.22 for self defense

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defjon

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If you were selecting a .22 for self defense, pistol or revolver, what would you opt for? Of utmost importance would be reliability (this has me thinking revolver), and durability- so often 22 autos are made out of aluminum or zinc pot metal and aren't going to be around in 30 years let alone 50...

I heard tell that when gun laws went south in Africa, everyone bought up ruger 22s (among other things) because they'll last and last without factory support.

Now if, due to illness and injuries, you were reduced to something with literally no recoil, but still were going to CCW, what would you select and why?

Two I am considering- LCR 22, bersa 22....thoughts?
 
Given the tendency of the .22 rimfire round to misfire on occasion, I would not choose an auto for defensive purposes.
Denis
 
Given the tendency of the .22 rimfire round to misfire on occasion, I would not choose an auto for defensive purposes.
Denis
Click to expand...

I most certainly would, my SR22 which has been flawless and eats everything I've fed it and always goes bang with good ammo. I'd probably use CCI to reduce the chance of a misfire to absolute zero with THAT gun and I'd change out ammo once a week if pocket carried just as I do with my NAA mini revolver I carry as an also gun weak side front pocket.
 
For sure a revolver.

.22RF ammo is not as reliable as centerfire ammo, and misfires are not that uncommon.

With a revolver you just keep pumping the trigger and roll another one around.

A pistol misfire requires a clearance drill to get it going again.


With all that said, I would recommend a good used S&W .38 Spl K-Frame revolver.

Load it with 148 grain Wad-Cutter target ammo and it will kick no worse then a small .22 like the LCR.

It will be 110% reliable, and make bigger holes then any .22.

rc
 
I carry a 22 but it isn't by choice. The 22 is the only reliable pocket gun I own. I have large caliber revolvers that are very reliable but I need a holster to carry them comfortably.
 
defjon said:
If you were selecting a .22 for self defense, pistol or revolver, what would you opt for? Of utmost importance would be reliability (this has me thinking revolver), and durability- so often 22 autos are made out of aluminum or zinc pot metal and aren't going to be around in 30 years let alone 50...

I heard tell that when gun laws went south in Africa, everyone bought up ruger 22s (among other things) because they'll last and last without factory support.

Now if, due to illness and injuries, you were reduced to something with literally no recoil, but still were going to CCW, what would you select and why?

Two I am considering- LCR 22, bersa 22....thoughts?
Click to expand...
I would rate .22 subsonic solid as professionals offensive weapon but pretty poor choice for your average laddie looking for SD gun.
 
In tens of thousands of rounds of 22LR I've fired since taking up firearms in 1986, I've never had one misfire. I would choose an auto with a DA first shot (or DAO) mechanism.
I don't carry a .22 for self-defense, but it's not because of lack of faith in it. It's simply because I have choices of guns available to me that are chambered for rounds I have "more" faith in.
Of the guns I have experience with, the Taurus PT-22, loaded with CCI MiniMags (solids), would be my choice if I had to switch to a 22LR weapon. It is a DAO-action gun, and has "second-strike" capability, for those concerned about that feature. My ammunition in any SD 22LR would be that load; it's reliable, powerful, accurate, and readily available.

There are few, if any, bad guys that would run or otherwise cease to be a threat when countered by a well-executed centerfire defense, but would soldier on with their attack when countered with a well-executed rimfire defense. I bet most (if not all) of us, in civilian lives, could live ten lifetimes without meeting any of them.

I will not disparage someone who carries a .22LR firearm for defense, especially of the rest of his "plan" is well-implemented.

You're gonna have to weed through a lot of posts that don't answer your question here (numbers 5 and 6 so far; more to come.)
 
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Walther tph 22,mine is a late production U.S. model.I have had misfires but the tph gives you a second strike and they always fire on the second strike.I have never had a failure to extract or feed.The most reliable in the tph are the stingers and anything cci.That being said the tph is my always pocket gun I have others for a primary.I'm searching for a replacement pocket pistol but can't decide.
 
jimbo555 said:
Walther tph 22,mine is a late production U.S. model.I have had misfires but the tph gives you a second strike and they always fire on the second strike.I have never had a failure to extract or feed.The most reliable in the tph are the stingers and anything cci.That being said the tph is my always pocket gun I have others for a primary.I'm searching for a replacement pocket pistol but can't decide.
Click to expand...
That would make the Walther the only autoloader then that I would even consider in .22 for self defense. Personally I would get a .38 revolver and load it with low velocity wadcutters if I were limited like that. I would have alot more confidence in it as a self defense tool vs. any .22.
 
Since I bought my first .22 rimfire gun, a rifle, in 1969, and through all the years since, with several .22 rifles & handguns, I have had misfires.
Enough to give me the opinion I posted above.

And that doesn't include misfeeds, extraction failures, stovepipes, and so on.
I've fired over 25 different .22 rimfire guns of all types & sizes, including several auto-pistols, and I've seen those carried & fired by others misfire and malfunction.

