.22 as a home defense gun?

[3/2 STA SS]

Originally Posted by Hawg

You're braver than I am.

How big were the rattlers? I kill pygmy ones around here with a shovel.
Now a good Eastern Diamond back 4-5 foot range-CCI blue cap all the way. And thats while I am slightly backing up as I fire,being careful not to trip. H.S. Camp Nine(9 shot revolver) is what I keep for that purpose.

[marlin795]

Originally Posted by joncutt87

Marlin, what h&r do you have?

Topper model 88.

[GregD]

Originally Posted by marlin795

Hey all, as im sure you know I have a Marlin 795 I just bought with a couple of mags. Is this a good home defense gun? I have the 2 mags full if Winchester 40Grain full metal jacket hollow points. If needed will it put someone even a drunk someone on the ground?

A lot of people disagree with the .22 long rifle for home defense, but I have to say it does work. I have investigated, more than I can remember (brain melt down), homicides with the .22 rimfire, and attended the autopsy of all the victims .
I was alway amazed as where the entry hole was made and where the bullet (s) was found. Most of the time, the body was xrayed to find the slug, and even then, it was difficult . The basic .22 long rilfe was responsible for most, but .22 shorts and .22 magnums, were also used.

I recently purchased a Marlin 795 (w/5 mags) and love it. I'm kinda partial to the Remington Yellow Jacket HP but also like the 40 grain solids. I'm thinking about the tech-sights for this rifle and the Papoose model 70 .

Greg

[GregD]

I forgot to add, if you are totally aware of what is going on when the intruder enters your home ,and you fear for your life ( of course ), dump all ten rounds in his chest, neck or head and quickly put another magazine in your rifle. Don't shoot a couple of times and stop. As one person posted, he will not know, he is shot, for a few seconds .

What I fear more is the "quick" home invasions which catches you off guard, someone knocking on your door, 8-9 am during the week, just waiting for you to open the door.

Have a plan and stay alert !!!


Just my $.02 .

Greg

[Old Grump]

Any 40 gr solid bullet if you have to use a 22LR for self defense. Light weight high speed bullets like stingers and other high velocity hollow point bullets may be great on squirrels and pigeons but have a bad tendency to flatten out and not penetrate bone when hitting something like a leg arm rib or some knuckle heads forehead. Great IF you get penetration but if you want to ensure penetration use a solid plated RN 40 grain bullet.

[JLA]

Actually in my experience with the hypervelocity light HP rounds from a small pocket sized pistol. The HPs expand violently, fragmenting the nose protion into small bits and leave an intact base roughly 75% of their original weight to drive forward. Theyll penetrate a BGs flesh. I have no doubt in my mind about that.

But I do agree, for penetrations sake, a 40 gr solid is a far better choice.

[jstgsn]

