.22 mag for self defense

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I'd go with solids - more penetration.
I'd also recommend as much practice with that Ruger as she can get - I carry a SAA on very rare occasions, and good gun handling makes a lot of difference with the single actions.

FWIW, I'd rather carry a SA revolver in 22 mag than an auto loader in the same caliber - at least I know it will work.
Practice.


mark
 
Bill Jordan thought a lot of the 22Mag. He always wanted S&W to make a Airweight J frame in 22Mag. He described the 22Mag round as "Wicked". orchidhunter
 
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So from what I've gathered, they might be out there but it would take a pretty tough hombre to take even one in the chest from a .22 mag and keep coming.
 
.22 Mag for self defence. No way. If you shoot somebody with it, he or she will to be very angry. :fire:
 
Not angry for long.

They will be far more interested in trying to live long enough for medical aid to get there.

Look at the ballistic gel results in post #21!

rcmodel
 
My wife was comforted for a few years with my Single-Six with the .22Mag cylinder while I was away. For a few years after we got married it was the only gun I had and the money wasn't there to buy anything else. I wouldn't feel overly vulnerable with a Single-Six today and still shoot one a lot.
 
Let's face it: the Single Six has been popular for years because it's reliable and fairly easy to shoot well. There are guns I'd rather have for SD, but .22 Mag. is nothing to sneeze at, in steady hands.

Regards,
Dirty Bob
 
+1

My wife liked my little S&W 22 mag so I sent it out for an action job and a couple other things. It slicked up real nice. Any Smith without a lock is a good candidate for keeping.
 
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.22 magnum

I grew up on a farm and carried a Ruger .22 magnum Single Six from about 15 years old for the next 30 years (until stolen). I literally took every game animal in Virginia with that pistol (except Black Bear). I killed a very large whitetail buck 8 pointer with that pistol (I know it wasn't legal, nor right, nor sporting, and would never do so now, young and foolish). That buck fell dead quicker than any of the next 40 or so deer I've killed with rifles. He didn't even kick nor twitch, just rolled down the bank in a heap. I also remember shooting a .38 special and the .22 magnum using a heavy cast iron sign as a back stop. The .38 would just leave a scuff mark. The .22 magnum knocked a hole all the way through with every round. I think people greatly under estimate the .22 magnum round. I've always missed that pistol. I used to set up 6 gallon milk jugs filled with water at 100 paces. Set with my back to a fence post and shoot using my knees as a rest. I'd hit 6 for 6 every time.
 
I've never wanted a .22 magnum rifle but all this talk is making me wonder. The Savage 93FSS, clip fed, stainless, synthetic, 5lb at about $225 sounds like an excellent all weather can-do-anything-in-a-pinch rifle, and one for which ammo can be stored up with less cost and less space than anything other than .22LR.
 
I'm also a big fan of the 22 WMR. I have a S&W 351PD Airlite. The little Smith is my pocket gun for walking the dog at night in the country where I live. As a revolver IMO its more reliable than a semi-auto mouse gun.
I can get 7 shots off very quickly and within its accepted range limits its fairly accurate if I do my part. I've tested it on phone books, and water jugs. Not scientific by any means but even with such a short 1 7/8 bbl. the velocity out of my 351 (about 1150+ with 40 grainers) is just a bit more than a Hyper-Vel. 22LR could deliver), but the penetration compared to a 22LR is very impressive. I use CCI ammo and the 40 Maxi-Mag HP is good but the CCI Game Point 40 grain penetration is much deeper even from such a short bbl. I think its the superior bullet used in the 22 magnum. For some additional penetration results see brassfetcher.com. Penetration isnt everything for sure but its important and once someone sees it in action folks might gain some respect for the little 22 Mag. Used wisely and within range limits, for a competent shooter the 351PD can be an effective little pocket gun or BUG. It is however a very loud, I mean loud little round.
 
Ya, 22Mag is a very under appreciated round. Thinking of it as just a "big" 22lr isn't anywhere near reality. The small size/hi velocity combination leads to a -lot- more penetration and delivered energy than you would expect.

Any varmint I ever shot with a 22Mag went down on the first hit, right there, right now, no questions asked.

That, combined with the small size and surprising accuracy is why I feel quite comfortable with that little NAA Black Widow in 22mag in my right front pocket.

mes228 said:
I grew up on a farm and carried a Ruger .22 magnum Single Six from about 15 years old for the next 30 years (until stolen). I literally took every game animal in Virginia with that pistol (except Black Bear). I killed a very large whitetail buck 8 pointer with that pistol (I know it wasn't legal, nor right, nor sporting, and would never do so now, young and foolish). That buck fell dead quicker than any of the next 40 or so deer I've killed with rifles. He didn't even kick nor twitch, just rolled down the bank in a heap. I also remember shooting a .38 special and the .22 magnum using a heavy cast iron sign as a back stop. The .38 would just leave a scuff mark. The .22 magnum knocked a hole all the way through with every round. I think people greatly under estimate the .22 magnum round. I've always missed that pistol. I used to set up 6 gallon milk jugs filled with water at 100 paces. Set with my back to a fence post and shoot using my knees as a rest. I'd hit 6 for 6 every time.
Click to expand...
 
I've chrono'd several rounds out of my Single Six. I have some hyper 30 gr rounds clocking over 1600 fps. Even the hot 40's run north of 1300fps.

I fell in love with the 22wmr for handgun hunting. It gives me as good or better trajectory and balistics as a 22lr out of a rifle. 22wmr out of a rifle is too destructive for tree squirrel, but just right out of a handgun. And, as stated elsewhere her, I think it delivers better energy than most 38's.
 
Woof -

My go-to utility rifle - as I have the good fortune to live out in the sticks - is a 22WMR Ruger 10/22. Four legged varmints go down whack that quick, and in a pinch I wouldn't hesitate to use it on a two-leg, because its so damn accurate. Quality weapon.

isher
 
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