[dogsoldier0513]

If you do...or know someone that does....what is it and why a .22LR? TIA

[Fred Fuller]

As a 'hardware' question, I'm moving this one from ST&T to Handguns...

[doc2rn]

When its all you can CCW I often take my NAA mini with me, but its .22 mag. I pocket carry strong side in a pocket holster. Usually for churchie dress up type events, where OCing or Printing would be frowned upon in a big bad ugly way.

[Duble Naught Spy]

I also carry a 22 mag NAA.

I've found nothing else that conceals as well for my body size/type and dress in summer.

[The Lone Haranguer]

Unless it is all you have, why needlessly handicap yourself?

[robinkevin]

I don't think it's nearly as common as it once was due to smaller and more powerful pocket pistols available. If's it's all you have or you need something smaller than the little .380s I think it's a good choice in .22 mag. Remember a lot of people once carried .25 which isn't nearly as good of a round as the .22 mag and was usually a larger pistol than today's pocket .22 revolvers.

My personal outlook is that it's better than nothing and I would like to point out two facts. Most of the time a crime is avoided just from a firearm being drawn or fired regardless if the bad guy is even hit. This brings me to my second fact, no one wants or likes getting shot no matter the caliber.

YMMV

[Swing]

I have carried a .22 WMR wheelgun in years past, but have long since given up the habit. It was more a "tacklebox" gun than for social situations though.

As to the question, would I purposely limit myself to .22LR for CCW? No, can't say I would. Some contemporary .380 ACP autos and .38 Special revolvers aren't that much bigger than .22s.

[jimbo555]

I'm retired and living on 32acres in rural Georgia and carry a walther tph 22 on my property daily.When going to town I have more powerful choices,but because of the price savings I shoot the little walther the most.

[Water-Man]

How reliable are those NAA revolvers?

[JSpear]

Very, I've never had any issues with mine!

[Vern Humphrey]

I have said before, most disasters happen because people plan to have a disaster. If you find yourself in a life-threatening situation witn nothing but a .22, that's because you planned it that way.

Imagine you know you're going to be in a life-and-death confrontation today. What pistol would you choose in that case?

That's the gun and caliber you should carry all the time.

[rcmodel]

I sometimes carry a S&W 317 Airlite with Crimson Trace lazer grips while walking the dog.

Eight .22 LR in your sinus cavitys, eye sockets, and throat would most likely slow you down enough I can out-hobble you and get away.

rc

[johnnylaw53]

I have had a NAA .22lr for many years for awhile it was the only gun I carried when I was working dope (buying not doing raids) As i got older and weaker and maybe a little smarter I began carrying bigger weapons working and off duty. I now sit behine a desk so it don't really matter much but I still carry the little .22 when I do my yard other then that it doesn't get carried.

be safe

[mr.trooper]

There was a point in time where the only small pistol I owned was a Walther P-22. Thus, that is what I carried.

It never had a failure, ever, with CCI ammunition.

Ballistic gelatin tests with the P-22 shows 12" of penetration, which is enough to reach vital organs even with a poor shot angle.

I was a pretty decent shot with it as well.

So why not carry it? Because internet commandos tell me not to? NEGATIVE.

[T Bran]

It is far better to have something slightly underpowered with you every day than to have something that is a pain in the neck that you may not carry as often.
.22LR isnt the greatest but it sure beats being unarmed.

[jimbo555]

I prefer to call 22lr by its metric designation,5.56x15mmR. Sounds much more powerful!:D

[sm]

I have had to, as have some others, go to .22 long rifle for defensive needs.
No recoil, as per Doctors due to injury/surgery.


Also, in my case, and others I know too well of, in NPE, [non permissive to (weapon) environments] a small .22 such as the NAA fits a niche. Add, I have been known to have worn a NAA in a crotch holster in the event a "Onion Field incident" come down. It was not uncommon for me to have a NAA worn about the neck as mine had the lanyard ring.

Good book The Onion Field and I was in high risk work if you will. Me/Mine did everything we could, still in the line our work there was always that chance, and being fearful , the worst could happen.

I have been chided before and expect to always be, still I will state my opinion having "been there and done that" if you will.

Everyone should have a .22 long rifle handgun they can conceal carry, one they can get quick, effective hits with.

One never knows when they too will have No Recoil orders from a Doctor or Surgeon due to injury or surgery.

Oh, and have a cattle cane fitted to you, just a simple good piece of wood from the Farm Store, Ranch Store, or Feed-n-Seed store.

Steve

[mje]

Vern asks, "Imagine you <b>know</b> you're going to be in a life-and-death confrontation today. What pistol would you choose in that case?<br />
<br />
That's the gun and caliber you should carry all the time."

