22 wmr or 38 special or 44 special for ccw

[357smallbore]

Is this a real question?

As someone who's carried one or another .38 snub for much of the last decade, I'd go with the Taurus 85, without a qualm.

---edit to add---

Why? The Taurus 85 is a j-frame equivalent. It's small enough and light enough to carry all the time, without fail. Other folk's tolerance is different, but I find I don't consistently carry things much larger or heavier than my steel Taurus 605.

It's also pocketable, which the others aren't. Important for the way I carry.

Grips, holsters and speedloaders are not difficult to find. They will be for the Rossi and the High Standard, which haven't been made for a while.

Carrying a revolver these days is "quirky". (Either on the hipster side or the Fudd side.) .22 Mag and .44 special for carry is extra-quirky.

Why is carrying a revolver "quirky". They are excellent for defense and so much more. The guns I've listed are the revolvers I carry, can shoot super accurate , they have proven to be super reliable. I know if I do my part in time of need, they will do there's.

 

[Armored farmer]

My b.i.l. has carried the 85ul for years. I think it's a good no-frills edc.​

 

[Walkalong]

I have carried this .22 Mag many a mile in a blue jeans pocket,
not optimal, but concealable and adequate enough at close range.



I haven't carried a .38 Spl., sold my 2" M-15, just didn't care for it, prefer this 686 using .38 Spl ish power ammo.
I prefer it even though it's bulkier to carry, simply because I shoot it very well, much better than the M-15.


I use to carry my 3" Bulldog .44 Spl, haven't for some time though, great gun.


I really love this 696 .44 Spl, what a superb DA trigger.


My 9MM P-365 has gotten 95% of the carry time for some time now.

 

[Mosin77]

I’d carry the .38, provided I ran 100 through it and it was 100% reliable. Taurus revolvers have a reputation and reputations are seldom completely unearned, so I figure that amount of rounds ought to bring any real issues to light.

I’d buy a Charter if I wanted a .44spl and wanted to carry it since that Rossi is becoming more of a collector’s item than anything else and I’d hate to put the wear on it that a carry gun does accumulate.

I’d only carry a .22 mag if I were heading to the back 40 on my own property. Decent woods gun (but I’d rather have a .32 or a plain .22lr) but pretty sub-optimal for self-defense.

 

[Dunross]

I'd shoot both the 38 and 44 and whichever one felt the most comfortable in the hand and I shot the best with is the one I'd go with. I like both and have both. Wouldn't feel undergunned if I went with the other as well.

 

[P5 Guy]

Top is my 38SPL 60-4. It's like my 696 44SPL got shrunk in the wash.
No rimfire magnums for me.

 

[CDW4ME]

FBI stats back up that it takes 2 rounds to stop an attacker in just about any caliber if a shot is fired at all
Depending on which report you read caliber matters or caliber does not matter, but most recent reports say mid calibers are most often used in the last few years. That does not mean if you banned 9mm or .38 people would not get shot with something else, it just means 9mm and .38 are most commonly carried these days

Last comment - not sure if this is still accurate as data changes all the time, but, for the longest time the .22 LR was responsible for more gun deaths in the USA than any other caliber.

Takes two hits to incapacitate an attacker (singular).
Since we are using data, what is the average hit ratio? About 50% - close enough.
Based on those averages, 4 rounds (total) would be fired to stop a single attacker.
Entertain the idea of two attackers; using those averages 5-6 rounds may be insufficient.

Lethality (death) does not infer quickly incapacitating.
The flu can be lethal but it is not quickly incapacitating on contact.
For self defense quickly incapacitating is at a premium; obviously a 9mm that expands to .60 has better ASAP potential than a .22 lr. (same shot placement is assumed)

 

[webrx]

Takes two hits to incapacitate an attacker (singular).
Since we are using data, what is the average hit ratio? About 50% - close enough.
Based on those averages, 4 rounds (total) would be fired to stop a single attacker.
Entertain the idea of two attackers; using those averages 5-6 rounds may be insufficient.

Lethality (death) does not infer quickly incapacitating.
The flu can be lethal but it is not quickly incapacitating on contact.
For self defense quickly incapacitating is at a premium; obviously a 9mm that expands to .60 has better ASAP potential than a .22 lr. (same shot placement is assumed)

I don’t disagree, point is that any weapon can stop an attack physically or as a deterrent if all you can carry is a .22 then carry a .22. My preference was the .38 of the 3 choices. Even with a .45 and high miss probabilities. It still typically takes 2 hits. So maybe 4 or 5 rounds fired IF you ever have to fire in SD. Most never have to do so, but in today’s world even that could change.

it is my hope I never have to pull a gun in SD on US Soil the rest of my life. It is my fear that it could happen as the world gets more crazy every day.

