22 magnum for defense in a revolver

Status
Not open for further replies.
I had a NAA 22 mag/22 LR, 1 5/8 ". For grins, I shot the old TX CHL protocol with the blue bottle target.
You could score a max of 250 points, which I did several times. With the Mini, I scored 230 which was well above passing (not that you could use the gun for the test). So it is possible to hit things with it. It was a gun of convenience due to dress circumstances or a BUG.
 
Wife wants a Kel-Tec 22mag for our 39'th anniversary, at least that what she wants today, because of her reading this thread.
My only concern would be ammo available, I have about 300 cci for a couple of rifles but she would really need lots more,
she gets started & then makes everyone else shoot it over & over then her again. Cost no problem, maybe just available ammo.
 
Wife wants a Kel-Tec 22mag for our 39'th anniversary, at least that what she wants today, because of her reading this thread.
My only concern would be ammo available, I have about 300 cci for a couple of rifles but she would really need lots more,
she gets started & then makes everyone else shoot it over & over then her again. Cost no problem, maybe just available ammo.
My wife loves to shoot my rimfire rifles and handguns accept the Kel-Tec PMR 30. She has small dainty hands and the grip of the PMR-30 is too wide for her hands. There really is not any recoil but in her hands she just does not like the feel. She claims she prefers of all the guns she likes the Walther PPQ best, and I believe they make a rimfire pistol like the PPQ. With this in mind I would recommend she handle the PMR to see if she will like the grip.
 
One of the old school writers who worked I believe Border Patrol back in the day when guns seen use was fond of the .22 magnum and carried one for a backup gun as I recall reading.
.22 magnum would not be my first choice, but neither would it be may last choice.

I armed my brother with a .22 magnum because his wife has issues with recoil. A Taurus M941 but it was not a great choice as the action was stiff with little that could be done.

Since my brother passed I was out to his place shooting one day. One of the guns I had along was a S&W 1903 I-frame in .32 S&W long. I let her shoot it and she loved it. The action was so much nicer than the .22 Magnum and she said it fit her hand just right. Well I went home without it and a box of ammo for it.

Which is best ? I really don't know , but that shooting trip was sort of expensive.(sorry for the un-needed babble)
 
"One of the guns I had along was a S&W 1903 I-frame in .32 S&W long. I let her shoot it and she loved it."


My wife and MiL both have badly damaged wrists. They can both shoot a 32 S&W long as easily as a 22. The recoil is negligible.

I have never understood why 32's are so seldom recommended for these situations.
 
"One of the guns I had along was a S&W 1903 I-frame in .32 S&W long. I let her shoot it and she loved it."


My wife and MiL both have badly damaged wrists. They can both shoot a 32 S&W long as easily as a 22. The recoil is negligible.

I have never understood why 32's are so seldom recommended for these situations.
It’s the numbers game. Stats junkies load numbers up and claim cartridge A can perform miracles against rampaging Buffalo but cartridge B isn’t even worthy of mouse patrol. Statistics, smoke and mirrors.
 
The Kel-Tec is out for the Wife's anniversary gift, she & I went back on the previous threads here on the Kel-Tec
so Her Majesty says the grip looks to large just like @ms6852 said it would be, plus with the lack of available
ammo plus the function problems some people have it is out.
The topic being is a 22 mag a reasonable defensive caliber, I believe she could use it very well but as far
as it being a knock down caliber, I don't think it would be as good as one would possibly need in real life
situation.
 
The topic being is a 22 mag a reasonable defensive caliber, I believe she could use it very well but as far
as it being a knock down caliber, I don't think it would be as good as one would possibly need in real life
situation.
I truly believe that the 22 magnum is more than adequate for self defense. For your wife I would consider getting a revolver from Ruger, S&W, charter arms or some other manufacturer that may appeal to the both of you. Hornady makes a critical defense 45 grain FTX round that achieves 1000 fps out of 1.65" barrel or 2" as does Speers with their 40 grain Gold Dot.

What I like about rimfire is that recoil is very low making it a very accurate round, allowing you to hit what you are aiming at, and allows for faster follow ups if necessary. Like anything else it is about a certain mindset and committing yourself to practice and training with what you have in order to become an effective and proficient shooter with what one decides to use as a defensive firearm.

You could also consider a 32 caliber firearm, specifically a .327 as it will allow you to shoot .32 ACP, .32 Long, .32 Short and .32 H&R Mag. ammunition in any .327 Federal Magnum revolver.
 
Last edited:
My wife has the LCRx snubby and 3" in .22WMR. She'll occasionally carry the 3", but usually the snubby. She won't have anything to do with semi-autos, and her first LCR, a .357 that she shot only standard pressure .38 through was way too much for her. She also has the LCRx 3" in .22lr, and she has many, many thousands of rounds among the 3 guns. She loves them and shoots them very well, and I'm happy that she's willing to carry a gun at all.

Every time I've been to a training class, the topic of .22WMR has come up with the instructor, and their takes have all been the same. If that's what you can handle, and you're willing to practice, and you can shoot it well, it will serve its purpose.
 