I’ve posted similar responses in other threads, here is the enhanced version. Bit long, but I believe in all of it.
Whatever firearm you choose, it won’t help you if an intruder can get into your home without you knowing it. Being able to force a door or window because it isn’t secured properly will result in someone standing by your bed while you sleep.
I’ll start with the outside. If your home is just off the street, make sure you don’t have shrubs etc blocking the street view of you windows or door. Often criminals will use those shrubs to hide while they work on breaking in, or lay in wait for you to come up to the door. Make sure your house number is highly visible from the street so emergency responders can easily find your home. If you have a back alley, number the house there too.
Place motion activated lights around the home. They have decorative fixtures with motion detector capability as well as spot lights for the back of the home. Yes a deer or raccoon will trip the lights, but so what, they only stay on for as long as you set them to stay on, and then go off until tripped again.
We have a long driveway, so I went to Harbor Freight and bought two $20 motion sensors. They are battery operated and the detector is mounted to a post by the driveway, and one by the back of the house. One sounding device sits in the living room, the other by the back door. When someone enters the driveway, the alarm gives a ding dong sound. If they get near the house, the other sounds. Again deer and raccoons will set it off, but I don’t mind watching them too.
For the doors, have a locksmith key all the doors alike. Then unscrew the strike plate screws and make sure they are long enough to go into the 2X4 in the wall, not just the pine door frame. If there is glass surrounding the door, have double cylinder dead bolts installed, but keep an extra key hidden near the door in addition to your regular keys. Solid doors should have a 180  peep hole so you can see who is knocking before unlocking. With the screws going into the wall itself, not just the frame, if they kick the door in, you’ll hear them.
Windows need to have an additional locking system other than the butterfly lock. You should be able to secure the windows when they are closed and/or when they are partially open.
The inside should have lights on timers. There should be a good gun safe for guns and jewelry.
One other thing is to mark your property with your driver’s license . The state initials and the numbers will allow officials to find your name, age, address and so forth. If you can find stickers that indicate “Operation Identification” for your windows they help.
If you trust your neighbors, work with them. Be suspicious of traveling salesmen and so forth, and don’t hesitate to report suspicious activity.
When you call the police, remember, they don’t know what is going on until you tell them and they need the information in order. Your name, your location, phone number, why you are calling, what you think is going to happen. If it is happening right now, tell them “IN PROGRESS”. Be patient and stay on the phone until they tell you to hang up.
There is no one answer to crime, but using a combined package or system perspective where all the units work together can make the bad guys go somewhere easier.
Last but not least; I have an alarm system installed that not only monitors doors and motion, but a smoke detector. When we are not home, or the wife is home alone, it is comforting.
Now back to weapon of choice. I’m in my 60s, retired police, and an avid hunter. My choice of weapon for home defense is a youth model pump action 20 gauge loaded with five rounds of 4 buck. It cost $227 at Wal-Mart. It has a devastating effect within 30 yards, handles easily in a hallway, EVERYONE recognizes the sound of a shotgun chambering a round, and you don’t have to aim, just point and shoot.
I also have flashlights everywhere in the house.
Nothing against .22s, but we shot a guy six times with .38 lead bullets and he ran 12 blocks.
Remember the rules of gun fights.
Be polite. Be professional. But, have a plan to kill everyone you meet.
Bring a gun. Preferably, bring at least two guns. Bring all of your friends who have guns.
Anything worth shooting is worth shooting twice. Ammo is cheap. Life is expensive.
Only hits count. A close miss is still a miss.
If your shooting stance is good, you're probably not moving fast enough nor using cover correctly, and you have been there way too long.
Move away from your attacker. Distance is your friend. (Lateral and diagonal movements are preferred.)
If you can choose what to bring to a gunfight, bring a long gun and all your friends with long guns.
In ten years nobody will remember the details of caliber, stance, or tactics.
If you are not shooting, you should be communicating, reloading, and running.
Accuracy is relative: most combat shooting standards will be more dependent on "pucker factor" than the inherent accuracy of the gun.
Use a gun that works EVERY TIME.
Someday someone may kill you with your own gun, but they should have to beat you to death with it because it is empty.
Always cheat = always win. The only unfair fight is the one you lose.
Have two plans. The original plan, and then a back-up plan, because the original plan never works.
Flank your adversary when possible. Protect yours.
Don't drop your guard.
Always tactically reload and threat scan 360 degrees.
Watch their hands. Hands kill. (In God we trust. Everyone else, keep your hands where I can see them).
Decide to be AGGRESSIVE enough, QUICKLY enough.
The faster you finish the fight, the less shot up you will get.

[JLA]

excellent read

[fuzebox40]

There's a lot to be said for shot placement but all I can say is if you start placing them in me, I'm not going to argue about where.
As far as caliber, if round 10 doesn't kill me we can probably skip the water board thing, I'm ready to spill the beans.
Whatever you do, just don't kick me in the nads. It's just not right.

[carver]

As has been stated by others on this one, shot placement is everything, no matter what you are shooting! Please consider that when you come face to face with an intruder, you know that someone is going to get shot, and it might be you! The adrenaline will be flowing! You will lose all fine motor skills! You will suffer from tunnel vision! And your hearing will deminish, and time goes into slow motion! All this makes it really hard to place a bullet right where you want it. The answer is practice! Practice! Practice! You can not depend on your conscious abilities under these cercumstances, but your training will kick in without your having to think about it. And this can save your life, or the lives of loved ones. Be prepared with more than a gun, your mind is the greater weapon!

[jstgsn]

Good point, tried to think of everything but missed "practice" even with a shotgun. Will add it to the list.
thanks

[fuzebox40]

Originally Posted by jstgsn

Whatever firearm you choose, it won’t help you if an intruder can get into your home without you knowing it.

