Which .22 round for home defense?
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woof
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This whole thread was settled at the start when the OP said the .22 was the gun she was comfortable with and used to shooting. That alone is worth ten times more than any other factors that have been mentioned. The only gun my wifes likes to shoot or wants to shoot is a single six .22LR. So when I'm out of town that's the gun I leave loaded. Although I do play a trick on her and leave the .22mag cylinder in.
22-rimfire
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I will. After the first couple of shots, I don't think there will be an issue. At home self defense distances, I could easily put 10 rounds into center of mass within a few seconds. Not many people will be able to take that and walk away. This is where the semi-auto rifle really comes into it's own. As long as it has dependable feeding and ejection, the old 10/22 is my choice. I don't really care whether or not it makes dime sized groupls at 50 yds. But I still do get 1" groups with mine if I try. I keep a 4x scope on mine for quickness and target acquisition at plinking distances.
The lever action rifle may not be the best long term choice due to rapid fire and "hip shooting" practicality. I would introduce her to a semi-auto. I can't tell you how much fun it was developing skills from the hip or slightly higher and pointing with a 22-semi auto. It is the perfect approach to home defense if a 22 rifle is your choice; short carbine length and rapid fire potential.
Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow
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No-brainer
Definitely this one:
People aren't varmints. You want penetration, penetration, penetration. Non-HP and heaviest possible. That's the round nosed 40 grainer. Easy question. You got any more?
Oh yeah, upgrade to something more powerful first chance you get, as others have said.
Definitely this one:
People aren't varmints. You want penetration, penetration, penetration. Non-HP and heaviest possible. That's the round nosed 40 grainer. Easy question. You got any more?
Oh yeah, upgrade to something more powerful first chance you get, as others have said.
mgkdrgn
Member
IMHO (your mileage may vary, no warranty express or implied, void in all 50 states and where prohibited by law, any resemblance to any people events or places is purely coincidental, yadda yadda yadda)
What we want is to deliver energy, and energy is Mass X Speed "squared". Hence speed is a very important factor.
That said, we also need to produce a wound, and the bigger the better. Also, 22 hollow points don't usually produce much of a result expansion wise.
Unless you improve them! The far left photo shows a standard 22 hollow point, followed by 3 "altered" brothers, all done with Paco Kelly's acurizer tool. The 2nd (left to right) is what he calls a "Nasty Nose", a very deep and large hollow point. The last two are "scorpions", deep hollow points with a center post.
I test fired these rounds from an old reliable NEA 22 revolver (3") into wet sand. The standard 22 HP barely opened up. The "altered" ones were mushroomed out to .380 to .40 ... a very significant difference. I do intend to carry that .22 revolver when I walk my dog (there are some other pretty nasty dogs in the neighborhood), and I will load it up with "nasty nosed" CCI Stingers.
Now, for home defense I want something a little different. I'd like to make a big noise, turn near misses into hits, and cause the least collateral damage to my house and my neighbors. I have an 870 in 12 gauge ... but it's a little unwieldy indoors, and isn't going to really give much of a pattern at indoor distances (20' tops).
Enter the Taurus "Judge" with 000 buckshot (3 pellets). Nice pattern at short range, keep it in a drawer, no penetration beyond my house, 5 rounds to work with. I think this has to be about the ideal home defense/close quarters weapon. And in the ultralite version, it's lighter than my loaded Glock 26!
Left to right, 1 round 000 at 5 paces, 1 round 000 at 9 paces, 2 rounds (head and center of mass) at 3 paces. The "extra" hole in each photo is the shotshell wad.
What we want is to deliver energy, and energy is Mass X Speed "squared". Hence speed is a very important factor.
That said, we also need to produce a wound, and the bigger the better. Also, 22 hollow points don't usually produce much of a result expansion wise.
Unless you improve them! The far left photo shows a standard 22 hollow point, followed by 3 "altered" brothers, all done with Paco Kelly's acurizer tool. The 2nd (left to right) is what he calls a "Nasty Nose", a very deep and large hollow point. The last two are "scorpions", deep hollow points with a center post.
