[PapaBear3625]

I once pulled out a S&W .22 revolver on 8 guys who wanted my camera equipment. Apparently, there weren’t 6 volunteers in the 8 to find out how good a shot I was,

I was in a similar situation many years ago. As a group, they knew they could take me. As individuals, they knew I would kill the first one to make a move towards me. Nobody wanted to be that first guy.

Any firearm has the power to make somebody decide he'd rather not get shot today, and a .22 in the hand beats a .44 magnum left home in the safe. That said, a .22 has killing power, but its stopping power is mainly psychological unless you hit the brain stem. A drugged up or drunk assaulter may get shot, and then proceed to kill you before he goes down.

[Mr Rogers]

I wouldn’t want to try to stop a drug crazed nutcase with a .22 - but like you said, a gun you can carry is better than a gun you leave behind due to weight. I don’t plan to shoot anyone at a distance. At 10 feet, and after 10,000 rounds of practice, hitting someone in the head wouldn’t have been hard.

I don’t carry now, but would seriously consider a .22 if I get my concealed carry permit. I lugged a 9mm around in Afghanistan, and truly enjoyed taking it off when I left!