22 Magnum

[dennisvet]

Hello, I am thinking about getting a S&W model 351C 22 Magnum. I haven't shot one yet, but I have looked at a few of them. Any opinions will be appreciated. I have several S&W 357 Magnums a SDVE 40 cal a M&P 22 LR Compact and 380 Bodyguard. Not to mention a M&P AR15-22 rifle. So as you can see I love Smith and Wessons. I use the 380 BG for a everyday pocket carry. My problem is that I am now getting some really painful arthritis in my hands and the 380 BG recoil is a little more than I would like. I am thinking that the 351C 22 Mag would make a great pocket carry and not have to much recoil for my hands in case I ever need it. I've looked at the Ruger LRC 22 mag also. But I really want the S&W. Plus it is a 7 shot. Do any of you use one? Oh, I forgot to mention that I have also tried my son's S&W Model 442 38 Special and while it has less recoil than my 380 BG, it still kinda hurts my hand also.

 

[22hipower]

Shoot one before you buy it if you can. Probably ok as a close range carry gun if you're ok with a 22 Mag for that purpose. Trigger pull on the one I have is REAL heavy and I can't shoot it at all well on paper. Would be happy to sell you mine if you were in Dallas. Love S&W rimfires but the 351C not so much. Quite a few previous posts on this if you want to use the search button at the top of the page. Good luck.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[Zipdog]

You might be better off with a Model 51. More weight and a square butt might help with your condition. Only 6 shots however.

 

[CATI1835]

I don't know if they compare, but I had a 351PD. Extremely hard trigger pull. My wife had a very difficult time with it. Sold it.

 

[JohnK]

A second on the hard trigger pull.

AND, I now wear hearing aids, almost certainly attributed to the two .22 Mag revolvers, that I used to own.

Ouch !

 

[OKFC05]

I would still prefer the 442, even if I had to use the lightest loaded WCs to minimize recoil. Reducing the speed of the bullet helps recoil a lot, but going to a small bullet mostly reduces effectiveness on the target. You want to STOP the attack right then, and having him bleed to death later, which often happens with small calibers, does not equal stopping power.
Hit him with the largest bullet you can handle.
You aren't going to shoot that many defense shots.


Plink with the .22 LR.

 

[Rpg]

OP would do better shooting 38 wadcutter target ammo out of a j frame.

Pleasant to shoot and surprisingly effective.

The 22 mag offers expensive ammo, unpleasant blast and poor performance in handguns.

22 mag belongs in a rifle.

 

[Bonephish]

I love my 351c. Had a trigger job done and grips that are more comfy and slide in and out of pockets easily. .22 WMR is plenty effective, travels 2,000+ FPS and LOUD!

 

[kaaskop49]

I love my 351c. Had a trigger job done and grips that are more comfy and slide in and out of pockets easily. .22 WMR is plenty effective, travels 2,000+ FPS and LOUD!

Hey Bonephish: Great carry piece you've got there! Love it! Appreciate your idea on the smooth grips and pocket carry; gotta try that out. But you're not getting 2000fps from a snub bbl: those are rifle figures. More like 1100fps. Still love my High Standard derringers and NAA mini-revolver in .22Mag: carry them often in an outer jacket pocket. Good shooting!

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

 

[BAM-BAM]

.22 mag is a rifle varmint cartage....... don't know how much you lose out of a 2-4" barrel vs. 18-24.

If I recall correctly about 300Ft.PE at 2100-2400FPS out of a rifle.....

Check "Ballistics by the Inch"............there is some new short barrel ammo.....

Another issue is rimfire vs centerfire.......................

I'd go .38 or .32 with light loads..... over .22 mag ( I love .22mag in my CZ 452FS rifle) for personal defense.....

 

[Theod]

Very nice.

 

[gman51]

I suggest you look at a .32. The recoil is next to nothing in a metal revolver. You might check out a 32 semi auto for recoil. Guns vary quite a bit on felt recoil so you definitely should fire several to decide which is best for you. The 32 might be the cats meow for you.
The heavy trigger action on any gun is a deal breaker for me also. I don't want a tow truck to pull the trigger on my guns.

 

[Bonephish]

Check "Ballistics by the Inch"............there is some new short barrel ammo.....

Hornady V Max 30gr travels 962 fps out of 2" barrel. Federal 124gr 9mm travels 900 fps... Penetration is similar and very lethal.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Hornady V Max 30gr travels 962 fps out of 2" barrel. Federal 124gr 9mm travels 900 fps... Penetration is similar and very lethal.

Ballistics by the inch:

.22 magnum out of a 2" barrel stats range from: 843-1114 FPS but muzzle energy is in the 60-80 fpe range.

whereas

9mm 837-1215fps with 220-300+ FPE


Not saying the 22mag can't be lethal....... like an ice-pick!!!

 

[gwpercle]

The 22 magnum is more effective than most give it credit for.
I think it was Bill Jordan that said " it kills all out of proportion to it's size ". You have to use what your physical limitations will allow....getting old sucks sometimes.
I would not feel uncomfortable if armed with one. My LEO buddy carried one as back up for decades and he lived to retire.
Do spend a few dollars for a good trigger job, makes all the difference in the world .
Gary

 

[505Gibbs]

One other thing not mentioned previously - 22MRF is still one of the scarcest ammo to find! Its out there if you're persistent but its generally not laying around on a store shelf.

 

[Zipdog]

The 22 magnum is more effective than most give it credit for.
I think it was Bill Jordan that said " it kills all out of proportion to it's size ". You have to use what your physical limitations will allow....getting old sucks sometimes.
I would not feel uncomfortable if armed with one. My LEO buddy carried one as back up for decades and he lived to retire.
Do spend a few dollars for a good trigger job, makes all the difference in the world .
Gary

Some where I saw an interview of an Emergency Room Doctors comment about 22 magnum rounds in shooting cases he had delt with. He quickly put to rest the comments about the round being ineffective.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Love to find a Kal-Tec CMR-30 ....30rds of .22mag. goodness!

 

[Bonephish]

Do spend a few dollars for a good trigger job, makes all the difference in the world .
Gary

^^^YES!!! The factory trigger is impossible to live with. My favorite local gunsmith installed Wolff springs and polished all contact points. The trigger is a very smooth 11 pounds, easy to shoot.

 

[silentflyer]

The Critical Defense .22 mag rounds are claimed to be tailored for the shorter barrel of a hand gun.