

[shtur]

My wife and I shoot .22 in NRA bullseye pistol matches and shoot a lot in practice for those matches. We also shoot a .22 rifle for practice all year long in order to be ready for that one shot during big game hunting season. We hunt forest grouse and rabbits a lot during fall with our .22 pistols and rifles.

I buy .22 ammo like people here that buy more lead than they need when they see a good price. My wife and I have never had to ration our .22 shooting.

As soon as I finish posting this, I'm headed to the range with 100 rounds of .22 and my Colt woodsman to practice and have fun.

[ElCheapo]

Comes in handy now and then.
https://www.tdpri.com/media/20210602_174133.47002/full

https://www.tdpri.com/media/20210603_191237.47004/full

https://www.tdpri.com/media/20210615_185352.47005/full

[BigAlofPa.]

Plinking and target shooting, pest control and some hunting. Im well stocked with R.F ammo. Learned from past shortages. The other day the wife and I ran a 325 count brick of fed 22's at the gun club. We had a fun day out.

[35isit]

Mine is for shooting IHMSA silhouette. 99% of my rimfire shooting is that. When I go plinking I limit myself to 50-100 rounds. I've bought plinking ammo at a decent price. Target ammo that will hit the silhouette targets I've been gathering for the last two years.

[jsizemore]

I shoot more practice than match shoot but I practice to match shoot.

[Gussy]

Mostly steel gongs I have set up. Occasionally a bouncing target but I have a problem with 2 labs thinking it's game on.
Occasionally I get the urge to punch paper.

[high standard 40]

99.9 percent of all my 22RF usage is between handgun silhouette and squirrel hunting, heavily leaning toward silhouette.

[Win94ae]

22s are mainly for the kids to shoot. I'll sometimes shoot them just to make sure they are sighted in, or whatnot.

[Geezer in NH]

#1. Pure FUN!

#2. Business as a WCO, used with an outback suppressor

[Pressman]

In addition to shooting for pleasure, I also accumulate them. Another one just had to follow me home today.

[barrabruce]

When I was young I wouldn’t dare waste any ammo.(or couldn’t afford to)
Now I just plink away and shoot groups saying things like I woulda done alright today.
Or ghee the rabbits must have been bigger and stood out more.
Maybe my long paces were a lot shorter than I thought.
Or my eyes aren’t clearly calibrated as they were when I was a kid and my stance and nerves was steadier.
Ha

[Goofy]

Pigs don’t care for my .22’s. Varmints likewise.

[robertbank]

Mostly casual target shooting and Rimfire Steel Challenge Matches for the fun of competition. I get my semi auto and revolver once or twice a year.
Ammo is expensive up here now. Gone are the days of claiming .22lr was cheap to shoot. I can reload my cast 9MM and 38spl cheaper than what .22lr ammo costs these days. Most of my plinking now takes place with a GP-100 and an 1858 Remington repo BP in 44.

Take Care

Bob

[chunkin lead]

Shooting paper for accuracy, and plinking.

[Rich/WIS]

Informal target shooting in a dedicated Kimber conversion and an S&W 17-2. Plinking in a much modified Rem 513T. Have a good stock on hand and will restock when prices aren't so crazy.

[GARD72977]

Small bore sillhouette practice and on line 50yd offhand matches.

Have a Vodoo on order. Wil be doing some Nrl22 soon

[Buzz Krumhunger]

Rattlers and such.

[brass410]

ventilating soda cans, scrambling eggs off golf tees, making 12 gauge spinners, very usefull for tearing up paper targets and other annoying targets of oppourtunity.

[Seitz 555]

Back when I was a kid, shooting squirrels and rabbits like many others. Now punching paper with my grandson.

[dale2242]

Plinking at empty shot shells lying around in rock pits and landings.

[robg]

1022 for field use and fun ,martini international for paper punching.

[Gtek]

Armadillo, Armadillo, Armadillo!!!!!!!

[Patrick L]

I shoot NRA Bullseye pistol, so it gets used for that

For the last 4 years, I've been shooting groups just for fun, seeing how different brands group at 50 yards.

Just this year I shot my first rimfire silhouette match. Very humbling!! Still, it was fun. I could see myself getting into this!

So those are my uses for . 22 rimfire, at least so far.

