22lr for self defense?

[2nd Abeliever]

Hi all. Greetings. Just wondering here to myself, "what can a 22lr revolver (5-shot) actually do in case of needed self defense"? Does anyone of you actually use this caliber for concealed carry? Thanks for any responses. Safe shooting.

[cakes]

If you are protecting yourself against being bitten by a dog, that .22 cal revolver is a great choice. I keep an auto-loading .22 in the glove box when I drive cross country.

[obxned]

Hopefully the attacker ceases the attack immidiately upon seeing that you are armed and standing your ground. That would be a very good outcome. If you are forced to shoot, you may not be very happy with your .22. The .22 will indeed kill an attacker, but probably won't stop him before he kills you.

[carver]

.22 LR is better than nothing. No one wants to get shot, not even with a .22. If it's all you have use it till you can come up with something better.

[graehaven]

It's all about shot placement.................but, that being said, I'd rather have at least something bigger than that.

[Old Sarge]

I'm with "Carver". A 22 is better than a switch. And as it's been said, "Shot Placement" is critical, with such a small caliber, but a long barrel would be to your advantage. If it was all I had, of course, I'd carry it; but it really is just too small to stop much of anything larger than a medium sized dog. I'd be shopping for a larger caliber, like a 38, or so. I sold a 25 because of same quality. Short barrel, no accuracy at all.

[pinecone70]

I would want more capacity with a .22, if my life depended upon it; I don't know what my abilities would be in a stressful situation. Does not matter how good you are with targets, in a real life or death situation there are a lot of stress factors that come into play, which could render your shot placement skills inept.

[2nd Abeliever]

Thank you all so far for your answers. Kinda turns out I had imagined I'd get this kind of answer. In the meantime, as some of you stated, something is better than nothing.

[red14]

Originally Posted by 2nd Abeliever

Thank you all so far for your answers. Kinda turns out I had imagined I'd get this kind of answer. In the meantime, as some of you stated, something is better than nothing.

I have a mini revolver. I have shot it around 500 times. It is all I have, that I'm confident in. Sure hope it's enough.

[Double D]

Originally Posted by red14

I have a mini revolver. I have shot it around 500 times. It is all I have, that I'm confident in. Sure hope it's enough.

This is an age old arguement. Many say not to carry less than a 380. I dont agree but to each their own. I carry a 45. I like the stopping power that one shot provides. But not everyone wants to or can carry a 45. I would gladly take a 22lr if thats all I had or all I could shoot. I would carry the stingers or the hottest round I could find and practice your shot placement as often as possible.

[Gearheadpyro]

A 22 does satisfy the first rule of a gunfight: Bring a gun.

It will not do much to an attacker though, unfortunately. If you hit the attacker just right you might get lucky, but personally I wouldn't chance it. Go to your next gun show and pick up an inexpensive 9mm or bigger gun. Until then, tote that 22 with pride becuase your packing more than 90% of the law abiding citizens in the world do.

[jondar]

Some years ago The American Rifleman magazine posted a short article about a California Highway Patrolman who was on a traffic stop when a perp pulled a weapon and disarmed the LEO of his duty pistol. He then marched the LEO out in a vacant field. His intentions were obvious. The LEO's hideout weapon was a North American .22 LR derringer, hidden in a small pocket in his uniform. At the first opportunity the LEO pulled the derringer, whirled around and shot the perp in the head. It did the job. On the strength of that article I bought a NA derringer. I think that was thirteen years ago and I've had it with me ever since.

[Double D]

Originally Posted by jondar

Some years ago The American Rifleman magazine posted a short article about a California Highway Patrolman who was on a traffic stop when a perp pulled a weapon and disarmed the LEO of his duty pistol. He then marched the LEO out in a vacant field. His intentions were obvious. The LEO's hideout weapon was a North American .22 LR derringer, hidden in a small pocket in his uniform. At the first opportunity the LEO pulled the derringer, whirled around and shot the perp in the head. It did the job. On the strength of that article I bought a NA derringer. I think that was thirteen years ago and I've had it with me ever since.

Shot placement is key. Good point.

[red14]

I trust my NAA more than I do my fists, which are more like claws. Ask DD what I could do with my hands.

[Just One Shot]

Only as a last resort!

It's slightly better than a rock or a sharp stick.

[questor]

Originally Posted by carver

.22 LR is better than nothing. No one wants to get shot, not even with a .22. If it's all you have use it till you can come up with something better.

+1

[oscarmayer]

i see and hear this debate all the time and have heard it for years. all i'll say is this. except for time of war, more people have been shot and killed with a 22 than with any other caliber. and for years was the caliber of choice for the mossad.

[Terry_P]

I have a NAA Mini Mag that I carry along with OC when I walk. It is 22 Mag in caliber and about all I can comfortably carry in workout clothing. For any other situations my minimun is a 38 Spl. I would not want to have to use the NAA's revolver against a perp that is armed as I would feel seriously undergunned. If you are looking for a self defense weapon I would buy something larger.

[tnbrdnrd]

Was searching this forum for info on what to carry while walking/jogging and saw your response. I just tried a NAA mini .22 and found it too small to effectively get my hands on quickly. That said, I could use some advice on what a woman with small hands and arthritis in both thumbs could carry for protection while fitness walking and how best to carry it. BTW, I've already had 2 somewhat unnerving situations while walking and am really ready to get back out there with something more powerful than pepper spray.

