15-22 as a home defense weapon?

[magnetik]

printed target sillouettes of groin areas for practice will probably get strange stares at the range. You're going to have to practice.. I think bullseye crown jewel shots are not as easy a shot as people make it. lol Maybe if you have a red dot or something

 

[Beuford T. Rimfire]

penetrator stopper

What??? Please tell me you meant "perpetrator."

And even then, I'd never shoot someone attacking me in the crotch. Kinda like getting kicked in the jewels, you've got 10 seconds to unleash fury on your attacker before the pain sets in. People, don't shoot perps in the cods. No one wants to get hit there, but only because none of us WANT to survive that wound - not becasue the wound is unsurviveable.

 

[Snake Plissken]

Here is an interesting read

Answering some well asked questions about personal defense by Massad Ayoob

 

[DelFuego]

I always aim for the righthand eyesocket area of my perp targets. Assuming that the majority of the population is righthanded and hopefully thus right eye dominant, I have then taken out the most important aiming feature of the body. You can't hit what you can't see.

I think that aiming center mass to the chest is more effective. Something about ribs cracking, shattering, and leaky lungs, should stop most people. Plus, the heart is in that region somewhere. Hmm, 2-3 bullets should suffice with most calibers. Head shots should be left for snipers and Hollywood movies. If you have to think too much about your shot in a high pressure situation, most will miss...even in a hallway.

 

[Kai Winters]

Based on the weapons I own and use I'd use my 20g shotgun first. Living where I live noise and penetrating the walls is not a concern. I do want the biggest impact...damage, sound and flash I can create and I feel the 20g is sufficient.
I do not own a handgun nor a weapon of higher caliber than my 2, 22lr's, and the 20g.

 

[Beuford T. Rimfire]

Honestly, I don't shoot for the right eye of targets. I was using a bit too much irony in my reply.

However, If I were using my 15-22 for HD at short distance I wouldn't hesitate to go for a 10 round headshot. Any other firearm and I'd shoot for center mass.

 

[Majorlk]

I read that in case of an encounter of some sort you should shoot for the groin / family jewels area to help stop them in their tracks., I don't think any kind of bad dude wants a laser light in that area reqardless of the caliber.

Hogwash! You shoot for the center of the chest. Shut down the central nervious system and he STOPS!

I don't intend to "light 'em up" or give them any other warning. If a perp is illegally in my house, he is toast. Any other mentality will get you or a family member killed,

 

[Majorlk]

Also as far as shooting in between the legs and groin area, I would assume that a 22 would also be an effective penetrator stopper as well.

Totally invalid assumption. .22s can easily be deflected. If you simply must use a .22, aim for the middle of the chest or the eyes and keep shooting until you are out of ammo.

 

[xxspudxx]

No way. While it may get the job done, I would not put my life on it.

Rem 870 or Mos 500.

 

[Linejudgemick]

IMHO for home defense... first choice - shotgun with #4 buck shot, second choice choice - 9mm or larger handgun with quality JHP ammo tested for correct function, no other choice - 22 caliber anything. All my rifles are bolt-action hunting rifles and almost any rifle larger than a .22 will definitely penetrate more than the other choices. In my home, I have no way to adequately secure my shotguns from young grand children other than the safe, so my actual first choice is my carry pistol on my person, or my .40 S&W in a discrete quick access lock box.

 

[Arik]

I would not bet my or my family's lives on stopping someone with a 22. No doubt it will hurt them and will probably kill EVENTUALLY but it doesn't have the stopping power. A $200 pump 12 gauge is plenty. Im not to worried about hearing loss from a few shot if its during a break in

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

 

[Beuford T. Rimfire]

If you simply must use a .22, aim for the middle of the chest or the eyes and keep shooting until you are out of ammo.

Exactly. If you're using a .22 your best hope is in overwhelming quantity.

But at that point you've effectively (or uneffectively) re-created ONE #4 buck shotshell's effect in slow motion... and now you're out of bullets.

 

[snubbyfan]

IMHO for home defense... first choice - shotgun with #4 buck shot, second choice choice - 9mm or larger handgun with quality JHP ammo tested for correct function, no other choice - 22 caliber anything.

