22lr carry for defense??

[JTHunter]

If it weren't such a large pistol, I would suggest the Keltec PMR-30 as it has 30 rounds of .22 Magnum ammo.
Yes, it is still rimfire but more powerful than .22LR. That also introduces the additional problem of increased noise and muzzle flash which may affect a sensitive shooter more than .22LR.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

From my experience investigating shootings with 22lr I would be looking at the newer offerings that are actually jacketed or use a hardened bullet.

Ive seen several cases where the 22lr bullet simply shattered as soon as it encountered bone and in a couple cases even failed to break the bone. Ive also seen cases where the 22lr punched right through heavy bone even out of small pistol barrels.

If I were going to carry a 22lr I would want the strongest bullet I could find.

I find it interesting that the new CCI Uppercut jacketed LR rounds are on massive backorder. Definitely a demand out there.

 

[Rodfac]

1. keep and bear a handgun.
2. pick one that is pleasant (financially & physically) to practice & train with alot.
3. be prepared (physically & emotionally) to lawfully shoot a life threatening predator.
4. put lots of rounds on target, then reload.
5. get out of danger, either by removing yourself or the predator.
6. life threatening confrontations end poorly (physically, emotionally, legally, even financially) for all parties.
7. so, avoid dangerous situations as much as possible in the first instance.
8. regardless of who you are and what you carry, there are no guarantees.

Well said jstert....Rod

 

[TTv2]

For a larger pistol like what the P17 is, you can do better and if the reason it's being chosen is lower recoil the .32's will provide that and yes, it will cost more than .22 or 9mm, but that's the trade off to wanting a lower recoil, but in a more reliable and effective caliber than .22.

For a smaller pistol like a mouse gun size, as long as the gun is reliable I can understand because the recoil is very low and will help in shooting a small pistol accurately, but usually these pistols are not reliable, but I can't imagine the small .25's are that much better in terms of reliability and they cost more to shoot.

If you and the old lady are willing to carry a pistol the size of the P17, then there's no reason not to also consider a .32 like the Zastava or the Ruger Security 380

 

[TTv2]

I find it interesting that the new CCI Uppercut jacketed LR rounds are on massive backorder. Definitely a demand out there.

They don't seem to work that well according to reviews I've seen...

 

[toivo]

Uncertainty of ignition and feeding are the big problems with .22s. That said, revolvers are the answer.

I shoot a lot of .22, and IMO it is more reliable than its reputation. I shoot a couple of hundred rounds a week in practice and competition, and I can't remember when I last had a misfire. I'm not using the cheapest ammo, but I'm not using the most expensive either.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

I shoot a lot of .22, and IMO it is more reliable than its reputation. I shoot a couple of hundred rounds a week in practice and competition, and I can't remember when I last had a misfire. I'm not using the cheapest ammo, but I'm not using the most expensive either.

I think a lot of the problems arise from actually carrying (the same) rimfires around on a daily basis where they are exposed to sweat, humidity, vibration, and temperature extremes such as sitting in a hot glove box for extended periods. They aren't crimped or sealed as tightly as centerfire rounds and the primer compound can fall out if the rim if it fractures.
Any carry ammunition should be swapped out regularly, and if one does carry .22LR, more often than less.

 

[Old_Grouch]

Fackler's observation of "10-15 seconds" and Coates' reaction to being shot proves that what you hit is more important than what you hit with.

Hence, my sig line................

 

[film495]

It is what it is. A .22 LR round will go right through a chest and out the back. IMHO any decent brand of high velocity hollow point is pretty good if it is reliable. I think of it like stabbing someone through with a huge ice pick or farm tool, right through them, and well - it isn't a cannon, but I just don't see someone taking 5-10 rounds in the chest and having much interest in doing anything than being unconscious or in horrible pain and confusion. It isn't a BB gun. Never mind the seriousness of a head shot.

 

[d2wing]

My 3 daughters were talking about getting pistols as the huge increase in attacks on women and others, robberies and car jackings in the Twin Cities. One has a 9 MM but the other 2 have issues with arthritis. All of them have had gun training and have hunted but haven't shot anything lately. I am thinking of 22 LR revolvers for them or .380 SA pistols. Maybe .38 Spl. revolvers Recoil is a problem for them or I would give them each a 9MM. Due to injuries and arthritis I may have to go this route myself at some point. Probably just run .38s in my 357.