Heck, I'd stay home. A big part of successful self defense is avoiding conflict in the first place. ;-)

[gbran]

Imagine you know you're going to be in a life-and-death confrontation today. What pistol would you choose in that case?

That's the gun and caliber you should carry all the time.

Very well put. Cuts to the chase.

[mgkdrgn]

How reliable are those NAA revolvers?
Very ... they are pretty much stone simple. And with the between round safety notch you don't have to worry about carry with the hammer on a live round.

[kbbailey]

How reliable are those NAA revolvers?
Very. Like a quality watch. I CC mine sometimes. I have the holstergrip version.

[Deltaboy]

I knew a lady in Little Rock who sent a mugger to the grave with 6 rounds from a old Iver Johnson pocket Pistol with a 3 inch barrel. The rounds the guy at St Vincents pull out were Hollow Points. She was 78 and he was about 24.

[kbbailey]

Imagine you know you're going to be in a life-and-death confrontation today. What pistol would you choose in that case?

That's the gun and caliber you should carry all the time.

That's indeed good food for thought, but I'm most familiar with an 870. That would be my first choice for a 'confrontation', and is my home defense gun.
IMHO a CCW must be a trade-off between firepower and daily portability. You never really know when you might need it, a .22 in your pocket is better than a 1911 back home in the safe because you didn't want to lug it around that day.

[floorit76]

I'm from IL, so I don't get to carry yet. But I also have a naa mini in 22lr. It will be my carry gun frequently once we have passed CC. But what is frequently missed in these threads is that not everyone carries for the same reason. As an electrician in a rural area, I spend alot of time working in the boonies. Mine will be more of a snake gun than a defensive weapon. I have other larger pistols, that I'm sure I will find reasons to carry. But 90% of the time it will be the naa.

[Onward Allusion]

dogsoldier0513
CCWing a .22LR by choice?
If you do...or know someone that does....what is it and why a .22LR? TIA

I used to CC a NAA Mini in 22LR, but I came to my senses. These days I carry a P32 and only carry the NAA when I absolutely can't carry anything else (i.e. in a pair of running shorts). Due to a recent situation, I'm seriously considering up-sizing to a PF9 or P11 and carry a NAA in 22 Mag as a BUG.

[Carl Levitian]

Growing up, I saw my father carry his old Colt woodsman try often on family hikes and picnics, and when we went fishing along the river. It was one of those old pre-war Colts, nice flat trim little gun. It was out of sight under the old khaki shirt he wore in warm weather or the wool rich short jack in cold weather. It was the only gun he owned, and he was a crack shot with it.

My better half is very partial to her 3 inch S&W 317. She shoots it pretty good, enough that I'd never want her mad at me.

[Onward Allusion]

Water-Man
How reliable are those NAA revolvers?

They're dead nuts reliable but they are also single action. Slow follow-up and not made for anyone with large hands (like bigger than a medium glove size). Also, from a 1 1/8 barrel, the bullet carries less energy than a 50gr 25ACP.

[Brink]

They're dead nuts reliable but they are also single action. Slow follow-up and not made for anyone with large hands (like bigger than a medium glove size). Also, from a 1 1/8 barrel, the bullet carries less energy than a 50gr 25ACP.
Awesome reliability, but good luck hitting anything with one unless you are within stabbing distance.

[floorit76]

I have the 22lr in 1 5/8" I believe. It is suprisingly accurate for it's size. I'm not sure that I have ever had it on paper. But theres been alot of "can you hit that?", and generally yes it can. Maybe I have an exceptionaly straight shooter, or maybe you had an exceptionaly bad one. Having the holster grip makes alot of difrence also. Carries folded up clipped in your pocket like a knife, but opens up to a decent sized handle.

[22-rimfire]

Imagine you know you're going to be in a life-and-death confrontation today. What pistol would you choose in that case?

I agree... BUT ..I don't usually carry a 22 handgun, but if I did, I would feel pretty comfortable with my odds in a life and death confrontation. I don't spend my life preparing for something that is likely never to happen such as the preppers do.

[Kiln]

I have said before, most disasters happen because people plan to have a disaster. If you find yourself in a life-threatening situation witn nothing but a .22, that's because you planned it that way.

Imagine you know you're going to be in a life-and-death confrontation today. What pistol would you choose in that case?

That's the gun and caliber you should carry all the time.
It is a nice idea in theory...but most people, who know they are about to get into a serious confrontation, will pick their largest pistol with the highest capacity.

