22 for home defense.. what should I use?

Reply #7 from Shockwave answered the op as well as anyone could.

The last person shot in my town that was involved in a home defense situation was shot and killed with a .22 LR, with one shot.

I stand corrected.

Most .22 magnum JHPs are designed to expand at RIFLE velocities (those with an actual separate copper jacket...CCI .22 magnums, IIRC, hae a plated bullet.). They will perform MUCH differently from the shorter barrel of a handgun. As such, I see no need to recommend FMJ rounds OVER the JHPs.

The topic that never grows old... if it's all you have, it's all you have and you have to deal with that. If you have ANY choice to attain something with more power you should do so from strictly a personal defensive standpoint. If you're looking to have an "all arounder" there are worse choices to make than a .22 Magnum or .22 Long Rifle long gun. Personally I think you would be better served by .410 or 20 ga. shotgun with a shorter barrel...but there's alot of factors to be considered... like the environment you live in... house or apartment...city or country. $600 or so will buy you a .357 or .44 Magnum Marlin, another fine choice.

If you are unfortunate to only have a .22 single action revolver for SD, make sure that you are really good with the thing and load it with ammo best suited for the job. I'd take that cylinder and load it up with 40 grain 22 magnum hollow points of reputable brand, I recommend cci, and get some .22 quick strips for reloads. You have to make up for your lack luster equipment with skill and tactics.

I keep a Bulldog, .357 in my nightstand, but would feel absolutley protected with a 22mag. Those who think you are better off with your fists or other non firearm defenses problably lack the skills.

Maybe the OP WANTS to keep the single six? Did all of you trade your first handgun away for a bigger one? I didnt. And, it happens to be an SA revolver.

Those who think you are better off with your fists or other non firearm defenses problably lack the skills.

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Just my opinion, but I believe that it takes more skill to use non-firearm defenses than firearms for defense. What takes more skill? Defending yourself with a baseball bat or a knife or chair? Or with a firearm?

If the 22 is what you got it's what you got. I'd take it over fists and foul language any day.

Practice with it and you will be much better armed than most people a BG is going to encounter.

Honestly, I shoot my 22 enough that I would not feel terrible about having to actually defend myself with it. Sure I would prefer a carbine or something, but that's not always an option. Use what you got.

The problem I have with 22 (any rimfire) is the fact that just about every box I have bought has had a few FTFs. Reliability is not nearly as good as a centerfire round. It is good that you have a revolver because of this.

This seems to be less of a problem if you are buying the good stuff. The hollow points may indeed be worth a look at pistol velocities.

Anyone want to buy a turkey and put some rounds through it?

well while it is not my first choice I do keep a 22 mag revolver (6 1/2 in barrel) loaded and ready to go in the bed room. I keep as a back up for me or as a primary for my wife and It makes every range trip with me also so I know I am well practiced with it.
Just my .02 cents.

Forgot to mention that i keep it loaded with 40 gr hollow points from CCI

Just my opinion, but I believe that it takes more skill to use non-firearm defenses than firearms for defense. What takes more skill? Defending yourself with a baseball bat or a knife or chair? Or with a firearm?

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This is THR - A firearms related website. I was referring to firearms skills. If you are a bare handed, Louisville slugger wielding professional that's great. But we were discussing self defense using a particular firearm and if you feel that you would be better off with a baseball bat than the said firearm I was simply stating that you may not be as proficient with the firearm as others may be. I for one would rather have a 22 mag than a baseball bat, but... that is where my comfort and skill is.

Peace.

Back in the early eighties, a .22 Ruger RST-6 was all I had for HD. So I practiced, practiced, practiced, as they say, until I could empty a 9 round mag in less than 2 seconds into a fist-sized clump at 7 yards. That much firepower can't generally be argued with. A single-action sixgun won't be as fast, but you'd be surprised how good you can get with a gun if it's your one and only and super-cheap to shoot.

