Sunday morning, I put some Ahrends on the Model 18 and took her shooting. Even with the bargain-basement stuff, she does me proud:
According to Wikipedia, a penny is 0.75″ in diameter. 3/4 of an inch. Double action.
Man, did it feel good shooting that!
Of course, the question arises: is it the shooter or the gun? This is where it gets interesting. I’ve got a friend who’s a casual but patient and dedicated shooter. He’s big on single-action revolvers, and I figured this’d be a good way to introduce him to double-action shooting.
Like most folks, he assumed that it would be more difficult than shooting a gun with a shorter, lighter trigger. Theoretically, that’s correct, but with a little practice, it’s no different than switching to a car with a stick-shift.
His first group was about 2.5″ at 7 yards, not as good as the groups he was shooting with his own gun, but far better than what I see 99% of the time these days.
So, I have to admit that the gun is, in fact, a significant part of the equation.
The .22 double-action revolver is one of the best training tools in the trade. For new shooters, it may feel harder than an automatic, but the proof is in the shooting. Ammunition is cheap and plentiful, and recoil is virtually nonexistent. The whole idea is to get a new shooter to enjoy the hobby, and there’s no easier path to that than the satisfaction of shooting well. A 2″ group with a .22 is far more satisfying than a 5″ group with a high-caliber pistol.
Of course, in the current climate, the whole trend is towards small, light guns, many of which kick like a mule on methamphetamines. I can’t stress the point enough: those guns are not made for marksmanship or enjoyment, and starting on one will not help anyone become a good shooter. A first-timer with a pocket-rocket is going to develop anticipation issues and is not going to enjoy the experience. What do you think the chances are that they’re going to want to practice with it on a regular basis?
I know the primary concern for many is concealed carry and self-defense, but it’s been pounded into the ground by men far wiser than myself: shot placement is everything. That means trigger control, sight alignment and all the underlying habits that are only developed through regular, focused practice. That means getting a good practice gun that they do enjoy shooting.
So, why a revolver and not a .22 automatic? Reliability and versatility. I’m not saying there aren’t some phenomenal makes out there. The Colt Woodsman and S&W 41 are some of the most accurate .22 pistols out there, and the Ruger MKIII series are marvelous guns in their price range.
The problem lies with ammunition. Most bulk .22 is soft lead, something you don’t want to shoot much of in an automatic, as it will choke up the works. You’re also limited to .22 LR, and only what bullet weights and velocity for which the gun is designed. You won’t be able to shoot .22 Shorts, CB’s or Aguila’s fun little Colibri loads.
A .22 revolver will happily digest anything, so long as the diameter is right. Most have excellent sights, and yes, they’re slow to reload. In a way, that’s the point. If it takes the shooter ten seconds or so to reload, they’ve got a chance to breathe, relax, and focus before firing again. Every shot counts, and the revolver teaches this lesson well.