Guys, I have been pulling my hair out trying to decide which is better for conceal carry. Do I get the Ruger LCR 22WMR as I heard .22 is really a nasty round and doctors said that is perhaps the deadliest they have seen because it is so small, it is hard to find it in a body. But a .380 seems way under powered for that caliber. Would you all consider a .22wmr for a self defense pistol? I also hear the Glock 42 is not so reliable and chokes on rounds

This will probably not be the majority view, but I would consider a .22lr pistol for self-defense; a fortiori the .22wmr would be in there, too. I have given serious thought to carrying a Ruger SR22. I would prefer either of those over a Glock of any caliber.

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Not in jail.

I read, however that the problem with rimfire revolvers is if you vibrate or jog with it, the cartridges can end up vibrating out, thus causing cylinder to jam and gun not to fire at all.

A 22 LR are 22 WMR and a 380 will kill you! I don't want to get hit with either one. Rather have either one than a stick are a knife. You just got to pick what you want and Learn how to place the bullets where you want them to go. Don't worry are care that I like 38 spl. best. As far as the 22 bullets getting jiggled around as your running. Makes no sense to me.

You have two questions here

One on cartridge choice and one on firearms choice.

If this were simply a choice of caliber, I would go 380.

If this were simply a choice of firearm I would go revolver.

I would not buy either of the firearms that you mention.

I would go for a revolver of more substantial caliber

If I had my heart set on a GL***(I do not) I would go 9MM or larger

That being said, a 22 that you carry is better than the 380 you leave at home

The 22 mag is a miserable cartridge in a handgun.

I've owned several: never again.

Don't be fooled by the published ballistics : the 22 mag is loud, doesn't work well in handguns and is miserable to shoot.

If your choice is between a 22 mag and a 380, you'll do better with a 380.

Looking at the ballisticsbytheinch site, out of a 2 inch barrel, 22lr and 22 mag have about the same muzzle energy.

But when you look at a 20" barrel, the 22 mag has more than double the ME of a 22lr.

What this says to me is there is more powder in a 22 mag than can be used effectively in a snubby. The excess powder ends up as excessive muzzle flash and extra noise.

IMHO, 22 Mag is a nice low end rifle round, but not a very good handgun round -- especially in short barreled handguns.

I assume you have your reasons that those are your only two choices, but I wouldn't pick either one. There are so many small, light, readily concealable 9mm pistols, and compact revolvers in .38 Special or .357 Magnum, that I can't see either the .22WMR or .380 as something I'd choose to carry for self defense.

That's not knocking Glock or Ruger products--I owned a couple of each I liked very well. I just want something more powerful than .22 Mag or .380 if my ancient derriere is on the line.

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Oh well, what the hell.

Of the two listed, I'd pick the Glock. Neither are ideal. If there was a .38 special snub, I'd pick that. I did pick that, actually.

.22 mag snubbys are indeed unbelievably loud--we had a bug match at my club a month ago, one guy used his, and it had severe bark.

I strongly suggest a .38 snub.

the 22 mag. is loud in any venue....from age 15 until I was 28 or so I was priviliged to be able to carry both daily. a Ruger single six 22 mag. as a "truck" gun and my uncle's pre 34 "kit gun" 2inch as a belt gun. together we made thousands of miles horseback, in bouncing pickups, and astride various tractors(both rubber tired and crawlers) all over family land in Wood, Gregg, and Smith Cos. in the Sabine river bottom in east texas....
Both were bounced, vibrated, dropped, submerged occasionally and never failed. Did have an occasional FTF, but NEVER had a bullet vibrate loose
Years later, carried an H&R 22 mag derringer in my boot while on duty, and often as not my own 34 would be dropped in my pocket for a trip to town .....still do
Practice is the key....a solid hit with either beats a miss with anything else

If those are the only two choices I would go with the .380.

If I were going to carry a 22 (which I'm not) then I would get the Ruger 22LR.

You get 8 shots instead of 6 and the gun is an ounce lighter. Also 22lr has less muzzle blast and less noise.

The ME out of a snubby of 22LR is just about the same as 22Mag, plus there are lots more choices of effective ammo. And it's cheaper to practice.

But given your choices, I'd pick the 380.

I vote for "none of the above." While both guns are quality items, neither caliber is worth much for defense.

The "floor" for defense calibers used to be 38 Special in a revolver and .380 in a semi-auto pistol.

The 9mm, now available in true pocket pistols with ammo that works, is the new "floor" for self-loaders.

So, unless you are just buying the gun, and have no real need of a weapon for defense, then get a Shield in 9mm, a Glock 26 or 19, a SIG Sauer P290RS, a Beretta Nano, a Walther PPS or similar 9mm pistol.

With appropriate ammo, such models will do nicely for defense and the G19 takes up no more "real estate" than a J frame or LCR revolver.

The G42 is barely smaller than a Shield, but in an inferior caliber, making it an "also ran." The G42 is, therefore, too late to the party. Glock should have made it in 9mm.

The picture shows a G19 under a 642, which is the same size as the LCR. The G19 might be heavier, but I doubt you could tell the difference between a 9mm Shield and an LCR or J frame in actual carry.

Attached Images

Glock 19 under S&W 642.jpg (62.2 KB, 65 views)

The point isn't how hard it is to find a bullet in a body but how fast you incapacitate your attacker. 22 has probably killed more people over the years but only because it has been used more. Bigger bullet, bigger damage, more energy transfer to the body.

The idea is to more energy on the target. This is why small bullets like the 223 depend on speed to deliver enough energy. The 22 might be better than a stick or a knife but has a higher chance of the attacker still getting to you

If you are going LCR then I'd recommend the 22LR for a number of reasons already mentioned. My wife has one and I'd carry it. 8 shots and I shoot it very well for a snub.

I've owned 380s and personally it wouldn't make any difference to me if that's all you are looking at (22 vs 380).

Now if you're open to suggestions. I'd recommend a Shield in 9mm.

I have heard from a non physician, " that the 22 mag is deadly because it bounces around", I have never heard this nor seen this in ER's in Pa, NJ,Mi, or Chicago. Hornady critical defense FTX from a 1 7/8 " bbl is reported @ 1000fps/100 ft/pd, bullet weighs 45 grs, I carry them in a 22 mag derringer, because I like to carry the derringer. I think of it as a spare to my BUG. As a note to bouncing/jogging, I believe there were some problems with the 17 HMR in revolvers secondary to the case shape? I would not knowingly only carry a rimfire for SD ( 22lr/22mag) except in my pool or bathtub. The 380 will work in a keltec or derringer but if you are going to carry something the size of the GL 42, put 9mm or larger in it.
Note: as for the 22 bullets being small/ difficult to find making them dangerous? NO Generally they are unexpanded lead, with rounded edges and will do little harm once they have stopped moving, much like shotgun pellets that turn up in xrays ( skull/back/legs) the only danger they represent would be turning someone loose to remove them. Except in Ca, where looking at them in photos on a screen can be hazardous to your health!! Be Safe,

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