Aim to maim, 22 short

[rrick]

Most of the time my K22 or 17 (some non-model# S&W 6" 6 shot revolver) is with me loaded with my favorite round, the 22 short. Since this beauty is hanging around me much more than any of my law enforcement sized pistols, I want to know if criminal mentality will accept my shouts of "YOU WANT MORE OF THAT, YEAH, (ping! again with 22 short), TAKE THAT, CRIMINAL." As you can tell, I can talk myself out situations. So will 73 ft-lbs muzzle energy do the trick and maybe even have us both walk away without death?

 

[crsides]

hope you have a lawyer in the family

 

[Moosie]

Are you serious?

 

[rrick]

kinda serious. definitely my glove box gun. I fell in love with the revolver/22short combo dispatching mice my cat would bring in. It killed them one shot at 5 yards.

 

[seagill]

I'd rather carry a big stick.

 

[venomballistics]

some states you might be able to get away with it IF you are shielded by law from litigation after the fact ... but there's more to consider.
such as the state of your attacker ... attacking someone is NOT a rational act. Theres a good chance the person your pumping full of 22 shorts cant feel a thing due to chemical enhancement.
Dead men dont sue sir. While no one really wants to make any work for the undertaker, if you can't stomach the idea, the 2A rights are voluntary

 

[CelticSire]

As you can tell, I can talk myself out situations.

I certainly hope so now that you have published the fact that you're intent is not to stop aggressive action on the part of the attacker but instead you will be shooting to maim.

 

[tomcatt51]

One of the first things taught and always emphasized is you are NOT using your weapon to maim, hurt, kill, etc. You ARE using it to STOP a situation you have reason to believe will result in grievous bodily injury or death to yourself or others.

 

[rrick]

I'm really not versed on criminals (like that chemical enhancement they could be on). Wouldn't the report and 25 gr stings give enough time to diffuse and refuse (robbery)? We all joke about "just angering the bear with the bullets," but even a sub-human has logic "loud noise and pain, bad."

Thanks for taking me seriously, these are the questions that drag out courses and give only one instructors opinion.

 

[enfield]

Only if they notice the noise and pain. There are some pretty strong drugs out there. Shoot to stop the threat, whether they're capable of normal reactions or not. All serious self-defense calibers begin with a 3 or a 4.

 

[rrick]

I hear the better than nothing argument with 380 pocket pistols from 45 side arms, but nobody wants to extend that to 22 short?

Wikipedia and all it's wizards say not only was it the first American metallic cartridge, but its development was for self-defense.

 

[PERAZZI]

how odd that the .22 short was a favorite BUG got LE's in the old Colt semi's..

I'd rather have a pocket full of ball bearings myself...

 

[mc5aw]

If you're deferring to Wikipedia for expert advice on firearms, ballistics, and self defense strategies, you best stay comfortably at home and never leave the premises.

 

[tomcatt51]

I hear the better than nothing argument with 380 pocket pistols from 45 side arms, but nobody wants to extend that to 22 short?

I think we're taking exception to your "aim to maim" rationalization for using it.

 

[blujax01]

I would rather have a .22 than a pocket of ball bearings, or rocks, or even a sharp knife. It's all about stopping the threat and a .22 in the eye (if that is where it hit) would most certainly stop the threat. That being said, a .22 relies a lot more on shot placement that stopping power.
And that is what self defense is about in the legal sense. Not maiming, killing, wounding, or scaring off the threat. It is about Stopping The Threat.

If you choose to carry a .22 I suggest that you practice diligently. And if you find yourself in a situation where (God forbid) you have to clear leather, the time for talking has passed.

 

[cololab]

If you only have .22 shorts, you do have a defensive weapon. It may not be the best one out there, but it may be the best one for you. The round came along in the Civil War era, and revolvers chambered for it were used as back up weapons; things have advanced a bit since then.

While your desire to not take a life is laudable, I encourage you to consider a caliber that, if you do have to use it, will enable you to more certainly stop someone from causing you or someone in your presence to suffer serious bodily harm or death.

 

[cmort666]

Shooting anybody with ANY firearm of ANY caliber is deadly force.

Shooting somebody with the expectation that you can do so WITHOUT killing them is simply asinine.

The only reason to use deadly force against someone is to prevent them from using deadly force against you or an innocent third party. Deadly force is deadly force. If somebody is dangerous enough to shoot, your ONLY consideration should be stopping the threat in the most expeditious manner without incurring ANY additional risk to yourself or innocent third parties.

You shoot to stop the threat. Stopping the threat effectively runs a substantial risk of killing it. If you don't think that the situation merits substantial risk of death to your assailant, it doesn't merit SHOOTING your assailant, AT ALL.

On a GOOD day, shooting to wound will get you sued or prosecuted. On a bad day, it'll get you killed.

 

[cmort666]

I'm really not versed on criminals (like that chemical enhancement they could be on). Wouldn't the report and 25 gr stings give enough time to diffuse and refuse (robbery)?

1. It's "defuse", not "diffuse". I would hope that your goal is NOT to SPREAD violence around your general vicinity.
2. Ever see the dreadful movie "Star Ship Troopers"? It's based on a VERY good book. The troop ship in the movie and book is named after a very real GI named Roger Young. Despite being grievously wounded by Japanese rifle AND machine gun fire, Young managed to kill a LOT of Japanese. And he wasn't even on drugs.

What makes you think that a sober guy could soak up a bunch of 6.5x50mm RIFLE bullets and stay in the fight, but that some meth head will wilt when hit with a .22 Short?

 

[Kanewpadle]

Many years ago some friends and I went out shooting. Long story short, a friend was accidently shot in the chest with a 22 short.

He thought he got stung by a bee. But a few of us who saw exactly what happened knew he was shot.

We ripped off his shirt while he wondered what in the world we were doing. To our amazement the bullet penetrated the skin. No farther. He had a small lump on his chest where the bullet was.

We put a bandaid over it and kept shooting for another hour.

No, I would not trust a 22 short or ANY rimfire ammo for self defense.

 

[rrick]

Many years ago some friends and I went out shooting. Long story short, a friend was accidently shot in the chest with a 22 short.

He thought he got stung by a bee. But a few of us who saw exactly what happened knew he was shot.

We ripped off his shirt while he wondered what in the world we were doing. To our amazement the bullet penetrated the skin. No farther. He had a small lump on his chest where the bullet was.

We put a bandaid over it and kept shooting for another hour.

No, I would not trust a 22 short or ANY rimfire ammo for self defense.

OK, LOL! This is all I need to know. I'll be better about keeping that ugly BG-380 closer than the beautiful work of art my 1957 K-22 Masterpiece.