Would .22 wmr make a good self defense round?
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I'm surprised by the anti-.22 mag crowd. Its like people don't want to like a round that doesn't fit into the standard definitions of "big bullet, big wound." Yeah, the wound channel is smaller, but the energy of a good .22 mag is in the same neighborhood as a .38 snub and sometimes superior. Why all the .22 mag hating?
Jim March
Member
Energy of a 22Mag from a handgun is somewhat akin to a 22LR from a rifle, yes. In barrels above 6", the advantage may go to the 22Mag.
MJRW: NAA's data stops at 4", but the trends are pretty clear:
The best loads are the 30grainers in handgun barrel lengths. And even then, the CCI +V is just head'n'shoulders past anything else.
OK, here's the NAA 4" barrel (MiniMaster) 22Mag velocity data:
http://www.naaminis.com/mmmagvel.html
Now granted, they only test one 50grain load and yours might be better but...the trends are REAL clear here.
Compare to the 2" data:
http://www.naaminis.com/bwmvel.html
You're going to get about 1,600fps from the CCI 30grainers from that Tracker barrel. That's gonna HURT, at 171ft/lbs energy. I recommend the "TNT" variant if you can find it, or the regular +V otherwise.
According to the energy table, you'll have to get 1,250fps from a 50grain to get as much energy. It seems highly unlikely you'll get anywhere close, but then again, you could always chrono it...your 50 might be a lot hotter than the one 50 NAA testedOOOps, no, just checked, they tested the Federal Classic 50. Federal's rating of "1650" is from a rifle, not a handgun - in my experience, and the NAA tables bear it out, Federal is "wimping out" on the powder charge or at a minimum, not tuning the charge for handguns at all.
If you are able to get 1,100fps or so, you'll get good penetration and it might be worth running 50s over the 30s, but I personally wouldn't. At 1,200, hmmm...tough choice, I'd pick based on accuracy, but ALL of these will be plenty accurate enough for home defense.
MJRW: NAA's data stops at 4", but the trends are pretty clear:
The best loads are the 30grainers in handgun barrel lengths. And even then, the CCI +V is just head'n'shoulders past anything else.
OK, here's the NAA 4" barrel (MiniMaster) 22Mag velocity data:
http://www.naaminis.com/mmmagvel.html
Now granted, they only test one 50grain load and yours might be better but...the trends are REAL clear here.
Compare to the 2" data:
http://www.naaminis.com/bwmvel.html
You're going to get about 1,600fps from the CCI 30grainers from that Tracker barrel. That's gonna HURT, at 171ft/lbs energy. I recommend the "TNT" variant if you can find it, or the regular +V otherwise.
According to the energy table, you'll have to get 1,250fps from a 50grain to get as much energy. It seems highly unlikely you'll get anywhere close, but then again, you could always chrono it...your 50 might be a lot hotter than the one 50 NAA testedOOOps, no, just checked, they tested the Federal Classic 50. Federal's rating of "1650" is from a rifle, not a handgun - in my experience, and the NAA tables bear it out, Federal is "wimping out" on the powder charge or at a minimum, not tuning the charge for handguns at all.
If you are able to get 1,100fps or so, you'll get good penetration and it might be worth running 50s over the 30s, but I personally wouldn't. At 1,200, hmmm...tough choice, I'd pick based on accuracy, but ALL of these will be plenty accurate enough for home defense.
RustyHammer
Member
Heap-big fun to shoot, but not stop charging buffalo (or cracked smoking B.G.) in its tracks ... "Bigger is better"!
Jim March
Member
I disagree - that Tracker in 22Mag with *good* ammo is a fine home defense choice, esp. if the lady of the house is comfortable with it.
Recoil will be close to zero. She'll be able to dump six of those little screamers in a goblin's upper body faster than MMMers rushing to get Hillary autographs. Or put one right in his snotlocker.
Either way, that's gonna be one very seriously screwed up goblin.
Recoil will be close to zero. She'll be able to dump six of those little screamers in a goblin's upper body faster than MMMers rushing to get Hillary autographs. Or put one right in his snotlocker.
Either way, that's gonna be one very seriously screwed up goblin.
