Is a 22 really not a good defensive gun?

[CFII]

They say that a 22LR is not good for defense, but is there a difference when you use a 22 hollow point?

 

[Purple]

They say that a 22LR is not good for defense, but is there a difference when you use a 22 hollow point?

Who says that? A .22 is a great defensive round for many reasons - easily controllable recoil allows stacking rounds, fast round gets on target quicker, rounds are cheap which allows for some great range time, rounds are easily found everywhere, and if you discharge one inside of your home during a defense and you won't loose your hearing. I frequently carry a .22 when I need a discreet concealable during warmer weather.

 

[swooshtat]

My girlfriend carries a 22 all the time, and this question comes up quite often from random people. My reply is... "It's better than throwing the TV remote at an intruder."

 

[trophyhunter]

I have always believed that it's not the size, or Caliber of your Weapon.

It's shot Placement Double tap to the head Game Over, Lights Out.
But if you shoot , and put 2-3 in the Stomach the threat will contiune.

Shot Placement is the Key to any, and all defensive Situations.

 

[milkmood]

Here's a good read on the subject: An Alternate Look at Handgun Stopping Power

 

[stovepipe]

I don't know of any volunteers to step in front of a 22LR to catch one or two.

 

[Caribou]

Some bad guys will run at the suggestion that you might respond with force. Other bad guys won't stop till they have the choice taken away from them. The rest fall somewhere in between. There are two ways to stop someone physically and psychologically. The little old lady with an umbrella that chases off a robber has had a psychological stop. Sometimes putting one or more holes in someone will get them to stop and run off. They may get outside or down the block before falling over but the holes in them got them to change their mind as to their course of action.

There are a number of criminals that will continue an attack until they die or become unconscious. These people require a physical stop. With a gun that means a shot to the central nervous system. A .22 LR will work for a head shot. The other way is blood loss. The other way to incapacitate someone is with blood loss. Even with a fatal shot it might take a significant amount of time for a determined assailant to bleed out enough to become unconscious and therefore stop attacking you. The bigger the hole the faster they are likely to lose enough blood to go unconscious. A .22 LR is a good way to stop someone but it is unlikely to do it as quickly as you might like.

Having said that a .22 has been a part of my defense plan for most of my life, just not my first choice.

 

[Firefighterchen]

Link Removed

From another thread of recent.

 

[SGB]

I don't know of any volunteers to step in front of a 22LR to catch one or two.

That's a foolish argument to make. I don't know of any volunteers to step in front of .177 pellet rifle, doesn't make it a good choice for self defense against anything bigger than tree rats.

I continue to see all this talk of making head shots in a gunfight, how did that work out for LAPD in the North Hollywood Shoot-Out?

 

[Stan45]

Jeff Cooper stated there is nothing wrong with a .22 cal, you just have to go for eye shots.
So you better be good.

 

[Jason1221]

If you can hit the retina when scared for your life then you realy shouldn't have feared at all.

 

[towboater]

I don't know of any volunteers to step in front of a 22LR to catch one or two.

That's a foolish argument to make. I don't know of any volunteers to step in front of .177 pellet rifle, doesn't make it a good choice for self defense against anything bigger than tree rats.

I continue to see all this talk of making head shots in a gunfight, how did that work out for LAPD in the North Hollywood Shoot-Out?

+1 on this. I would rather throw a rock than a pebble. Just personal preference.

 

[stingray2100]

a .22 caliber is not the ideal caliber for defensive situations, but you can defend yourself with one...Afew month ago a young mother of 2 defended her house from a home invasion with just a .22 Ruger MKIII...you see it all the time.

I have taken deer using a 22LR...I know it is taking my time aiming, it is not a defensive situation.

but again you need to remember the .22LR while it does not have the same mass or effect as a 45ACP.

putting several on the bad guy will stop him or them, it may take longer...but it will stop him eventually enough for you to get out of the area of danger. ...and that is why you carry to have an option.

with that said, there are a lot of goog 9mm single stack firearms now that can be concealed better than a .22LR.

Do some more research and you will see

 

[6shootercarry]

If the alternative is nothing... The 22LR can be an effective self defense caliber. Recoil is next to nothing... I was running some defensive shooting drills today with my M&P22 pistol, and I was able to rapidly fire 3 and 4 shot groups into the center of a 8.5" x 11" sheet of paper at 25'... That would be more than effective to stop most idiots hell bent on assault. Train with it and become effective with it...

 

[Chris8532]

A well placed shot with a .22 is better than a miss with a .45

 

[MPGSr]

My wife carries a sig mosquito loaded with cci 40 gr LR. She can shoot straight and quickly. I know shooting paper is not the same as a real time event, but she is confident and knows to squeeze off as many well placed rds as possible. I hope she never needs to, but i think she will respond well enough to come out on top.

 

[CRW]

Here's a good read on the subject: An Alternate Look at Handgun Stopping Power

great info there!

 

[stovepipe]

Hello SGB , nice to meet the resident know-it-all & Troll with such un-constructive criticism .Your short diatribe indicates you are from any caliber is fine as long as it starts with a 4 and ends with a 5 . The " I don't know " portion of your statement sums you up quite well . Many young males have participated in BB and Pellet gun fights , but to date none were not voluntarily in a .22 fight which is a better defensive weapon than a car key or baseball bat .
Just curious but , do you call your students foolish too ?

 

[Stan45]

A well placed shot with a .22 is better than a miss with a .45

A well placed shot with anything is called a hit.
A miss is a miss regardless of caliber.

There is a reason why your local PD does not carry a .22 LR

 

[Firefighterchen]

There is a reason why your local PD does not carry a .22 LR

Because they can afford better and most PD are not filled with 79 y.o. grandmothers with arthritis.