22 for home defense.. what should I use?

[22-rimfire]

I think you will be fine with the Single Six. I would use CCI Velocitors in 22LR or a HP WMR round. Shoot some of the ammuntion from the box you will be loading the gun with to make sure the ammunition is fairly reliable.

The 22 is not optimum, but it sure is better than your fists. I prefer a 38 spl or 40 S&W loading.

 

[hardworker]

The more I shoot 22s, the more I think it's the guns themselves that aren't reliable. We've got an old browning 22 rifle that for some reason never jams or misfires. The same can't be said for these 10/22s. As far as the magnum goes, I've never had one of them misfire. The same can't be said for a 20 dollar box of five 20 gauge slugs I bought. Went to set the scope and one of them misfired.

 

[rondog]

OK, I haven't read this thread all the way through yet, but has anybody mentioned loading 3 FMJ's and 3 hollowpoints staggered in the cylinder? Maybe set so the first round is a hp?

 

[Dirty Bob]

The shooter is almost always more important than the gun. If you are up to the task, a .22WMR in your hands is probably more effective than the Browning HP in .40S&W that I watched two "yoots" in gang attire shooting a few years ago. Many of their shots were missing the entire (large) target at 7 yards.

Back on topic, I would find a good solid point WMR round and run at least 200 of them through the gun to make sure that you have no problems with ignition, and that you can shoot well with your chosen ammo. I'd also buy at least 1,000 rounds of .22LR (bulk packs) and practice, practice, practice. Get some instruction, if you can, or at least some coaching. Be 100% confident in that Single Six, because you shoot it regularly and it comes in line with the target like a living extension of your body. Regular, good practice will also make you safer with the gun. There's gotta be a Cowboy Action shooting club nearby, and perhaps they might help you learn to load, unload, and handle the revolver smoothly and safely. Some of the CAS shooters are good enough with a single action revolver to give shooters with more modern pistols a run for their money, at least for the first 5 shots, and that's more than most people ever need to fend off an attacker.

You can "load" empties into the cylinder for "free" practice. Rimfire pistols shouldn't be dry-fired, but if you load an empty with an undented area of the rim where the hammer will strike, that should prevent harm to the gun. Make sure you keep a "fresh" part of the rim under the hammer for each "shot," to protect the gun.

If you're good with it, that Single Six should serve you well until you can get something that will tilt the odds even further in your favor.

All my best,
Dirty Bob

 

[MarkDido]

My wife has a Taurus Model 941 (22WMR) for her protection when I'm not home. (I work nights)

She does not like, nor is she proficient with any of my other handguns (.32 / 9mm)

I would rather have her on target with 9 rounds of 22 magnum than her shooting the cats, the dogs and my computer monitor with my handguns.

 

[Carl N. Brown]

Aguila SSS SubSonic Sniper is a 60gr bullet loaded in a .22 short case with the same overall length as a standard .22 Long Rifle loaded with a 40gr bullet. Velocity from a rifle is 945 fps with an impact energy about 120 ft/lbs, same as typical standard .22 LR loadings, due to having a 50% heavier bullet. Subsonic does not have to imply air rifle performance (like the various CB Long or Short loads with 29gr bullet at ~700 fps for ~32 ft/lb).

Fired from a 2" barreled .22LR pocket pistol SSS makes a cleaner hole through a 2x4 than than standard .22LR rounds. In a Ruger Mark II it has more felt recoil than standard .22 ammo and seems in all my informal tests to have more impact on steel swinger targets.

If I only had a .22 and was ever attacked by steel swinger targets ..... the .22 Aguila SSS would be a good option IF it functions well in your gun (try a box before buying a brick). I got 3 .22 guns out of 8 that tested out well. Some guns designed for .22 LR only will not eject the short casings well and that included one of my box magazine fed bolt actions. A lot of .22 pistol and rifle barrels wont stabilize the long heavy bullet for best accuracy.

 

[Manco]

What about the 22 LR Aguila Sniper Sub Sonic?
Yeah, it's slow, but it's also a solid 60 grain chunk 'o lead.
Seems like it would do some damage.

