vis-à-vis
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I was wondering your thoughts on carrying a Walther P22 for self-defense. What are the pros and cons to carrying a .22 pistol. Would you do it? Or is should .22 just be relegated to plinking tin cans and coons?
.22 Weapon for CCDW
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kd7nqb
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We all agree that their are pro's and cons to CCW'ing I think a .22 takes on all the cons with little if any of the pro's. On the other hand many people would say something is better than nothing.
I have a feeling that this thread will go on for a while and I would like to see some arguments that boil down to more than what I just stated. Maybe I am wrong.
I have a feeling that this thread will go on for a while and I would like to see some arguments that boil down to more than what I just stated. Maybe I am wrong.
Don't. Why not spend the $$ on a 9mm? You can get a Taurus Millennium Pro in a real caliber for the same price as a P-22. The Mil Pros are about the same size as a P-22 as well, so they are easily concealed.
However, if it's the only thing you have, the go for it. Get some CCI Stingers and be prepared to unload if your life is threatened. On the plus side, 99% of all draw-able encounters end without the CCWer having to fire, so if something does happen, you may luck out. But don't kid yourself into thinking you can coast on luck and get away with carrying a .22 indefinitely. Do it until you can get a weapon in a real PD caliber. And do that ASAP.
Despite what some people will say, a .22 is still a deadly weapon, and IS still much better than a rock, or knife, or using it as a club, and all those other nonsense answers. But there is no real reason why one should be able to have a P-22 and not a similarly priced 9mm/.40SW pistol like a Taurus Mil Pro.
However, if it's the only thing you have, the go for it. Get some CCI Stingers and be prepared to unload if your life is threatened. On the plus side, 99% of all draw-able encounters end without the CCWer having to fire, so if something does happen, you may luck out. But don't kid yourself into thinking you can coast on luck and get away with carrying a .22 indefinitely. Do it until you can get a weapon in a real PD caliber. And do that ASAP.
Despite what some people will say, a .22 is still a deadly weapon, and IS still much better than a rock, or knife, or using it as a club, and all those other nonsense answers. But there is no real reason why one should be able to have a P-22 and not a similarly priced 9mm/.40SW pistol like a Taurus Mil Pro.
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RevolvingCylinder
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I'd avoid it. There are plenty of affordable quality 9mm and .38 pistols on the market now anyway.
Ala Dan
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I will just add, that in my 20+ years as a LEO I have seen more persons
killed with a .22 caliber than I have all other caliber's combined~!
killed with a .22 caliber than I have all other caliber's combined~!
vis-à-vis
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Ive got a 9mm that I carry. I'm lookin for a second gun to buy that would be "dual purpose" if you will. I want the .22 mainly for the purpose of being able to shoot thousands of rounds at negligible cost and yet bear the possibility of carrying this as well.
Are there any studies concerning this out there?
Are there any studies concerning this out there?
vis-à-vis
Member
When I went through the Academy, I heard that too. I imagine with the proper training you can kill with a .22 as you can with a 9.
You most certainly can kill with a .22 But why make it harder on yourself than necessary? I can fill my flat tires with "fix-a-flat" spray foam and drive around on those. But what I should do is get them patched and filled properly. Sometimes you have to make do with tools that are not quite adequate, but still mostly get the job done. That would be the case with carrying a .22. If it's your only choice, than OK. But why would you choose to when other options are available for the same price and same size?
Also, For a month or 2, I did in fact carry a P-22, as it was my first pistol. But as soon as I could, I got a P-99. I didn't feel unarmed with the P-22, and I still think the threat of a gun could have scared away most BGs. But I still feel better with a real caliber knowing that if it really came down to it, I could follow through to the fullest.
Also, For a month or 2, I did in fact carry a P-22, as it was my first pistol. But as soon as I could, I got a P-99. I didn't feel unarmed with the P-22, and I still think the threat of a gun could have scared away most BGs. But I still feel better with a real caliber knowing that if it really came down to it, I could follow through to the fullest.
I person may not be able to afford buying two pistols at the same time. Or for matter afford to shoot a PD caliber a whole if at all.
A .22 is much better then nothing and at lest a person cam afford to shoot it.
And the cheapist new one is around $300 or so unless you get a Hi-Point. While this would be far from my first choice, a rough rider goes for less then $200 and you get a .22 mag cyclder with it. Load .22 mag for PD and shoot LR for fun.
-Bill
Let me ask instead, why would you want to carry a .22 Walther instead of a 9mm or .40 that is almost the same size?
While many many people have been killed with a .22, carrying a gun for self defense is about stopping an attack instead of killing. If stopping has to do with placement, energy and momentum of the bullet then why select a gun with possibly the lowest energy and momentum of any gun you can choose?
While many many people have been killed with a .22, carrying a gun for self defense is about stopping an attack instead of killing. If stopping has to do with placement, energy and momentum of the bullet then why select a gun with possibly the lowest energy and momentum of any gun you can choose?
daysleeprx
Member
This would be my main concern with carrying a .22 for SD purposes.
vis-à-vis
Member
Having owned a P22, how did you like it?
