What is the use of 22lr anyway?
A friend and I were discussing 22lr and the big panic about the shortage and costs of ammo. Finally he summed it all up by saying "what is the use of 22lr anyway?" He got me thinking about all the uses of a 22lr. There were 7 main benefits of a 22lr that we came up with that we thought made it stand out.
#1 - Small Game Hunting
Perhaps the most fun is hunting small game. Squirrels and Rabbits would be the most common. Depending on the laws and regulations of where you are, this could also include fox, coyote, some upland birds, and turkey. Check the laws where you are and practice your shot placement before going for anything larger than a rabbit.
#2 - Plinking
The secret to perfecting your game is practice. With a 22lr you can practice all day without the shoulder stress or the pinch on the wallet. I don't know about you but I can only go about 12 shots with my 12 gauge with a number 6 load before I start to feel the shoulder. Never mind slugs. And the costs? With a 22lr, I can go through a brick of 500 without any discomfort and before this so called shortage it was very easy on the wallet too.
#3 - Carry
Well this is an easy one. How many 22lr can you fit in your pocket? The number of 22lr that can easily be carried in a backpack is in the thousands. How many can you carry in your ammo box? The ease of carrying crazy amounts of 22lr makes it useful in so many ways.
#4 - Availability
I know what you are thinking. "There is a shortage on 22lr right now, what do you mean availability?" It is all about supply and demand. If there is a demand to the level that it has created a shortage, then rest assured that they will keep producing the 22lr for a long time. If this demand continues, then shrewd business people will find a way to meet the demand. In addition, all those 22lr that are being sold are somewhere. Perhaps YOU have a brick or two stashed away?
#5 - Training
"Isn't training the same as plinking?" No. Plinking is experienced shooters having fun and honing their skills. Training is the novice and inexperienced learning to shoot, or the experienced shooter learning to shoot farther or better. Just the lack of recoil alone is enough to make the 22lr a great training round. The gentleness of a 22lr makes it great to introduce your kids and family to shooting. The lack or recoil is great for the experienced shooter to train for farther distances and quicker reacquisition of target.
#6 - Quietness
Hunting close to residential areas, a 22lr is a great way to be considerate on early morning hunts. This consideration can lead to neighbors pushing for changes or not. Do you really want to hunt on land where the neighbors hate you? Plus, we won't get into a discussion here about it but let's just say that preppers love 22lr. Anytime you want to go unnoticed, or at least to not stand out, than a subsonic 22lr is ideal. If bylaws and regulations allow you to suppress, than you can make a 22lr difficult to hear past 100 yards. There is a reason that the 22lr is the favored cartridge of assassins and poachers (We do not favor or support poaching, assassins on the other hand...especially for poachers). In everyday terms, I have shot a squirrel out of a tree in front of me without frightening the squirrel in another tree behind me.
#7 - Weight
A 22lr rifle such as a Ruger 11/22 or Savage Mark II are extremely light weight and can be carried on long hikes or treks into the wild. Of course you can sling any firearm over your shoulder, but for those long hunting treks when you want your rifle at the ready, you will be thankful for the light weight of a 22lr rifle.
So what is the use of a 22lr? It is for everyday use and lots of fun. It can be used in almost any application although not ideal for some. From hunting to plinking all day long, 22lr is a versatile caliber. Not only is it fun to shoot, it puts meat on the table.
What are your thoughts on the 22lr? Do you agree with these 7 points? I know hunting a Coyote with 22lr is debatable by some. Do you have other benefits to the 22lr not listed here? We would love to hear them. Visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/smallgame.ca and comment.
