twenty-two pistol
Noun: A small-caliber handgun designed to fire .22 Long Rifle rimfire cartridges. It is named for its bullet diameter of approximately 0.22 inches (5.6 mm). These pistols are known for their low recoil, relatively quiet report, and low cost of ammunition, making them popular for target shooting, plinking, and small game hunting.
The term "twenty-two pistol" specifically refers to the firearm itself. It is a common, informal term. - He carried a twenty-two pistol for target practice at the range. - The evidence included a recovered twenty-two pistol.
- ".22 pistol": This is a very common abbreviated form of the term, often used interchangeably.
- She prefers a .22 pistol for introductory firearms training due to its mild recoil.
- .22 caliber pistol: A more formal variant specifying the bullet diameter (caliber).
- Rimfire pistol: A broader category that includes .22 pistols, as they use rimfire ammunition.
- Target pistol: Many .22 pistols are designed specifically for precision target shooting.
- .22 handgun
- .22-caliber handgun
The term exclusively refers to a pistol chambered for the .22 Long Rifle cartridge or similar .22 caliber rimfire cartridges (e.g., .22 Short, .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire). It is not used for revolvers chambered in .22, which are typically called ".22 revolvers." The focus is on the semi-automatic pistol format.
-
a .22-caliber pistol