It was great for getting the feel of the functions of a regular auto. A lot of .22s out there a like quirky target pistols and don't really feel like a regular gun. The P-22 does. It's fairly accurate for a pistol in .22 and mine east every kind of ammo I give it. I have put about 2500 rounds through it so far with no problems other than the customary 3 or 4 dud rounds per 500rd box. It does have a Zinc slide, so it actually needs a lot less lubrication than most pistols. In fact, excessive lubrication can make it wear more easily. But a few drops of RemOil every 1000 rds is good enough. It is a good fun plinking pistol.
.22 is certainly the bottom rung for terminal ballistics plus you have the reliability problems of rimfire. If its all that was available to me immediately, it'd be better than a sharp stick. If I could afford only 1 very cheap gun I'd trade the walther in on a 9mm hipoint.
Studies? I can't imagine what you're looking for. If you have a gun chambered in 9mm you have a gun thats cheap to shoot and good for defense. If you buy a .22 you're getting a gun thats 5-6 times cheaper to shoot but also far far less suited for self defense. Why can't it just be a cheap gun thats fun to shoot?
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aaronrkelly
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Any gun is better than no gun.....but I think most would agree that .22 is subpar for a defense round.
But if thats what ya got......I would make it work.
But if thats what ya got......I would make it work.
Outlaws
Member
If you have a 9mm for carry already, why does the .22 have to be dual purpose?
I would just get a nice .22 pistol that you like and shot it for fun. Use the 9mm for carry.
Mouse gun thread - beaten to death on all the forums. If you search on the topic, the conclusions are:
1. Carry something better if you can - the 22s are only if you can't afford others or some physical disability precludes more stoutly recoiling gun.
There may be a special instance when only the smallest 22s - the NAA minis can be concealed - like for undercover or bugs.
2. That being said - the 22 has significant deterrent effect according to all we know from the criminological literature (not one report from an internet commando). Next, if deterrence fails - shooting the person with the gun has a reasonable chance of stopping the crime.
Thus - if it's all you have, carry it. Not a primary choice, though.
This summarizes about 6,000,000 posts on this topic.
1. Carry something better if you can - the 22s are only if you can't afford others or some physical disability precludes more stoutly recoiling gun.
There may be a special instance when only the smallest 22s - the NAA minis can be concealed - like for undercover or bugs.
2. That being said - the 22 has significant deterrent effect according to all we know from the criminological literature (not one report from an internet commando). Next, if deterrence fails - shooting the person with the gun has a reasonable chance of stopping the crime.
Thus - if it's all you have, carry it. Not a primary choice, though.
This summarizes about 6,000,000 posts on this topic.
I would think that a .22 would just be too small and far too unreliable for a self defense round. As far as my life goes, I value it more than to entrust it's safety to a .22.
But however I do LOVE plinking with my S&W .22-A.
But however I do LOVE plinking with my S&W .22-A.
WeedWhacker
Member
My P22 is a fun pistol, but a jam-o-matic. I *strongly* encourage you to stay away from rimfire ammunition in a defensive firearm. If you absolutely must use .22 rimfire, make it .22 WMR in a revolver.
Centerfire is much more reliable overall.
Centerfire is much more reliable overall.
Double Naught Spy
Sus Venator
In the sexist tones of the gender-laden comments about what should be a "lady's gun" which is often something cute, small, and of small caliber, I would like to offer for consideration that a .22 for a self defense gun is a "real man's self defense gun."
Why? With a caliber as small as a .22, it is more likely that you can empty the contents of the gun into your attacker and still have to go hand to hand with the attacker and try to use the gun as a rock in order to stop the attack.
{Sexism comments off}
Of course, this may be because there are more people out there with .22s and more shootings with .22s. It is an interesting statistic and one I have seen before. I would bet there are more people out there shot with .22s in general than any other caliber. What is critical to this discussion, however, and is a statistic that never seems to materialize is the one about just how effective a little .22 pistol is in self defense versus other calibers.
Why? With a caliber as small as a .22, it is more likely that you can empty the contents of the gun into your attacker and still have to go hand to hand with the attacker and try to use the gun as a rock in order to stop the attack.
{Sexism comments off}
Of course, this may be because there are more people out there with .22s and more shootings with .22s. It is an interesting statistic and one I have seen before. I would bet there are more people out there shot with .22s in general than any other caliber. What is critical to this discussion, however, and is a statistic that never seems to materialize is the one about just how effective a little .22 pistol is in self defense versus other calibers.
Zundfolge
Member
Murdering someone with a .22 is a much different affair than using one in self defense.
The goal of a self defense gun is to STOP someone, killing them is a side issue.
I don't see a .22 doing a very good job of stopping someone.
lucky_fool
Member
More people may have been killed by .22s than anything else, but how many of them died quickly?
How many of them were shot and then proceeded to still rape/maim/kill their victim before walking a couple of blocks and then dying?
I'd avoid carrying a .22 for defense if possible.
How many of them were shot and then proceeded to still rape/maim/kill their victim before walking a couple of blocks and then dying?
I'd avoid carrying a .22 for defense if possible.
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