.22 Magnum personal defense ammo

[vigil617]

I've re-evaluated my carry options and have decided to go in a new direction recently. While I'm keeping my higher-capacity semiautos for home defense and my truck gun, the lure of the 10 oz. pocket gun has gotten my attention.

Thus, a 351PD has come to live in my pocket now.

Not trying to start a caliber war here; decision is already made that seven rounds of 22 mag at close quarters in the unlikely event I ever have to use it, will be more than sufficient. The lightweight j-frame, Crimson Trace grip, and true pocket-carry factored heavily in favor of this revolver as my EDC.

So, with that in mind, who wants to weigh in on the best SD ammo for me?

I'm impressed with the ballistics on the Hornady Critical Defense 45 grain JHP, which is designed for short-barreled revolvers (faster burning powder, reducing muzzle blast and noise) and the similarity of results in ballistic gelatin of this round with the .380 Critical Defense round.

CCI Speer makes a Gold Dot product as well that has caught my eye. Even the CCI 36-grain hollow point "Choot 'Em" ammo probably would be sufficient as well, and is cheapest of the lot right now, though not designed for snubby handguns as the Hornady product is.

What say you who have tried any or all of these? Performance v. price? Your ideas on any other ammo options? And what do you like as your basic range ammo for the j-frame 22 magnum, for practice so those 7 rounds of SD ammo will stop an attacker if ever needed?

 

[Muss Muggins]

I've got a Ruger LCR in .22 WMR. The Hornaday is the bomb . . .

 

[vigil617]

I've got a Ruger LCR in .22 WMR. The Hornaday is the bomb . . .

I happened to score a 50 round box but it was practically by accident. Stuff seems to be hard to find, and I don't see it on gunbot very often at all. What do you think is a good price per round for it, Muss? I think mine was around .40 per round after shipping was accounted for. I don't mind paying a premium for the best SD ammo, and in the current world of .22WMR, I think the Hornaday was reasonable.

 

[Groo01]

Groo here
The biggest problem is priming in a rf case.
All must be correct.
The SD ammo by CCI ,Federal , Hornaday etc are made to work.
Not had or heard of a fail to fire with them.

 

[Muss Muggins]

I happened to score a 50 round box but it was practically by accident. Stuff seems to be hard to find, and I don't see it on gunbot very often at all. What do you think is a good price per round for it, Muss? I think mine was around .40 per round after shipping was accounted for. I don't mind paying a premium for the best SD ammo, and in the current world of .22WMR, I think the Hornaday was reasonable.

That seems fair enough . . .

 

[Cal44]

I wonder if any 22 WMR loads will actually expand out of a 2" barrel.

In any case, most of the ballistics gel tests on youtube show 12 - 15" penetration which is good enough to get the job done.

 

[Fishinfool]

The Hornaday CD ammo looks good on paper from what I have read. Might want to avoid the new, high velocity, lightweight bullet loads in this caliber, as they are designed to expand fast on varmints, not for penetration.

I would feel a lot better using a rimfire for self defense in a revolver format that offers immediate second strike capability. Rimfire ignition in an auto can be too iffy.

For years, I carried a Freedom Arms mini .22 mag. revolver as a hideout gun for LEO work loaded with Winchester jacketed HP's. Never had to use it, but it offered a lot of bark and bite in a small "get off me" gun.

I would buy a couple boxes of the good stuff, and shoot up one to test for reliability and POI, then save the other for carry use. Find the cheapest stuff with the same approximate POI for general practice firing. The new low flash powders seem like a great idea in a short barreled .22 mag. The flame and muzzle blast can be impressive out of a snubby.

Larry

 

[vigil617]

I wonder if any 22 WMR loads will actually expand out of a 2" barrel.

In any case, most of the ballistics gel tests on youtube show 12 - 15" penetration which is good enough to get the job done.

Hornady's website shows a ballistic gel test side by side comparison between .22WMR and .380, both in the Critical Defense configuration. Penetration was about even, and there was expansion on both rounds. http://www.hornady.com/store/22-WMR-45gr-Critical-Defense/

 

[vigil617]

Groo here
The biggest problem is priming in a rf case.
All must be correct.
The SD ammo by CCI ,Federal , Hornaday etc are made to work.
Not had or heard of a fail to fire with them.

Groo, I agree. From what I've been able to determine, though, Hornady might be the only company that has developed an SD round specifically for use in the snubby barrels of the 22 mag pistols.

I haven't found comparable data for the Gold Dot ammo, which I'm sure is excellent also.

 

[cometpx4]

.22 Magnum

Great choice. I had one in my shorts pocket all day while doing errands today with the wife. I have tried all the "self defense" .22 mag ammo including the Gold Dots and Hornady but i keep coming back to the CCI Maxi Mags in 30 grain hollow points. I have chrono graphed them at 1100 fps coming out of my 351PD and more importantly at 10 yards they hit right to point of aim and make one ragged little hole.
I know they are not designed for expansion out of the short barrel but I practice dumping a cylinder center mass as quick as possible and i have to believe that in a negative situation if i were able to put 7 of them right intpo the chest of the bad guy it would have to stop or at least slow down the threat.
Just one persons view.