 

[JERRY]

If I were to carry a rim fire for defense it would be a revolver. This is a nice pocket carry gun. 10.9 oz unloaded. 7 rounds of .22 magnum.

 

[jstert]

i’m unsure about both rimfire double action revolvers and 22wmr handguns for someone just getting into a defensive sidearm as is o.p.’s wife.

i have a ruger lcr 22lr, had a taurus 94 and s&w 317. double action revolver trigger pull is stout, my 94’s was indeed impossible, which is counterproductive to practicing and shooting fast hailstorms of 22lr rounds to the target’s center mass, which is how to best employ 22lr for protection. and rapid firing my lcr causes the cylinder to lock if one short strokes the trigger.

it has been my experience with my ruger lcr 22wmr and my son’s keltec pmr30 that even handgun specific 22wmr offers too much uncomfortable flashbang out of a sub 5” barrel. an inexperienced shooter trying to get alot of practice could well be put off.

a decent 22lr semiauto pistol isnt ideal for protection but for some folks, such as o.p.’s wife, it is what it is. get trained, practice alot, become accurate and comfortable with shooting it, avoid sketchy places & bad mammals.

 

[ms6852]

A 22lr is a fine option for self defense. Many fail to realize that there are people with physical limitations that may not be able to shoot higher caliber firearms regardless of reasons. Also the whole idea about defending yourself with a gun is not about killing. Using deadly force is to stop a threat and give you a chance to survive, which does not necessarily mean taking a life.

What good is having a larger caliber firearm, whether it is a .32 or a .380 or larger if one is unable to shoot it comfortably and proficiently because it hurts them and they do not practice enough to be good with the firearm. This defeats the whole purpose of carrying one.

What is important is knowing what your capabilities are with what you carry. If that happens to be a 22lr than shoot it frequently and practice practice practice. If you are limited to a 22lr for self defense my recommendation would also be for defense rounds to use 40gr solid rounds for penetration and to only use top tier ammo used in competition like Lapua, RWS, or Eley for this ammo will be more reliable than other rimfire ammo.

Like I said killing is not necessary all the time and drawing a firearm because you get punched or shoved or because you were afraid is not a good reason to kill anyone and every scenario will be different and if it does become necessary to draw your firearm the 22lr can definitely do the job, even with a well placed bullet to the knee where you can run away to safety.

The 22lr offers many advantages that higher calibers may not, especially if you are a person with physical disabilities or are a person where money is tight. The 22lr allows you to practice and become a better shooter. Even if you do not practice as much you may stand a better chance of hitting what you are aiming at because recoil is much less than with a centerfire round.

I have always felt confident carrying a 22lr because I know my capabilities, but not only that, because I use to teach anatomy and physiology. I know where all your vitals are and how to hurt and stop anyone without causing a fatality. You have heard that joke where they say all you need is a 22 for bear, there is a lot of truth to it because you shoot your partner in the leg and you take off running.

Does no one any good to miss what you are aiming with a larger caliber even though they make bigger holes...problem is you gotta hit what you aim at to make bigger holes.

 

[hannstv]

The Israeli Mossad's use of .22 makes for some very interesting reading.

 

[JERRY]

The Israeli Mossad's use of .22 makes for some very interesting reading.

There's a difference between shooting an unwitting person versus defending yourself against somebody intent on harming you. The lethality of the .22lr is not the question or concern here.

 

[HB]

Fackler's observation of "10-15 seconds" and Coates' reaction to being shot proves that what you hit is more important than what you hit with.

A larger diameter caliber simply provides a little more margin of error for shot placement.

I don’t think one anecdote proves anything. Larger calibers do a lot more than poke a large diameter hole.

A .22 is better than nothing. But I would encourage those who wish to carry one to go hunting with a .22 pistol.

Even compared to a .22 rifle, a .22 target pistol lacks power. I have owned an LCP2 .22, NAA mini, and a Taurus snub .22. They are even less powerful than a Buckmark or a MKIII.

They are adequate on squirrels but you still have to shoot them in the head. Anything larger than a rabbit and a .22 starts requiring near surgical accuracy. .22 pistol rounds often ricochet off possum heads. Coyotes better be in a trap or very close.

If you arent the hunting type, go shoot things that arent paper. Milk jugs full of water, live saplings, treated lumber, steel, dirt, whatever. Then tell me a .22 is sufficient. Especially against a man used to violence armed with a duty sized pistol.