The thing is, most people either won't carry that weapon because it is too large to conceal or because it just isn't comfortable. If you are able to pull it off then all power to you but for me, even the Kel Tec P40 is barely small enough to be carried.

Most people try and find a compromise between the full size pistol and the mousegun, a gun that can be counted on for reliability and has adequate power while still remaining small enough to actually carry.

If I knew I was going to be walking out the front door into a hellish nightmare of a gunfight, I'd choose my XDM because it is powerful, reliable, and I can use it well.

If I'm going to be carrying all day because something might or might not happen, I'm going with something more compact.

[45_auto]

Imagine you know you're going to be in a life-and-death confrontation today. What pistol would you choose in that case?

That's the gun and caliber you should carry all the time.

Last time I carried my Glock 21 in an IWB under my swimsuit people kept asking me if I was starring in a porn film .....

[wnycollector]

I pocket carry a NAA .22 mag daily in the summer. With LOTS of practice I'm able to keep all five shots in the A/C areas on an IPSC target from 15 feet.

[Rodentman]

I sometimes carry a 351PD (.22 MRF). It's fairly small (J frame) and light enough not to be a burden. It's not cheap, but it's well made and has a reasonable DA action.

[Onward Allusion]

floorit76
I have the 22lr in 1 5/8" I believe. It is suprisingly accurate for it's size. I'm not sure that I have ever had it on paper. But theres been alot of "can you hit that?", and generally yes it can. Maybe I have an exceptionaly straight shooter, or maybe you had an exceptionaly bad one. Having the holster grip makes alot of difrence also. Carries folded up clipped in your pocket like a knife, but opens up to a decent sized handle.

Were those stationary or slow moving targets? Also, what was your heart rate? How long did you take to aim? I can hit the black (8x + on a B-27M) every time with my NAAs from 5 to 7 yards but that is with slow breathing and taking my time with the shots. Those NAAs are last ditch guns from a few feet away, and one won't likely be using sights but rather point-shoot.

Try this... do jumping jacks until you're catching your breath, then reach for your NAA in your fold-up holster, unfold and lock, and shoot at your target as quickly as possible from 15 feet away. The result will probably be better than you'd probably do in a real life bad situation.

[floorit76]

I doubt that I will be shaking and breathless while I'm shooting a snake. Which as I stated earlier is my most likely target. When I carry around the farm it's loaded with 2 cci birdshots, and 3 subsonic hollow points. Plenty of deterent for the critters that I have in mind. My response was that the gun itself is not inherently inaccurate, the guy holding it is another story.

[Onward Allusion]

Ok - That makes more sense. It's fine as a snake gun at close ranges.

[MedWheeler]

I don't know anyone who does but, if I did, I would not disparage him or his choice by any means. I don't even think I'd question it.
Those here who already know why will always be the only ones; the others will never be convinced.

[jad0110]

If I knew I was going to be walking out the front door into a hellish nightmare of a gunfight, I'd choose my XDM because it is powerful, reliable, and I can use it well.

For me, scratch the handgun, I'd take my AR.

Then again, going back to Vern's statement ...

Imagine you know you're going to be in a life-and-death confrontation today. What pistol would you choose in that case?

That would be my 4" S&W Model 28. There is no handgun I shoot better and to this point, it has run flawlessly. I can't ask for more than that.

However, I can't imagine CCWing a 4" Model 28 while doing yard work, changing the oil, power washing the house, framing the room addition or staining the fence. As someone else said, some days you have to trade off more than others. Some days, a S&W 642 in my pocket is as big as I can manage, depending on my activities.

As for .22 carry, in addition to recovering from surgery, having rhumatoid arthritis can limit one to a .22 as well.

[Kiln]

For me, scratch the handgun, I'd take my AR.

My reply was taking into account the pistol only requirement.

[Auf Grosser Fahrt]

Light, reliable, comfortable, inexpensive, and accurate. That's why a .22 LR. Plus, I know I'm never going to be in a gunfight with a Mexican cartel...or any gunfight, for that matter. Realistically speaking.

Now, if everyone carried openly, and I didn't stand out like a sore thumb, I'd put on my NM Blackhawk .357 and be done with it. But until everyone does, I like really small flat guns.

Besides, I mostly wear knit shorts and the Blackhawk in an inside the pants holster just keeps pulling my britches down, and I don't get into that style as much as the younger crowd.

[jbrown50]

My Sister-in-Law carries a S&W 317. She's very recoil sensitive due to an old neck and back injury.

[amd6547]

I have sometimes carried a beretta model 21a loaded with MiniMag solids as a low profile weapon.
I also own a Ruger SR22 pistol. It has excellent sights, a good double action trigger, and is light and compact. With the right kydex holster, it would disappear under a polo shirt.
It just might be the best "combat 22" made.

