22 magnum snub nose?

[daven59]

I'm debating with myself on whether it's worth the extra money to get one in .22 mag. I have snub nose revolvers(S&W of course) in 38+P and 357 and I'm not sure if I would save any weight or add another round or two but was told it might be more manageable for my wife who is a new shooter. She has a bobcat in .22LR for now. Opinions welcome.

 

[Law-dog]

22 Mag Snubnose

I agree with those who say you should carry the largest caliber gun you can shoot well. After 40 years of carrying handguns daily, and with 4 different agencies, I would add that it must be small enough that your wife will carry it everywhere. I chronographed a bunch of 22 and 22 mag rounds last week from 1 7/8 and 2 inch barrels. The 22 mag is loud so make sure your wife is not bothered by the noise. The fastest rounds we found were the Winchester load designed for the short barrels. They averaged 1,230 and the regular 22s were 1,074. That gives them about 140 foot pounds of energy. My 380s and 38 special from short guns move a 90-125 grain bullet at about 900 fps for energy of about 200. My wife loves her little TCP38 Taurus, but I make her keep a model 637 handy simply because it uses a much bigger bullet. My last advice is really a short story. When I was a park ranger I went on a call where a park employee had been attacked by a pack of 5 pit bull dogs....I had a 9mm and all went well, but when thinking of what gun to carry against some pyscho human, think about what it will take to stop a couple of pit bulls. I would not want a 22 mag if anything bigger would work. Dont get me wrong, I love the 22mag but just dont carry it unless I have a second larger gun. Good luck.

 

[kaaskop49]

I have old-model High Standard derringers in .22 Mag. On occasion, I drop one in an outside pocket in colder weather or when I feel the need for a second gun: in a casino, carrying a bankroll, for example. As a primary weapon, not if I have something else bigger and I always do. As a 'surprise,' yeah, OK, but I don't consider it a 'back-up.' On more occasions, I drop a .45 derringer in that pocket...

Withe the small NAA revolvers, there has been more of an interest in this round as a short barrel defensive round than is warranted, IMO. There was an article on this topic in an issue of the American Rifleman in 2012 or 2013. Stay safe, Fire.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

 

[JohnK]

Have owned several short barreled revolvers, in .22 Mag.

They will make you hearing impaired, VERY quickly, without hearing protection. The blast seems to be MORE than a .357 Mag.

I sold them all, because of this. The slight increase in muzzle velocity, wasn't worth the horrendous BOOM !

 

[Old Corp]

Working behind the counter at GS's, I see a certain fascination with snubby .22 mags.
People who have little to no understanding of ballistics seem sold on the word 'magnum', and if they've ever fired one, the noise is the other apparent signature of perceived 'power' of the round.

The .22 WMR loses ALOT in a short barrel.
At best, it provides energy approximately equal to a .22 LR fired from a rifle. Better than a sharp stick, but not the magical defense hardware I see some seem to ascribe to it.

 

[ken158]

You will gain almost nothing over a high speed 22LR other than hearing loss and expensive ammo... I would stick to a center fire for same weight, better stopping power and less expensive as well as accuracy.

 

[357-RevolverGuy]

Maybe it's just me but is the noise level you guys mention being a bit exaggerated? 22 mag at 357 mag noise level?

I don't own any short barreled 22 mag guns. But I do own a Ruger SA Single Six with 7.5" barrel and a Savage bolt action in 22 Mag. From my experience firing these they weren't even as loud as what my 38 Spl revolvers sounded like. If there is a 22 mag out there that can get as loud as a 357, that would cause guys at the range to turn around and start watching. But when I fire mine, if someone is shooting 9mm or 38, it drowns out my little 22 mag.

 

[snubbiefan]

Go shopping for 22MAG ammo first. It simply cannot be found around here for a humane price.....or hardly at all and is as scarce as 22LR.