[gbrown]

I've use .22RF for shooting varmits, food for camp, breaking in new shooters, safety training, sub caliber training in the military, target practice, but most of all, just plain fun. I own a few, auto's, pump, repeating bolt actions, single bolt actions, and pistols. All a bunch of fun. The strangest one is the Mossberg 151M. I posted a youtube video of a fellow going over one, below. His is just like mine, except for rear sight. Mine has a peep sight, like his, but it also has a few more rear sight types. It's kind of a weird thing. Got a mold not long ago from NOE, 5 cavity 38 grain. Haven't used it, yet, too hot and humid outside. About 15-20 inches of rain in the last 3-4 weeks. Rain every day, sometimes a downburst, sometimes just steady all day. Just got through raining here a few minutes ago. Not conducive for outside activities.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxaThAKTX6k

[echo154]

I have a Browning V70 bottom eject. It is for squirrel, rabbit and VERMIN!!!!!! The furry kind not the suits in office[smilie=s:

[1shotOnekill]

I have a Kidd 10/22 that i mainly use for squirrels and sich........handy little rifle when paired with a suppressor is an absolute scream to shoot!

[ElPistolero]

Tree Rats

11" Ruger Mk-II, Glenfield M-25
(also use the latter for training newbies in riflery)

I obtained a very nice supply of LR (solids, HP's & mini-mags) as wages for doing some computing for a local dealer.

[444ttd]

i have an old marlin m25 in 22lr that shot "i don't know the round count" squirrels, groundhogs, foxes, grouse, pheasant, crows, targets, soda & beer cans, hug juices and i can't(or won't) mention the rest. i have old cci mini mags (36gr hp) that can do a 1/4' - 1/2", 7 shot group at 50 yards. i had a steel block(about a 1" x 1") that i drill out to accept a 22lr body but not the rim. i then did a rn to a fn bullet by bastard file. it made a smack on squirrels!!!!!! but i got away from it(archery) and now it sits in my safe.

i bought a ruger 10/22 about 6 or 7 years ago. i then put on old 3-9x swift scope and i sighted it in to 50 yards. 10 shots are around 3/4" - 1 1/2" (remmies and federals and whatever else cheap box of 500 rounds) i'll take her out to plink now and then. its a great rifle for crows and feral cats/dogs for "git off my yard!!!!!"

[dale2242]

Plinking, just plain old plinking.
Empty shot shells, rocks , dirt clods, steel, etc.
Casual shooting for fun.
I haven`t hunted with my 22s for years.
I learned a lot from hunting Gray Squirrels with a 22 in my youth.

[FergusonTO35]

These days I only hunt larger game and so use a centerfire for that. I actually do CCW my Ruger LCP .22 quite a bit with Aguila Interceptors, they clock 1000 fps out of that short tube and are very reliable and accurate. Otherwise my rimfire shooting is for practice. I am fortunate in that my .22 rifles eat cheap ammo just fine with decent accuracy. Handguns not so much, other than Federal Champion 40 grain and CCI Blazer. I do keep a beater Savage bolt action in my toolbox in the garage for random pests.

[Eddie Southgate]

Coons mostly but I have a large supply of ammo and one of the light weight Rossi Auto rifles should I ever have a reason to have to hide out in the woods .

[Daekar]

It used to be that I shot it because it was cheap. Now I just load light 357 mag and the 22 stays in the safe unless we have guests over, I want to shoot a handgun that doesn't recoil, or rifle without hearing protection.

If prices come down again, my 22s will get more attention.

In a bug out situation, I would grab a 500 round box of 22LR and a rifle and handgun that would eat them. I just can't see lugging around hundreds of rounds of anything else.

[pelikan800]

My Ruger Mk III Target (with some Volquartsen parts) is used for NRA bullseye competition indoors in the winter (starts next Monday). My Anschutz 64R and 10/22 LVT worked on by CPC are used for shooting small groups mostly at 50 yds. outside during summer.

[Beagle333]

I just use mine for pests, and to dispatch critters on the farm - either for mercy or to make them easier to skin.

[robg]

It used to be that I shot it because it was cheap. Now I just load light 357 mag and the 22 stays in the safe unless we have guests over, I want to shoot a handgun that doesn't recoil, or rifle without hearing protection.

If prices come down again, my 22s will get more attention.

In a bug out situation, I would grab a 500 round box of 22LR and a rifle and handgun that would eat them. I just can't see lugging around hundreds of rounds of anything else.

spot on easy to carry 500+ rounds of 22rf.

[Sig]

I shoot 22 RF for steel challenge matches & informal target.