According to terminal ballistics tests, it looks pretty good to me:

http://www.brassfetcher.com/WaltherP22test.html

Although it is outperformed by the Velocitor here, it may do better out of barrels of different lengths.

 

[Pocket Rocket]

If you get a chance, pick up a copy of The Ayoob Files: The Book One of my favorite stories in that book is the Rich Davis incident. Thanks to a lot of practice with a 6-round 22 revolver, he was able to fend off three attackers while delivering pizzas in Detroit. According to the book, he fired 6 shots in 1.5 seconds and scored 4 hits. One of the rounds penetrated to the spine of one of the assailants, dropping him instantly. The ammo was Remington round nose.

Rich went on to start the Second Chance body armor company. I didn't realize it until I searched on it, but I guess this is the same guy who is seen shooting himself on YouTube videos to demo the stopping power of the vests.

 

[outerlimit]

In .22 mag for defense I'd probably go with either the fmj as mentioned or a 40gr. soft point.

 

[MPdad]

Not my choice for HD BUT nobody us gonna be happy with a face full of .22!

 

[Kleanbore]

Posted by Pocket Rocket: If you get a chance, pick up a copy of The Ayoob Files: The Book One of my favorite stories in that book is the Rich Davis incident. Thanks to a lot of practice with a 6-round 22 revolver, he was able to fend off three attackers while delivering pizzas in Detroit. According to the book, he fired 6 shots in 1.5 seconds and scored 4 hits.

That brings up another point: how well one can fire the Single-Six rapidly and on target at close range. Not being a Cowboy Action Shooter, I cannot make any recommendations, but I would suggest practicing some rapid fire techniques. On the subject of technique, it is also extremely important to train oneself to keep one's finger out of the trigger guard except when shooting because of the extremely light trigger pull. Perhaps someone can also advise when to cock the hammer and when not to.

It goes without saying that the slow reloading cycle could prove important.

Back to the original question, I would certainly use the .22 WMR cylinder and loads, and I would probably stay away from hollow points.

 

[hardworker]

Maybe you could practice fanning the hammer

 

[375 ultra]

I would buy a box of all mentioned bullets and test them out of your gun against wet newspaper. Most 22 mag bullets wont expand at pistol velocitys so I would include the federal 30 grn tnt, out of my 24" marlin they shoot at 2400 fps. Out of your pistol the slower velocity might be just right, but you need to test for yourself.

 

[kayak-man]

I'm no expert, but if it was me, I'd use the heaviest .22 mag FMJ loads I could find.

I agree with Shockwave's posting, it should definitely be made a sticky. We tend to talk a lot about expansion, energy transfer, stopping power, and bullet design a lot, but I think we overlook the big picture: we're putting a hole through someone.

I'm surprised nobody has said it yet, but...


...SITUATIONAL AWARENESS

 

[Dogbone]

Use 22 magnum NON-hollowpoint cartridges. With a .22 for defense, penetration is your best friend.

And 22 ammo can be prone to oil fouling. That is when oil can slowly seap between the bullet and case, getting to the powder and "fouling" it, and turning the round into a dud. So don't leave the same ammo in the gun for too long. Shoot the gun a lot, or at least rotate fresh rounds every month or so in between range sessions.

And post number 7 really nails it.

I have (un)fortunately had to defend myself and my wife successfully with a mere .22 revolver. Thankfully without firing a shot.

The sight (and suprise) of seeing my particularly beautiful blued High Standard Double Nine gave a particular, and somewhat confused juicebag an undeniable moment of clarity as to whether lurking and suddenly sneaking up behind my wife as she was leaving the post office late one night, was indeed a wise thing to do. I was waiting in her car. I was watching my wife and saw what was happening. And I was armed.

 

[Manco]

That brings up another point: how well one can fire the Single-Six rapidly and on target at close range. Not being a Cowboy Action Shooter, I cannot make any recommendations, but I would suggest practicing some rapid fire techniques.

