Milkmaster
Member
This thread is NOT intended to start a darn argument about wether the 22, is good enough for personal defense. My intention is to share my recent observations as I am learning how to handle and shoot the little pocket pistols and how a well placed smaller caliber might just be as effective as an ill placed larger caliber. Practice is what makes any of us effective for self defense no matter what caliber is used. All that being said...I have a new respect for the .22 lately.
I am going to jump in here a little to relay a recent lesson I learned that may be of benefit here. I am 50 and have shot most anything at one time or another except something with only a 2" barrel like a snubby. A few weeks back I bought a little .380 semi auto pocket pistol that has a 2.5" barrel. I practiced shooting about 3 boxes through it the first day. I quickly found out just how close a threat needs to be before you can hit them reliably with every shot and that shot be placed in the right spot to bring the threat down. The .380 caliber in the tiny pistol made the recoil a bit harsh and taking successive rapid shots less than accurate. I still like the little pistol, but what happened was that I now have greater respect for my .22 pistol. I realized that 10 shots easily and correctly placed with the lessor recoil .22 pistol just might be as effective as 6 with the .380 if I don't get them placed very well. I still plan to carry the .380 for now and get better with practice to find my sweet spot with it. Never the less, the thought of carrying the .22 sure crossed my mind as an option!.
I am going to jump in here a little to relay a recent lesson I learned that may be of benefit here. I am 50 and have shot most anything at one time or another except something with only a 2" barrel like a snubby. A few weeks back I bought a little .380 semi auto pocket pistol that has a 2.5" barrel. I practiced shooting about 3 boxes through it the first day. I quickly found out just how close a threat needs to be before you can hit them reliably with every shot and that shot be placed in the right spot to bring the threat down. The .380 caliber in the tiny pistol made the recoil a bit harsh and taking successive rapid shots less than accurate. I still like the little pistol, but what happened was that I now have greater respect for my .22 pistol. I realized that 10 shots easily and correctly placed with the lessor recoil .22 pistol just might be as effective as 6 with the .380 if I don't get them placed very well. I still plan to carry the .380 for now and get better with practice to find my sweet spot with it. Never the less, the thought of carrying the .22 sure crossed my mind as an option!.