My experience dictates my opinion, and that is that IF I were restricted to a .22 LR for defensive uses, it would not be an auto. :)

If your experiences lead you to another opinion, that's fine.
Denis
 
'With all that said, I would recommend a good used S&W .38 Spl K-Frame revolver.

Load it with 148 grain Wad-Cutter target ammo and it will kick no worse then a small .22 like the LCR.

It will be 110% reliable, and make bigger holes then any .22.

rc "
______________________________

Ding, we have a winner!

I think rc has the right idea. If you can't handle a K frame .38 with mild wadcutter loads, you need to hire a body guard. One hundred fourty eight grains of bullet and totally reliability. If you have to conceal, go with a 2 inch model 10 round butt.
 
I have been shooting .22s since the mid 70s. I also have had misfires, fault of the ammo, not the gun. IF I HAD to choose a 22 handgun for SD, It would be a Double Action revolver with the highest capacity available. I have a Ruger LCR-22(not my SD gun)and its an excellent choice. You cant beat Ruger for 22 handguns.
 
Mine would be the Ruger 8-shot SP101, 4-inch barrel.
Instant second shot if one didn't pop, good capacity, no feeding or extraction problems. :)
Second choice the S&W Model 34, 6-shot four-inch. Lighter & better DA trigger, if needed.

Fortunately, I can't see it ever coming to that.
Denis
 
I actually carried a .22LR for a short time while I was I was saving up for a a centerfire. It was a Ruger MKIII 22/45. I carried it concealed in a properholster just like a regular 1911. I always used CCI Velocitor rounds for carry. While rimfire ammo is not as reliable as centerfire, I can say that I have NEVER had a single failre using quality CCI ammo. Out of probably 3-4,000 rounds, not one. I also found the ruger to to completely reliable. The autos get a bad name in the reliability category because of cheap bulk ammo. If you are going to use 22 for personal protection, use good ammo. I would also use something with a large capacity, because you may very well need several rounds. When I practiced with the ruger, I would practice unloading and entrie mag of 10 in under 2 seconds into a 3x5 card at 7yds. 22 is not ideal, but you can make it work.
 
If I were to carry a .22 for self-defense, it would be a Ruger LCR .22.

BTW, back in college (around 1994), I carried a taurus PT-22 as my first handgun. Didn't even know enough to properly clean and lube the thing. (shakes head)

I actually still have the PT-22, and it works okay with CCI Stingers.
 
the ruger lcr is said to be a great gun that will run on anything, the mark 2 and 3's are also just about fool proof,.......my favorite 22 handgun is my ciener conversion kit for my berreta 92/96. if you don't mind spending a little money, who else makes a 15 round mag for a 22 pistol that funcions on anything 99% of the time......plus you still have your 9/40 also, i've had two kits and both have served me well for over 15 years
 
lowercase said:
If I were to carry a .22 for self-defense, it would be a Ruger LCR .22.

BTW, back in college (around 1994), I carried a taurus PT-22 as my first handgun. Didn't even know enough to properly clean and lube the thing. (shakes head)

I actually still have the PT-22, and it works okay with CCI Stingers.
Click to expand...

I still have one of those first PT-22s that I used to carry in college around the same time...also with CCI stingers or mini mags. Must be a northwest thing.

I'd also vote for the LCR, if I were looking today. Great trigger for a rimfire wheelie.
 
I've got over 8,000 rounds through my MK3 without a single misfire or light strike using Federal 550 packs that cost $15 at Walmart. I'd have no issue using it for defense, as I've yet to clear a single jam from it yet.

It only gets a quick spray down with break free, a brush ran down the bore, and some cheapo Remington spray lube every couple thousand rounds. I'd say that they run pretty well with very little maintenence.
 
well i have shot tens of thousands .22's and had plenty misfires with every brand. But you should look into a Beretta Jetfire. I own a 950 imported in late 50's i'll have to check. They are very small, lightweight, point great, and have a hammer. Mine is a .22 short. Fun fun fun.but would not carry it for self defense. The smallest i put in my pocket for that is my Baby Browning. But if it's all i had it would be better than nothing. And the Beretta is LOUd. You would think it's at least a .380 if you heard it.
 
my Smith&Wesson model 17 K-22 Masterpiece 8 3/8 inch is a top notch shooter. They don'tmake them like that anymore. I put it up against any .22 pistol. And they say it is not the gun but the shooter, well i am a damn good shot to say the least, and with that masterpiece things become one in the universe and any thing is possible. Ballons 200 plus! All day.
 
well i have shot tens of thousands .22's and had plenty misfires with every brand. But you should look into a Beretta Jetfire. I own a 950 imported in late 50's i'll have to check. They are very small, lightweight, point great, and have a hammer. Mine is a .22 short. Fun fun fun.but would not carry it for self defense. The smallest i put in my pocket for that is my Baby Browning. But if it's all i had it would be better than nothing. And the Beretta is LOUd. You would think it's at least a .380 if you heard it.
 
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