The most recent time I thought that I might need to defend myself, the attacker was a road rager, inside a Mercedes sedan. How does .22 WMR do, against auto glass and auto body metal? (My sin was to fail to get out of his way, when he did not have the right-of-way, and I followed my usual procedure of de-escalation and avoidance.)

How would .22 WMR do, in the through-arm-and-cross-torso type of shot fired by FBI Agent Dove, against the felon Michal Platt? This would not be a typical self-defense shot, but could well be relevant when defending a third person, such as a family member.

Any cartridge is enough, until it isn’t. A duty-type cartridge provides we with more options than does a less-powerful cartridge.
 
The most recent time I thought that I might need to defend myself, the attacker was a road rager, inside a Mercedes sedan. How does .22 WMR do, against auto glass and auto body metal? (My sin was to fail to get out of his way, when he did not have the right-of-way, and I followed my usual procedure of de-escalation and avoidance.)

How would .22 WMR do, in the through-arm-and-cross-torso type of shot fired by FBI Agent Dove, against the felon Michal Platt? This would not be a typical self-defense shot, but could well be relevant when defending a third person, such as a family member.

Any cartridge is enough, until it isn’t. A duty-type cartridge provides we with more options than does a less-powerful cartridge.
In the road rager incident, it matters more what you're driving than how you're armed. I suggest a 1977 Dodge Monaco, 400PI, 4-door. When I drove one of those, NOBODY got in my way or tried to get me out of their way. ;)

Get their tag, report them, follow at a safe distance while calling. I don't know about TX but here in FL, the FHP will pull them over and there's a real good chance they'll end up in handcuffs.
 
Get their tag, report them, follow at a safe distance while calling. I don't know about TX but here in FL, the FHP will pull them over and there's a real good chance they'll end up in handcuffs.

Good advice, though, in this case, I was a bit too preoccupied to get an accurate plate number when he “brake-checked” me, and I maneuvered to get other vehicles between us, as he remained ahead, seemingly frustrated that he could not brake-check me again. Then, he made a quick right turn, and I decided not to follow; discretion being the better part of valor.
 
Good advice, though, in this case, I was a bit too preoccupied to get an accurate plate number when he “brake-checked” me, and I maneuvered to get other vehicles between us, as he remained ahead, seemingly frustrated that he could not brake-check me again. Then, he made a quick right turn, and I decided not to follow; discretion being the better part of valor.
What a shame. Some people just live to be hateful. It's sad. I think if they had some empathy - some knowledge of what the other person is going through - they might change but, that's not our modern world and it won't be again until people value life. I see it far too often even in our grand sport of shooting. Folks who just want to shoot something living because they think it's "cool" without thinking about the life they're taking. Ethical hunting used to be the norm but now, it's "Hey, let me see if I can juice up a mil-spec pistol and kill a deer with it. Just to see..." So very, very wrong but, what can we do? :oops:
 
I am of the mind set that 9 rounds will deter and more than likely stop the threat if needed. I am talking 2 and 4 legged critters. 4 legged up to a mountain lion size.

I would not count on that 9 round deterrent in a self defense scenario. If you are attacked with a knife it will when the assailant is almost on top of you. You will be luck to get off 1 shot let alone 9. If you are confronted with a firearm and you shoot unless you do serious harm you are likely to be shot at in return. Conceive of bullets coming at you and you having the presence of mind to get off 9 round accurately. The 22 Mag JHP out of a 4” barrel is likely to not expand or expand only slightly. So you do much lass damage than you might imagine. As for a mountain lion my guess is that it will have you before you get off the third round. And the lion can take a lot more punishment than a human. You would likely be better off with ear spray because it can shoot out to about 25 feet. That will slow the cat down maybe long enough for you to get off 9 rounds. In that case I would encourage you to have a speed loading device for a fast reload. I’d rethink it.
 
Last edited:
I wouldn't use it unless it was all I had, and in that case I'd get the best ammunition I could and practice like crazy.

It's important to remember that when considering whether a particular caliber or number of rounds will stop or deter a threat, we shouldn't base that on whether or not we would want to get shot by it. In so many cases the aggressor is going to be under the influence, crazy, or both and these people or animals don't always know that they were shot right away and I want whatever I'm using to be enough to stop the threat asap when the time comes. Consider also, that although that very big game has been taken by 22's, there is a big difference between having everything in your favor and taking a well aimed shot at the vital zone of a standing still target and immediately stopping something that is mad and coming at you.

So yes, your 22 magnum might be enough or it might not. There are worse choices for sure but I'd feel a lot better trusting my life to something that's proven in self defense.
 
