22LR EDC self-defense handgun?

[mavracer]

I have carried my Beretta Bobcat on rare occasions, it just doesn't make sense to EDC it when I have a LCP Max.
If forced to carry a rimfire for some reason I think my P322 would get the nod more often than not.

 

[borrowedtime69]

Ruger SR22, I have that in my bag if my 9mm is too big or heavy for where I'm going and I really want to have something to use if forced to.

 

[Rex in OTZ]

None are optimal. They are just what I have available. I have experienced every one of those jams. Every point raised by Rex is valid.

Anyone contemplating having to use a .22 LR for Every Day Carry for self defense needs to know: you can't just buy the best recommended model and forget it. Practice is essential.

I have access to two tracts of family property in mountains, the local gun club range, and a gun shop with an indoor range. I shoot each gun at least once a year, have checked the ammos that feed, fire, eject reliablely.

If I had to buy a .22LR handgun for self defense, I would look for a High Standard. The High Standard HDM was adopted by OSS in WWII and by all accounts the originals are still in inventory.

If any one of those handguns Is all you got or ever going to have, you soon learn what it takes to clear jams.
Problem is Pistol tunnel vision.
At some point you might have to resort to running away or use your bare hands to defend yourself.
Or in some case use a black jack, rock or club as a weapon.
Unless you have barehand martial arts training.
Thing is you might encounter a knife in a fight.
https://thepreppingguide.com/knife-to-a-gun-fight/
The best and most underutilized weapon you carry with you is between your ears.

 

[jstert]

i define successful civilian self-defense against human predators as putting enough fast rounds on target to break contact. if we have decided on a 22lr ccw we aren’t doing 1-2 shot stops, or any number of shot takedowns, we are “getting off the x.” a humble 22lr ccw needs accurate, full-on, ammo dumps to center mass to do its job in an urban jungle. because i practice with it alot, and carry it with cci minimags, a ruger sr22 works for me, as would any decent 22lr semiauto pistol loaded with top-shelf ammo and practiced alot.

my direct experience over several thousand rounds leads me away from choosing any 22lr revolver for a non-rural ccw. the cylinder on my ruger lcr 22lr locks up from shortstroking the trigger if doing a full-on, aimed, 22lr ammo dump; in extremis i don’t trust myself to slow down. centerfire double-taps may be sufficient to break contact with a predator but not weaker rimfire. my s&w 317 alloy cylinder would heat-bind by 50 rounds, rendering sufficient practice impossible, as so with my taurus 94’s incredibly stout trigger pull. a single action 22lr revolver could be a reasonable outdoors ccw if away from big bear country.

“as always, ymmv.”

 

[Mark 40]

My wife will only shoot 22LR and does not like semi-autos. She has an LCR and 3" LCRx in 22LR. So I'm glad she prefers revolvers in her preferred caliber, and she's happy so I'm happy. I've owned a bunch of semi-autos in 22LR and only one was flawless, a Ruger SR22.

 

[sparkyfender]

I'd carry my S&W 2213. [Not my pic.]

 

[hq]

I am wondering what 22lr handguns you all would carry and trust the most to defend your life with.

Not totally hypothetical for me. My occasional lightweight pocket carry pistol is a .22: a Walther P22 with a 5" barrel, without the barrel weight. Quite decent muzzle velocity with Remington Yellow Jackets and CCI Stingers, and dead reliable with either.

 

[Odd Job]

I agree with those who suggested a revolver. The first gun I had access to for carry purposes was a Llama "Ruby" .22 revolver, back in South Africa. If that's all you have, at least you have a reasonable expectation that it will go bang even if you have to pull the trigger more than once.

 

[tarosean]

If I recall correctly, they make a 617 in 4"(?) If so, that would be my answer.

 

[357smallbore]

If all you were allowed to carry was a 22lr, so you had to pick a 22lr handgun to EDC for self defense, what one handgun would you choose to carry. I ask because I seen a thread on another forum where a member had no other option but to carry a 22lr because of health reasons, so I am wondering what 22lr handguns you all would carry and trust the most to defend your life with.

(This is purely a hypothetical question not meant to be over analyzed.)

I'd go with a 9 shot High Standard Sentinel MKI in 4in I'd load it with CCI Stingers and never look back. You hit a perp with 2-3 rounds, the fight will be over

 

[wayneinFL]

22lr isn't reliable.

My 317 is reliable. I'd probably carry that. And a high standard sentinel.

Until somebody at Smith and Wesson figures out how to make like a 20 round N frame with 2 barrels, like a Lefaucheux.

 

[CajunBass]

Walther PPK/S. Totally reliable with CCI Mini-Mags, or Stingers. Ten round mags, I've got a couple others already, and I've got a really nice Bianchi IWB leather holster for it. The D/A trigger is heavy, but doable, the SA is actually pretty darn good. At 5-7 yards I shoot the X ring out of the target. I was giving serious consideration to just making it my carry gun at one point. It's still not out of the question.

 

[WisBorn]

I would want to carry a high capacity semiautomatic like a Keltec, but with the lower reliability of 22lr (much much better than it used to be) I would carry or nightstand a double action revolver from Ruger or Smith and Wesson.
Not sure of the health issues if trigger pull is a problem.

 

[hq]

The muzzle velocity with a PPK/S 3.3" barrel may be a bit on the low side. A difference of 100fps or more compared to 5". As described earlier, this has been my solution to overcome the problem with 3.4" P22 barrel - the 5" barrel from the target version, sans the additional barrel weight and front sight mounted to slide like 3.4" model.

Nowhere as classic as a PP/K/S, though...

 

[doubleh]

I would go with my old Ruger SR 22 which has proved over the years to be totally reliable as long as the ammo it's loaded with is. I can't remember it ever having a dud round with mini-mags. My wife has one of the newer Walther PPK/s 22 pistols and it has been just a reliable but doesn't have near the round count as the Ruger.

 

[wesmonster]

Kinda tough call, my most reliable rimfire pistols are my Ruger MK I and High Standard Sport King. But pretty heavy for carry and 9 or 10 rounds max.
I run the Promag 18s & 25s in my G44 and have had no issues. But in a carry sitation I might opt for two factory Gock mags vs one Promag.
My Sig p322 would NOT get carried. It's a fun & accurate shooter but has had a few issues I've dealt with.
Same for my Kel Tec PMR-32, fun range gun but has had a long break in period. My CP33 has been 100% reliable but still not sure I'd bet my life on those quad stack mags. And anyone who could conceal carry a CP33 could probably do the same with a 590 Shockwave.
I think my choices, based on reliability, concealability & accuracy would be either my G44, my Walther PPQ-22, or my Grand Power K22S.
Although in a pinch even my old High Standard Double Nine revolver fits all of these requirements.

 

[Coyote3855]

I carry my KelTec PMR 30 around the ranch, mainly for ground squirrels but don't feel unarmed for other potentialities. I occasionally carry an NAA .22 Magnum as a backup to a centerfire handgun.

 

[SharpDog]

Taurus TX-22. It is my range toy to save on ammo cost. Very reliable and accurate. 16 shots, no waiting.

 

[Jimbo80]

This one.