.22 Shorty or….a Knife for Personal Defense

Am Shooting Journal ^ | 7/22/20 | C Reed

[w1n1]

The .22 Short was developed back in 1857 for Smith & Wesson revolver. Created for the metallic cartridge with a 29-30 grain bullet, pushed by 4 grains of black powder.
This was mainly developed for self-defense in the early days, modern day standard – this cartridge has little penetration and knockdown power. Back in the past this caliber was used in a few pocket pistols and mini-revolvers. Consider a quiet round among recreational shooters.
Due to its low recoil and good accuracy the .22 short was used for the Olympic 25 meter rapid fire pistol event until 2004.
These .22 short can be seen in starter pistols with blank cartridges and in some powder-actuated nail guns as a power source.

Hunting Round
Some hunters have made use of this shorty from their long barrel rifle. The high velocity hollow point Short is useful only for small game such as tree squirrels and rabbits. They say in the south, the .22 Short hollow point is still very popular for use on raccoons, which are treed at night using dogs and shooting is at close range.

Though the .22LR is more popular than the shorty, the caliber is still being manufacture in a wide variety. Which is good news for the hunter.

For Personal Defense
As you can see the .22 shorty have its place with hunters. But, what about for the average Joe willing to carry it in a short barrel pocket size pistol for personal defense. Maybe this lower caliber is too light for personal defense. Many CCW shooters are whispering, how low in caliber should one go before your personal defense firearm is too light?
Availability wise, finding a pistol that shoots these shorty is hard to find. One currently available out on the market is the NAA Mini-Revolver(NAA-225) from North American Arms with a 1.13″ barrel and 5-shot capacity.
Unless, you're fortunate to get one from the past like a 6-shot Belgian .22 Short mini pocket revolver.

Ok, before we get our knives out instead of the .22 short. Here are some gelatin tests results from the shorty. Compliments of Youtuber mark3smle.
Loads that were shot:
-22 CP short – 4 inch penetration
-CCI 20 short 27 grain High Velocity – Copper Washed hollow-point – almost 7 inch penetration
The ideal penetration depth is 12 inch if we're going by the FBI standard for effectiveness. Read the rest of .22 short here.

[lgjhn23]

We shot a few CCI .22 shorts just yesterday using an old Taurus revolver for plinking at tin cans at fairly close range. It’s powerful enough to penetrate the can on one side, but the bullet won’t go clean thru em. Has a nice ring to it when it hits the inside of the can though. It has enough “whomp” at close range that one would not want to be hit by it, that’s for darn sure, but no real knockdown power. Wasp spray may even work better for that.
One’s result may vary.

[I cannot think of a name]

Remember: The gun or knife you HAVE WITH YOU is a million times more effective than the one you have at home.

My 629 S&W loaded with 300 grain gas checks will stop any problem. Unfortunately I ain’t going to try to lug the thing around with me unless there is a specific reason.

[fireman15]

We responded to a teenage boy who had shot himself in the temple with a .22 “short” handgun. He was still breathing and had a pulse but was unconscious. There was no exit wound. The other partygoers seemed to think it was a big joke. He had shot himself in the head with the tiny gun on a dare.

We began assisting his breathing with a bag valve mask while we were waiting for the rescue unit to arrive. Little chunks of brain matter started squirting out the tiny hole in his head as intercranial pressure began to increase.

He still had a pulse and was breathing when we got him to the hospital. But he of course did not survive. The bullet had bounced around inside his skull and turned his brain into the equivalent of scrambled eggs.

[Magnum44]

Any gun over a knife...always.

[outofsalt]

I have harvested organs from folks who shot themselves in the head with, “blanks” thinking that since there was no bullet it would be a funny joke. A lot of pressure comes out of the barrel of any gun that goes bang, except maybe a cap gun.

[fireman15]

Brain matter is a lot less dense than ballistic gel in case anyone was wondering how the tiny bullet could tumble around inside someones scull when it will only penetrate 4” of gel.

[fireman15]

I have harvested organs from folks who shot themselves in the head with, “blanks” thinking that since there was no bullet it would be a funny joke

This was the same type of thing that was going on at the party we responded to. The music was still playing loud. No one was even attending to the kid when we arrived, none of them thought the tiny gun was capable of killing someone. They thought that it “knocked him out” and that he would be fine. I am a little suprised that they even called 911. It was definitely a Darwin award situation.

As we were leaving the police showed up. One of the girls at the party asked me if he was going to be alright. I told her it didn't look good and she started crying.

[Vermont Lt]

I understand what you are saying. I knew a kid that offed himself with one 35 years ago.

That said, 4 inches is nothing to sneeze at. I would not want ANYTHING poking around 4 inches into my chest or head. (or even my rear end.)

And at close range, with little recoil—getting stung like that would probably get everyone’s attention.

[SanchoP]

Most people are squeemish about a knife but in close quarters they work.

[fireman15]

The neighbor kid shot my little brother in the neck with a BB from a Crossman air rifle when he was 7. It was a joke by the little psycho. It is still there almost 50 years later. They could see it in the x-ray but the doctors said it was lodged in area that made it too dangerous to try and remove.

[mikeus_maximus]

Model/actor Jon Erik Hexum had everything going for him in the 80’s- extraordinary good looks, 3 TV series under his belt, athleticism (once demonstrated a black-flip kick to fellow actors), growing fame and wealth- then he tried to show off to folks on set by firing a blank movie prop gun on his temple. DOA at 27. Now few remember him.

[Mom MD]

why either or? I vote both

[KC Burke]

An NAA in 22Mag leaves plenty of room for a Tanto bladed folding flipper in your other pocket. It’s my church carry.

[Chuckster]

Any gun over a knife...always.

A walking stick is better than a knife, and probably more effective than a .22 short. I certainly would have more confidence in my brass headed cane than a .22 short pistol. Also, you can carry a cane anywhere, even on an airplane. At my age it makes me look like a kindly old gentleman. They don't even notice the deadly weapon in my hand.

[zek157]

Sad. Knew a guy in high school that shot himself in the head and tried to clean up the mess before he died.

[ctdonath2]

“If carrying it comforts you, do so. But do not fire it, lest you strike someone and give them cause to do you harm.” - Jeff Cooper

[ctdonath2]

Even 4” is a lot of brain matter to destroy and try to live without after.

[minnesota_bound]

A gun with lots of bullets!
A knife for backup.

[kosciusko51]

I forgot his name, but remember the incident.