I would not count on that 9 round deterrent in a self defense scenario. If you are attacked with a knife it will when the assailant is almost on top of you. You will be luck to get off 1 shot let alone 9. If you are confronted with a firearm and you shoot unless you do serious harm you are likely to be shot at in return. Conceive of bullets coming at you and you having the presence of mind to get off 9 round accurately. The 22 Mag JHP out of a 4” barrel is likely to not expand or expand only slightly. So you do much lass damage than you might imagine. As for a mountain lion my guess is that it will have you before you get off the third round. And the lion can take a lot more punishment than a human. You would likely be better off with ear spray because it can shoot out to about 25 feet. That will slow the cat down maybe long enough for you to get off 9 rounds. In that case I would encourage you to have a speed loading devise for a fast reload. I’d rethink it..
The Howda pistol was purpose built. ;)
 
I have a 4in 22 magnum 9 shot revolver. Plan on shooting Speer Gold Dot out of it. Going to be the fishing, camp gun. What are the opinions of this being a defensive weapon if called upon. Don't say there are better choices. I already know this.
I am of the mind set that 9 rounds will deter and more than likely stop the threat if needed. I am talking 2 and 4 legged critters. 4 legged up to a mountain lion size.
Thoughts?

The .22 WMR is an interesting round. Interesting, if only because it will have detractors who will say it's either underpowered or over powered, depending on its use.

The fact of the matter is that you'll be lucky to get, at best, .22 LR rifle performance out of a 4" barrel. This isn't a "bad" thing, it's a simple statement of ballistics fact. And this, coming from a life-long fan of the cartridge.

Out of a rifle, the .22 WMR is a fantastic small game, varmint round and will take down quite large examples of either with ease and range.

Out of a pistol/revolver, you're getting at best the equivalent performance of a .22 LR out of a rifle.

That said, it's most certainly going to be quite adequate for typical small critters on most fishing/camping trips. And if that's all you have, it'll most certainly punch holes in larger two-legged predators, and it'll do so with loud authority, too.

So yes...while there ARE plenty of better choices, as you've said, it WILL do in a pinch.

Just so long as you realize that what you're doing is intentionally trading off better options which would be more suited for "2 and 4 legged critters...4 legged up to a mountain lion size".
 
Any cartridge is enough, until it isn’t. A duty-type cartridge provides we with more options than does a less-powerful cartridge.
Your statement is true and many posters will disagree and will not be swayed away from a duty cartridge. A duty cartridge firearm is as ineffective as any rimfire firearm if shooting the firearm hurts the shooter.

The problem nowadays is everyone wants to carry a portable cannon, must weigh less than a pack of cigarettes and fit inside a pack of cigarettes and recoil should be like a 22lr. Regardless of what type of threat or situation one might get into just because one is frighten does not call for a lethal response. I don't understand why you would want to shoot through a windshield if both vehicles are moving or both of you is in a vehicle.

You did the right thing by de-escalating the situation and I was taught that it is best to run away from a fight which I did many times, but if they catch you give them Hell to pay.

I stand firm on a 22lr or 22 magnum for self defense where as many will not. I believe that at this point it becomes a question of competence and confidence. You gotta have both.

I understand that there is a plethora of variables where there are better choices to choose from and there is no single best firearm to have, and choosing the right tool for your capabilities is most importance. Not every thing requires a sledge hammer when a hammer will suffice, or a penny will do when a screwdriver is not available.

Just because you carry a gun and have a permit or license does not mean that you should use it.
 
Last edited:
It’s a neat little round. I carried this for a few years as a back up when I worked the far south end of our city. And, help would take a while to get there. Not many handguns that let you carry an extra 50 rounds with you.
upload_2021-5-10_17-49-41.jpeg
 
Something interesting I discovered the hard way: black bears attack loud noises. Most animals run away but black bears run at.

After I got out of the Corps in 1969 I came back to PA. I have always been an avid hiker and PA has many state parks and forests to hike in, and I hike in them. PA is also black bear country. So many years ago I attended classes and read as much as I could about black bears. There are many misconceptions about black bears including that they stack the source of loud noise. In fact, most black bears move in when that hear loud noises that indicate a human is present. There are two exceptions. First is the defensive charge of a female with cubs. She will snarl, grown, grunt, stand in two legs to get you to leave. If you stand your ground she will make some charges but avoid getting too close. She just wants her babies to be safe. I have been hiking in black bear country for over 50 years now. I have had my encounters with females with cubs. I just back away and she gets calm and moves in. Only once did I get defensively charged. I waved my arms, yelled and screamed at her, and she broke off and left with her cubs. Of course I had bear spray and a 9mm ready just in case.

The more dangerous incident is when a male makes an aggressive charge. He will not make threatening noises. He will get into a position to get off on a sprint, ears back, eyes wide open, nostrils wide open and teeth showing. You never back away in that case because it would be takes as flight and he will chase you. You cannot outrun or out-climb a bear. You stay still, make noise have your bear spray and your firearm ready.

I used bear spray on one female. She got one whiff and ran. I used the spray twice on a male. The first blast derive him off but he came back an charged again. The second blast worked. It was damn scary. I was spraying with my left hand and aiming my Beretta 92 with 9mm Underwood +P+ Extreme Defender ammo at the creature. Fortunately I did not have to shoot. If you are going to be in bear or lion country it pays to learn about the animals and their behavior. A little knowledge can save you serious harm.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top