Calibre of Last Resort

kannonfyre said:

......would multiple hits with .22lr have any measure of stopping power? I am assuming that one is able to practice frequently with the 10/22 thus developing good shot placement. Would 5-6 .22 rounds into the perp's COM, neck, face/head do the trick?

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I'm pretty sure that a .22lr at home-defense range (10yds max?) would be quite fatal if hits were scored to the face/head.

Yes, .22lr will work, if properly placed. Don't stop shooting until the threat is no longer a threat, just like any other caliber. You might get one of those nifty 25 or 50 round magazines for the 10/22.

yes i agree mulitple head shots would defently put someone down

ive never had problems with them on mine. my orignal box magazines are worn out so they have feed issues now

Better than nothing

while it wouldn't be my first choice, I have no doubt that a .22 would cause a home invader to rethink his choice of targets. Might or might not be fatal,but its would definitely hurt.....

I think a couple .22's in the face would definitely slow down the attacker.

I have two of the old Ram Line mags and they are not so reliable but the Butler Creek 25rd. mag is 100%.

Fella's;

My first choice would be the Winchester PowerPoints. Hands down the best behaving, hardest hitting, hunting ammo I've used in my 10/22's.

As for the mags, I've standardized on the stock Ruger mags. Tried some of the other's & they just don't work as well, or as long, or carry as easily.

Think of getting hit in the torso with a 1 lb ball peen hammer swung by a man whose P/O'ed at you. One pound, three foot extension counting arm & handle, maybe what? 20 fps velocity? Contrasted with a Winchester 40 gr HP at 1200 fps from the 10/22. I do believe the .22 wins the energy contest here rather handily.

Nobody in their right mind that I know of is volunteering to take the ball peen shot either, but I do hear people poo-poo the .22.

900F

Since we are talking about a rifle, with enough muzzle velocity to get interesting, ammo selection starts to get important.

Round nose is what you want.

Hollow points will not penetrate deeply enough to guarantee wounds in vital organs, much less get the real important stuff like the brain and spinal cord.

So stick with non expanding ammo and aim for the brain, your chances are best that way.

Other than the factory magazines Butler Creek 25 round magazines are by far the best, and the only others worth considering.

Hope this helps.

go for the eyes, boo. go for the eyes.

or... Butt kicking, for goodness!

Back in the old days when we were young and very poor one friend used to rely on a Ruger Std. .22 pistol for home defense.Another bought a Remmington Nylon 66 for his Mother.I was one of the luckier ones with a Ruger 10/22.The "hot set up" was using CCI mini-mags and aiming for the eyes.Now after spending at least $30,000.00 (I'm not kidding either)over the years on armament I would still not feel undergunned with that set up.YMMV.tom.

RNL Hi-velocity rounds have a good chance of penetrating deep enough to hit the spine and that would be my tactic.

COM shooting is probably not good enough to stop someone.....with almost any caliber unless some luck is involved.

The spine is at the rear of the body and where you must aim changes as the target turns. A hit anywhere in the spine will most likely end the situation so controlling the aim laterally is most important. Vertical displacement isn't so worrisome and at least you are punching holes in other things while you try to hit the spine.

Remember, headshots under pressure are hard to make.

Interesting thread...I was just contemplating a Ruger 10/22 in compact version w/ 25 round loaded w/mini-mags for home defense.Light weight,low recoil,low flash, lower decibels from rifle,high capacity,tru-glo sites for low light,cheap ammo for plenty of practice,decent trigger...Not that it would be my primary weapon...I have several good handguns and shotguns available.I was just reading Brassfetcher's ballistic table re:.22 cal. 36grain from .22 rifle penetrating on avg.14 " and figured 5 or 6 quick hits to center of mass might put an end to hostilities....but why stop w/ 6? I probably would empty all 25 and reload