Great content in this. But myself? Rather have a .38 special in snubnose.
A shot is not fired in more than 98% of successful defensive gun uses, meaning that more than 98% of the time a mouse gun is as good as a cannon.
Fact: Guns prevent an estimated 2.5 million crimes a year or 6,849 every day. Most often, the gun is never fired and no blood (including the criminals) is shed.
Source: http://www.gunfacts.info/pdfs/gun-facts/7.1/Gun-Facts-7.1-screen.pdf, page 21.
Fact: A victim may have a strong reluctance to talk to a government agent about a firearm brandishing incident (which are 98% of DGUs) because they may not know the act was 100% legal.
Source: http://www.gunfacts.info/pdfs/gun-facts/7.1/Gun-Facts-7.1-screen.pdf, page 83.
Looks like a good beginners or woman’s learning piece.
I’ve had a 22 mag pistol (PMR30). It was without a doubt the LOUDEST gun I owned. Shot big flames and made a helluva noise. People on the range next to me would step back and look over at what was being shot.
Any gun is better than no gun...
That said, there are so many good compact defensive caliber (380, 9mm, 38SPL/357, 45, etc) guns available today, there is little reason to be using a .22 for defensive use. Not “no reason”, but little reason.
Some reasoning:
1) .22 is probably the least reliable, most likely to misfire, between rimfire and centerfire cartridges. Reliability would be my biggest issue.
2) Stopping power. Even after lethal hits, a threat may not be ‘stopped’ and may continue to attack not acknowledging he is minutes away from being a ghost. Larger caliber is more likely to address a threats forward “momentum”
No
Maybe .223 or .22-250
I carry my J-frames in either 38 special or 357 - the latter with an oversized rubber grip. But the only time I’ve pulled a gun in self-defense, it was my 22 LR. I had it with me for plinking purposes out hiking a long way from civilization. When I returned to my car, 8 guys were drinking whiskey while sitting on my car. As I got closer, they got off and started to spread out.
I pulled my 22 LR and held it at low-ready. If they rushed me, I’d have raised and fired in one motion, as I normally do when practicing. But...no one asked me the caliber. No one cared that I had 6 rounds to 8 of them. No one shouted, “8-6=2, let’s get him!”
They just stopped trying to surround me. I struggled to get my keys out of my right pocket with my left hand, then got in and started the car without putting my revolver away. Then drove off - and have spent the last 40 years carrying my car keys in my LEFT front pocket.
Even a 22 LR in the face can be devastating. Or the chest.
“Reagan was seriously wounded by a .22 Long Rifle bullet that ricocheted off the side of the presidential limousine and hit him in the left underarm, breaking a rib, puncturing a lung, and causing serious internal bleeding. He was close to death upon arrival at George Washington University Hospital but was stabilized in the emergency room...” - Wiki
And of course, a 44 magnum round might go thru muscle tissue and do nothing serious.
So I PREFER to carry my 357, or at least my 38 special. But a 22 of any size isn’t without some self-defense potential. Heck, all things being equal, I’d prefer to be carrying my Model 29 loaded with high power 44 specials...but all things aren’t equal.
I’ve considered getting one of the 12 oz J-frames in 22 as an easy to carry and accurate to shoot little revolver. Kind of expensive though and probably not as good as the Ruger LCP I already own.
I would say no since the barrel is too short to get good bullet velocity.
I wouldn’t want to be down range of one. More powerful than a .22 long rifle and a .22 LR can kill you dead. It’s not a daisy red rider by any stretch.
Here is a Ruger LCR compared to a Sig 365 (via Handgunhero.com). Sig gives you 10+1 rounds of 9mm in a slightly smaller package, that only weighs a couple ounces more. There is an argument for the ultimate reliability of a revolver, but you give up a lot of firepower.
We have a .22 mag stubby. 2 inch barrel 9 rounds. Older than the hills (High Standards Sentinel Mark IV). Shoots great.
Having a gun is always better than not having a gun.
Hitting the target with smaller round is better than missing with a larger round.
And, with a pistol, it is really about placement anyway.
If the persons likes the revolver in that caliber and shoots it well, then they should carry it.
I have a nice little H&R 22 LR, 9 shot cylinder load that I bought about 25 years ago. Great fun for shooting and also a accurate little piece.
Bye-bye eardrums; otherwise fine.
bfl
22Mag would be better than nothing for SD.
Personally, I’ll stick with my .45ACP
My skinny little wife carries a 38+P S&W 642
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It’s all in the shot placement. One in the eye stops any assailant, many permanently.