“The main issue is reliability”
In my experience, 22 LR is very reliable FIRED FROM A REVOLVER. I honestly don’t remember ever having one NOT fire from my revolver. That includes using my little NAA derringer. From a semi-auto? Whole different ballgame.
I would tend to partly agree with you. However, gun reliability is only half the issue.
Ammunition reliability is the other half. The manufacturing process for rim fire too often leaves ‘gaps’ along the rim where there is insufficient or no primer. So a firing pin strike on the rim where primer is properly distributed results in a good discharge while a firing pin strike on the rim where there is a primer ‘gap’ results in a misfire. We have all probably had .22 misfires and after removing the cartridge, placed it back in the chamber with a different orientation, and now it fires when struck. (Why waste that 5 to 10 cents, eh?) But for defensive use, I dont want how I load the cartridge to be a game of roulette.
Just as much an issue for semi-autos is how one deals with the misfire, stove pipe, or double feed malfunctions. Most .22 magazines are made of materials that dont stand up to harsh treatment, which when you are doing mag changes or emergency reloads under stress can lead to a bent or folded and useless hunk of tin instead of a loaded pistol.
JMO, but .22s make good fundamental trainers, but not great defensive guns.
I have a airlite 317 that frequently failed to fire.
Found out it was a combo ammo choice and the chamber needed to be replaced by S&W.
Only thing it fires is Agulla and federal copper 22’s with decent reliability. CCI had the most issues. funny the 10/22 handles the CCI the best with issues with the above two ammos.