22 magnum for defense in a revolver

[GeoDudeFlorida]

After I got out of the Corps in 1969 I came back to PA. I have always been an avid hiker and PA has many state parks and forests to hike in, and I hike in them. PA is also black bear country. So many years ago I attended classes and read as much as I could about black bears. There are many misconceptions about black bears including that they stack the source of loud noise. In fact, most black bears move in when that hear loud noises that indicate a human is present. There are two exceptions. First is the defensive charge of a female with cubs. She will snarl, grown, grunt, stand in two legs to get you to leave. If you stand your ground she will make some charges but avoid getting too close. She just wants her babies to be safe. I have been hiking in black bear country for over 50 years now. I have had my encounters with females with cubs. I just back away and she gets calm and moves in. Only once did I get defensively charged. I waved my arms, yelled and screamed at her, and she broke off and left with her cubs. Of course I had bear spray and a 9mm ready just in case.

The more dangerous incident is when a male makes an aggressive charge. He will not make threatening noises. He will get into a position to get off on a sprint, ears back, eyes wide open, nostrils wide open and teeth showing. You never back away in that case because it would be takes as flight and he will chase you. You cannot outrun or out-climb a bear. You stay still, make noise have your bear spray and your firearm ready.

I used bear spray on one female. She got one whiff and ran. I used the spray twice on a male. The first blast derive him off but he came back an charged again. The second blast worked. It was damn scary. I was spraying with my left hand and aiming my Beretta 92 with 9mm Underwood +P+ Extreme Defender ammo at the creature. Fortunately I did not have to shoot. If you are going to be in bear or lion country it pays to learn about the animals and their behavior. A little knowledge can save you serious harm.

In my case, I had killed a pig and hung it to butcher. The bear probably smelled the blood and guts and was looking for a meal. I shouted and waved my arms - like we were all taught as kids - and it got curious instead of running away, then started ambling towards me. It wasn't being aggressive, I think it was just curious and maybe a little hungry. Anyway, I pulled my revolver - a .357 RBH - and put a shot "across the bow" of the bear at about 30 yards. I was expecting it to turn and run but it didn't; instead, it went from amble to trot and came at me so I put two in it, aiming for and probably hit the forepaws, pretty sure I missed completely with the next two, and decided to beat feet - yes, bears are faster than people, yes, I knew not to run from a bear, yes it was stupid but, this one had at least two .357's in its forepaws AND I was pretty sure it would take the easy meal over the hard one. When I finally ran out of steam, maybe three hundred yards? I was in good shape back then, not round like now - there was no bear behind me. I reloaded, lit a smoke, and took about an hour to have a couple shots of whiskey and let my heart settle, then walked back cautiously to my pig - and rifle. I'd forgot all about having a rifle when I saw the bear. There was a blood trail but I think it was from the pig's guts, not the bear. The pig was still hanging, just the guts and head were gone. I never packed up a pig so quick and never hiked out of the swamp so fast in my life, before or since.

Saw a Florida Panther once, too, in Big Bend Reserve. A big one, male. And it saw me. I stopped and kind of froze, said, "Well hey there, kitty..." It sat on its haunches looking at me, then yawned big, cleaned its paw, sniffed, looked me over... and moved on. I left and didn't come back that season. Seen lots of gators, too. Gators are kind of lazy but erratic - you never know what they'll decide to do but mostly they just hiss and let you pass along a WIDE birth, if they do anything at all. I know two people got bit bad by gators while out hunting but it seemed mostly because they surprised them. Most dangerous things in Florida are the brown recluse spiders and the cottonmouth snakes. Get a brown recluse down your shirt or up a pants leg and you are going to have some serious troubles.

 

[JTHunter]

Geo - don't forget those reticulated pythons loose in the Glades. They can sneak up on you as well.

 

[Rodfac]

Damn fine post 1942Bull....I just got back from a fly fishing trip to the Smokies, down along Fontana Lake, near the dam. Carried good bear spray, and a Smith model 69 with .44 Mags in the cylinder. Never saw a bear, but the two-track along the stream was littered with scat...two of us walked in together, but separated when we started wading and fishing. Trees well leafed out, lots of brush and no possibility of hearing an approach...lot's to think about while re-tying flies or leaders.

Out Colorado way, I once packed out a cpl of elk quarters at dusk, having left my rifle in the jeep after dropping the first load. On my way back to the kill, I found fresh bear tracks in the snow...he'd followed me for 1/4 mile then veered off...gave me the Willies, I can tell you!! ...... Rod

 

[Rodfac]

As to depending on a .22 rim fire, any .22 rimfire, for defense...I'd ask, defense against what...snakes, raccoons in the feed bin, rats in the corn crib...all worthy targets...but against a two-legged predator...use enough gun as Ruark once said. The courses I've attended all recommended nothing less than a 9mm...good advice I'd say and entirely doable given a little practice and small enough to hide as well as a .22. YMMv, Rod

 

[ms6852]

It’s a neat little round. I carried this for a few years as a back up when I worked the far south end of our city. And, help would take a while to get there. Not many handguns that let you carry an extra 50 rounds with you.
View attachment 997766

I love the look of your gun, really beautiful with those grips.

 

[JDeere]

The courses I've attended all recommended nothing less than a 9mm...good advice

Yep and many instructors that i know and have dealt with will not allow anything less than 9MM in their classes. Same goes for LTC classes and qualifications. They will allow .380 but don't really approve of it...ymmv

 

[bigmike45]

I don’t own a revolver in 22mag but I would have no problem using my 30 round semi auto 22mag for self defense.

 

[LeftyRed]

I carry a SW351c daily, in an Alabama Holster in my front left pocket. Never worry about it much. Light and reliable.

Lefty

 

[Geno929]

My wife loves to shoot my rimfire rifles and handguns accept the Kel-Tec PMR 30. She has small dainty hands and the grip of the PMR-30 is too wide for her hands. There really is not any recoil but in her hands she just does not like the feel. She claims she prefers of all the guns she likes the Walther PPQ best, and I believe they make a rimfire pistol like the PPQ. With this in mind I would recommend she handle the PMR to see if she will like the grip.

The Kel-Tec is very ammo sensitive! Choose Wisely!

 

[ms6852]

The Kel-Tec is very ammo sensitive! Choose Wisely!

Agree! To date I have found that it prefers 40 grain high velocity ammo. It will function flawlessly. I will have ftf's or fte's with lighter weight ammo.

 

[webrx]

- not a bad video discussion by lucky gunner on 22 mag

.22 mag, .32 S&W Long, .38 LCRX - all are about the same size, all are roughly the same weight, biggest difference is recoil and (possibly) reliability, I only run CCI through the .22 wmr and have had no reliability issues, I have heard others say they have had issues.

if I had it to do over, i would have bought the .22wmr in lcrx so I had a hammer option when time allowed for precision as DAO pull is a little heavy, but this little lcr is pretty snag proof so not a bad tradeoff.


screen from the LG video: As the Retired Chief said above, short barrels are better in wmr than lr, but, do not compare to rifles velocities.


I am a fan of getting opinions, then backing them up with my own research to validate those opinions or invalidate before I make a critical decision.

This is just some data points for you to look at.

Me personally, I think the .22 WMR and even in the snub platform, has a role in SD, what that role is (primary, backup, woods gun, etc.) or is not (maybe it does not have a role for you) is a decision you have to make.

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