[Kiln]

I wouldn't trust the SR22 until I know for sure if the automatic disassembly feature has been corrected or not. Google search SR22 failure and check out the videos.

I'm sure they'll be fixed eventually but the early problems are enough to scare me off for now.

[Swing]

Awesome reliability, but good luck hitting anything with one unless you are within stabbing distance.

That was my experience with them, generally. Well made and reliable. Just a PITA for guys with large mits like yours-truly and the accuracy was consistent with a revolver of its size.

[Major Ross]

The Human body doesn't react well to having multiple 6 inch holes punched into it's most vital areas; like eyes and forehead, temples, throat and neck generally, heart - - - - or showstoppers like groin or a shin. A good airweight .22 revolver with a trigger job and a Crimson Trace grip is absolutely lethal at close range (self defense range) and I wouldn't hesitate to carry one to use in self defense. My wife does; she practices a lot (no recoil) and can put every Stinger round - - - multiple, rapid hits - - - in all of those places I mentioned.

The .22 LR is responsible for more fatal shootings than any other round in Florida. Probably elsewhere as well.

[Lawdawg45]

I've said this before about my wife, but it applies here as well. She has always loved recreational shooting with me (SASS, IDPA,etc) but has never opted to carry a CCW, and recoil does play a part in that, even though she frequently shoots .45 Colt/.45 acp. I got her a Charter Arms .22 mag for Christmas this year, and she has pretty much carried it daily since then! She is deadly accurate and has been trained in the "5 in the chest, 1 in the head rule" along with tactical reloads, so while the .22 wouldn't be my first choice, it has inspired her to carry. No complaints from me!;)

LD

[wickedsprint]

Imagine you know you're going to be in a life-and-death confrontation today. What pistol would you choose in that case?

.

I wouldn't have a pistol.

[mdauben]

Unless I absolutely could not carry anything larger than a NAA .22 revolver for some reason, I could not see ever carrying a rimfire for SD. There are just too many good, small, choices in .380, .38 and even 9mm these days to chose to carry a .22 for most conceivable concealability reasons.

Now, I suppose someone who had problems handling a revolver in an accepted SD caliber (due to some medical problem), I could see carrying a full-size .22 revolver or autoloader, but most healthy people, with a bit of practice, should be able to handle at least a full-sized .38 revolver or 9mm pistol.

[floorit76]

As I said in my previous post. Not everyone carries for self defense, at least not the kind you are thinking of. Find me a 380, on any auto that I can fire birdshot through without having to manually manipulate the slide between shots. Or thumb past the first few rounds to get to a difrent type of ammo. I realize those characteristcs fit any revolver, but how many are as small as the naa? Our circumstances and reasons for carrying all vary, why is it so hard to accept that what we carry can vary just as much? There are places we travel that I wouldn't go without a 45 minimum. But around home a 22 suits me fine. Snakes, stray dogs, the odd coyote, I might wish a had brought more, but I'm way more likey to have the naa with me.

[Striker]

At one point in my life, I was in a country that limited possesion to firearms of a "non military or police" caliber (.32 ACP, .380ACP, .38 Spl, 9mm, .38 Super, & .45 ACP were prohibited and this was before the time of the extended 9's. The .40 wasn't born yet). My only options were .25ACP or .22 LR

I couldn't find a PP series in .22, so I had a Ruger MK II 512 bull barrel cut back to 2", replaced the target sights with fabricated fixed sights, and had the gun parkerized. Got a belt slide type holster and mag pouch made up and away I went.

Amazingly, I got permission to carry the gun concealed and did so the entire time I was there. Not my first choice, but it was reliable, accurate and legal. Except for vermin, I never needed it, but it was comforting to have around.

[foghornl]

I carried a .22LR over/under derringer as a tertiary weapon, but that was waaaaaaaay back yonder.

Now, I wouldn't carry a .22 as a primary, but if I happened to have my Single-Six in hand when ahhhhhhhh The Vigoro struck The Mixmaster, well "Run Whatcha Brung"

[iLikeOldgunsIlikeNewGuns]

I prefer to call 22lr by its metric designation,5.56x15mmR. Sounds much more powerful!:D

now that's good stuff right there! I gotta start using that :D

[spotch]

At one point in my life, I was in a country that limited possesion to firearms of a "non military or police" caliber (.32 ACP, .380ACP, .38 Spl, 9mm, .38 Super, & .45 ACP were prohibited and this was before the time of the extended 9's. The .40 wasn't born yet). My only options were .25ACP or .22 LR

I couldn't find a PP series in .22, so I had a Ruger MK II 512 bull barrel cut back to 2", replaced the target sights with fabricated fixed sights, and had the gun parkerized. Got a belt slide type holster and mag pouch made up and away I went.