 

[film495]

There's a difference between shooting an unwitting person versus defending yourself against somebody intent on harming you. The lethality of the .22lr is not the question or concern here.

it is more about reliability. some studies evaluating .22 LR vs. other cartrdiges show it is the most effective for whatever reason in civilian use. can't explain it, but it is not innefective for self defense from what I've read about it. my opinion is just carry it, and maybe upgrade to a .38 Special revolver, or a little 380 ACP pistol at some point, just to move to more reliable centerfire. it certainly isn't going to work against you to have a .22 LR pistol if forced into a self defense situation.

 

[JERRY]

it is more about reliability. some studies evaluating .22 LR vs. other cartrdiges show it is the most effective for whatever reason in civilian use. can't explain it, but it is not innefective for self defense from what I've read about it. my opinion is just carry it, and maybe upgrade to a .38 Special revolver, or a little 380 ACP pistol at some point, just to move to more reliable centerfire. it certainly isn't going to work against you to have a .22 LR pistol if forced into a self defense situation.

It is better than no gun for sure.

 

[AK Hunter]

I would never consider trying to carry a .22lr for self defence. I would say a .22 magnum would be enough power but not the .22lr.

 

[wayneinFL]

Seconding the opinion that 22lr is better than nothing, but there are a LOT of more powerful, more reliable calibers between 22lr and 9mm.

 

[JERRY]

I would never consider trying to carry a .22lr for self defence. I would say a .22 magnum would be enough power but not the .22lr.

My main concern with the 22 long rifle for defense is the reliability of the Ignition of a rimfire. This is why I would recommend a revolver over a semi-automatic because a mishap with the ammo is instinctively corrected with a second stroke of the trigger.

 

[hannstv]

There's a difference between shooting an unwitting person versus defending yourself against somebody intent on harming you. The lethality of the .22lr is not the question or concern here.

Israel's first Sky Marshals carried .22 s.

 

[Buzznrose]

Here's a personal anecdote: I do not carry a gun. About a month ago, I was walking home from my office to my apartment, which is about 2 blocks away in an urban neighborhood, with bars and apartments. I have been doing this for decades, at all hours. This time it was between 2am and 3am, which is not uncommon for me. I encountered one burly white guy walking down the sidewalk toward me. He was wobbling, and he looked sullen. I did not speak to him, but I moved over toward the curb and raised my hand in a sort of wave of greeting, but I didn't smile. He took objection to that, said something I don't remember, and kind of half-punched, half-shoved me off the sidewalk and into the street. I weigh about 240 pounds (none of it muscle). It takes quite a bit to shove me. I was so startled I didn't do anything, and after one more dirty look, he just kept on going.

The thought that was uppermost in my mind, once I started thinking again, was that if I had a gun, I would NOT want to shoot him with a 22, a 25, a 32 Long, a 32 ACP, or a 380. Maybe not even a 38 Special. What I would have wanted was a 9mm Parabellum at a minimum, and a 40 S&W would have been better. He was solid, he was strong, he was mean, and he was drunk, at least to some extent. I thought a small gun would just piss him off without stopping him.

That is the only physical encounter I have ever had where I wanted a gun. I am in my 60's. I wanted a gun big enough to have a real effect, and I would have bet against my ability to make head shots.

Lots of people have far more personal experience than I do, and even more have read and thought more deeply about this subject than I have, so this does not mean a lot. It is just what I think. Against a fair number of the people likely to mess with you, you cannot rely on a gun as a deterrent. They are not in the state of mind to think things over.

Incidentally, if I ever get another 22 target pistol, I would like to get a P-17. I am glad to hear you like yours. I would especially like it if I could fit a red-dot sight on it, because my eyes are not so hot any more.

PS - I did not call the police about this. It did not seem significant enough, because I was in no real danger; the guy just let it go. All they would do is give him a ticket, if they could find him by the time they got there. I was not even bruised, just shook up. But it made me think.

Brother, if you are 240 and no muscle, you need to address that with purpose.

There are no easy buttons, but this worked amazingly well for me at 60 and is something I plan to sustain indefinitely. Give it a listen.

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[JERRY]

Israel's first Sky Marshals carried .22 s.

What do they carry now?

 

[hannstv]

What do they carry now?

The question was, could the .22 be carried as a self defense option. Some people that know quite a bit about defensive tactics didn't think the .22 was ridiculous. I don't believe that anyone was arguing that it was the best option. I believe the ability to make accurate hits is more important than the ability to make a lot of noise. Use the most effective caliber you can shoot quickly and accurately. Just my opinion.