22 HP or FMJ for defense

[grover99]

My older lady friend (70+) has found a gun she can rack and deal with the recoil. True 22 is not the best choice and I told her that but her thought is "don't confuse me with the facts this what I want" So for her RugerLCP 22 which is best HP ammo or Solids.

 

[ken158]

Probably doesn't matter since a 22 HP isn't going to do much from a short barrel auto. Function / accuracy is more important.

 

[steveno]

try the CCI Velocitor

 

[mikerjf]

+1 on CCI Velocitor.

 

[Driswalds]

CCI Stinger will expand a bit from a handgun.

 

[357-RevolverGuy]

If she decides to go with HP's have her test the ammo and make sure it feeds reliably. From my experience it seems like FMJ rounds have been more reliable in semi-auto rimfires.

 

[stansdds]

A 22LR is better than nothing, but I agree, in a semi-auto, pick whatever feeds and extracts reliably.

 

[Rpg]

The only thing that should concern OP is 22 ammo that is entirely reliable in the gun. Nothing else matters except hitting the target.

22 hp ammo out of a short barrel handgun doesn't expand with sufficient regularity to be worth fussing with. High velocity 22 ammo offers no benefit over standard velocity ammo in such a gun.

Anyone who's shot game with such a gun (as opposed to folks focused on balistic tables and gel tests) knows these basic truths.

 

[Borderboss]

If she's not going to carry the gun, could you convince her to try a larger .22 at least? She would get a few more inches of barrel length, speeding the bullet up so an HP would perform better.

 

[Ranger17]

Taking out of the equation the whole discussion of "22 yes or no for SD"....... knowing as finicky as rimfire can be then it seems the first critical point is to find ammo that functions with no issues. After a lot of testing rounds thru the gun.
If a round tends to have failures then it wont matter if it expands more.

I own a Buckmark and a Victory; Cci mini mags run near flawlessly in both and that includes the HP version. Not that I need HP for the range but they happened to be what was available at the time. And as they say if it aint broke.....

 

[JohnHL]

Solids.

If one MUST use a 22LR for SD, then penetration is king.

(After shot placement and reliable feeding bla, bla, bla...)

John

 

[colt_saa]

Since it is a semi-auto, what functions is much more important that what the bullet is

I would certainly try the CCI Segmented ammunition first. Since it has three pieces you do not need to worry about the projectile going fast enough to expand.

It works great in my Walther PPk/s

 

[Rammer Jammer]

https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/pocket-pistol-caliber-gel-test-results/

 

[max503]

Some company should make a super reliable 22 rimfire ammo for people who want to carry a 22.

 

[ContinentalOp]

As a proponent of HP ammo for self defense, I'd have to say it would offer little, if any, benefit in a .22. Focus on reliability and getting good hits.

 

[D Brown]

try the CCI Velocitor

CCI VELOCITOR is the chosen load that I carry in my Model 43C.

 

[RoyM52]

the foot is in the door. worry about reliability and having her shoot, then move onto some optimum of some sort later

 

[Cal44]

The luckygunner tests show no expansion with any of the 22lr rounds tested.

But the Luckygunner test on 22 wmr is another story. Both Critical Defence and Gold Dot show good expansion and penetration from 2" and 4" barrels.

I agree, for 22lr, find a reliable load and go with it.

 

[Jimmyjones]

I use CCI MM 40gr solids in my carry .22s (BUGs).

Shot placement is 1st, penetration is 2nd, any thing else is... just less important. My concern with HP is if they did expand, I'd loose penetration. Most HPs are 36gr, not much difference in weight, but you're already near the bottom of the performance curve, every bit helps.

 

[AJ]

The luckygunner tests show no expansion with any of the 22lr rounds tested.

But the Luckygunner test on 22 wmr is another story. Both Critical Defence and Gold Dot show good expansion and penetration from 2" and 4" barrels.

I agree, for 22lr, find a reliable load and go with it.

I was given a 351C (.22 WMR) by a friend. I was impressed by the revolver, however the 14 pound trigger pull might put the lady off.