Would you CC a .22?

[WifeofBleys]

I have two .22's. One is a Taurus 941 magnum revolver, the other is a ISSC M22 lr that I just got today. I'm not really comfortable with any other firearm we have at this point. (C9 Hi-Point, and my husband's .40 Walther P99). We have open-carry here, as well as CC without permit.

I know alot of you here may say I should never CC a .22, magnum or lr, however, it is what I am comfortable with right now. I want to work my way up to the C9, but that will never be a practical CC because it's way to heavy and bulky.

So, I would like to know how many of you CC or open-carry a .22? Should I carry the magnum and leave the lr for practice? Could the lr ever be effective in a defensive situation?

Thanks for your responses,
WoB

 

[gofastman]

Would you CC a .22?

sure,
Id take the 941 and want some good ammo though.
The .22WMR may be a poor "man stopper", but I doubt anyone would absorb 8 of them if placed in a vital area, if you can hit what you aiming at it should work just dandy. I think a .22WMR in the chest will probably drop someone faster than a .44mag to the gut, I could be wrong though.

 

[Geckgo]

Carry what you are comfortable carrying. If it is going to be a .22 LR, invest in some quality ammo like velociters (10-12 cents per round) for carry purposes. You could also get some high velocity ball ammo for it, but stick to 40gr bullets as a rule. More weight=more penetration.

Since it's cheap anyways, I would also get a LOT of range time to make sure that you are putting the bullets right where you need them with a small caliber.

When you decide to move up, .380s and 9mm come in some pretty small guns.

 

[gofastman]

Carry what you are comfortable carrying. If it is going to be a .22 LR, invest in some quality ammo like velociters (10-12 cents per round) for carry purposes. You could also get some high velocity ball ammo for it, but stick to 40gr bullets as a rule. More weight=more penetration.

I second this! Almost no .22 hollow points will expand at the velocities you get them moving at from a pistol, and if they do expand they wont go deep enough, I think CCI Maxi-Mag with the flat nose TMJ bullet world be my first choice.

 

[Hooptie]

I'd thought about it. A Charter arms Pathfinder .22wmr would be a good little pocket revolver.

Then I figured why not a .38? They're really no louder and a .38 isn't a kicker.

 

[WifeofBleys]

At least during the breaking-in period, ISSC suggests only running CCI mini-mags, 40 gr. I bought 100 today (round nose, not flat). Going shooting tomorrow, hopefully. I hope to get ALOT of practice time with it. I will probably end up CC'ing the magnum, though, not the lr. The .22lr os strictly for practice. OR, would you suggest CC'ing the lr because it has a 4" barrel....the mag has a 2". Would the 4" give more stopping power because of the longer barrel?

 

[BHP FAN]

I have a S&W 422 I would not hesitate a moment to CC... it's flat, light, and does not jam, and I can dot a BG's eyes with it if I had to.

 

[pikid89]

Hornady loads a 45 grain critical defense bullet in .22 magnum.....i would go with that

http://www.hornady.com/store/22-WMR-45gr-Critical-Defense

 

[Losov]

I might, but my present .22lrs are an SP101 chambered in .22lr, and a Taurus PT-22. My LCP is lighter and smaller than either of those so it wins the award.

 

[Mp7]

..

if that´s what is there and you need the money for
more important things ....

sure.

Mindset. Skillset. Toolset.

If the first two work, it´s unlikely
you´ll ever get to number 3.

If 3 happens. Keep shooting till threat is stopped.

 

[Buck Snort]

If a ten shot semi-auto .22 was all I could shoot I'd go with it try to empty the magazine before the perp hit the ground.

 

[MedWheeler]

I've carried 22s before, too. I would again if I had nothing else. The only one I currently own even remotely suitable for CC is my Phoenix HP22A, which is a single-action autoloader. If I carried it, it would be with the hammer at rest on a loaded chamber, and I'd train to thumb-cock it as I brought it to bear. The Phoenix just has too quirky a double-safety to mess with. I'm familiar with the ISSC, and would probably carry it in the same manner.
That being said, I won't carry it now simply because I have other, more suitable carry pieces, and the Phoenix is twice the weight, half the caliber, and the same size as my primary, which is a Kel-Tec PF-9. But I'd trust it to spit out ten .22LR rounds if I had to.
In your case, I wouldn't use one gun specifically for carry and the other specifically for practice because they are so different from each other. I'd shoot them both for fun and practice.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

CC depends on what you wear, no? So..., while I wouldn't really want a .22lr as my ONLY CC gun on me, it would be better than none. The situation might really demand it. I know of a fellow who carries a little Beretta at the park while jogging or at the beach, wearing a t-shirt, nylon shorts or swim trunks, and running shoes. I know another fellow who carries a .22 WMR derringer in one of those "wallet" holsters, incase a BG got the drop on him, and wanted his wallet from his back pocket as on a hot day while wearing a polo shirt and shorts, he doesn't feel he can properly conceal his preferred weapon, it being moderate size and heavy.

LD

 

[mljdeckard]

In a word, no.

