A couple of weeks ago, I was forced to sell my Hi Power because of financial reasons. I am expecting a large tax return. I want to replace my Hi Power, but can only afford one firearm. I am considering a new Ruger DA .22 (9 shot). What are your thoughts on a .22 revolver as a home defense weapon?

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otis

I suppose it's better than bare hands.
A lot of people are killed every year with .22s. It is not a "One Shot Stopper" but any gun is better than no gun in a self defense situation. The good news is most of the time when a good guy uses a gun against a bad guy no shot is fired. The mere presence of a firearm is often enough to solve the problem. I know, because I am one of those statistics. The mere presence of my M696 made a burglar really want to be someplace else. That was fine with me.

If that is your only choice, then practice, and then practice some more. Get some hyper velocity hollowpoints.

Then when you have the funds get a good .38 Special.
Jim

I vote for a kit gun, Colt Woodsman or High Standard model b (I know the last 2 are pistols, not revolvers but they fall into the 22 niche).

Cheap to learn to shoot really, really well.

Easy to shoot really, really well.

Minute of eyeball precision at hd distances.

You won't lose money if you ever need to part with any of these.

Just my opinion, of course.

The LCR is the same price for 38 or 22.... I would go with the 38 if you are worried about home protection. The 22 would be a nice plinker or training aid, but not good for creating rapid trauma to an aggressive biped. Also, at this point in time 38 is easier to find, and not significantly more expensive than 22.....

If its just in the home, how about a 12 gauge pump shotgun? You can get the Chinese ones around 200-250, and they aren't pretty, but effective..... just don't take the VPs advice and randomly shoot them out a window LOL....

Good luck whatever you decide!!

Opinion of 22 for home defense ....

umm ...pretty low.
Beats fists
might have better range than a baseball bat too, but it won't touch it's terminal ballistics.

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it just needs more voltage

If budget is tight? How much can you spend?

If you are only going to have one gun and it is for home defense, get a pump shotgun. You don't shoot enough to be good in a stress situation and if you need to shoot you want to make sure you hit the bad guy.

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Retired Marine Gunny

I agree with the 12 or 20 gauge pump shotgun. Beats a 22 anytime.

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I am a sheep dog!
1601 (ret)

As a side note, I do own a 642 .38 spcl. revolver. I was looking at something in a full size revolver. I have located a model 15-4 with 2 inch barrel that I can purchase for $350. Was just thinking that the .22 would be a fun plinker and could serve both roles. For the cost of the .22, I know I can purchase a really nice .38, so that is the route I will probably go. The 2" is not what I was looking for in a .38, but I figure it is cheap enough that I should be able to eventually trade it for a 3 inch or 4 inch revolver. The one good thing about the 2" Model 15 is that it can serve as a CCW piece for me if the wife ever needs to take the 642 with her on a trip or something. So, I do have options.

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otis

While I will NOT say that you can't die from a 22 wound it is CERTAINLY NOT the ideal home defense or personal defense round! Very little shocking power (foot pounds of energy), probably negligible expansion, and rimfire ammo is far from the most reliable these days.

Better choices:

#1) 12 Gauge Pump Shotgun
#2) .38 Special K Frame revolver
#3) Pistol caliber lever action carbine

just empty the mag in-m im sure they will get the picture

+1 on shotgun if it's your one and only for HD.

NOW the other part..... It's NOT a TAX refund, it's repayment of a 0% loan and getting YOUR money back. I'm not saying you're in this boat but it never ceases to surprise me when people don't understand it's THEIR money that they OVERPAID

First of all, IMMEDIATELY recalculate (probably increase) your paycheck deductions and INCREASE your take home pay. You just loaned the government your money interest free and it cost you your firearm. Your goal should be $0 at tax time. Since that is very tough to achieve, you should ALWAYS error in YOUR favor and pay them in the end (within legal boundaries to avoid penalty). To ensure peace of mind, take that "new found money" in your check and put it in a rainy day fund so IF you OWE next year, you have the cash. If not, you now have a rainy day fund.