 

[vipermd]

I have not shot anything but paper with them, I like the video and the thought that went into development. I am using them in derringers so far. Be Safe,

 

[Rustyt1953]

The .22WMR is a proven, time tested cartridge and the Hornady delivers as advertised.

 

[Hapworth]

Brassfetcher conducted tests on the 45gr Hornady Critical Defense round and got expansion and almost 10" penetration in 10% ballistic gelatin from a 1.1" barrel; it's the only load they've tested they recommend for self defense.

22 Magnum

 

[MR835]

I have used Federal 50gr JHP years as a backup in a HI STANDERD two shot. And still use the same round in a 4" S&W as well as my AMT ll. I still BET MY LIFE on them. At 1250fps they get the job done.
Just an OLD MANS 2cents

 

[kaaskop49]

My experience with the Hornady Critical Defense 45gr load has been other than above. I've found it to tumble in my .22 Mag derringers at 9-10 foot distance.

I've had good luck with the old standard 40gr CCI and W-W ammo in my shorties, even if it's formulated for rifle barrels.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

 

[BSA1]

I have a Taurus snubby that will put all eight rounds of Speer Gold Dot into a 1 3/8" group at 7 -10 yards.

Good thing too as the only ammo for short barrel revolvers I have been able to find is Speer Gold Dot.

 

[Rpg]

I'm not a fan of the 22 mag in handguns: rifles are a different story.

If stuck with a 22 mag handgun : I'd shoot anything available and pick the ammo that works best in your handgun.

None of the gee whiz ammo impresses me enough to vary from the ammo that's readily available: the stuff that you shoot the most and best.

In 22 mag, bullet ( projectile) refinements are marketing ploys, not significant improvements over the decades old full jacket ammo or the equally old jhp stuff.

I have a low opinion of this round.

 

[vigil617]

Rpg, I just think it makes sense to use the best ammo readily available especially if it is designed for the short barrel on my revolver and that does not need a longer barrel to develop its best characteristics. Otherwise, I'm shooting ammo designed for a rifle, in my revolver. I don't think bullet design is what separates the Hornaday, for example, from the rest of the 22 magnum ammos. It's a JHP round, just a bit heavier than the rest of the pack, at 45 grains.

What seems to set it apart is the choice of powder used to maximize effectiveness of the round during its short trip down the 1 7/8" barrel of my 351PD. If by making a wise choice about my SD ammo, I can make my revolver function at its highest level, then I think I'm doing myself a favor.

Just my opinion, of course.

I'm not a fan of the 22 mag in handguns: rifles are a different story.

If stuck with a 22 mag handgun : I'd shoot anything available and pick the ammo that works best in your handgun.

None of the gee whiz ammo impresses me enough to vary from the ammo that's readily available: the stuff that you shoot the most and best.

In 22 mag, bullet ( projectile) refinements are marketing ploys, not significant improvements over the decades old full jacket ammo or the equally old jhp stuff.

I have a low opinion of this round.

 

[357-RevolverGuy]

Congratulations on your purchase. I'm a big fan of the 22 WMR. I don't own a 351 but I almost bought one as it's a very interesting J frame with seven shots. Unfortunately the heavy trigger pull could not sell me on the gun. It's definitely a revolver that has to fit the shooter.

I've had great results from Hornady's 45 gr Critical Defense and CCI's 30 gr Maxi Mag +V. These were shot from a Ruger 22 Mag Single Six and Savage bolt action rifle. From what I understand they were designed and engineered to expand in short barreled carry guns.

 

[vigil617]

Thanks for throwing in on this one, 357RevolverGuy.

I looked on CCI's site, and the 30 gr. MaxiMag +V JHP rated at 1600fps from a 6" revolver, and the 40 gr. MaxiMag in both TMJ target (flat nose) and JHP rated at 1400fps from a 6" revolver. I'm sure that in the much shorter snubby barrel the correspondingly lower numbers would be for all practical purposes identical, so I guess perhaps the better SD round would be the heavier bullet.

I don't currently have a .22WMR rifle (though I admit, I'm already thinking hard about getting one ) so looks to me like any of these three ammo selections would be a good choice for both platforms.

Thanks for the lead on the these!

Congratulations on your purchase. I'm a big fan of the 22 WMR. I don't own a 351 but I almost bought one as it's a very interesting J frame with seven shots. Unfortunately the heavy trigger pull could not sell me on the gun. It's definitely a revolver that has to fit the shooter.

I've had great results from Hornady's 45 gr Critical Defense and CCI's 30 gr Maxi Mag +V. These were shot from a Ruger 22 Mag Single Six and Savage bolt action rifle. From what I understand they were designed and engineered to expand in short barreled carry guns.