There are a lot of options between your .22 and the C9. Hi-points have a lot of bulk, because they are blow-back operated and need a heavy slide. If it is what you are comfortable with RIGHT NOW, I would submit that somewhere along the line you have been conditioned to believe that this is the most powerful think you can shoot. Had you started with something bigger, you wouldn't have had this perception in your mind. This is something to keep in mind when training new shooters. The only way they 'know' a gun is too big, too uncomfortable, or too hard to shoot is if someone tells them it is.

I really think that all of this exercise of jumping back and forth between a .22 or .22 mag, open or concealed, etc, would be better spent learning a good .38. But what the heck do I know?

Having said that, if I were caught with a .22, mine is a 1911 conversion, and I have 15 round magazines for it. I would dump all 15 center of mass and hope for the best.

 

[ForumSurfer]

Yes, I would carry a .22 IF it were all I had.

FWIW, I have been shot with a .22 cci stinger at close range , close enough I had powder burns. The bullet hit a bone and fragmented into several tiny pieces. I experienced zero pain until a couple of hours later at the hospital. I had no idea I had been shot until I bled. If I had been an aggressor, I can guarantee you that I would not have been slowed down in any way by that one shot.

After that experience, I can't help but wonder what would have happened if it had been a standard fmj round...it could have bounced off the bone and found a vital organ (as opposed to disintegrating into surrounding tissue without much trauma as it did).

So IF all I had was a 22 and IF heaven forbid I needed to use it...I would probably be carrying a mixed load of hollowtip and fmj rounds and empty them all in hopes of a favorable outcome.

Hope that helps...just my opinion.

 

[bigfatdave]

I don't think either of those guns is small enough to justify carrying a .22.

There are purpose-built mouseguns, the ISSC is a Glock trainer and the Taurus is too big.

If I was going to carry a .22 it would have to be smaller than a KelTec P32 ... which means a NAA mini-revolver or one of the itty-bitty autoloaders (not even sure about most of those)

Open carry of one or the other might be viable, but there really are better guns out there designed for defensive use. If you were near me I'd offer a range trip with a big selection of carry-appropriate guns, but unless you're between Toledo and Sandusky Ohio you may have to get someone else's pile-o-guns.

 

[CajunBass]

I have a few times, but my wife did for a couple of years. The gun was a Bersa Firestorm for what it's worth, but the reason she carried it was she learned to shoot with it, and had confidence in both the gun and her abilities with it. She later upgraded to a Glock 19, but it was when SHE was ready, not because someone told her to.

 

[bigfatdave]

how did that happen? Double post somehow.

 

[DeepSouth]

A 22 is a LOT better than nothing, but almost anything else is better than a 22. If I were going to carry one it would be a revolver.

Just in case you no one has recommended it to you yet check out www.corneredcat.com

 

[mcdonl]

I will also say the revolver due to the lack of reliability with rimfire ammo. If you have a missfire with a revolver just keep shooting.

 

[scaatylobo]

a few CCW .22's

I have a few .22 RF's that can and have been carried by me.
They are for BUG to a BUG,and not ever as a primary.
One is the Beretta 70's that was favoried by the Mossad for 'elimination'.
It is the size of the Walther PPK and I can put 9 rounds in a head shot as fast as I can pull the trigger.
the others are N.A. mini revolvers that are pocket carried,and a S&W 317 w/ 3" barrel that is a good woods gun while deer hunting etc.
Also have an old HighStandard o/u .22 magnum that sees pocket carry in winter- when I cannot get to the main gun.
I totally agree with solid point bullets that will hopefully penetrate to a depth that will save your life.

 

[mr.scott]

I'm sorry but I would never carry a .22, or rely on a hi-point.

You can train all you want and be an expert shot on paper, but when push comes to shove and someone has punched you in the face, your fine motor skills go out the window. You need something that will inflict a lot more damage than a .22.
The reason you don't like your husbands .40 walther is it's .40SW. It's a snappy round. I would suggest selling the hi-point, and the Tuarus revolver and get something like a Smith and Wesson SD9 or hell even a S&W Sigma in 9mm.

There are a ton of options out there that are not a lot more $$$ but a much better value and quality defensive gun.

 

[Stumper]

I have carried a .22lr and a .22WMR both openly (a lot in the woods) and concealed. I do NOT consider them to be foolish, or ineffective choices, However for CC I do not think that anything trumps the tiny .380 autos that are available now and a .38 spl snubby remains a very effective, controllable and easily concealable gun.

 

[Ole Coot]

I open carry a Single Six 22mag around the back 40 and when 4 wheeling I have it loaded with snakeshot beside my 45 in a fender bag. If I am dressed where I can't carry anything else I can recommend the Beretta 21A as a reliable, small 22lr, easily concealed.

 

[rogertc1]

I have carried an H&R .22 revolver. Used it as a car gun too. One thing for sure it is easy placent of 9 round for me.
WARNING
Change your ammo frequently. I put fingernail polish on where the bullet and case meet too. They will absorb oil and make the round inoperative.