DISCLAIMER - I am NOT a financial adviser and the value of this advice should be considered equal to what you paid!

Not my first choice for personal defense but I would not feel unarmed with a good .22LR revolver. I have owned a 2" Model 34 Kit Gun for years and it is very accurate and reliable. Best suggestion I can offer is to stick with premium-grade ammunition; the bargain priced bulk pack ammo will not be as reliable.

For home defense on a tight budget I would start looking for a good used 12-gauge pump shotgun (Remington, Winchester, Mossberg, Ithaca 37, etc, can usually be found on the used market for reasonable prices), cut the barrel down to about 20" (18" is the legal minimum to avoid NFA problems), maybe have a big bright bead front sight installed, pick up a box or two of heavy shot goose loads (#2's or BB's) or some #4 buckshot, then practice a bit until handling becomes second nature.

A shotgun is a formidable weapon at close range. Even when it is empty it can be used (vertical and horizontal buttstrokes, just like they taught us in the Army during bayonet training).

I lived in the west all my life, and lived only in remote areas. The 22 handgun or rifle was for so many families, the only gun the had for home defense. In these remote areas and towns, guns were ACTUALLY used on many occasions, to defend the homestead. These defensive measures were directed at marauding coyotes, hawks, eagles, beavers, deer, foxes, raccoons, porcupines and the likes. I can recall at least 2 dozen family's that used them exclusively. I do not agree with most who claim the 22 lr is not a one shot stopper. I know of a number of people that took one 22 bullet, that were buried 3 days after. When I was a big game guide, I was not allowed to carry anything but a 22 pistol, for me that was a pre war Colt Woodsman. I used this to finish of wounded deer and elk, usually @10 per year. Only twice did I require more than one shot, HOWEVER, I was within 10 feet, and most weren't able to regain their footing and was able to walk right up to them and put a bullet in the ear at spitting distance. What the 22 lacks is stopping power, when no spine of brain is hit. However most, including myself can shoot a 22 far more accurately and faster than any center fire. After training many women I have come to the conclusion, that women with limited training are far more of a threat shooting a 22 handgun than they are shooting a big bore handgun. Just my beliefs.

I'd say a good 22 LR is fine for an only firearm.
The Israeli Mossad, an elite anti terrorist unit, were renowned for their effective use of the .22 pistol for quickly de animating terrorists.

A controlled pair of 22 LR to the sternum or the face will have telling effects. Practice with 22 will be cheap and recoil is minimal.

I personally want a bigger caliber if I can choose(minimum for me is 357 mag), but getting really good with a 22 LR will be a formidable defense plan.

The main limitation is for when I go camping or hiking in places where large four legged predators are on my radar. I want a caliber that starts with a 4, and can shoot at least 200 grains at 1000 fps minimum. A 22 is not that.

But for anti personnel medicine, a good 22 CAN serve a role.

Odds are if you start popping off rounds in any caliber the BGs are going to beat feet. They won't stick around to ask what you're shooting at them.

if youre on a budget, a maverick 88 would be my choice.

if you're dead set on a handgun, i would advise you to look at a Bersa Thunder .380. Pretty reliable little handgun from what i've read and it will have more stopping power than the .22

THIS is the ONLY .22lr pistol I think is worthwhile as home defense.

Calico M-110


Why this? 100 rounds per magazine.
It WILL keep their heads down while you go for your bigger guns,
or run out the back door & escape...
If you have a gifted trigger finger, you can fire almost as fast as full auto,
which after hearing 20-50 rounds fired continually,
will make even the most hardened gang banger think twice about continuing...

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Marlin & Calico Specialist

I'm going with a 4" K frame revolver for a home defense weapon, but if you're only gonna have one gun and you want a 22 I say go for it. Just keep pulling the trigger. As for the 12 gauge, while that might be VERY effective, Have you tried going around a corner in a small house with a 3 foot long weapon? Also much easier for a bad guy to yank a shotgun out of the missus hands...

