Smith & Wesson makes a MODEL 617 revolver that holds 10 rounds. A .380 or 9mm is a better defense option for most people, but if you must have a .22, then this may be the best option.
Hickok45 videos:
S&W Model 617
Smith and Wesson 617 Chapter 2
For a bigger revolver that is still relatively gentle, consider the Smith & Wesson Model 10 .38 Special revolver. This is the gun used by the skipper on the Jungle Cruise at Disneyland. It is a classic.
Ruger LCR
BLM... Come on DOWN!
Nice 1911-style .22
Best of all, it is much less expensive to get a lot of practice in.
My personal favorite is the the Walther PPK/S in .22LR, the Made in Germany version: very accurate despite the short sight radius, dependable and safe to carry and quite concealable. Expensive, but what's your personal safety worth?
Look at the Tandemkross Halo charging ring if you're using it for target shooting. There are videos online for that as well.
You also have options for swapping out the grips.
I don’t have a .22 but I’d stay away from Hi-point. Known of several people who have had feed issues with theirs. That said I did have feed issues with my Ruger 9mm in the past. I purchased new cartridges and now leave them filled minus 1. No problems since.
My recommendation would be to go at least the 9mm route. My Sig p365 is a great carry gun. I highly recommend it.
Yes .22 is a poor defense round but it’s better than a sharp stick. I bought my wife the Browning 1911-22. Nice little gun that’s a miniature of a “real” 1911.
For practical carry, Smith M&P Compact .22
For nail driving accuracy potential, Ruger Mark IV.
I suggest the Smith though.
I bought a TX22 a year ago, and it was great. I love the form factor -- makes a great training tool for larger guns like the Glock 19. Light, points well, goes 300+ rounds between cleaning (most .22lrs are half of that), and sixteen rounds per mag over the traditional ten is mighty handy. So I bought another in December, and this second one has the bullets hitting the target sideways every three to four shots with a variety of ammo... at 7 yards!
I am currently in the processes of returning this to Taurus to get it fixed; we will see how that turns out.
You could get a Glock 19 for carrying, and get a .22 conversion kit for practice.
Like this: https://tacticalsol.com/Detail.aspx?PROD=1366875&CAT=13309
It always turns into a pissing contest. I carry a 9mm but would like to find a small dependable.22 for light carry when the situation calls for it.
Of course you will hear the “you will only make them mad with a .22” argument. Just be sure you can make them mad around 7-10 times.
I just recently bought a Ruger SR22. Affordable and great shooting gun.
(...and if you haven’t figured it out by now, every gun owner has an opinion. Some are based on some kind of experience & training, others not so much. Some are complete BS, like the “I’d rather defend myself with a Q-tip than a fill-in-the-blank!” comments. In fact, a lot of gun owners are dumb as rocks: they don’t vote, and won’t donate $5 to a pro-gun candidate BEFORE an election, but - boy howdy! - do they run out & spend money AFTER the D@mocrats take over & announce the next ban! Bottom line, do your research, make an informed decision, and learn/correct/repeat as necessary! ;^)
Most defensive situations are stopped when the opponent sees you have a gun, and are ready to use it.
They run away.
In the less than 10% that remain, the difference between the "stopping power" of a .22 and a .357 is no more than a factor of 2, because much of "stopping power" is psychological.
In practice, this means a .22 you are confident with is 95% as effective in stopping defensive problems as a .357 you are confident with. None of that is dependent on velocities, bullet construction, or other physical factors.
If you do not have to shoot, the caliber does not matter. If your opponent gives up after being wounded, because they have internalized the psychology to do so, caliber does not matter.
Of course, for the remaining 5% or less of the problems, it can matter a considerable amount.
Normally, I carry a 9mm.
Get one that shoots all 22 including LR.
Beretta U22 Neos .22 LR Pistol
Glocksters and wonder nines, Pftt. Anything else you’re a midget, lol. On a side note, I’ll tell you about a cheap and very effective front sight treatment for all guns with typical sights. Get yourself some fingernail polish neutral base coat and treat the front sight area with it. Then touch it up with a pink fluorescent Sharpie Highlighter. It works equally well in bright sunlight and semi-darkness. It is far more effective than the red, white, or gold front sight dots commonly in use.