A background in law enforcement would have been an easy guess. Thanks for the share. I like your above mentioned point most of all. First line of home defence starts outside and I'd first rather out-smart the bad guy than care who's hold bragging rights for most macho gun in town. I've got weapons that can make a mess but when something goes bump in the night, I take my walk with a flashlight and a 9mm. If I don't know he's on his way in, my arsenal probably won't matter.
I've got just about everything you've mentioned for security but the one thing I've never been comfortable with are my double front doors. The side that isn't used has the normal latch at top and bottom and bla bla. Double doors are good for two things, moving in and moving out, not security. You could force those things open without much more sound than a normal entry.

[Bigbill]

I'm in bear country and i'm waiting for one to figure out he can walk thru my door at anytime. My 308 is ready at all times. I don't fear people the dogs will take care of them its the bears because i don't share my viddles with anyone.

I've seen a guy shot 5 times with a 45acp in the ER and live.

[Chinook]

Yeah. Great read, and great discussion all.

[marlin795]

Thanks for all the info guys, always willing to learn new stuff.

[marlin795]

Hey guys, I've been cleaning it everytime I go shooting, but since I go everyday it get's annoying, how often should I clean it? After how many rounds would you say?

[JLA]

Clean it as often as you need to, or as often as you like, but dont swab the bore out. leave the bore fouled and dirty as much as you can. Most .22s shoot all over if you clean the bore. Best to leave it fouled up til accuracy diminishes and then clean it. but keep in mind itll prolly take 20 or so fouling rounds before the accuracy settles back in.

I havent cleaned my rem 5 bore in over a year and it still shoots bug holes at 50 yds. I do wipe it out after every outing and reapply SBGO to the bolt and trigger mechanism.

[marlin795]

I mainly clean the barrel. Bu I do need to strip it and let the parts sit in solvent and then re oil it. It's a little dirty.

[JLA]

No, im sayin DONT clean the barrel. leave it fouled. Just wipe the outside and clean the breech and reciever out. leave the bore fouled. .22s generally shoot better with fouled bores. and the residue does nothing to ruin the bore. .22 bullets are coated with lubaloy, which melts into the bore and actually protects it.

[marlin795]

I know thanks for the info. I pulled it apart and cleaned the receiver and bolt and left the barrel as is.

[AmmoForSale.com]

If you practice enough I don't think it would be a horrible choice. It's not my first choice though. Small fast bullets tend to go straight through things. While it wouldn't be my first choice as long as you place the rounds where they need to go you'll get the desired effect.

When your budget allows I would look into a shotgun or handgun though.

__________________
22 lr ammo for sale

[Big Shrek]

Originally Posted by marlin795

Hey all, as im sure you know I have a Marlin 795 I just bought with a couple of mags. Is this a good home defense gun? I have the 2 mags full if Winchester 40Grain full metal jacket hollow points. If needed will it put someone even a drunk someone on the ground?

It would do the job, as long as YOU did your job of aiming


But truly, THIS is what should be used if someone is bound & determined to use a .22lr weapon for home-defense...
A Calico M-110 pistol with Laser.


If you MUST use .22lr for home defense, ONLY 100-rounds per mag is acceptable!! Hence the Calico line of .22's

[carver]

Originally Posted by fuzebox40

I've got just about everything you've mentioned for security but the one thing I've never been comfortable with are my double front doors. The side that isn't used has the normal latch at top and bottom and bla bla. Double doors are good for two things, moving in and moving out, not security. You could force those things open without much more sound than a normal entry.

Take a look at Harbor Freight for alarms. This is what I use, they emit a 120 decible alarm. They sell alarms that are based on concussions also, I put one on my entry doors as well as the ones in the picture. Kick the door, and the alarm goes off. Open the door, or window, and they go off. They don't cost a lot, about $3 a pair, and they do work.

[marlin795]

I'm thinking of buying a laser sight for my .22 and my new security shotgun. (I bought a H&R 6 shot pump w/ 18" barrel.)Just the red dot shining at me would scare me sh*tless.
Shine the laser at someone then rack in the round should scare anyone.

[JLA]

Originally Posted by Big Shrek

It would do the job, as long as YOU did your job of aiming


But truly, THIS is what should be used if someone is bound & determined to use a .22lr weapon for home-defense...
A Calico M-110 pistol with Laser.


If you MUST use .22lr for home defense, ONLY 100-rounds per mag is acceptable!! Hence the Calico line of .22's

dadgum shrek, whats that ol calico .22 hold?? Bout a million rounds??