if you absolutely had to use a .22 for self defense?

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The wife carries a .22 just because that is what she feels more comfortable with. She is also an excellent shot. I can't stand to hear people say that it is a weak or ineffective round. Keep using what you are comfortable with.
 
leadcounsel said:
You could easily unload 10 or 20 rounds quickly and without much recoil
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I'd hate to have to explain why I shot someone 20 times in self-defense. :eek:

hhb said:
I've noticed that the people that condemn the .22RF for self defense won't let me shoot at their new pickup truck or their pet dog with a,22
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I won't let you throw a nerf bat, cow pie, or a dirt clod at my truck or dog and I don't think any of those are good self defense options either.

You're knowingly presenting a fallacious argument that borders on asinine. Why can't it be enough to say that if the .22 is the best choice given someone's circumstances, then they should go ahead and use it? Why make the ridiculous argument?
 
I posted earlier that I had a Bersa Thunder22 on Lay-a-way. Since then I changed my mind. I elected to go with the Walther P22 myself. Now, I'm not sure that I'm going to have all the improvements done that you did to your P22, but I do know that my P22 just loves CCI Mini-Mags and Stingers.
 
I carried a .22LR for a long time. It was never used in a time of need but I would have had no doubt to use it, if I had to. If I had a choice between a .22 or nothing then I would take a .22.

The biggest thing to know is that the sight and sound of a gun will actually save you quicker than anything else. This isn't always but the majority of the time. Most want to rob and go same as home robberies, little or no confrontation.
 
origanally posted by Stranger04The biggest thing to know is that the sight and sound of a gun will actually save you quicker than anything else. This isn't always but the majority of the time. Most want to rob and go same as home robberies, little or no confrontation.
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Stranger04, I respectfully dissagree. That may be true statistically, but I think its foolish to assume so. Last week, I shot a match at the range, and got to talking with a guy. Lets call him Borris. Borris was involved in a shooting fairly recently, (Heres the link to the news article: http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/jul/05/investigators-continue-to-probe-bainbridge/?partner=RSS).

The sight of the gun did not deter the BG. He actually noticed the gun before aproaching Borris.

You NEED to have a plan that goes beyond "badguy sees gun and runs away." It isn't over when the badguy leaves, or is carried away by the EMTs, or arrested. Its over when the DA says its over, and if your plan doesn't go that far, you could be up the creek with no form of propulsion.

As to everyone saying that a ".22 is just fine for SD" I stand by my origanal statement: A .22 is fine if you have the skills and tactics to make it work! Calliber is no substitute for training. Its less about the calliber being effective, than it is about the shooter using the calliber effectively.

Chris "the Kayak-Man" Johnson
 
The biggest thing to know is that the sight and sound of a gun will actually save you quicker than anything else. This isn't always but the majority of the time. Most want to rob and go same as home robberies, little or no confrontation.
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Then there are the drunks, druggies and mentals who don't react as a rational person would. The sight/sound of a gun may actually attract them to you. They may not appreciate the danger to themselves when you aim it at them.

And gangbangers who'll menace and harrass you just for kicks and giggles - knowing full well that, as a law abiding citizen, you're going to play by the rules and be at a disadvantage.
 
The biggest thing to know is that the sight and sound of a gun will actually save you quicker than anything else. This isn't always but the majority of the time. Most want to rob and go same as home robberies, little or no confrontation.
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Statistically it is true that the presentation of the gun is mostly all that is needed. Most criminals just want an easy score, not a fight. However, this should not be relied upon. When push comes to shove, or presentation to firing, you need something that is readily capable of a quick stop.
 
Just read in one of the gun mags that Speer now has a .22 Magnum Short-Barrel round that is good for pistols/revolvers. Believe it was an article in Combat Handguns.
 
In the meantime, what round would you use, if you absolutely had to use a .22 for self defense?
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CCI Mini-mags. They are the only .22's I've found that go Bang! every time in any properly-functioning gun.
 
For a time, before standardizing all of my .22LR ammo on Minimags, I loaded my wife's Bersa w/ whichever reliable ammo made the biggest fireball. Since this was home defense, most scenarios would likely happen within our home or on our property and probably in low light. The tactical advantage is hers, so why not use the bright flash to her psychological advantage? Some of those cartridges are really impressive and light the place up as if you were using a hand howitzer. The .22 being what it is, any advantage should be used.
 
