Thread: .22lr, effective round for self defense

Originally Posted by Greataxe

.22's are great for training, small game hunting, and appeal to cheapwads (like myself). But---.22's jam. Usually from using the wrong cheap ammo. Use better ammo like CCI's mini mags. Yes they cost more, but won't jam my .22 semi-autos like the box of 500 yellowjackets will. Also don't use the Russian .22's with the Turkey on the box. They are too hot and lead up the barrel.

I can run 1200 rounds with my 10/22 before it starts acting stupid. I would not recommend this, but I have to check it our from time to time. (bucket o' bullets)

Originally Posted by stjames1_53

I can run 1200 rounds with my 10/22 before it starts acting stupid. I would not recommend this, but I have to check it our from time to time. (bucket o' bullets)

I'm guessing you either have REALLY strong thumbs or one of them speed loaders for the 10/22!

Originally Posted by stjames1_53

I can run 1200 rounds with my 10/22 before it starts acting stupid. I would not recommend this, but I have to check it our from time to time. (bucket o' bullets)

I've had an Remington Speedmaster .22 rifle for years that rarely jams, but it is tube-fed. Most centerfire jams in semi/full-auto guns are caused by magazine defects (Mag-Puls are about the best for AR's). .22 magazine-fed rifles like your 10/22 are going to be more reliable than smaller .22 semi-auto pistols. I've had several over time, and they all jam with cheaper, waxey rounds. The only .22 semi-auto pistol I have now is a Colt Ace, and it shoots reliablily with CCI's.

Originally Posted by SiliconMagician

I'd rather my girlfriend fire 10 rounds she can put into center mass reliably than 2-3 big rounds that she'll probably miss with.

might need to work on her recoil management. My wife is 130 pounds and with her featherweight 38 purse gun loaded with self defense ammo can put 5 in 5 seconds into center mass at self defense range. Her and I were just talking to night at dinner on how anyone who owns a gun should have to go through training, in particular CCW holders should need to re qualify at least yearly. I do competitions and it is amazing how many people show up the indoc classes before being allowed in a match and shoot so badly

Originally Posted by Greataxe

I've had an Remington Speedmaster .22 rifle for years that rarely jams, but it is tube-fed. Most centerfire jams in semi/full-auto guns are caused by magazine defects (Mag-Puls are about the best for AR's). .22 magazine-fed rifles like your 10/22 are going to be more reliable than smaller .22 semi-auto pistols. I've had several over time, and they all jam with cheaper, waxey rounds. The only .22 semi-auto pistol I have now is a Colt Ace, and it shoots reliablily with CCI's.

..yep I agree about most .22 pistols. Rutger makes, or used to make, a jim dandy .22 pistol, the Luger model, which is a sweetheart to handle.
I still cannot be talked out of a 12 ga. loaded alternately with 00 or slug. At 35 ft or less, there is no comparison to the shotgun. A .45 will do a lot of serious damage. easier to handle or conceal in public. But for home defense, a 12 ga. loaded with 00 is real serious business. In most true scenarios, the gunholder has to target their shots and you may have a tougher time hitting your mark. I maintain, a 12 ga. with a 22 inch barrel is a mean motha. They don't call it a scatter gun for no reason...lol At 35 ft or more, the 12 ga. has a greater potential for hitting more than one target, if there are more than one.
I've said it before 12 ga. Remington tested tough in'Nam......

Originally Posted by jackdog

might need to work on her recoil management. My wife is 130 pounds and with her featherweight 38 purse gun loaded with self defense ammo can put 5 in 5 seconds into center mass at self defense range. Her and I were just talking to night at dinner on how anyone who owns a gun should have to go through training, in particular CCW holders should need to re qualify at least yearly. I do competitions and it is amazing how many people show up the indoc classes before being allowed in a match and shoot so badly

I agree that all CCW holders should have to qualify annually. I would object to having a CCW holder having to qualify with every handgun they own though. Some states require this and I find it rather absurd. If I can use my .357 then I can also use a 9mm as firing the weapon is fundamentally the same.

I am a huge advocate of responsible gun ownership and that includes several things. A person should be highly qualified with the weapons they own. If they have a CCW then they need to ensure that they never provoke a situation where they might need to use it. The CCW is for self-defence and not vigilantism. That was a problem I have in the Zimmerman/Martin case. Zimmerman should never have gotten out of his car because his actions lead to the confrontation. As the FBI report reflects he felt "empowered" because he was armed and that should never be the case. To me, at least, I found his actions to be irresponsible as a gun owner regardless of whether he committed a criminal act or not. A person shouldn't "go looking for trouble" just because they're armed and can defend themself.

I agree as well. After the shooting here in Colorado, my wife and I realized we hadn't been to the range in far too long. Tried to get in on Saturday, but the parking lot was packed and the line was out the door. Sunday morning was better, but not by much. We were both a little rusty, but she still put every round center mass or in the head. It sounds sick, but both my wife and I wish we had been in that theater if only to have a chance to alter the outcome and even if it meant risking getting killed.

To anyone who thinks a .22 handgun is ineffective in stopping a threat, try thinking of what a shotgun does.

It sends a bunch of lead pellets which hit the target simultaneously.

Well, a .22 sends a bunch of bullets (larger than a shotgun pellet) which hit the target sequentially.

And if you are an accurate shooter the wounds inflicted by multiple .22 cal rounds hitting sequentially in the same part of the perp's body should be worse than a shotgun blast.

The low recoil of the .22 helps make for tighter shot groupings. And it lowers the time needed to regain the sight picture for the next well aimed shot.

Is a .22 effective in self defense?

It can be.

Oh, and one more thing.

A defensive mousegun is still a firearm and few people will intentionally stand up to multiple rounds coming their way.

So, while they are ducking you should use that opportunity to flee the threat.

I won't argue that a 22 pistol can't be effective given good shot placement, but it is not even comparable to a shotgun.

Most people using a shotgun for self defense will be using 00 buckshot. A buckshot pellet is approx 32 caliber and 60 grains in weight versus 22 caliber at 40 grains in weight. Buckshot is significantly larger. It also has more velocity; 1300-1400 fps vs 800-900 of 22lr (from a pistol).

Its not just about how much lead you can accumulate in a target but the penetration and damage and shock it does when it hits. 8 or 9 pellets of buckshot are gonna be way more effective than 8 or 9 22lr

Originally Posted by ScotS

I won't argue that a 22 pistol can't be effective given good shot placement, but it is not even comparable to a shotgun.

Most people using a shotgun for self defense will be using 00 buckshot. A buckshot pellet is approx 32 caliber and 60 grains in weight versus 22 caliber at 40 grains in weight. Buckshot is significantly larger. It also has more velocity; 1300-1400 fps vs 800-900 of 22lr (from a pistol).

Its not just about how much lead you can accumulate in a target but the penetration and damage and shock it does when it hits. 8 or 9 pellets of buckshot are gonna be way more effective than 8 or 9 22lr

I see your points. Thank you.