22lr carry for defense??

[DGW1949]

What's somewhat funny with this topic. Myself speaking, I can show/prove why in the world of all calibers used in handguns the .22lr. Is not a good choice and maybe even the worse for use as a self-defense caliber. But others will say it is a good choice. The funny part is those that are on either side won't be persuaded to change their opinion to the other. Since this topic seems to come up over and over.
I am done.
I don't care what anyone uses. It's their life and their choice to make.
Generally, many posting questions are just trying to get validation for their choices. Some might just be having fun to get 6 pages of back and forth. Who knows.

RE: ...."Generally, many posting questions are just trying to get validation for their choices.".....So true.....and I'll also add that most of those who pile on to champion small sub caliber guns for defending one's life are seeking acceptance for their choice also....One thing you never see though, is anyone who has actual experience in the matter say things like "it's better than a rock", or "any gun is better than no gun", or "the odds are", or "I'm not really planning to need a gun anyway, so blah blah blah".....And yes, I agree with your other sentiment "I don't care what anyone uses. It's their life and their choice to make." ....I didn't always feel that way. But that was back before I realized that it wasn't honest questions that I was responding to. So what the heck, someone wants a sub caliber weapon so they can hide it in a pocket, let 'em have at it, that's what I say.

DGW

 

[bowzette]

No gun is too small to carry, and no gun is too big to fight with-Clint Smith

 

[kmoore]

No gun is too small to carry, and no gun is too big to fight with-Clint Smith

That's true, but point being there are many handguns available to us. No need to go through all the types, sizes, calibers, costs. Pick one that's up to the task of saving your life. There are certainly poor, good, better and best handguns in the market. I also realize that a CCW holders reason and need are different than a street cop. But some reasons why a cops gun works well is based on ballistics and reliability including a good man stopper vs a paper puncher or a good practice gun. A centerfire handgun round from a pocket sized gun in .25, .32 or even .380 is far better in the reliability factor than the .22 LR rimfire.
As always, in the end it's the individual's choice. Few CCW carriers will ever need to actually fire the gun into a human to save their life.

 

[M118LR]

KISS, never use a small caliber pistol on a LARGE CALIBER MAN. Save the .22 for critters that you cook by the dozen in a 12 inch cast iron skillet. If the caliber of man can absorb a whack or two from a 12 inch cast iron skillet, don't aggravate em with your .22! JMHO YMMV.

 

[JohnL]

Squeezing off several rounds will likely convince an assailant he made a bad choice that day. Just saying....

 

[jav]

KISS, never use a small caliber pistol on a LARGE CALIBER MAN. Save the .22 for critters that you cook by the dozen in a 12 inch cast iron skillet. If the caliber of man can absorb a whack or two from a 12 inch cast iron skillet, don't aggravate em with your .22! JMHO YMMV.

You blast off a couple rounds no matter how big he will feel you

 

[Joe Chartreuse]

Maybe a little bit of a compromise. I practice most with my LCP .22LR light rack. HOWEVER, I can switch to the same pistol in a .380 with no noticeable difference. Not a .22LR, not a full 9. Less kick and just as easy to to rack.

 

[Watertender]

If I was going to use a .22 handgun for self defense it would probably be this one. A Smith and Wesson 317-3 Airlite Kit Gun loaded with 8 Remington Yellow Jackets. This one has had the locking mechanism removed and a set of Sile Combat Grips replacing the grips that came on it. The front sight has been changed from green to red and a Wolff spring kit installed to improve the trigger pull.

I worked for many years in a maximum security prison and had inmate maintenance workers help me at times. One happened to be a hit man who swore by a "Roo-gah" Standard .22 pistol. He explained in his NYC accent.... "You put 2 inna back a da head and it's all ovah for da guy, I ain't nevah had one come back ta complain"

 

[Ale-8(1)]

Squeezing off several rounds will likely convince an assailant he made a bad choice that day. Just saying....

Only if most of 'em hit him in a critical location. ;)

 

[JohnL]

Only if most of 'em hit him in a critical location. ;)

True but it will smart wherever it hits.

 

[Ale-8(1)]

. . . the .22 LR kills more people than any other round . . .

We keep seeing that comment in every .22-related thread, but I cannot recall ever seeing any documentation for it.

 

[blume357]

If we narrow it down to just bullets... my vote is for the various 30 caliber rifle rounds... 306, that Jap round and what ever the Germans were shooting.

 

[Watertender]

If we narrow it down to just bullets... my vote is for the various 30 caliber rifle rounds... 306, that Jap round and what ever the Germans were shooting.

The Jap round is a 7.7mm Arisaka. A friend of mine has a rifle that his dad brought back from WW2. He also has a Samurai sword

 

[blume357]

I have one too.... but it is locked up, given to me after it went through a house fire.... I tried to give it to a fellow member of t his forum or another one but they did not want it.
I'm too lazy to look up the actual calibers of those WWIi rifles... they were all just close to 30 cal. Have a good friend who is more of a gun enthusiast than me that has the G2 German Belt fed gun..... that puppy will throw some lead down range.

But back to 22Lr.... he also has a Ruger 10/22 he modified to fully automatic with a silencer on it.... now that is fun to shoot... perfectly legal for him to have since he is a licensed manufacturer of destructive devises... which includes machine guns...

 

[Star43]

We keep seeing that comment in every .22-related thread, but I cannot recall ever seeing any documentation for it.

Not only about killing people, but also in killing animals. And you know something, I for one, truly believe it......

 

[el caminero]

Although .22 is not ideal, here are my thoughts:

- Nobody wants to get shot, even with a .22

- A lot of people have been killed with a .22

- Read about the assassination attempt on President Reagan - he was hit by a .22 ricochet; James Brady was hit in the head by a .22 round. Serious stuff.

- A gun your wife wants to shoot is much much better than one she doesn't want to shoot

Those were "exploder" rounds, supposedly none of which did.

 

[el caminero]

My daughter is a small, lightweight young woman and she had nothing but problems with her Glock 42 .380 cycling, she could never get through a full magazine without FTF, stove pipes, etc, nothing wrong with the gun her husband and I could shoot it just fine. She moved on to an Sig 365 9mm about two years ago and has had no problems handing it, absolutely loves that gun. I’m in the camp that would tell you if she can only handle a .22 then that’s better than nothing, but I think the more you have her out shooting the more you’ll build her confidence in her abilities and she’ll be able to handle something a little more heavy, just be patient with her, it’s a learning curve and remember the gun that fits in your hand might not be comfortable for her at all. I’d take her into a few gun shops and let her handle every gun they have and see what fits her hand, as soon as my other daughter handled one of the 9mm S&W m&p’s she new right off that’s what she wanted. Good luck.

several times in gunstores, after getting recommendations and overload from the counterstaff, the prospective purchaser would turn to me and ask my opinion. I say grab everything in there, the one that fits your hand is YOURS. if you can access all the controls, all the better; learn how to operate THAT gun, dont worry about how others work. Two of them bought ppk s.