Have you ever had a .22LR for defense?

[Glock19Fan]

This isn't a caliber debate, I am genuinely interested to know how many people have ever had their a .22LR as their self defense weapon? My very first gun was a .22LR, and being my only gun, that was what I was force to rely on. There was also a point where my only pocket pistol was a .22LR, and being the summer I couldn't carry anything else during trips to the lake.

For one reason or another, have you ever had your self defense weapon be a .22LR?

 

[husbandofaromanian]

I used a 22lr for defense in a naa mini revolver for a year... I stopped an armed robbery with it... I never had to pull it out... Just eye contact and body language...

 

[olderguns]

I carry a NAA mini 22 in a crossdraw holster, but it is my third choice
first would be my G29 IWB
second would be me smith 442 front right pocket.
But if an occasion happens that the 22 is the only one I could carry I,d feel safe enough, unless going though gang country which I don,t..


I also carry a minimum of two blades most days three or four.
I try to be ready for anything that may happen..

 

[Reloadron]

No, only because I have always had other options.

Ron

 

[bannockburn]

Not as my first choice but have occasionally with a Beretta Model 21A or a Beretta Model 70S.

 

[kBob]

Beretta M21A for a decade or so as an absolutely always carry, though it frequently became my back up to a "better" center fire. Also for a few months here and there a .22LR semi auto rifle for home defense ( beats a pointed stick) and a Ruger RST 4 for the car (before CCLs were available here) and that was what I had available at the time.

I a few times carried the M21A in a plastic sandwich bag in swim trunks when in fresh water snorkeling......never know when a pod of gar fish might try to mug you...... once out of a dozen times the bag leaked, not big deal. I did try shooting through the bag a couple of times after a swim.....think single shot though once I got two shots off that way. Best was to grip the gun through the bag and rip off the bag to expose the top half of the gun......that did not work with freezer bags as they are TOUGH. Be sure not to let your hand get in front of the muzzle while tearing the bag. Also carried swimming an NAA mini as they are mostly stainless got concerned about water seeping into .22 mag cases when free diving to more than 12 feet and that got me to doing the sandwich bag thing. Later went to two shot "derringer" in .38 SPL for river dives for the bigger umph and absolute reliable two shots even through a baggie.....

-kBob

 

[Fiv3r]

My grandfather is a man of very simple means in his twilight years. For the last 50 or 60 years he's gotten by carrying nothing more than a no-name. 22 snub nose. He can't see well these days, but once upon a time he could nail soda cans from impressive distances. On more than one occasion he confronted someone trying to break into his and my grandmother's house armed with nothing more than his revolver. He's a little old guy. About 5'5 and maybe 145lbs. Still, he's gotten by with his little .22.

 

[chicharrones]

For one reason or another, have you ever had your self defense weapon be a .22LR?

Kinda sorta. More like a last ditch option gun, just in case.

A couple decades ago when I was younger and had much less money, I had purchased a Beretta Bobcat from a pawn shop. I bought it mostly to have some fun with, but I did take it with me on some occasions. Just in case.

 

[Hometeached1]

While not really for SD, but I have a .22lr 1911(loaded with CCI Velocitor) that I carry a round the place, mostly for if I see a squirrel or some other small game,also a fox or a similar varmint that might try to get our chickens.

 

[scaatylobo]

LONG ago

Back in the 1960's a Astra Cub in .22 short was my EDC and it saved my bacon twice.

I still am fond of that puny little firearm,it did the job.

I have carried a Berretta 70's in the recent past,but it was a BUG as was the N.A. revolver that is still carried for the past 35 years.

 

[ball3006]

Yes. I consider ANY hole in a bad guy that is after me a good thing. It should get his attention that another hole will appear in his body if he doesn't change his ways.....chris3

 

[doubleh]

Back in the dark ages (mid 50's) I carried one. I was a broke kid just out of school and it was all I could afford. It saved me and two buddies from getting the crap beat out of us by eight guys that decided to gang up on us. I didn't even point it at anyone. Just the sight of it and they ran away.

 

[The Bushmaster]

Only for defending my yard from armodillos and oposums. Got to control those mean nasty squirrels too.

 

[MedWheeler]

I've carried one before, but it's been years. For a while, the only "pocket-able" one I had was a .22.
I'll never disparage anyone who carries one. The main reason I don't anymore is that I have more-potent guns available that are manageable in my hands, and are as easy (or easier) to carry/conceal. Another reason is that, as a former cop, I'd likely use mine in defense of others as well.

 

[Blackbeard]

If that's all I had, of course I'd use it. It's far better than a sharp stick.

 

[V-fib]

Yes, around the kingdom for 2&4 legged varmits. A few years ago I was cleaning out some birdhouses about 4 wasps came at me warp speed, one hit me in the forehead. Man that hurt! Now, compare that to a .22lr in the same situation whew! no thanks.

However when I leave the kingdom I carry a 642.

My Queen and princess however use a .22lr for their CCW

v-fib

 

[Dr. Sandman]

No.

 

[mavracer]

I have a Beretta 21A that sometimes does CCW duty.

 

[Coyote3855]

Back before concealed carry permits, I carried a NAA .22 mini in a pocket holster. It's not a .22 LR, but I often carry a KelTec PMR 30 although it's more for critters than defense. Still, I don't feel under armed with 31 rounds of .22 magnum at the ready.

 

[Ky Larry]

I have carried a Ruger .22lr auto for fishing trips and hiking for the last 30 years. It has saved my bacon from 2-legged pests on more than one occasion.

 

[Cee Zee]

I've never carried a .22 for SD but I've carried a .25, which is worse. People say the centerfire .25 is more reliable but not if the gun doesn't feed reliably and a .25 has trouble making a gun cycle IMO.

 

[almherdfan]

Yes. I've used the NAA Black Widow, the Taurus 22 PLY and even the lowly Phoenix Arms.

 

[.455_Hunter]

My 1 1/8" NAA Mini see duty when nothing bigger will work.

It's 1000 times better than "Please don't hurt me!"

 

[theotherwaldo]

Yep. Several times, and not by choice. Tried to defend the house with a .22 single shot smoothbore. From a black bear. In the house. At seven years old. With my mother and two sisters behind me.

-And no, I didn't shoot. I just kept mother calm until the bear finished eating the salmon and went back out the window.

Later, when I was just out of high school, I took a job as a security guard at a road-building site. The only gun I had at the time was an RG-14 with a 1 1/2 inch barrel. Then I found an AR-7 in the Rogue River. A major step up. My next paycheck allowed me to put an black powder .44 on lay-away, and I never went back to a .22 as a main defensive arm.

 

[plmitch]

No.......