Amazingly, I got permission to carry the gun concealed and did so the entire time I was there. Not my first choice, but it was reliable, accurate and legal. Except for vermin, I never needed it, but it was comforting to have around.
That actually sounds pretty cool :)

[MCgunner]

When its all you can CCW I often take my NAA mini with me, but its .22 mag. I pocket carry strong side in a pocket holster. Usually for churchie dress up type events, where OCing or Printing would be frowned upon in a big bad ugly way.

Same here, NAA .22 mag black widow with Hornady Personal Defense (quite accurate in the gun) with folding holster grip stuffed muzzle down in the same number 4 Blackhawk pocket holster in which I carry my 9 or .38. I trust it as much as any .32ACP. It's MUCH smaller than any .380 out there and gives no gun shaped print even in tight pants.

I also carry a .22 LR NAA mini 24/7 back up weak side pocket to whatever I'm carrying that day strong side pocket. I swap out the ammo for fresh every Sunday, keeps it reliable. No harder to carry than a smallish pocket knife.

[FMF Doc]

I have, on occsion, chosen to carry a Ruger 22/45 Mark III with 5.25" barrel as my primary and only pistol. I can shoot it well...very well, and if I put the rounds were they need to be, the caliber doesn't really matter all that much. A string of 5 rounds of 40gr JHP moving at 1345fps into a 1/2 " hole will be sufficient in my book

[mje]

I carried an NAA mini in the summer when I had nothing else small enough to conceal. Before I got my LCP, my Betetta Bobcat accompanied me on hikes.

[JERRY]

22s have killed scads of folks, but it is far from optimal i think all would agree.

my only concern about a 22 used for defense other than the lack of "power" is the rimfire ignition. id rather have a .25acp than a .22lr in the same sized gun. economically speaking the .25acp is a lot more expensive, but ballistically in the same 2.25" bbl they are the same with the advantage going to the more reliable centerfire non-rimmed cartridge.

[MCgunner]

I have a NAA mini, but it rides shotgun to my primary. Sometimes my NAA Black Widow .22 mag does primary duty. I've found NO situation where only my .22LR NAA would work that my Black Widow, more powerful and more accurte, wouldn't work equally well. It's only marginally larger than the .22LR.

I have other small .22s, like a Phoenix Arms HP22 that is quite reliable and accurate and a new Ruger SR22. But, if I can carry those, I can carry one of my higher caliber guns. .22, for me, is to be resorted to ONLY if nothing larger can adequately be concealed and that don't happen often. Now that I have the Black Widow, I never have to resort to .22LR as a primary. I do like to carry my HP22 or now my new Ruger when I'm fishing. I think of 'em more as outdoor tools than for self defense.

[MCgunner]

my only concern about a 22 used for defense other than the lack of "power" is the rimfire ignition.

I replace the ammo in my NAA mini weekly. Sweaty pockets contaminate .22 ammo rapidly. I've seen this. Now, I rotate them out weekly and shoot the old ones at the range for practice, always have fresh, reliable ammo in the gun. The NAA does not have the ignition problems some of my .22s have exhibited, either, is quire reliable. The little toot is about 25 years old and is still going strong. I bought my .22 mag NAA used and it had a weak mainspring in it. NAA sent me a new one and it is working fine now, but that gun wasn't all that old. I'm not sure how that spring got weak and my .22LR NAA has been going for 25 years without failure, but I don't know the past history of that Black Widow, either. All I know is it's accurate and reliable with Hornady PD now. :D

But, yeah, rimfire ignition can be problematic. Prove the gun before you rely on it and it pays to be vigilant with fresh ammo, especially carried in a sweaty pocket in summer. .22LR isn't as reliable at feeding in autoloaders, some autoloaders, either, as is .25ACP which is made for autoloaders. However, that SR22 never coughs. I've got about 2K rounds through it now and it's just feeds like clockwork anything I try in it.

[heeler]

Although my Brother's wife does not conceal carry,she does keep an older 9 shot H&R revolver,whose model number fails me,but it was very popular model,in the console of her Toyota Corolla every where she goes(legal in Texas).
It has a two inch barrel and is pretty accurate according to little Brother who bought it 10 years ago from an old guy at his place of work.
He had looked for the four inch barrel version but found nothing but rusted and uncared for crap at the gun shows when he did run across one in that barrel length and jumped on this one complete with original box when the old guy offered it to him for $85.