I suggest the S&W Model 617 .22 revolver with a 4 inch barrel and a 10 shot cylinder.

The outlaw Baby Face Nelson was shot seven times with 45acp and was hit with eleven 00 buckshot pellets and still managed to kill two federal agents, get into a car and be driven away, where he later died.
I doubt a man like Baby Face will break into your home. If someone were to break into my home they would be very disappointed. I am not a rich man and I don't have anything of value in my home.
If you want a 9 shoot .22 revolver, I say go for it.

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Have Gun Will Carry

This was my choice for my wife, who is recoil sensitive for HD. My reasoning was, 10 shots, simple to use, 10 shots, pretty intimidating looking(large and stainless), if 10 shots aren't enough then it will make a dandy club(large and stainless).

The 617 is a lot of fun at the range too . But it is not a cheap option. The OP could buy a .38 and .22 lcr for the same price or less. Ed

yeah .. it can do the job, but we are not the Mossad and 22 LR ammo isn't the most plentiful thing on the store shelves lately. In fact it seems to be the worst part of the ammo crunch at this time, with pistol powders for reloading running a close second.

I can't recommend it at all

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it just needs more voltage

I think you will be just fine with a .22 revolver as long as you practice with it. Ruger makes good guns. I have an SR 22 that shoots incredibly straight. For a bedside gun that I might need while half asleep, I keep a 38 revolver or two in the area. These experts that say a 22 is better than a rock just crack me up. Ha Ha Ha. In truth, a Ka-bar thru the ribs is probably deadlier than a rock or a .22 or a 38, but who takes a knife or a rock to a gun fight? In fact, even a crack shot at the range, will usually miss in a real shooting. Why? Cause they don't practice shooting while running backwards while pissing themselves.
Anyhow, just practice with whatever gun you have. Good luck.

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Dennis
He's got a gun!

22lr can work ! But if willing to look around you can find a lot of good price used and not abused guns!

Plenty of nice wheel guns and autmatics out there in the used market . Just take the time to learn and understand what things to look for and buy a cheap bore light at wallmart on E Bay !

That imho is the only way to go on a 1 gun budget

I was going to recommend a .38, but found after reading the thread that you have one, so that is good. I would pick the Airweight you already have every time, over any hypothetical .22.

I do find myself in agreement with the majority of posters here, in that I would recommend a shotgun. 12 or 20 gauge, either is good, both are cheap and available in pump actions. I chose 20 because I don't like recoil and it's still no slouch, at .62 caliber.

Otis

Since you still have the S&W 38 Special, then I would recommend you get a second S&W in 38 Special. That way you only have to buy one kind of ammo.

A Mod 10, 15, 64, in a 2" to a 4", or a Mod 19, 65,66 in a 2 1/4" to a 4" would be my pick.

I wouldn't hesitate to pick up the Model 15. With the right load, you are going to me MUCH more effective against a bad guy if it comes to that. Like you said eventually if you want to you can trade to a 3-4" barreled gun later on, but in the meantime I think you will be better armed with the .38.

Mi dos centavos....you are already familiar with the
Hi-Power platform. Get on GBroken and peruse
the used Israeli Hi-Powers or a used FEG P9R. Probably
cheaper than a new .22. I like my FEG better than the
Browning that was stolen years ago.
Chipmunk6

Does the OP have children at home? Does the OP live out in the country with few, or remotely located neighbors? Does the OP or his wife have ANY combat experience? Does the OP or his wife EVERY do any training in defensive shooting? All of these are factors when deciding what to use as a HD weapon. There is a lot of difference in walking up to a disabled animal for a kill shot and trying to hit a BG in the middle of the night when you are scared for your life or the lives of your family members. The chance of hitting that golden 4" slice of the human body in this situation goes out the window very rapidly. Need proof, look at how many rounds trained LEOs have used in a stress situation versus how many times the BG was hit. I still say if you want home defense get a pump shotgun. As far as walking through the house looking for the BG. BULL! Corner up, call 911 and rack the slide.

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Retired Marine Gunny