[marktwain]

I thought this article would be of interest to the banglist. The SSS 60 grain ammo is reported to be unstable in many conditions when shot in a rifle with a 1 in 16 inch twist. It is better stablized with a 1-9 inch twist. At 250 - 300 yards in windy conditions, it is nearly impossible to hear an ordinary subsonic .22 round. The loudest noise at the target is likely to be the bullet impact.

[Gene Eric]

My first shot was 22 LR with a scope. I was not old at the time.

[Bullish]

The only thing I have that shoots .22lr is a tiny little boot pistol. A 5-shot revolver that fits in the palm of your hand made by North American arms out of Provo Utah.

The .22lr makes a huge loud bang for such a little gun because the barrel is only about 1 inch long providing no muzzle factor at all. The first time I shot it I was amazed at how it sounded like a dang magnum.

[papertyger]

I heard of one guy bringing down an A-10 Warthog with a .22 once. /s

[BRK]

The first picture looks like a scene from “Breaking Bad”. LOL

[Red Steel]

The modern .22lr will easily penetrate someone at fairly long range.

Youtube vid - 22LR LETHALITY - 300 Yard Ballistics Test

[Mr. Binnacle]

Great article! Thank you for posting. I look forward to reading the debate on stopping power & the importance of shot placement that will inevitably result! This caliber will continue to grow in popularity due to the price of ammo and availability of conversion kits and other cool toys.
There are many documented cases of bad guys (and good guys) being killed by one well-placed .22LR shot. So many variables go into the effectiveness of a weapon. A person with some semblance of trigger control (normally easier with a smaller caliber) is going to be more accurate than someone who flinches in anticipation of the bang.

[saturn]

Thanks for taking the time out to do a field test under those conditions. I am not surprised at all with the results. It wouldn’t be my first choice for home defence, but it would do the job, of course I say that with a 10 round magazine in mind. Good job.

[Eye of Unk]

Thank you for a very well brought about article, and disregard the posts by those who have a constant ego problem with small calibers. Arm chair snipers won’t be satisfied until they can brag they have either a 30mm or a 16” Naval cannon.

The Ruger 10-22 is an interesting platform for tactical usage, also is the Ruger .22LR pistols.

[SampleMan]

A .22 rifle with 1,000 rounds of ammo comprise my #1 SHTF item.

[varmintman]

The original 22 cartridge was just a percussion cap with a .22” round ball in front of it. 22 Ammo has clearly come a long way since then.

[raybbr]

For the SHTF list?

[Vigilantcitizen]

I know a south GA. Redneck that took plenty ofdeer and hawgs with a 22lr.

[muir_redwoods]

Is there any research on which commercial .22lr round is the most powerful considering bullet design, grain weight and powder load?

[sonofagun]

And there's this!

[SueRae]

I used to have a Hi-Standard derringer that fired the .22 long round. It was one of the best handguns (and safest) that I have ever fired. And quite accurate even at a respectable distance. Would love to have another one.

[Yo-Yo]

Ballistics of the .22LR out of a rifle and out of a handgun are vastly different.

Here's a video of a CCI 40 grain Velocitor into ballistics gel from a Ruger 10/22 rifle:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEDo_PbAvJc

And here's the same round from a Walther P22 pistol:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFsDDgztf50

Out of the rifle, the hollow point opens up and dumps all of its energy into the gel, while out of the pistol the .22 punches a hole all the way through.

No, I am not volunteering to be shot by either one, and a .22 on you is better than the .44 magnum you left at home. If you are just an ordinary citizen carrying concealed for protection, I wouldn't have any qualms about carying a .22 if the choice were that or nothing.

But I would recommend the largest caliber you can comfortably carry.

[Carriage Hill]

.22LR Ping.

[Peet]

Bad guy [Russian accent]: Some like the large calibres but I like the point two two. The bullet enters the skull and bounces around scrambling the brain.

Victim: NNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooooooooooo

[bang]

Some TV show, maybe NCIS-LA

[Hardraade]

The standard 22lr actually develops 90 horsepower of energy over a 5-inch in-barrel stretch, so it’’s not a toy.

The other thing, apart from the pinpoint accuracy, is that a suppressed .22 is virtually soundless. Out of a rifle barrel, it doesn’t really make much sound unsuppressed.

[OKSooner]

You did have a tag for that turkey, right?