.22 pistol in your defensive battery of guns...

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Thanks, I'll do what has worked for me. I fully endorse that we have the right to carry, and by all means carry whatever you feel comfortable with. No handgun is a guaranteed win. Lots of times we are in positions to have no handgun. I can't carry at work, as it's illegal and I prefer to stay licensed in my profession and keep my job. Awareness of your surroundings is and remains the biggest means of self-preservation; you could be carrying a 10mm and if taken unawares it's useless.

OP asked if any of us have a place for .22 in our self-defense options, I answered "yes". YMMV. It's a personal question, not a right or wrong question. I also have .45, 9mm, (which are basically interchangeable), have some 7.62x25 on the way (both for fun, and to have additional caliber options), have 9x18, .32, 6 variations of 30 caliber rifle and 223/556. Also 12 gauge in full and mini shell configuration. Also knives, both small and large, and several variants of club/truncheon, some that are also lights. Any of which I would not hesitate to use to defend myself, from man or beast.
Someone said 'plan accordingly', I've already stated a circumstance where a small .22 is preferable to a larger gun.

Vern Humphrey said:
If the zombie horde is coming after you, and all you have is a .22 pistol, it's because you PLANNED to have a .22 pistol. You could just as easily planned to have a 9mm or .45.
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Not to veer totally off topic, but let's be fair with this. If you have a "mindless horde" after you, a couple magazines of anything isn't going to be that good. One major benefit for .22lr in SHTF scenarios is that you can carry a lot of ammo easily.
 
I think .22 has its place, with “premium” ammo in a compact-full size pistol for the recoil-sensitive, it’s a compelling choice. It also has its place in the ultra-concealable side of things, with something like an NAA Mini Revolver, as a backup gun, backup to the backup, swimsuit carry, or just something to put in your pocket when you go out -zero excuse not to have at least 5 rounds of 22lr on tap.

Would it be my first choice for home defense? Definitely not. But I’d pick an NAA over a baseball bat, and an m&p 22 over the NAA. But if I’m making the effort to carry a gun, make mine a .380 or 9mm.
 
lsudave said:
Not to veer totally off topic, but let's be fair with this. If you have a "mindless horde" after you, a couple magazines of anything isn't going to be that good. One major benefit for .22lr in SHTF scenarios is that you can carry a lot of ammo easily.
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If the zombies are coming, you better carry a lot of ammo, easy or not. :)
 
Clark & Addison said:
I'd take a .22 over not carrying at all. I've considered getting a small .22 for when I'm in athletic clothes. I don't like to carry even my shield without a belt.
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I bought a belly band to wear my P238 with while I run; got it from the NRA store and I am very impressed! I have carried a G19 running it and my XDS45 and no movement at all.
 
sure glad I have a Ruger Standard, I can whip off 300 rounds, and not blink an eye. a little less liberal with the more expensive rounds lately.
 
.22lr.... only in a wheelgun for me.

.22lr, because its a rimfire primed cartridge, will not, can not ever be reliable enough to rely on for that potential situation when your next round has to fire.

At least in a wheelgun DA you can just pull again.

But no, I wouldn’t ever choose a .22lr. Another problem is ballistics out of barrels less than 16” are very very unsatisfactory penetration. Very bad.

.22lr cartridge, the lr part, stands for “long rifle”. That’s what the cartridge was designed for.
 
I bought this little PT22 for my Wife. She liked it and it was completely reliable with Stingers and CCI Mini-Mags. I did some tests on penetration and re-thought the whole "Mouse Gun" plan. She finally wanted to carry a CZ82 ! She hit with it fine and was confident so that was that. I stuck the Taurus in the safe and for got about it until I saw the post on these little guns. I took the PT22 out and tried at 10 and fifteen yards. As you can see the shot spread is apparent at 15 yards, not helped by the Federal Standard Velocity ammunition that I had to cycle by hand. The better group in the center is at ten yards with Stinger and Aguila IMG_0229.JPG IMG_0221.JPG Gold HV. The little Taurus would be better than nothing, but I would be running as I shot it.,
 
It is definitely a whole lot better than nothing but it'd be a long way from my primary. I could maybe see it as a last ditch backup or something to stash in a bugout bag or something.
 
Just watched a guy put down a 350+ lb hog with a single 40gr (subsonic) 22 lr. I know it's not the most expensive, macho to use but I would not hesitate to pull one out in a time of need. Not so much the size but where you put it that counts.
 
Great Scot said:
http://straightforwardinacrookedworld.blogspot.com/2012/10/dark-arts-for-good-guys-22-lr-pistol.html

Good article about touchy subject. For clarification, I don’t know the history, training, or veracity of the claims made by this author. However, some of the insight and perspectives he provides is compelling. Now that we have the Ruger LCP .22, I think this article is even more relevant.
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Great article. Read it through and have renewed respect for the trusty .22 LR in the hands of a willing and trained participant! Thanks.
 
tws3b2 said:
Just watched a guy put down a 350+ lb hog with a single 40gr (subsonic) 22 lr. I know it's not the most expensive, macho to use but I would not hesitate to pull one out in a time of need. Not so much the size but where you put it that counts.
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I'm not sure about "expensive, macho" but seems to me it's more like selecting the right tool for the job. Since I don't know the circumstances of the fella choosing a .22 to kill the hog I won't comment on that. But I doubt that most folk will choose a .22 handgun, or long gun, to hunt hogs.
 
smallest caliber i would carry is 380. now if I has a spiffy Beretta like Mr Bannockburns, I would likely change my mind!
 
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