22 magnum for self defense.

[CDW4ME]

Just bought a S&W Shield 9mm.
Still going to carry the 22mag now and then. But will make my primary the Shield.
Thanks for everyone's opinion.

I often think I'm wasting my time trying to encourage others to carry something decent, everywhere.
But then, rarely, maybe I'm not.
Congratulations on the Shield 9mm.
There is nowhere I'd prefer to defend myself with a 22 than a 9mm, maybe you will decide the same.

 

[Rodfac]

The old saw, "it beats a sharpened stick" seems relevant to me....but to each his own. Any gun is a deterrent to aggression but if pulling the trigger is a part of the defense, I'd opt for a larger caliber.

All of the preceding notwithstanding, no less than Bill Jordan, famed Border Patrolman of yesteryear, once opined that .22 Magnum rounds in a back up hand gun the size of a derringer, might be useful. Best regards, & use enough gun, Rod

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

Beats feet, fists and foul language. Jeff Cooper said if using a 22 for self defense, aim for the eye sockets. I would question that, somebody might consider that a sign of depravity and viciousness.

 

[TTv2]

.22 WMR is quite a conundrum in a handgun and I think I'll keep this focused to revolvers because while there are a couple .22 Mag semi autos out there now that seem to be okay, I don't have experience with them and don't trust them more than a .22 LR semi auto.

So, revolvers... I personally would not buy a double action in .22 Mag only because I'd rather have a .32 instead. I know Taurus makes an 8 shot .22 Mag snub, I'd still rather have 6 shots of .32, it's a bigger, more effective bullet yet still has the ability to have mild recoil. .22 WMR is also very blasty from revolvers while .32 Long and Mag have never been anything short of pleasurable to shoot.

Normally I'm not one to focus on blast and sound for a carry gun, but when all that blast is coming from a puny .22 I just don't see it as worth it.

Now, where I do like .22 Mag is in single actions when they come with spare .22 LR cylinders. These make for fine plinkers with the cheap LR ammo, yet effective field guns with the WMR because generally we're talking about a revolver with a barrel 4 to 7 inches long and that is plenty enough length to get .22 Mag moving. There are some single actions that hold 9 shots worth of .22 and that is more than enough IMO to get a job done before a reload is needed.

Of course, this is about self defense and would I willingly choose a single action over a double action? No.

I'm not saying .22 Mag isn't capable of being useful for self defense, but there are better options available. For those who may already have .22 Mag rifles and are looking at a handgun, I understand the appeal, they already have .22 Mag ammo stocked up, why buy into a different caliber? There are also people who don't own a .22 Mag rifle and for them why they'd pick a .22 Mag handgun over a centerfire caliber doesn't make much sense unless they're taking into consideration some sort of bug out disaster where they want to carry lots of ammo that doesn't weigh them down. In that case, yeah, .22 Mag has potential.

 

[Terry G]

If I had to use a .22 magnum for defense, it’d be in a revolver for sure. In no way are semi-automatic .22 magnum handguns reliable enough for that IMO.

I have to go with this. I have a lot of .22 handguns, both revolver and semi-automatic. Ammunition is the problem with .22's for self defense. A Taurus TX22 with a 16 shot magazine would allow you to shoot your foe to pieces BUT, that's assuming perfect cartridge ignition. I shot a TX 22 slightly over 2,000 rounds without a misfire until a CCI 40 Grain HV failed to go off. I tried it in a revolver and it was definitely a dud round. It's something to keep in mind. In a revolver just pull the trigger again (assuming it's DA) and you should be alright.

 

[Skylerbone]

I can absolutely agree that rimfire represents less positive ignition vs centerfire primers but come on guys, tap rack bang. As much as the percentages reside with a primer, they aren’t really so far apart as to believe a malfunction will never occur.

 

[Risky buisness]

But come on guys, tap rack bang? On the worst da y of your life, do you really want to do a malfunction drill? If a determined attacker can close a 20-25 foot distance in less time than an average draw stroke presentation and trigger press occurs......it's just me, but im not going to settle for an ignition system that may not happen. Certainly centerfire ammunition has failures, but not in the frequency of rimfire. Everyone has a risk reward threshold , just mine is different than other folks

 

[bassjam]

But come on guys, tap rack bang? On the worst da y of your life, do you really want to do a malfunction drill? If a determined attacker can close a 20-25 foot distance in less time than an average draw stroke presentation and trigger press occurs......it's just me, but im not going to settle for an ignition system that may not happen. Certainly centerfire ammunition has failures, but not in the frequency of rimfire. Everyone has a risk reward threshold , just mine is different than other folks

We're talking a 9 shot revolver here, so a "malfunction drill" amounts to pulling the trigger again and turning a 9-shot gun into an 8 shot gun. And .22mag seems to be fairly reliable as far as primer ignition, basically everything available is for hunting which seems to have better QC than your garden variety bulk box of .22lr plinkers. I'd be curious to know if the self defense .22mag has even more care provided to it when it's manufactured.