[robertbank]

.22 Rimfire out of Pr. George, plinking and target shooting out to 50yards.

Take Care

Bob

[Ithaca Gunner]

Fun, relaxation, and challenge. Some of the most fun shooting is finding an old dump somewhere and and shooting the old junk it contains. The quiet factor is simply relaxing to me. There's a whole imagination of challenges to do with them from long range shooting to seeing how precise you can place the bullets with a given gun.

[Jkrem]

Groundhog control, and squirrel hunting. Deadly out of a CZ bolt action with a Weaver K4 atop.

[Outer Rondacker]

If I didnt live in NYS and I could own a can, I think I would like to shoot 22 rimfire more. I started to get into bullseye at my local club but it was a joke. Club president using a pocketknife to pull misfires from his and other people's guns. I had to walk away. I honestly am looking into working on a mouse fart load for 223. If anyone has a real light one that will not give my RAR an issue, please feel free to PM me you load. Thanks

For now, all I do with 22 is sell it to local gun shops as they beg for ammo to sell. Been doing this since 2016.

[uscra112]

For real close ranges, CCI Quiet (if you can find any) is almost silent from a rifle. I've had a guy walk over, (while I was shooting it at a range in Idaho), wanting to see my can. I was shooting a Ballard. With the right light you can easily follow the bullet all the way through your scope.

[gwpercle]

FUN !
Just plain old fun ... shooting targets , tin cans and in years past great Wild Rat hunting trips into the Amazon Jungle (city dump) . Teaching my two children how to shoot was fun too .
I bought a new Ruger Wrangler last year ...simply for fun ... no other reason whatsoever !
Gary

[dverna]

I am down to less than 500 rounds a year of .22 LR shooting. Just too expensive to shoot for plinking at $50/brick. Most of my fun shooting now is with PCP’s. Less than $10/500 for pellets and air.

Was using the LR’s for eradicating chipmunks and squirrels, but will be trying the air guns this coming year.

I have a good stash of .22LR, and will sell some off now that I have proven PCP’s are accurate. BTW, that means an average group size below 1” at 50 yards with econo Crosman pellets.

Looking at selling a few of the .22LR guns as well. They are not getting used.

[boommer]

I hunt Grizz and CHIPALOS and anything that walks crawls or moves !! and wont sell any shells or guns The world is a target rich environment 22's you can get them for 30 a brick now,, except at gun shows like today were these CLOWNS are are buying them at Wallmart and throwing crap at wall to see if it sticks with there 75-100 percent mark up.

[Jack Stanley]

Relaxing is the main use .

Jack

[wmitty]

I am using a rem 582 to take prairie dogs in south east Colorado. Friend and I drive 650 miles from n.e. Texas twice a year to hunt the pasture poodles. Shooting off crosssticks with the typical strong winds makes for “challenging “ conditions; and the hits, while few and far between, are much more satisfying than using either the .222 or .22-250…

[Rodfac]

With the high cost of everything to do with shooting nowadays during the Brandon administration, I'm shooting less .22 than in past years. Locally, long rifle hasn't been less than a dime a round in a year and last week, Cabelas has Winchester yellow box, HP's at $40/300 count...13.3 cent per shot. As I'm a caster for all of my short guns, this is way out of sight...the last primers I bought and tagged show $31/1000 and that was from Cabelas, not generally known for low prices. With cast wheel weights, I shooting plain based .357's for a nickel a shot. Anybody else feel like the world's been turned upside down?

After the Obama madness, I stocked up on a lot of .22...so I feel no pinch as yet, but do limit my range time here on the farm to a cpl cylinder fulls a few times a week. I do miss the daily plinking I used to do, and especially the soft recoil and low noise level....Hope it all gets back to normal...tho I have my doubts with inflation approaching the Jimmy Carter levels once more.

It's going to be tough to keep young folks on a limited budget enjoying our sport if this keeps up....

Rod...worried in KY

[BadgerShooter]

22LR used to be my goto yard critter gun but the 17HMR and 22 mag seem a lot better on things tougher than rabbits like wood chucks, coons etc. My main use is competition and practice. ISU 3-P 50 meter smallbore and some 100 yd mini-palma. Also a great intro gun when I am training new shooters.

[P Flados]

Primarily my 22LR guns are just taking up space in my gun storage areas.

I do have one current "use". My 6" Ruger original 22 semi auto is stashed upstairs with two magazines of ammo. It has probably been 6 years since I have shot a rimfire.