[Terry_P]

tnbrdnrd:

You may want to look at a small revolver in 38 Spl like a Ruger LCR or a S&W 638 and carry in:

http://www.pistolwear.com/index.htm

On another post a runner recommended it to me and although I haven't purchased yet I will purchase in the spring for carrying my SP-101 or a lighter revolver in while walking.

[hogger129]

Originally Posted by Terry_P

tnbrdnrd:

You may want to look at a small revolver in 38 Spl like a Ruger LCR or a S&W 638 and carry in:

http://www.pistolwear.com/index.htm

On another post a runner recommended it to me and although I haven't purchased yet I will purchase in the spring for carrying my SP-101 or a lighter revolver in while walking.

i always thought something like a little walther ppk in .380 wouldn't be a bad carry gun. it's a small gun and it has more stopping power than like a .22 or .32. i was thinking about saving up for a p99 for a carry weapon. it's a 9mm as opposed to the ppk which is a .380. both 9mm, just that i always thought 9x19 had better stopping power than a .380 (9x17). and i'm pretty accurate with most 9x19 guns I've shot on the range. too bad they don't make a walther ppk in .50 BMG. Lol. That would be like Men In Black with Will Smith when Tommy Lee Jones gives him the Noisy Cricket.

And I agree with those who talked about shot placement. You can be deadlier with a .22 LR that you shoot with extreme accuracy and land a headshot. Or you could carry something like a 9mm and get a torso shot that may not stop the attacker in one hit. Carry what you're comfortable with. Smaller ammo = less recoil. Get what you are accurate with and what YOU'RE comfortable with. You don't have to carry a .50 Desert Eagle to be deadly. One reason I like the .45 I have is because it's slim. I believe you can find 1911s made for 9mm as well. Springfield Loaded line has some 9mm 1911s. Just get what you like and are most comfortable with. It's your life, not everyone else's.

But .22 is fine. Like the guy above said - it's better than nothing at all.

[Shooter45]

Just remember. A .22 pistol is an eye gun in an attack since the attacker will be up close and personal. Can you shoot an attacker in the eye under stress. I don't think so. I know a man who was shot 5 times with a .22 pistol at close range. After fighting with his attacker and taking away the empty weapon, the attacker got away. When the police arrived, he was still walking around. His wounds were pretty serious and he stayed in the hospital for about two weeks. He told me he didn't know he was shot until it was all over.

It's easy to give advice if you have never been in a gunfight. It ain't like in the movies. Things happen very fast and the attack will usually be 7 yards or less.
Get lots of range time with a caliber known for it's stopping power because a .22 will only get you killed. A topic such as this is no place to post opinions unless you have been there,done that and survived.

[Zane71464]

Originally Posted by Old Sarge

I'm with "Carver". A 22 is better than a switch. And as it's been said, "Shot Placement" is critical, with such a small caliber, but a long barrel would be to your advantage. If it was all I had, of course, I'd carry it; but it really is just too small to stop much of anything larger than a medium sized dog. I'd be shopping for a larger caliber, like a 38, or so. I sold a 25 because of same quality. Short barrel, no accuracy at all.

Just a small note on the 25acp. Around here this past summer a older gentleman got broke into while home. He shot the guy with his 25 and the piece of scum did leave and he wasnt sure he had hit him. The local law came and done their report and they only way they got the intruder (piece of scum) was he went to the hospital 2 days after he'd got shot. One up for the law abiding citizens out there. But the point to 25 cal...no stopping power.

[Ursus]

Originally Posted by oscarmayer

for years was the caliber of choice for the mossad.

You touch a point I've always had. The .22 is better of for the really expert, highly trained personnel, because shot placement its critical.

[jack404]

2-3 Bricks ( 1000-1500 rounds) of .22 used in practice is a wise investment

practice practice practice

if needed hopefully it will be second nature and your shots will be true

the Mossad also teach never to use it face on unless sure of your shots

and generally within 2 feet

like a passing target where you get 2 through the thinner nasal cavity

or up under the jaw pointed towards the top rear of the skull ( Cerabral cortex shot)

the orbits ( eye socket ) ridges can deflect a short barrel .22 even point blank if not within a 10-15 degree line as can the cheek bone and teeth

they prefer the rear behind the ear or directly behind and upward entering just to the side of the spine to ensure the round enters the skull

look at a average skull of any animal , its way thinner there ( and ice picks are a good tool at that point too) a average male skull can be penetrated with a stick there

the round enters then runs around inside like a rat in a hot box till the energy is spent

but this is assasination not CQB ( Close Quarter Combat) a entirely different theory and not what i think the OP was asking

a 4" barrel is way better than a 2", 6" better again

at any length over 4" the energy should defeat most bone at 20 feet and under

below this barrel length it gets iffy, ( less energy) and will be 100% reliant on placement as stated above

but a .22LR in the gut is gonna hurt like hell, but adrenalin and drugs do amazing things for endurance and capability as will heavy clothing and thick fat layers

if a .22 is the choice get as long a barrel as you can and use as high a velocity ammo as the weapon can take safely and preferably hollow points for expansion ( greater energy transfer and shock impact)

and again

practice practice practice

a .22 LR in capable hands is deadly as are all guns

its up to you to be as capable as you can be

cheers

jack