Get a 38-special snub and load your lady up with 38 Short Colt. 38SC is not all that common, but it can be ordered from the supply houses. If you hand-load (or know somebody who does), the easiest thing you can do is put a reasonably light charge under a 110 to 125-grain slug and be a lot better off than a 22MAG.

Having said that....I can't prize my roommate away from her 317, but she does shoot any of the 38-Specials with reduced slug-weights and powder charges and she'll have twice the slug-tonnage headed in harms way.

 

[vipermd]

Law-Dog : Do you have a SKU # for any of the Winchester short barreled ammo? Thank You, Be Safe,

 

[DFrame]

I occasionally use my High Standard 9 shot. It's nickel with a 3 inch barrel and stocks that remind you of a detective special. Great little gun. wish they still made them.

 

[markeb]

I would compare my 650 and 651 to the noise level of a 38. Back before the ammo shortage, I would catch myself buying several boxes of 22 mag from Walmart whenever I was looking for ammo. After each purchase I would think to myself why do I need more 22mag ammo. Well, glad I bought it and have enough to last a while.

 

[Lobster Picnic]

I have the lightweight 7-shot snub in .22 Magnum, the model 351c. The heavy trigger might not be suitable for a lady. I think it's a pretty good carry gun. I like the light weight and the extras shots.

 

[Law-dog]

Cabelas had 22 mag CCI online today. I think it was $13.99 and a one box limit, plus shipping of course. Not great but better than none....

 

[Law-dog]

The ammo I chronographed in 22 mag was the Winchester PDX1 Defender. SKU #20892 10305. It is a 40 grain hollow point and averaged 1,250 with only about 25 fps deviation, really good. The other ammo was CCI 22mag, at 1,074. Both were fired from a 2 inch Taurus Model 941. I also fired them from the 1 and 7/8 inch NAA. Speed was slightly less. Viper med, I sent this by PM also.....I love 22 mag, just dont carry it when a model 637 only weight 15 oz and a KelTec PF9 with 8 rounds of 9mm weighs the same. Actually, I do carry a 22 mag, with the bigger gun as a backup for hiking and goofing around in the woods....

 

[vipermd]

+1 for the Law-Dog- info. As someone stated before- having a 22 mag derringer, NAA, in a pocket is a good thing, I would still prefer to have a SW 68-38 spl +p, Speer Goldot as my minimum, but newer 22 mag ammo makes the caliber a major step over "fingernails! " Be Safe,

 

[suckersrus]

Get a 22 LR j-frame for practice and plinking.





Get your wife a 32 H&R mag j-frame.

 

[kennyb]

.22 as self defense is not a good idea...at all...look at a .38 cal.for her

 

[cleans up]

I have a NAA 1 1/8" barrel 22mag revolver. Tiny and fun. No way is it as loud as my 357, but yeah it cracks. While it's fun to shoot, keep in mind it's hard to hit anything accurately past a few yards. As a back up "get off me" gun i think it's fine. Wouldn't carry it as a primary though. In a j frame the 22mag dosent make much sense to me

 

[Fishinfool]

If she really has a problem with recoil and blast to the extent she can or WILL not handle a centerfire, then a 22lr revolver can provide some level of protection. I would not want to face someone who is a confident and accurate shooter with a 22lr snub, and who knows to keep shooting until the threat is gone. Avoid a 22lr semi-auto, as they do not offer the reliability of a revolver for self defense use.

Back in the early 1980's, I carried the Freedom Arms mini 22 mag revolver pictured below in my uniform shirt pocket as an emergency last ditch gun. Always figured the muzzle blast would set em on fire if the bullet didn't work. And yes, a short barreled 22 mag is loud out of proportion to its size - Not the deep boom of a centirefire mag revolver round, but a really sharp and loud "crack".

Larry

 

[475OKH]

I like the idea of the 22 mag and it's extreme light weight. After looking for months went to a model 637 light weight J frame in 38. Could not be happier and saved several hundred dollars.