Most of my shooting is standing practice at an indoor range. Prior to Obama, I used the 22LR mostly for practice shooting to save cost over CF rounds. With the shortage in the Obama years, I started working on guns and loads as 22LR replacements.

I started with cheap to load 38s, but my lead source (WW) for cast boolits went away and I wanted to reduce lead consumption.

My first real 22LR replacement was to get a 4.2" Ruger SP-101 in 327 and work up a light bullet mouse gun load. It uses a BLL coated 55 gr NLG boolit from a mold I made myself. I shot a lot of these the first few years I had the gun, but eventually I moved on.

Next I made a stub tube 8" 32 ACP barrel for my Contender. It only takes 1.7 grs of TiteGroup to push the 55 gr bullet to 890 fps. I shoot this one quite a bit now days.

I also shoot a light bullet mouse gun load out of my 10" 7 TCU. This allows lots of practice shots with a barrel and sight combination set up for Production and Standing classes in IHMSA.

With no SPP readily obtainable under $0.11 each (Midway with S&H plus hazmat), my cost per round was about to take a big leap. Instead of buying a couple of bricks of SPP, I invested in primer reloading. My cost for these loads has now dropped to around $1 a box of 50. This is not far from the 22LR prices I remember from 40 years ago. It is a lot less when you consider the value of a buck.

[Scorpion8]

I generally always carry *at least* a 22LR when in the woods around my area, if not something larger. But in most cases a 22 six-gun (Ruger Single Six, Ruger Wrangler, Puma 1873....) will do especially if they can also do 22 WMR or 22 WRF. Just so handy for many things. And while 22 LR is just seeming to be coming back, most of us smarties stocked up on it years ago.

[Baltimoreed]

When I was younger and competitive I used .22s as training guns for ipsc and cas. I built a Colt ACE slide and bought extra .22 mags to go on my 1911 to practice ipsc and bought a Marlin Model 39 and a .22 Ruger Vaquero for cas. Nowadays I enjoy shooting a Winchester Model 52 at steel but do carry a 4.5 inch Woodsman MT when I'm in the woods. Still have some Y2k .22s on my shelves.

[1hole]

My "best and highest" use for a .22 RF is training my grandsons. (I was gratified when my oldest little 6'3", 190# young'un took the range record in his military basic training ... and he liked it too!)

Second best use for my .22 is to remove low IQ groundhogs and rabbits that insist on trying to harvest my wife's kitchen garden early. (Sadly, we now live just inside the "No Shooting" city limit, but a standard velocity round at about 50 yards does the needed job very well without being loud enough to set our local yankee liberal's hair on fire.)

[rockshooter]

whelp, maybe not anyones main use, but if you can find a really fresh cow pie and hit it (from afar, at an angle) it can be pretty entertaining.
Loren- old enough to have gone to Eisenhowers funeral but still not grown up

[BadgerShooter]

whelp, maybe not anyones main use, but if you can find a really fresh cow pie and hit it (from afar, at an angle) it can be pretty entertaining.
Loren- old enough to have gone to Eisenhowers funeral but still not grown up

We have to get older, but growing up is optional!

[elmacgyver0]

whelp, maybe not anyones main use, but if you can find a really fresh cow pie and hit it (from afar, at an angle) it can be pretty entertaining.
Loren- old enough to have gone to Eisenhowers funeral but still not grown up

We used to have jousting matches with semi-dried cow pies off motorcycles. that was 50 some years ago.
The best ones were still liquid in the center.

[GregLaROCHE]

Today only plinking. It used to be for seriously needed squirrel control.

[GhostHawk]

Frankly I don't have one. I cleaned and put away the Ruger 10/22 a couple of years ago. The last time .22 ammo was in short supply and expensive.

I have extensive stocks. Half of which is earmarked for my pair of Ruger Mk III 22/45's with Red Dot Sights. Now those are just plain fun. But with the covid, increasing age, decreasing energy, and the high costs of replacement ammo. I just have not been shooting them.

If I feel the urge to shoot I walk down to the basement, turn on the lights and shoot air rifles or pistols instead.
Roughly 1.6 cents per round compared to 8 or better for .22 rimfire. Primers are higher than that, not counting lead, powder, etc.

Beeman P17 set up with a dovetail to weaver adapter and a 50$ truglo red Dot. Shoots as good as I can hold it at 20'
Lets me shoot whenever I feel the need. No carrying gear, no outside clothing nor driving needed.

