In addition to a few M&P 9's we have a M&P 22C for training and such. I'd like to keep the 22C loaded for self-defense and stashed in the house. It won't be a primary SD weapon but if for some reason a 9 isn't readily available it's better than nothing.

Any recommendations on a 22LR SD round with decent performance from the 22C's?

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SC
30yrs. EMS & Emerg. Mgmt.

I'm no expert on the best SD .22 but I would caution you to make sure your gun functions w/whatever round you decide to load. During my 30 year LEO career I saw more homicides committed w/the .22 then anything else. Most were junk guns, Rohm or RG revolvers, but they did the job.

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Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

CCI Mini Mag HP
Winchester PowerPoint 40gr HP X22LRPP (1280 fps)

most super hi velocity stuff isn't recommended for pistols but for rifles I like Winchester XHV22LR 40 gr HP listed at 1435 fps. I wouldn't go with a light bullet but there is also Winchester S22LRUHV listed at 1640 fps that I keep in stock

CCI Mini Mag's come to mind.

BUT

I've never shot a semi-auto 22LR pistol that's been reliable enough to use for any SD/HD situation. Maybe that's just my bad luck.

Not to mention the caliber being about as marginal as you can get for HD/SD.

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-Mike-

I have a 22C in the house for my wife since she doesn't like shooting larger calibers. But as someone said you have to find a round that runs well in the gun you have. My wife's gun is loaded with CCI 40 Grain Mini Mags. A 22 is not the best SD round but I've watched my wife punch the center of a target out up to 7 yards. So with 10 rounds I feel confident she will at least have something to defend herself if I'm not home.

From what I've read, HP isn't reliable in the 22 compact. I would go with MiniMags, too.

My wifes 22c eats it all and she does carry it. She likes it and shoots it well. it stays loaded with CCI hp

The fastest and heaviest bullet, in the best quality ammo you can find.
With small calibers you want penetration, not expansion.

while my compact has eaten everything so far; overall my best success (in general for any of my .22's) has been with the different variations of mini mags. So for some reason if my .22c was the only thing handy for SD it would have mini mags in it.

That said, as .22 rimfire can really have some issues with ammo that can vary from gun to gun even in the same model; I would suggest that whatever ammo worked flawlessly in a given compact would be the first choice to consider. If someone has trouble with mini mags plinking at the range, i sure wouldn't rely on it for a SD situation.

As others stated, whatever is most reliable in your pistol. With that said, CCI Velocitors would be my first pick if they work. CCI Mini-Mag Solids would be my second. Here's a ballistics test on the Mini-Mags, which was shot from a handgun -
Good luck!

CCI .22LR Mini mags 40 gr is all I have used with my compact. First firearm and had it for about a month. Stores don't have the ammo in stock. Is it really out of stock?

It's not out of stock if you look on line. The website ammoseek.com can help you find it. Here the results of my search:

22lr ammo rimfire CCI 40 grains mini mag

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What, me worry?

CCI Mini Mags sell out fast when they carry decent prices. Does not mean there will not be more, just that the hounds were waiting when it hit the shelves.

As already mentioned, use whatever ammunition is most reliable and hopefully most accurate in your handgun. If you insist on using a .22 for self defense, the eye socket will have to be your target just in case the predator turns out to be some muscled up crank addict that just graduated from your state's school for boys.

Since dirty .22 semiautos jam more often than clean ones, you will need to surgically clean and lube your 22c after every use.

I appreciate the website ammoseek.com and all the background info too. The video is great. I know women 20 and 30 years younger than me that don't want to practice and have developed bad habits from shooting a 9mm. The instructor asked them why they don't practice. The answer was "I don't like getting beat up". Their husbands purchased 9mm for them. I am petite and considered elderly. My .22 is a great starter pistol. As I develop good consistent safety and shooting habits, I will be ready for another pistol as opposed to developing bad habits from something I cannot handle and having to overcome those bad habits. Thank you all for your responses. I learn from each one.