Can't agree. As a younker, I killed more than one full-grown semi-wild hog with .22LR and hollow points. It took 2-3 shots, but with a semi-auto rifle, those only take a couple of seconds. Up to a point, bigger is indeed better, but any firearm beats hands or club.
Watching those hogs drop in their tracks is a memory seared in my mind. No, a .22 is not the ultimate stopper but it is easy to shoot, extremely accurate, quieter than most, and with an auto loader, you can put several shots into a human monster in a split second. In addition, they will not penetrate several walls and kill your neighbor.
I would rather have a Ruger 10/22 with a reliable 30 round mag than just about anything else except a 12 gauge shotgun, for self defense.
Now if we were talking about shooting Tigers or Elephants then that is a different situation.
OK. You shot some hogs.
I don’t doubt it at all.
Now, there’s three guys bustin down your front door right now. Your wife and two daughters and a son are hiding in the bathroom behind you with the lights out and the door locked.
You can reach two guns, a .22 rifle with a ten round clip, or a S&W .40 cal Sigma series handgun (like mine) with a 15 round clip.
Which do you grab?
I agree a .22 is way, way, way better than nothing. And I’ve owned 22s my whole life.
But in a close range, somewhat confined, possibly dark home defense situation, a shotgun or large bore pistol is the way to go.