[SpeedBuggy]

I've got a couple of 9mm pistols that I love, but to be honest it's no fun shooting them any more. I used to shoot 9mm all day at the range a long time ago, but I guess I've gotten to the age where the recoil is getting to be too much for me. Even racking the slide on a 9 takes extra effort. Really don't want to admit it, but my hand strength isn't what is used to be, if I try to open jars now I feel like I'm exerting max effort but nothing happens. Got to cheat and use rubber bands or some rubberized shelf liner around the lids to help me.

Besides the physical strength problems, there's the cost of ammo and the ability to carry a lot more .22LR than 9mm if I have to, along with the total weight of the gun loaded...so, I'm thinking about selling off my nines and only having a couple of .22LR pistols, for carry and around the house. It's a terrible decision to make, I've been on the fence about it for quite some time now.

 

[Smokewagon]

One of my shooting buddies is where you are concerning the .22. He has a Glock 43 9mm, for carry and home defense. When we go shooting, he shoots a few rounds in the 9 to check function and making sure he can still hit what he shoots at. But after that it's a semi-auto Ruger .22 for the rest of the session. Still have a lot of fun, but the 9 has become to uncomfortable for extended shooting for him.

 

[Danwin22]

I'm in the same boat. I'll be 83 in July and my hands aren't what they used to be.

I can still shoot my 9mm and .40 but racking is not easy and recoil can sting sometimes.

Except for a 30-30 and a 30-06 all of the other rifles and handguns in the safe are .22LR.

 

[mc1911]

One of my shooting buddies is where you are concerning the .22. He has a Glock 43 9mm, for carry and home defense. When we go shooting, he shoots a few rounds in the 9 to check function and making sure he can still hit what he shoots at. But after that it's a semi-auto Ruger .22 for the rest of the session. Still have a lot of fun, but the 9 has become to uncomfortable for extended shooting for him.

22 revolvers are great range guns. Cheap to shoot and no bending over to pick up fired brass.

 

[Qwiks draw]

I'm on the fence about going to .22lrf only now. I've found out that the .32 ACP is still something I can shoot with out too much trouble. I've got at least 5 pistols in that caliber. On the other hand I have five rifles and4 pistols and 4 revolvers in .22lrf.
It may not be something we want to do, but out of necessity have to go to the .22lrf or have nothing at all. The .22lrf will suffice.

 

[SpeedBuggy]

In terms of self defense, that would be purely idiotic


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Oh just stop it. I'm not going to get drawn into a caliber war... 22LR has killed plenty of people and is a very underrated round. For many it's their only option and I certainly wouldn't call them idiots for it and neither should you.

 

[RimPhyr]

If you love the 9's keep them and add 22's. The Taurus 992 combo 9 shot revolver comes with both a standard 22 and a 22mag cylinder. It is a hoot to shoot.

 

[Quality_driven]

If 9mm is no joy then get rid of it. I did and am happier for it. Keep what works and what you are comfortable with. It's also nice to shop for less calibers. Makes life a little simpler. I was tired of having a box of this and box of that. Now I just have boxes of what I really like.

 

[TWS]

I'm pretty much the same. Not the hand strength so much. But, Just don't enjoy shooting anything larger than 22lr. Handguns and long guns. I already stopped shooting anything magnum, +p and over 23/4 shot shells.

 

[Dad1911]

Oh just stop it. I'm not going to get drawn into a caliber war... 22LR has killed plenty of people and is a very underrated round. For many it's their only option and I certainly wouldn't call them idiots for it and neither should you.

I understand where you're coming from. I can still handle any caliber that I want to shoot for now, but not so for my wife. She still loves her .45 1911s and shoots them well, but can no longer rack the slide. The same applies to all of our 9mm and most of our .380 handguns. She also has accuracy issues with revolver triggers in double-action. You have to go with what works for you. Nothing idiotic about that at all. It's called survival. In your case, I do like the the .22 Magnum option if possible, but it's as pricy to shoot these days as 9mm.

 

[DeltaBravoKS]

If you love the 9's keep them and add 22's. The Taurus 992 combo 9 shot revolver comes with both a standard 22 and a 22mag cylinder. It is a hoot to shoot.

Never fired a 22 mag. How does that compare recoil wise to 22LR?

If racking is the problem I recommend a Beretta Tomcat with the tip up barrel.

 

[DeltaBravoKS]

In terms of self defense, that would be purely idiotic


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Ouch!

 

[Smokewagon]

Never fired a 22 mag. How does that compare recoil wise to 22LR?

If racking is the problem I recommend a Beretta Tomcat with the tip up barrel.

I have a Ruger Single Six. Recoil is just a little more than .22lr with .22mag. But louder.

 

[JimmyA]

.22 magnum is a really nice cartridge. If you are in close quarters and can bring it to bear accurately, seems to me .22LR or magnum would be quite deadly.

As I mentioned a while back, President Reagan came close to losing his life from .22 handgun. Rawhide Down is a good book about it.

 

[NativeTexan]

Jeez, bad off as I am with the cancer and resultant anemia, I can still shoot my magnum revolvers. I guess I'll stop feeling so sorry for myself. 🤪

 

[Doobie]

In terms of self defense, that would be purely idiotic

You know what they say about opinions...

 

[777Driver]

Even racking the slide on a 9 takes extra effort. Really don't want to admit it, but my hand strength isn't what is used to be, if I try to open jars now I feel like I'm exerting max effort but nothing happens. Got to cheat and use rubber bands or some rubberized shelf liner around the lids to help me.

Besides the physical strength problems, there's the cost of ammo and the ability to carry a lot more .22LR than 9mm if I have to, along with the total weight of the gun loaded...so, I'm thinking about selling off my nines and only having a couple of .22LR pistols, for carry and around the house.

I agree that the cost of 9mm ammo is outrageous right now.
However, if you're having trouble racking you slide, you might try this: www.rack-it.org
They make ones that clip onto your belt, or attach to a table.

 

[TWS]

Never fired a 22 mag. How does that compare recoil wise to 22LR?

If racking is the problem I recommend a Beretta Tomcat with the tip up barrel.

22 mag is not much more than 22lr

 

[PTDOUDE]

I agree that the cost of 9mm ammo is outrageous right now.
However, if you're having trouble racking you slide, you might try this: www.rack-it.org
They make ones that clip onto your belt, or attach to a table.

Checked the price of .22 ammo lately? It's on a par with 9mm.

 

[Dad1911]

Checked the price of .22 ammo lately? It's on a par with 9mm.

Apples to apples, as of this date at Academy Sports, CCI Mini-Mag .22 LR is 13 cents/round, CCI Maxi-Mag .22 WMR is 40 cents/round. Cheaper brands of LR are as low as 8 cents/round. 9mm of assorted brands are on par with .22 WMR.