I agree with that, first choice 20 gauge double barreled coach gun with #3 buck shot. Then it's my snubby with 110 grain Federal Hydra-shok and my wife with her 4" 66-3 loaded with 110 grain .357 Magnum JHP. We figure the lighter hollowpoints would give good stopping power with minimal over penetration.
I used to live in the Wash DC area and worked in the automotive industry. People would tell me what it's like to get shot by a .22. When you're tripping on crack or some kind of narcotic you don't even realize you're shot until you start bleeding. I'm not thinking I'll have time for a careful head/neck shot, I'm going to go for center mass with something they'll notice.

 

[ESW]

We have all heard stories about homeowners shooting an armed intruder and not putting him down but leaving him simply hit. He survives then sues you and wins. Don't ask me how that's possible but there are plenty of liberal judges.

I have self loaded .45 acp's with 185 grain HP's. I won't miss. Saying we are so inept at self defense we should hide under a bed ... "oh, lordy, there is an intruder, kids just hide, that all you can do" is hog wash! Break into my house and see. I would never use a .22lr round on an intruder, even with 25 shots. I'm using knock down power and no getting up shot placement. My family is too important to me.

 

[Quark]

Personally 22 is not the best choice but if it is the only choice it is better than nothing. Personally my first choice is my 12g with a wax slug then the rest 00 buck followed by my 9mm which I always wear in the house. If someone breaks in here I feel sorry for them.

 

[Majorlk]

Personally 22 is not the best choice but if it is the only choice it is better than nothing. Personally my first choice is my 12g with a wax slug then the rest 00 buck followed by my 9mm which I always wear in the house. If someone breaks in here I feel sorry for them.

A wax slug???

If you find yourself having to shoot, you want to STOP the intruder in his tracks, not give him a bruised chest. Less than lethal ammo is a good way to get yourself and/or your family killed.

 

[ballistictoyz]

if your going to use a .22 i recommend aquila sub sonic snipers--these things are incredable,60gr bullet solid nose with better expansion than any hollow point,they tumble doing bad things to soft tissue and when you pick up the spent slug it ressembles more a 9mm than a .22-usually a ball the size of a marble-and yes i use it in my carry piece and my 15-22 at home and yes i have bigger guns,they work great in my 15-22 with the ssar stock and have yet to have a missfire

 

[aguablanco]

A wax slug???

If you find yourself having to shoot, you want to STOP the intruder in his tracks, not give him a bruised chest. Less than lethal ammo is a good way to get yourself and/or your family killed.

Not only what he said, but, by using less than lethal ammo in a lethal weapon, aren't you admitting that you didn't fear for your life enough to employ deadly force? Is that a warning shot?

I have been taught, in roughly 100 hours of self defense firearm training, that warning shots indicate a lack of fear for one's life and should never be used under any circumstances. As much as I hate to say it, especially with the current climate regarding guns in this country, if you feel threatened enough to deploy a firearm, you better be ready to totally neutralize the threat with as few rounds as possible. Preferably using ammo that some LE agencies use to avoid the killer bullet offense.

The OP's original question was about using the 15-22 for HD. Is it the ideal round? Absolutely not. Is it better than a box of rocks, or a stern voice? Absolutely! Not everyone can afford several purpose oriented firearms, and need make do with what they have. I applaud the OP for trying to get good info to base his decision on, it is the responsible thing to do. And since he now says that SD training is in his future, I am sure all will be well at his home.
RichH

 

[Majorlk]

In many states, mine included, a "warning shot" will get you charged with unlawful discharge of a firearm.

 

[sr3jan]

....The OP's original question was about using the 15-22 for HD. Is it the ideal round? Absolutely not. Is it better than a box of rocks, or a stern voice? Absolutely! Not everyone can afford several purpose oriented firearms, and need make do with what they have. I applaud the OP for trying to get good info to base his decision on, it is the responsible thing to do. And since he now says that SD training is in his future, I am sure all will be well at his home.
RichH

Thanks for all the feedback guys. @aguablanco, that wasn't actually me who said I was getting SD training however, I have had training, some from Shootrite, some of other places. My .40 XD is my go-to HD weapon right now and sounds like it will be for a while. Now I just need to focus on securing it with something like a small pistol safe that I can open quickly.