Such as slip-shooting.

It goes without saying that the slow reloading cycle could prove important.

Normally I'd say "Pack a second revolver!" but that doesn't seem to apply in this specific case.

Maybe you could practice fanning the hammer

That's not good for the lockwork at all! I would recommend slip-shooting instead--holding down the trigger and using your weak-hand thumb to repeatedly cock the hammer and let it slip to fire (do not try with DA revolvers). It's generally faster and more accurate than fanning, and it shouldn't wreck your gun.

.22 magnum is not .22lr.

http://brassfetcher.com/index_files/Page1610.htm

This test was done with a puny 2 inch barrel. Maximag 40 grain jhp penetrated 14 inches. With such a short barrel, the 40 grain slug only reached 1,090 fps velocities. In a 6 inch barrel, it would be between 1400, and 1600fps.

At those high velocities, however, the bullets may fragment, for all we know, or dump their energy rapidly and thereby not penetrate as deeply. You never know until you actually do the tests. For example, I was surprised to learn that low-recoil 12 gauge shotgun slugs (Foster rifled slugs) generally penetrated much more deeply in ballistic gelatin than full-velocity slugs, due to how the latter used up so much of its greater energy in deforming the slug and creating a massive temporary cavity. Because slugs have so much penetration anyway, obviously full-velocity slugs are more effective against humans, but .22 Magnum has neither the penetration nor energy content of 12 gauge slugs, and would benefit from the very opposite effect, maximizing penetration.

 

[heeler]

I too agree with Shockwaves common sense post.

Actually most, if not all of us, would like to have about a 14 kiloton nuclear warhead equivalence on our side if push came to shove in a real shoot out with a bad guy(s) situation.
But...Since this is the real world that wont be the case then I certainly would be happy to have that Ruger .22 in my hands instead of a cell phone calling for help or perhaps my bare fists to fend off an attack.
In the days of my youth I have seen .22's do some pretty amazing things.
These were mostly with rifles but still...All I can say is I never want to get shot with a 22.

 

[VinnAY]

When I considered my P22 for a small lightweight summer carry I looked in to some CCI hypervelocity tri-segmented(?) .22lr rounds but as with anything else in my P22 they didn't work reliably.

 

[Manco]

When I considered my P22 for a small lightweight summer carry I looked in to some CCI hypervelocity tri-segmented(?) .22lr rounds

These show poor terminal performance, specifically penetration, in tests. I'd strongly advise against using them for self-defense against humans because I doubt that they would be very effective. Read the rest of the thread if you haven't already for suggestions.

but as with anything else in my P22 they didn't work reliably.

That's precisely why I always recommend revolvers in .22 LR, especially for defense.

 

[TreeDoc]

Shoot'em in belly, navel to sac.

 

[Al Thompson]

Shoot'em in belly, navel to sac.

Aside from the crudity of the statement, it also shows a serious misunderstanding of how bullets work on bad guys. Among serious trainers, high center mass is gaining a lot of ground and for a .22RF, ocular cavity would be my choice.

 

[jon86]

For a strong, healthy man, wouldn't a baseball bat be better than a 22? I say if all you have is a 22, get to the gym and pack on some muscle. Keep the "toy gun/training tool" in the safe.

 

[millertyme]

Single-Six's for a few hundred buck in good shape, especially with both cylinders. I Imagine someone out there would be willing to trade you for a better pistol for home defense. If nothing else, I'me sure you can get a Bersa or a CZ-82, either of which would fill a HD need more so than most other .22 pistols. I think the Single-Six is pretty sweet little revolver but if it comes down to needing something for self-defense vs. novelty I'm trading it out for a 9mm or a 38 Special. I would even be willing to bet you could trade it out for Sigma or P95 for that matter.

 

[jon86]

You could probably trade it for a 12 gauge without losing any money.

 

[Al Thompson]

jon86, nope. One, a .22 is indeed deadly, but requires a precise hit and a 12 Ga is hard to carry around and stay concealed.