Not that it matters, OP wisely picked up a Shield.

 

[GEM]

The Shield was a good choice. I would comment to those who say that you will get effective, repeated hits with the 22 - moving, dynamic incidents are not static repetitions on the square range.

 

[Shanvanvocht]

, aim for the eye sockets. I would question that, somebody might consider that a sign of depravity and viciousness.

The St Paul, MN police train on a silhouette target that has an oval defining the center chest (heart, lungs) and a narrow vertical stripe topped by a horizontal stripe defining the spinal column and eye sockets. Those being the only scoring marks on the target.

 

[Skylerbone]

But come on guys, tap rack bang? On the worst da y of your life, do you really want to do a malfunction drill?

No, no one ever wants a malfunction but it’s always a possibility and must be anticipated. If we’re talking a 1% difference in probability then I feel people are overestimating ignition problems to justify a larger caliber. That takes nothing away from the certainty of better performance of larger calibers from 9mm - .45 ACP but it simply assumes that .22 mag will not ever be enough gun.

I would comment to those who say that you will get effective, repeated hits with the 22 - moving, dynamic incidents are not static repetitions on the square range.

Absolutey agree, though not intending to assume it as a certainty. What’s taken for granted is that recoil is ighter therefore more controllable which facilitates (or ought to under typical circumstances) faster follow-up shots.

Now anyone who’s watched or participated in run and gun events knows that guys at speed who train, and with tuned pistols can easily mitigate recoil and get fast shots on target, but that is not, IMO the level of training most CCW holders are capable of.

There are a good number of scenarios where I feel .22 mag would be an unreasonable choice at best, others where it would be ideal. That we don’t dictate circumstances, only try to plan for contingencies can determine what may work best if need arises.

 

[golden]

357,

If the reason you chose the .22 magnum is that it is the only gun you have, then it is better than nothing. Also, if you chose it because you cannot accurately handle any greater recoil, then it is a reasonable choice. I would choose a .22 LR or .25ACP pistol over going unarmed. That being said, it is a WEAK CHOICE, even with GOLD DOTS!

I passed on the .22 magnum as a pocket pistol, which is an effective hunting and vermin round in a rifle, but its performance in a handgun is overrated in my opinion. I think it is better than a .22LR, but not by much. I would rather carry my old WALTHER PPK in .32ACP, but I prefer semi-auto pistols to revolvers for defense, you may not.

If you are stuck because of the recoil or you live in a local which prohibits you getting a better weapon, then you have no other choice.
If you can handle the recoil, then I would upgrade to at least a .38 Special and not a 5 shot snubnose. I would feel comfortable with a mid-size 4 inch barreled .38 Special weighing about 2 pounds and fitted with HOGUE grips, very comfortable in fact.
If the recoil is a problem, then just keep practicing, otherwise, save up the money and move up to a more effective caliber.

Good luck,

Jim

 

[Mike J]

Just bought a S&W Shield 9mm.
Still going to carry the 22mag now and then. But will make my primary the Shield.
Thanks for everyone's opinion.

Congratulations on acquiring the Shield. I wouldn't have given you grief over carrying .22 magnum if that was your only option but I do believe the 9mm Shield to be a better choice.

 

[EMC45]

I remember an old issue of Handguns magazine where they reviewed all the current trendy guns for self defense. This was late 70’s. Wondernines were in their infancy so it was revolvers, 1911’s and guns like the Star PD. I remember the author reviewing the old High Standard .22 Magnum Derringer. To paraphrase his conclusion was something like “although not ideal two shots of .22 Mag to the chest should certainly give you the advantage in a fight”. Made sense to me at the time, still does. Situational awareness is the most important thing, next is have a gun. If it’s all you have and all you can afford then the discussion is mute. “Beware the man with only one gun as he probably knows how to use it”. That being said, if funds allow I would look for something a bit bigger in the .30 and up range that you can shoot as well.

Very true!

Situational awareness - threat assessment - risk management are the 3 I go by, in that order too.

 

[Risky buisness]

No, no one ever wants a malfunction but it’s always a possibility and must be anticipated. If we’re talking a 1% difference in probability then I feel people are overestimating ignition problems to justify a larger caliber. That takes nothing away from the certainty of better performance of larger calibers from 9mm - .45 ACP but it simply assumes that .22 mag will not ever be enough gun.