I loaded my wife's Bersa w/ whichever reliable ammo made the biggest fireball. Since this was home defense, most scenarios would likely happen within our home or on our property and probably in low light. The tactical advantage is hers, so why not use the bright flash to her psychological advantage?
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What? You plan to use your gun as a flashlight?
 
Ben86 said:
What? You plan to use your gun as a flashlight?
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That's not even close to what he said.

He thinks a bigger muzzle flash might make the badguy think he's being shot/shot at with something more powerful than a .22 rimfire.

That might make a .02% difference, but the best way to dissuade a badguy with a .22 is to place rapid hits to the face. If you can, and will, do that, the badguy won't have time to consider the size of the muzzle flash.
 
haplesshero said:
I have muscular dystrophy, severely limited hand and arm strength that will progressively get worse. I have spent over 2000 rounds behind my Walther P22 in the last month, countless hours playing with the internals (polished trigger and hammer, feed ramp, trigger bar ears, etc.), and have modified my magazines to allow 12+1 capability(which I practice with and works reliably, every time). I am capable of rapid fire, currently scoring 4-5 bullseye and the rest in the 9-10 range from a single mag at 10-15 ft without the use of a front post sight. I am comfortable with this weapon as a CCW.

I do not care to hear the inadequacy of my choice of round. I have fired 9mm from a full size polymer, and although i scored one bullseye out of four shots, I was uncomfortable with the recoil, follow up ability, and the sheer stress on my muscles afterward.

I currently keep the weapon loaded with CCI Stingers (I score the hollow points with a small phillips head screwdriver.) As soon as the opportunity presents itself, I plan to do some independent ballistics testing.

In the meantime, what round would you use, if you absolutely had to use a .22 for self defense? In addition, are there any modifications to the rounds that may increase their limited expansion, penetration, or fragmentation capabilities (while still remaining within the bounds of the law)?
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Plain old .22 round nose like a Remington Golden Bullet or Winchester or CCI.

I would get the best high speed but nothing else fancy.

And then I'd shoot and shoot and shoot till I could hit a coke cap at 7 yards fast. A good .22 pistol will do that.

And then all my shots would be head shots. All I would practice for would be for the head. The .22 just isn't a big stopper. Aim for an eye socket!

Deaf
 
Lethality of .22 lr

People that don't think that .22 lr is effective need to watch the show "Swamp People". These folks take down hundreds of aligators, each year, with .22 rimfire rifles. If these hunters consistently take down a 800 pound aligators with a well placed .22 lr round, that "enemic" round should also be able to do the trick with human predators.

Heck, one guy even took down a gator with a single shot revolver that probably had a barrel less than 2 inches. He was pulled into the water and had the revolver as a backup in his pocket. One well placed shot was all it took with that gun.

I'd prefer to use a legitimate centerfire handgun, but even one well placed .22 lr round will do the trick. If someone struggles to accurately shoot a centerfire gun, I'd recommend a .22 magnum or even a .22 lr. It's better to hit with a rimfire than to miss with a centerfire round.
 
what round would you use, if you absolutely had to use a .22 for self defense?
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CCI Velocitors, CCI SGB, or Aguila Interceptors.
you need penetration with a .22LR, not expansion or "shock"
not in any order, whatever works best in your gun
 
This sounds goofy but you could load Stinger/minimag/stinger/minimag in the magazine. You would have the shock that the stingers deliver and the penetration of the minimags..
 
Sadly, one of the best .22s is out of production: The Smith & Wesson 2206. It is flat, 100% reliable and superbly accurate. Also, as an added bonus, it can use either the 10 or 12 round Model 41 mags.
 
Great advice David--you stole my post. Fact is, in a defensive situation you likely won't notice the heavier recoil of a bigger gun, and sore muscles won't be a mitigating factor if you live to tell of it. I'd go with at least a 9mm and keep [racticiing with the .22.

Ely might be a good choice...but they do make dies for uniforming your .22 rounds. Those might also be a good choice. I would NOT score the hollow points. You're asking for a fight that doesn't need to be fought; not a problem if the shooting is black and white but if there is a tiny little gray area or your DA is anti gun, stand by.
 
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