"But, I'm not a fan of the Rough Rider. It's rough all right . And that bizarre safety is just...what the hell were they thinking?"
I love my rough rider. And whats so bad about the saftey? I kinda like it...
Anyway, lets remember that we are talking about .22 WMR here, not .22 LR, and that .22 WMR is SIGNIFIGANTLY more powerful. That said, it is also more of a rifle round. I hardly ever feel the urge to use my .22 WMR cylander. Whats the point? I use the pistol mostly for it's "anti-popcan" value. If you are looking for a cheap defense handgun, I'd recomend somthing bigger. You won't find anything good in the $100 price range, but $150 is another story.
The best gun I've seen for under $300 is the Makarov. They go for about $150, are 100% reliable, and they come in fairly powerful calibers (compared to the .22 LR and .22 WMR anyway). You can get them in .380 auto or 9mm Makarov (aka 9X18 ). I have a 'Mak' in 9X18 that I use as my primary carry handgun.
This is slightly off topic, but for about the same price as that rough rider, you can get one of these:
http://www.hr1871.com/firearms/index.php?cat=4&subcat=21
I got one of these for Christmas last year, and man is it accurate. I put a wide-angel 3-9X40 scope on it, and it sure is fun to shoot. It averages about 3/10 of an inch groups at 50 yards. I can take a head shot on a squirrel at 100 yards with this baby. I can't do that with the rough rider. That said, I still like the handgun, it's a GREAT plinker...
I love my rough rider. And whats so bad about the saftey? I kinda like it...
Anyway, lets remember that we are talking about .22 WMR here, not .22 LR, and that .22 WMR is SIGNIFIGANTLY more powerful. That said, it is also more of a rifle round. I hardly ever feel the urge to use my .22 WMR cylander. Whats the point? I use the pistol mostly for it's "anti-popcan" value. If you are looking for a cheap defense handgun, I'd recomend somthing bigger. You won't find anything good in the $100 price range, but $150 is another story.
The best gun I've seen for under $300 is the Makarov. They go for about $150, are 100% reliable, and they come in fairly powerful calibers (compared to the .22 LR and .22 WMR anyway). You can get them in .380 auto or 9mm Makarov (aka 9X18 ). I have a 'Mak' in 9X18 that I use as my primary carry handgun.
This is slightly off topic, but for about the same price as that rough rider, you can get one of these:
http://www.hr1871.com/firearms/index.php?cat=4&subcat=21
I got one of these for Christmas last year, and man is it accurate. I put a wide-angel 3-9X40 scope on it, and it sure is fun to shoot. It averages about 3/10 of an inch groups at 50 yards. I can take a head shot on a squirrel at 100 yards with this baby. I can't do that with the rough rider. That said, I still like the handgun, it's a GREAT plinker...
Jim March
Member
As a plinker/toy, the RR makes sense.
For "serious social work", the weird manual safety and it's position is just...bizarre
. Yes, you could carry it six-up, safety on, hammer down, and then on draw use the strong-side thumb on the hammer and weak-hand on the safety - as long as you're a "righty". But that's a LOT of finagling when it's life or death . Gimme a Single Six with a transfer bar any day of the week.
For "serious social work", the weird manual safety and it's position is just...bizarre
. Yes, you could carry it six-up, safety on, hammer down, and then on draw use the strong-side thumb on the hammer and weak-hand on the safety - as long as you're a "righty". But that's a LOT of finagling when it's life or death . Gimme a Single Six with a transfer bar any day of the week.22s are fun guns to shoot but have dismal stopping power. The purpose of a defensive weapon is to stop your attacker as quickly as possible to end the life threatening aggression. A 22 has a poor track record in this respect. Will a 22 kill your attacker? Absolutely. But perhaps several hours later in an ER across town. The question is did he take you with him before he went? Most professionals believe that the 380 or 38 spl. should be considered the minimum caliber in a self defense weapon with premium ammo.
If I've got a choice for a home defense weapon I'll take a shotgun or a carbine over a handgun anyday! Remember, stopping power!
Stay Safe, Pat S
If I've got a choice for a home defense weapon I'll take a shotgun or a carbine over a handgun anyday! Remember, stopping power!
Stay Safe, Pat S
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