I now use a .45 ACP and have for many years, but from 1980-1984, things were quite tough for me and like you, I did what I had to. BTW, I used CCI Stingers.

Use that .22 for your HD! Practice with it continually! My Pop had an old .22 rifle that had the stock broken off, my gramps sawed the barrel off and made a bolt/pistol out of it. My Pop shot and killed 5 deer with that thing, using .22 shorts, so don't be afraid of using that revolver for HD, just pull back the hammer and let 'er fall. Get proficient with it and be safe!

1. Practice.

2. I like the Dynapoints idea. They are slightly downloaded so they are not too loud in your house like most 22 mags, they are cheap enough to practice with, and out of the short barrel they'll still be as powerful as a 22lr out of a rifle.

3. Save up for a surplus police service weapon. I suggest a used Glock 22, but you can find great deals on many quality weapons.

Just my two cents.

If you shoot someone with a .22 they aren't going to stop and say "Oh..that was just a .22..."

A Sig 522 looks just like a Sig 556

There are advantages to the .22. It's not the best for the job but will get the job done.

You need good shot placement, penetration, and fast followups.

The .22 is moving very fast and should penetrate adequately.

You could probably rattle off ten shots quickly with no recoil in the .22. I'd mix hollowpoints with FMJs and shoot for Center Mass. Nobody is going to ignore a dump of severl hundred grains of lead into their Center Mass in 1 or 2 seconds!

Practice practice practice.

I would use any full metal jacket .22 magnum ammo that shoots well in your gun. I would not use hollowpoints because penetration is not as good. If you have to actually use it, aim for the nose if you have time, or the face, otherwise the traditional upper center torso. Exercize a fighting mindset.

Any "service size" .22, including the rimfire magnum, is easy to master with sound shooting technique, practice, and a cool head.

I would not usually choose a .22 as a primary weapon, but I would feel very confident if it were all I had all the same. The reason being I can shoot any of the ones I have (and most others that I am familiar with) on demand, very well, and very quickly.

I would think about trading it out for a bottom-end 12 gauge like a Maverick 88 and a 9mm Hi Point. Now that I think about it, I still need to get a shorter barrel for my 870...

An gun author, border patrolman and remarkable shooter--and the motive force behind the introduction of the S&W combat magnum--named Bill Jordan asked S&W to create a lightweight j-frame .22 mag for off-duty and plainclothes law enforcement use. At the time they couldn't cope with the issues of flame cutting the hot little round produced, though they since have:

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/...57768_757767_757751_ProductDisplayErrorView_Y

Which is not to say that a .22 WMR is ideal, but that at least one very experienced gunhand--a better shot than any of us, and one who had been in a lot more gunfights--thought it was pretty viable.

In my much less experienced opinion, a revolver is the right platform IF you're going to rely on a rimfire round for SD, because of the reduced reliability of rimfire. A FTF--the most common malf you'll get--is handled by just shooting again.

Beware the man with only (1) gun......

...he might know how to use it.

That might certainly be the case if the man has a .22, because you know he can afford to practice, practice, practice with it.

... Bill Jordan asked S&W to create a lightweight j-frame .22 mag
for off-duty and plainclothes law enforcement use.

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I read the SW page on that 351 PD today,
followed by a couple of reviews
and watched three videos about it.

I'm impressed.

< 11 oz (lighter than my 642),
7 rounds of .22 mag.

Shot placement, shot placement, and shot placement.

Hmmm.

Add that one to the wish list.

While .22 is not great HD it beats nothing. If you have good shot control placement is everything. I carry a NAA mini .22Lr sometimes. I fell just as safe with it as anything else I carry. I use a 60 grain round.

There is also the Centennial version of the 351 PD, called the 351C that sells for about $50 less. The enclosed hammer is better for CC.

Well if that's all the OP has then I seriously hope that they have some sort of back-up weapon to use. Such as a blade or an impact weapon.