22 Mag Pistol – for Self-Defense, would you?

Am Shooting Journal ^ | 1/15/2018 | J Hines

[w1n1]

For concealed carrier having a reliable pistol that you’re comfortable with is ideal. If you’re a newbie and think that you want to start with a reliable pistol.
Why not look into a getting a Ruger LCR-22, compact light handgun weighs 16-ounce, affordable and easy to shoot.
It incorporates several novel features such as a polymer grip and trigger housing, monolithic receiver, and constant force trigger.
Operates in double-action only (DAO) as the hammer is concealed within the frame handle's fire control housing of the gun and cannot be cocked prior to firing, shoots .22 Winchester Rimfire caliber.

Some may argue that the .22 WMR is too small for personal defense. Those that think this way are looking at it from a hunter mindset, that is one shot one kill.
However, for self-defense purpose the primary objective is stop the bad guy from doing bad things.
There are three ways to stop a threat with a pistol:

• Causing enough pain that the bad guy submits or voluntarily decides to stop
• Incapacitation, which is an involuntary reaction on the part of the bad guy in response to being shot, this can be instant or it can take some time.
• Using Fear as a psychological deterrent, no one wants to get shot at when there is gun pointed at them.

Let’s move onto the cartridge itself, yes, its not a .357. The .22 WMR does not have the stopping power of a .357, it does have velocity. Back to this later, many gun experts will test out these cartridges against gel. Its simply a ballistic test medium which is thought to offer the same resistance to a bullet as would muscle tissue.
However, it does not replicate skin, ribs, cartilage or fat and, in fact, very often the way a bullet performs in living tissue is quite different than how it performs in gelatin.
Ok, you’re still stuck on the different calibers and how a .22 compares... Read the rest and see the .22 mag pistol video here. What do you all think, would you carry a Ruger LCR-22 if you had to?

[expat2]

No. The advantage of 22 is ability to fire multiple shots with little recoil. Therefore you need lots of cartridges and the revolver doesn’t have them.

[null and void]

Better to have a .22 LR on you than a .45 at home...

[securityman]

my bedside weapon is a Ruger single six in 22 magnum. One day I might go to a 22 TCM.

[jjotto]

Any gun better than no gun.

I believe .22 LRs kill more people than all other cartridges combined.

But not a good choice if you know you go to places that are normally unsafe.

[Lurker]

I have a 9 round Hi Standard revolver in my Go Bag among with 150 rounds of ammunition. I file it under “Better Than Nothing”.

L

[Flintlock]

A study I saw several years ago of a great many defensive shootings showed this:

ANY hit with ANY bullet—the first shot—stopped bad guys equally regardless of caliber.

Yep—even the .22 short.

The first rule of gunfighting is “HAVE A GUN”.

[Bryanw92]

>>No. The advantage of 22 is ability to fire multiple shots with little recoil. Therefore you need lots of cartridges and the revolver doesn’t have them.

I agree. It only holds 6 rounds. No sale. The 22LR version holds 8 and makes a good snake gun. Ruger is about 10 years too late now that pocket 380s that hold 6+1 are so common and quite reliable.

[Pollster1]

I shoot a 1911 in .45 Auto more than I shoot any other handgun, but I see a lot of value in the .22 for concealed carry, even as a revolver. My loaded 1911 weighs 46 ounces, with no spare magazines. My loaded eight shot S&W .22 kit gun weighs about 12 ounces. That weight differential can make a huge difference in how often the firearm is carried.

Gun beats no gun.

[databoss]

Center fire only for me.

[Controlling Legal Authority]

One thing I have wondered about is if I ever was in a position to have to unexpectedly shoot is how I would deal with the noise of my gun. I have fired a 22LCR without hearing protection and I think that the noise it makes would be a minimal issue compared to a larger caliber pistol.

[Dixie Yooper]

A 22 is great for protecting a bank account from larger calibers. Larger calibers are great for protecting yourself.

[Artemis Webb]

From Kel Tec. 30 rounds of .22 magnum:

[fella]

The old Berreta Jetfire in 22LR or .25 centerfire holds 8.

[KeyLargo]

Carried as a back-up for years.

[TheOldSchool]

This is the fire arm I purchased for my wife. She does not have the upper arm strength to chamber a shell in a semi automatic. The hammer being covered means there will not be a “dropping” accident. There are WMR .22 hollow points shells available. These were the reasons I purchased the pistol. In addition, she is very comfortable with it.

[Artemis Webb]

This article seems to plagerize from this one:

https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2015/6/8/the-22-magnum-for-self-defense

[Tijeras_Slim]

I have a S&W 351 PD, which holds 7 rounds of .22 Mag and weighs under 11 ounces. Hornady Critical Defense FTX ammo delivers 1000 fps out of a 1.875” barrel and 11 inches penetration in gel. It uses low flash powder. It has no recoil to speak of.

Bill Jordan, in “No Second Place Winner” opined that a J-frame in .22 Mag would be a good backup gun.

[oldasrocks]

Too much penetration with a .22Mag. It will shoot through a bad guy and hit a bystander behind him/her.

My daily carry is a .380 with extreme shock ammo. Belly gun but accurate to 10 yards easy. Extreme shot ammo breaks up when it hits something so less collateral damage possibility.

I prefer my 1911 with shock ammo and wear it in a shoulder holster in the winter when wearing a jacket.

[DaveA37]

Next thing we see will be the .17 IMR in a handgun. Should be interesting. Great in a varmint rifle.