I test fired these rounds from an old reliable NEA 22 revolver (3") into wet sand. The standard 22 HP barely opened up. The "altered" ones were mushroomed out to .380 to .40 ... a very significant difference. I do intend to carry that .22 revolver when I walk my dog (there are some other pretty nasty dogs in the neighborhood), and I will load it up with "nasty nosed" CCI Stingers.
Now, for home defense I want something a little different. I'd like to make a big noise, turn near misses into hits, and cause the least collateral damage to my house and my neighbors. I have an 870 in 12 gauge ... but it's a little unwieldy indoors, and isn't going to really give much of a pattern at indoor distances (20' tops).
Enter the Taurus "Judge" with 000 buckshot (3 pellets). Nice pattern at short range, keep it in a drawer, no penetration beyond my house, 5 rounds to work with. I think this has to be about the ideal home defense/close quarters weapon. And in the ultralite version, it's lighter than my loaded Glock 26!
Left to right, 1 round 000 at 5 paces, 1 round 000 at 9 paces, 2 rounds (head and center of mass) at 3 paces. The "extra" hole in each photo is the shotshell wad.
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woof
Member
On the subject of solid vs hp for a .22 I think it depends on, oddly enough, the weather. I keep my wife's single six loaded with 22 mag hps 3 seasons for a bigger would through light clothes. In winter use solid points for more penetration through winter coats.
Years ago, some of my friends and I shot about a dozen different .22 rounds through the same pine 2x4 - mainly to see if any of them wouldn't penetrate.
All of them got through the 2x4, but CCI stinger caused BY FAR the most damage.
We did this with a very old Winchester 67 and the stingers stuck in the chamber - so that may be a consideration with an older gun. Seems like I remember that Stingers are longer than other 22 LR.
All of them got through the 2x4, but CCI stinger caused BY FAR the most damage.
We did this with a very old Winchester 67 and the stingers stuck in the chamber - so that may be a consideration with an older gun. Seems like I remember that Stingers are longer than other 22 LR.
KBintheSLC
Member
Of the choices given I would go with the 40gr MiniMags. However, I prefer Velocitors or Stingers if it is for defensive use.
This is highly subjective IMO. A .22 is not a joke... it's not a one shot stopper either, but it is certainly not something to underestimate. My 10/22 with a high cap mag will light things up post haste. My MKIII pistol can put 10 rounds in a fist sized area at 20 feet in about 3 seconds. I would not hesitate to use either gun in a gunfight... especially in a defensive scenario (offensives are a different story).
This is highly subjective IMO. A .22 is not a joke... it's not a one shot stopper either, but it is certainly not something to underestimate. My 10/22 with a high cap mag will light things up post haste. My MKIII pistol can put 10 rounds in a fist sized area at 20 feet in about 3 seconds. I would not hesitate to use either gun in a gunfight... especially in a defensive scenario (offensives are a different story).
You are almost correct... here is the full equation E=1/2M X V(2)
Magnuumpwr
Member
This is just a reference point, but you may get better results using Aguila sniper sub-sonic 60 gr ammo. The ft/lbs @ cq range is 120.
Mannlicher
Member
when it comes to having to use a .22 LR for defense, remember that shot placement counts for more than just filling them up with lead.
All the availabile .22 stuff is pretty much about the same. What you want is penetration, so stay away from HPs.
All the availabile .22 stuff is pretty much about the same. What you want is penetration, so stay away from HPs.
Wow everyone, I have gotten so much help here and I appreciate the time from each of you! Everyone has a valid point and prepsective that I appreciate.
Wife and I read the entire thread again and untill we can purchase her 20 gauge and get her proficient at it, we are going to go with the 40 grain solid nose round.
Of course now I cant wait until we start training her in shotgunning lol
We sincerely appreciate all the input and we are now implementing it into our action plans.
Vic
Wife and I read the entire thread again and untill we can purchase her 20 gauge and get her proficient at it, we are going to go with the 40 grain solid nose round.
Of course now I cant wait until we start training her in shotgunning lol
We sincerely appreciate all the input and we are now implementing it into our action plans.
Vic
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