D

 

[Riomouse911]

Of your three choices of guns and ammo you give, personally I would go with the .38 Spl. Model 85. I have a handful of compact .38’s and find them to be a good balance of effective cartridge/effective carry & concealment. Not as good an overall as some of my higher capacity, compact 9mm autos, but better than many of my others in the safe.

The .44 Spl is a great caliber (I have two) but the gun you have is a bit bulky for my tastes in an everyday ccw (One of my .44’s is a 3” GP100. Very bulky compared to my .38 snubs.) If everyday ccw is the plan the .44 would not be it. If it’s woods carry, I’m happy with the .44.

I love the .22 WMR, I have four, but not for SD. Lots of bang and flash gets you not a whole lot of terminal horsepower.

IMHO, for SD you’re really stepping out there and depending on an awful lot of variables to go your way. With the .22 WMR, starting with reliability and ending with wounding capability, the hurdles are higher than other more powerful handgun calibers face. (Every handgun already has effectiveness obstacles to overcome, I try to not add more. )

Just one man’s opinion on the three gun-ammo choices I was given. It’s no more valid, and no more invalid, than anyone else’s.

Stay safe.

 

[jstert]

i vote taurus 85, i got mine in 1985 and will keep it forever. it was quietly my only firearm in restricted locales for 25+ years. 38sp ammo comes wild to mild so this piece will fit you and others in your household better over the years.

i like 22wmr but in a rifle or ruger single six. way too much flashbang for too little extra result in a short barrel, even with handgun specific ammo. i got rid of a ruger lcr 22wmr, but kept a lcr 22lr, for this reason.

no experience with 44sp ammo, way too exotic and expensive for my needs and tastes.

 

[tactikel]

Taurus, it’s the lightest, you will carry it 4:1 over the other two. .22 WMR and .44 SPL are useful but not optimal for CC.
Ammo improvement has made the .38 SPL a fine SD round.

 

[.38 Special]

I personally would not carry any sort of a .22, as I don't trust it as a stopper.

Assuming the 85 is a 2" barrel, I wouldn't carry it because I really can't shoot it very well. It's a long, heavy trigger with tiny sights and a short sight radius.

The Rossi is very close to what I EDC, and the cartridge is my favorite, so it's an easy call for me.

 

[Ted100]

is there any way you could possible get something else? maybe a charter undercover? those are on sale and really nice quality.

 

[bannockburn]

1) Taurus Model 85
2) Rossi Model 720
3) High Standard Mk.IV Sentinel

 

[doubleh]

.I have enough trouble keeping my britches up!

Know what you mean. I have a bad case of noassatall and NO! I'm not going to wear suspenders.

 

[KevininPa]

#s 2 & 3. I rule out the High Standard due to it's horrendous trigger. Sold mine because of that trigger. Not a trigger to squeeze under duress. Nice revolvers otherwise. Good kit guns.

 

[defjon]

Takes two hits to incapacitate an attacker (singular).
Since we are using data, what is the average hit ratio? About 50% - close enough.
Based on those averages, 4 rounds (total) would be fired to stop a single attacker.
Entertain the idea of two attackers; using those averages 5-6 rounds may be insufficient.

Lethality (death) does not infer quickly incapacitating.
The flu can be lethal but it is not quickly incapacitating on contact.
For self defense quickly incapacitating is at a premium; obviously a 9mm that expands to .60 has better ASAP potential than a .22 lr. (same shot placement is assumed)

I don't disagree with your logic at all, and for a time my minimum comfort threshold was 12 rounds for capacity.

I have moved to a j frame after a lot of practice. I just enjoy it and can get the fastest draw to bull's-eye hit with them.

Anyway, I follow civilian self defense shootings. These are very much on the rise, or seem to be( we may need to wait to see the stats for the last couple years) , due to the massive crime wave we are currently seeing (many factors, no cash bail, etc). As an nra member I get shooting illustrated, and I follow it there and several other online sources as well.

All that to say, after a few decades of following self defense stories I've never seen it play out the way you state it. Again, I understand your logic. There are times it is definitely a semi auto near to hand for me. I have never found a single case where it ended up with "if only they hadn't had a revolver ".

5-6 seems to be enough. It doesn't mean all 3 home invaders or criminals are "taken out" but who cares if it's enough to run them off and call for help?

I have, however, seen many stories of ccw folks dying due to not remembering a safety, one lady using a 22lr but oil ruined the priming agent, a jam or limp wristing incident etc. Too many stories like this to count.

Getting back to the topic, if the Taurus is proven it makes the most sense for ccw. 38 is a good mid level round, it's about 30 a box of 50 for range ammo if you don't reload but for self defense carry against 2 legged threats of the 3 mentioned it seems your best choice.