When I have satisfied myself that I can hit what I'm aiming at I turn out the lights and walk upstairs.

To be honest, .22lr prices seem to have settled into the 8 to 12 cents per round range for the last month. I think there is more than enough demand to keep those prices up there. At that price I'll sit on what I have and shoot air rifles/pistols.

(PS hit a 9mm brass at 20 feet offhand yesterday. Drilled it clean through both sides slick as could be. Now that was fun. Dang thing was so small I could hardly see it at 20 feet.)

[gunther]

Local Walmart has yellow box, collectors item, Winchester @$40/300. Seems to be the going price everywhere for that stuff. Did find Remington Golden @$40/525 a couple of weeks ago. Competition is a good thing.

[BadgerShooter]

The "good" thing about competition grade ammo is that it really isn't any more expensive than its ever been. Its still steep, but when you view it against the cost of your equipment, match fees, traveling expense, etc. it really isn't that terrible. Obviously, we would all like to see it cheaper but... Paying match grade prices for mass produced crap ammo is hurtful.

[Rapidrob]

Twice a year I hold a .22LR Military Trainer 200 meter match. We have two stages, prone and off-hand.
The members do very well and scores are high. Open sights only.

[BadgerShooter]

That sounds like fun. I used to shoot the Steel Safari Matches held near San Jon, NM

[Scrounge]

I think this may be an interesting thread. Given the lack of, and current price of .22 RF. What would drive some to pay so much for it? I'm doing fine on my current stock given what I use mine for. Which is mostly plinking, and the occasional squirrel hunt now and then. If I'm plinking, 50-100 rounds usually quenches my thirst for a few weeks. If I'm hunting, I probably won't need more than 20 rounds, if that many. I have a Remington 541-T with a 2X7 Leupold that just doesn't miss, I do. I have a couple of plinking .22's as well. A Remington Nylon 66 and a Remington 510 single shot.

Chime on in guys, I'm curious!

Murphy

Probably gonna sound kind of weird, but for about the same things I use 30-06, 7.62x54R, .38spcl/.357Mag & .45ACP these days. Practice and target shooting. And hope I never need any of them for anything else.
Bill

[brass410]

Pop/beverage can safari, keep a few hundred live ones in a couple of big bins on the back landing. Take a few with me every time I take the dogs out for their constitution, place them about, at the base of trees,stumps,wallowed out spots. Then on wknd take swmbo with pair of 22's and do spot and stock while walking the bush. As new ones are released the corpses are retrieved for recycle,(the look on the recycle truck drivers face when he see's the condition of them is comical) We probably burn a brick a weekend between us if we go to the range on Sun for social shoot.

[Bentstick]

Vermin extrermation that gets to close to the house and just fun shootin, 22 cal, and 17 hmr, and to keep shooting practise up.

[DAVIDMAGNUM]

#1 Lever Action Silhouette matches
#2 Practice for Lever Action Silhouette Matches
#3 The occasional range day with the grandchildren (now 13 & 14) . Stingers and a case of shaving foam cans........I refuse to grow up!!!!

[white eagle]

bought a 22 pistol mainly for the trap line work
but got into some serious plinking with it
and of course I had to upgrade it

[FergusonTO35]

These days I am trying to do offhand practice with a .22 rifle a couple of times a week. I am attempting to train my body to have good basic fundamentals of shooting. Stance, cheek weld, breath, trigger control, hard focus on the front sight. Its not easy as my nervous system fights me at every turn, something I inherited from Mom's side. Kind of pointless to shoot my centerfires when I really need to just practice the absolute basics.

[farmerjim]

After Obama, during Trump 22 RF became cheep. I bought a lifetime supply.
I use the 22's for target and varmint.

You can make a good cheep fun 223 shooter with a cast boolit and a couple of grains of a fast pistol powder.

[dverna]

You can make a good cheep fun 223 shooter with a cast boolit and a couple of grains of a fast pistol powder.

Not at $100+/k for primers and that assumes your time is not worth anything. But if you are not shooting much or for someone old and not expecting to shoot much longer, using a .223 they have might make sense. Walmart has AutoMatch for about $22/325 and that is not too bad. I have moved all my plinking and fun shooting to PCP air guns...$7/500.