Of coures no one wants a malfunction but reputable self defence practitioners do drill against the possibilty. Personally, i purchase top shelf ammunition in centerfire
calibers that in my estimation will do what i need it to do. As i mentioned I'm not going to advise any one as to a personal choice, but must reiterate that by virtue of the priming of certain cartridges their reliability does suffer, if it's 1% Im not clear thats actual, my own experience differs enough as to call it into question.
As the OP has aquired a Shield 9mm it would appear that perhaps a change of mind has occurred

 

[JTHunter]

Many semi-autos in .22 Magnum are not easily concealable and I'm speaking specifically of the Keltec PMR-30. What is does have over many others is a magazine designed to hold 30 rounds. Even if the Magnum round doesn't have the immediate lethality of a larger caliber (.380 on up), having 25+ rounds in the magazine will be very likely to cause most perps to "duck & run" with multiple shots being fired at them in 2-3 seconds.

 

[TTv2]

We're talking a 9 shot revolver here, so a "malfunction drill" amounts to pulling the trigger again and turning a 9-shot gun into an 8 shot gun. And .22mag seems to be fairly reliable as far as primer ignition, basically everything available is for hunting which seems to have better QC than your garden variety bulk box of .22lr plinkers. I'd be curious to know if the self defense .22mag has even more care provided to it when it's manufactured.

It doesn't have any extra attention given to it outside of a premium bullet meant to expand at handgun velocities being used and if it's the Speer Gold Dot .22 WMR, a nickel plated case.

In the three different single action .22 LR/.22 Mag convertibles I own, I've had more duds in .22 Mag than .22 LR.

Buying .22 Mag does not guarantee greater reliability over quality .22 LR ammo.

 

[MedWheeler]

It's what you have, and a lot more than you'll ever likely need, assuming an otherwise-safe lifestyle. Countless threats in homes have been stopped by people armed with even less (think .22LR.)

Most of us here who would decry a nine-round WMR revolver as a home protection weapon could, in fact, mount a very effective defense with one should the need arise.

I have a beautiful stainless Taurus 941 eight-rounder with the fairly-rare three-inch barrel. It's nowhere in line for defense-duty since I have so many other options I've had longer, but I'd trust it to stop or drive away virtually any threat I would face, provided I did my part.

EDIT: I see you have acquired another handgun in a larger caliber.

 

[MedWheeler]

There is scads of "empirical evidence" to support the .22WMR as a self-defense round.

Law enforcement applications, in the context of this thread, are not "self-defense" applications, especially since subjects shot (or shot at) by police typically aren't allowed to simply flee when they so try. That's why gunfights between cops and perpetrators are so much more prolonged than civilian DGU incidents; bad guys get more desperate when their pursuers keep coming.

 

[Caplock]

I like the idea of a light weight 22 mag revolver.
Thought at one time it would be perfect for my grandma at home.
I can not get over the 12 to 15 pound double action trigger pull required.
Grandma can't pull it reliably

 

[Leon tP]

I worked on a Dairy growing up and we used a .22 WMR to put down really sick cows. Needless to say, shot placement matters, what you hit in the body matters, but it'll get the job done. Since then I've put down all kinds of critters with a .22 mag rifle and revolver but I leave the hollow points for the smaller animals and use solids for the bigger stuff. Placement, placement, placement. Shot placement will be your key to success. Btw, congrats on your Shield purchase, I'm sure it'll serve you well.
On a side note, I always carry a backup to my firearm. Sometimes it's another gun (a BUG) but usually it's a spring assisted folder or a fixed blade knife (if the gun locks up good or you run out of ammo, whatever the worst case scenario turns out to be) at least I have other options.

Again, congrats on your Shield purchase, good little gun.

 

[Hangingrock]

I am not a secret agent person or an assassin thus I'll stay with my EDC 9X19MM.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

My take is 9 rounds of 22 mag will stop the threat of needed.
Let's not get into banzi charges from a gang, or the meth head that needs a howitzer to stop.

But of those 9 rounds, how many hits will you get?

Most rounds fired in self-defense situations miss. With my life at stake, I wouldn't count on getting more than one or two hits -- so I prefer to carry something that hits with authority.

 

[MrChicken]

But of those 9 rounds, how many hits will you get?

Most rounds fired in self-defense situations miss. With my life at stake, I wouldn't count on getting more than one or two hits -- so I prefer to carry something that hits with authority.

"I don't write the best reports and I can't make coffee, but I don't miss." Paraphrasing Tim Gutterson on Justified.

Don't be those guys, the ones that miss most of their shots.

Make the first shot count and every shot is the first shot. Don't think of it as nine shots, it's one shot at a time.

 

[kidneyboy]

Any firearm, regardless of caliber, is a great option for self defense.