OP needs to realize: 90% or more of what your going to hear in this thread will be either anecdotal, made up, or an outright untruth. You have a lot of crap to cut through, but the good news is that there are a few good facts as well as some empirical data you can base your decision on:
1)
FACT: Modern high velocity ammunition will achieve adequate penetration (12") in soft tissue,
from a handgun, provided the barrel length exceeds 3". There will not however be any projectile expansion, because the velocity will not be sufficient.
2)
FACT: Many of those same high velocity hollow points WILL expand at rifle velocities, while still achieving adequate penetration (12") in soft tissue. Final expanded diameters usualy range from 30 - 35 caliber. This produces a wound channel of similar depth and diameter as a 32 automatic, while providing much higher ammunition capacity in many rifles.
Unsubstantiated Anecdotes - These are things you hear constantly on the internet, and in this thread, which Nobody ever supplies any verifiable evidence to support:
1) "It will take the bad guy X number of hours to die from a .22" - This is a classic trope, and its got several glaring problems:
- Goal is not to kill the "bad guy", the goal is to end the fight.
- Shooting your attacker only once, and waiting for results is an epic tactical failure
- Any perforation and the resulting blood loss will weaken an attacker; this gives you an advantage in a altercation regardless of caliber.
2) " a .22 has no knockdown power" - Ignoring the fact that Knockdown power is a fake, meaningless buzz-word, It is a well documented fact that any practical caliber has slim to no chance of achieving the mystical "one shot stop" we hear so much about. A CNS hit is the only way to assure such a thing, even with many of the smaller centerfire rifle cartridges.
3) " a .22 won't stop a drug-crazed looney." - Again, ignoring the sociological circumstances that have historically surrounded most such documented encounters, it AGAIN becomes necessary to point out that no practical handgun round as well as many intermediate rifle cartridges have a poor track record at stopping those who are effected by high levels of stimulants.
4) "I'm a Doctor/Cop/Operator and I think the .22 is good/bad" - Thats wonderful. Maybe you are, but: this is the internet, and every gun forum mysteriously has 100 doctors and tactical operators willing to share their exploits; no offense but your "word" basically means squat if you cant provide verifiable evidence.
In the end, I'm not going to TELL you that a .22 rifle is good or bad for home defense, and I'm not going to become mired in the emotional, ego-centric blow-harding that normally surrounds this type of debate: I have supplied you with empirical facts, and pointed out the fact that few detractors ever back up their claims regarding this subject. Is the .22 adequate? that is a question only you can answer.