[Outer Rondacker]

Not at $100+/k for primers and that assumes your time is not worth anything. But if you are not shooting much or for someone old and not expecting to shoot much longer, using a .223 they have might make sense. Walmart has AutoMatch for about $22/325 and that is not too bad. I have moved all my plinking and fun shooting to PCP air guns...$7/500.

well said

[farmbif]

"The my use for rimfire, well like yesterday I took out a mountie just to stay in shooting shape shot a big handful of 22's from 75 yard at 3" iron pole from standing position with no support. I do that at least once a week. my old eyes with the iron sights are not what they used to be but can still get the pole to ring at least 50% of the time.

[FergusonTO35]

Not at $100+/k for primers and that assumes your time is not worth anything. But if you are not shooting much or for someone old and not expecting to shoot much longer, using a .223 they have might make sense. Walmart has AutoMatch for about $22/325 and that is not too bad. I have moved all my plinking and fun shooting to PCP air guns...$7/500.

For the longest time my own cast loads were cheaper than all but the absolute bottom of the barrel 36 grain HP bulk .22 ammo with crooked bullets and dud priming. Now, the problem is that primers and powder just don't show up around here at any price. Decent .22's are now available for about the same cost as just primers so I guess that's what I'll practice with. Fortunately I have rimfire guns that mimic to feel of my centerfires.

[badguns]

I use mine for Rabbit and Ptarmigan mostly. Though plinking is always fun.

[Outer Rondacker]

I do a lot of plinking with my lever guns. So since current events I purchased a .22 lever and well I am shooting more .22 than normal.

[alamogunr]

I read the first three pages of this thread and found that most(not all) are about like me. I shoot a S&W Model 17 and two Ruger 10/22's. I gave my other .22's to the two sons. The ones I have left will be left to Grandsons most likely.

I loaded up on everything the first time Obama go elected(actually before) and then when Trump was elected I bought .22's every time I saw them less than 5¢ per round and felt prosperous.

I imagine that most of the .22's will bel left when I leave since I live in town and usually shoot centerfire when I go to the range. It is nice to be able to shoot the rimfires after an afternoon of heavier stuff.

[HawkEyeEarl]

Plinking mostly.
I shoot more 22s than any other caliber.

[Rapier]

Mostly alligator snapping turtles, if they get in a fish pond they kill everything. I have also used the 22s on small predators like skunks, possums, and coons.
I found an old Rem 510 single shot, cheap, a dirt dobber had built a nest in the muzzle . Cut the barrel to 16.5”, threaded it 1/2x28 drilled and tapped it for 541 bases and put a Centerfire scope on, then put on a suppressor, I already had. It shoots pine cones at 200 yards from a rest with Federal Target, 40g solids.

This is the 2nd barrel, the first was eaten up by Winchester Sub Sonic, “non corrosive” ammo.

[arlon]

I have moved all my plinking and fun shooting to PCP air guns...$7/500.

I do shoot a lot of .22 because I can do it in my yard but anything louder disturbs the neighbors. I also shoot a fair amount of air guns. I have a stack of decent pistols and rifles but all are spring piston. I just like not relying on anything but me for power.

[375RUGER]

I've killed more game and varmints with a 22 than all other calibers combined. +the untold cans, paper and other targets of opportunity. I always have 22 handy.

[EdZ KG6UTS]

Just fun and hand-eye coordination practice. Ruger Govt Target, an Old Ruger standard, and a convertible 6 for hand shooting. Still have the 39A Mountie since 1957 and an 87A (plastic stock)Stevens. Those are all .22 but am also playing with a .32 RF Remington.

[Texas by God]

Squirrels, Bullfrogs, plinking and turtles are my main use; this one's field accuracy will serve those purposes. It will be great for turtles with a scope added- it holds 18 in the magazine[emoji16]https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220405/b86b7067d5c911af9ec14a85580bc8c0.jpg

Sent from my SM-A716U using Tapatalk

[Murphy]

Clean looking gun there Texas by God. I found a (hope to be) extremely clean Remington 521-T a few weeks back online and it's on the way to my place.

I've been plinking now and then with a good friend, the usual targets of opportunity. With .22 ammunition coming back on the shelves (slowly, but beats nothing) at a price that doesn't hurt all that bad. I figure to give the Remington 521-T a good wringing out once it's here. Not to mention, squirrel season isn't far off here in Oklahoma.

Murphy

[ElCheapo]

I'm from Pennsylvania, so yeah...

298785

First one of 2022!