Anyone carry a M&P 22c?

[papersniper]

I'm curious, mainly because I recently acquired a M&P 9mm (for EDC - replacing a Kel-Tec P11 and Sig 228) and a M&P 22c and think both S&Ws are terrific handguns. The 22c is so very light, I wonder if anyone carries one for SD, even if it's only occasionally? I still think I'd be better prepared for SD with my little 32 acp over the 22lr, but I have no empirical data to back that.

So: anyone carry a 22 LR pistol for SD, even if only occasionally? And what are folks thoughts on that? Anyone use a 22 lr as their primary EDC? I can imagine instances were a smaller, lighter, easier to handle pistol is better than none for some, but in general I've always thought a 38 spcl was the minimum.....with the very infrequent exception of a 32 acp or 380 acp.

I'm asking non-LEOs who carry, as LEO requirements are very different from us poor ol' retirees. <G>

Thoughts?

 

[Mushki]

I could not see myself ever trusting a .22 to get the job done when it matters most. I do find myself carrying a small .380 acp from time to time but I personally wouldn't go any smaller.

I would still think that a .22 on your hip is better than nothing though.

 

[Jaysq]

Although many people are killed with 22's, I don't think anyone here would agree that it is a proper CCW choice. It may be better than nothing, but don't count on much stopping power with it. When nothing else will work, I carry a .380 but 98% of the time I am carrying a 9mm.

You said you acquired a S&W M&P in 9mm as a carry gun, why not just carry it?

 

[dullh]

The short answer is NO.

There's no reason to carry a .22 for defense, unless that's all you can get.

That's not all we can get.

I'd carry a sock full of nickles before I'd carry a .22; it's a poor choice for obvious reasons. The concept isn't even useful as a thought experiment.

Leave the .22 for plinking/varmint shooting and carry something more substantial.

 

[John R]

Any gun is better than no gun.
2 or 3 shots from any gun will usually stop the fight unless the BG is just determined to get you.

 

[Grail Knight]

I personally do not rely on a .22lr as my main carry firearm and I have concealed carry for just shy of 25 years.

I do however carry a .22mag NAA Pug as a secondary or last ditch firearm as well as the rare occasion a larger firearm is out of place.

For example if I am outside working on my property and am wearing overalls the PUG is perfect for breast pocket carry or in a pocket holster. My S&W Shield or Sig is out of place when wearing overalls.

 

[Protected One]

I don't, and would not carry a .22LR, but the reason has less to do with the caliber than with the cartridge.

When I was trying to get my wife into shooting she was very recoil sensitive, so we rented a .22 semi to do some shooting.
Due to the diminutive size of the cartridge we had ftf after ftf, and could not even get through a magazine reliably. My concern would be a failure to feed when it mattered most.

Now a .22magnum revolver would be all together different. That I would have no problem carrying.

 

[Ibmikey]

Echo what others say for concealed carry of a .22 plus my compact is as large as a small 9mm so why not carry a more efficient caliber? Plus rimfire cartridges are known to be picky feeders.

 

[papersniper]

I could not see myself ever trusting a .22 to get the job done when it matters most. I do find myself carrying a small .380 acp from time to time but I personally wouldn't go any smaller.

I would still think that a .22 on your hip is better than nothing though.

Yeah, it's better than nothing for sure. And most of us would shoot a M&P 22 perhaps more accurately than something larger....not always true, but probably true enough. And then there are those for whatever reason cannot carry a larger handgun.
SD ammo for CF handguns has gotten very, very good in the last 10-15 years......but I am not aware of any improvements in 22lr ammo other than the hyper-velocity rounds which I do not believe would be best in a M&P 22....perhaps a revolver, don't know.

 

[papersniper]

Although many people are killed with 22's, I don't think anyone here would agree that it is a proper CCW choice. It may be better than nothing, but don't count on much stopping power with it. When nothing else will work, I carry a .380 but 98% of the time I am carrying a 9mm.

You said you acquired a S&W M&P in 9mm as a carry gun, why not just carry it?

Oh, that is my intent, you misinterpreted what I was asking. I do plan to carry the Shield most of the time, but occasionally carrying my Sig 228 or Kel-Tec P11. I avoid carrying anything smaller than a 9mm, although I do very rarely carry a Kel-Tec 32 acp (my old "hide out gun) when something larger is not practical. And I think it's got a bit more punch than the 22lr round.

 

[OldLawman]

Not unless I had a can on it...

Just kidding. Not for self-defense. Offense, maybe. But a real caliber for defense.

 

[papersniper]

The short answer is NO.

There's no reason to carry a .22 for defense, unless that's all you can get.

That's not all we can get.

I'd carry a sock full of nickles before I'd carry a .22; it's a poor choice for obvious reasons. The concept isn't even useful as a thought experiment.

Leave the .22 for plinking/varmint shooting and carry something more substantial.

Gotta ague with you on that one.......I'd rather have the M&P 22 than a sock full of nickels .....much to hard to conceal.

 

[papersniper]

I don't, and would not carry a .22LR, but the reason has less to do with the caliber than with the cartridge.

When I was trying to get my wife into shooting she was very recoil sensitive, so we rented a .22 semi to do some shooting.
Due to the diminutive size of the cartridge we had ftf after ftf, and could not even get through a magazine reliably. My concern would be a failure to feed when it mattered most.

Now a .22magnum revolver would be all together different. That I would have no problem carrying.

I've never had a FTF with my 22lr pistols, but then I've only owned two, and only had about 50 rounds through my new M&P 22c.
Interesting idea on the 22mag revolver. I'm not familiar with them, but I know the 22mag has more power. Do you happen to know how it stack up compared to a 32 acp or 380 acp? My guess is probably better than the first, but worse than the second.

 

[papersniper]

Echo what others say for concealed carry of a .22 plus my compact is as large as a small 9mm so why not carry a more efficient caliber? Plus rimfire cartridges are known to be picky feeders.

One reason I asked is the M&P 22c is quite a bit lighter than my M&P 9mm Shield, which is pretty light itself. But there are other reasons one might carry a smaller/lighter handgun, such as problems manipulating the slide, loading the magazine, etc, etc. I'm not trying to make a case for carrying a 22lr like the M&P 22c, I'm just curious if anyone does it, or knows someone who does.

You also mentioned picky feeders....the two semi-auto 22s I have are both not particular about their diet, but then it's less a concern as I don't plan to carry either of them. Especially the huge Ruger target pistol with red-dot sight!

 

[papersniper]

Not unless I had a can on it...

Just kidding. Not for self-defense. Offense, maybe. But a real caliber for defense.

Offense....good point. There are a lot of "assassin" 22lrs out there!

 

[Protected One]

I've never had a FTF with my 22lr pistols, but then I've only owned two, and only had about 50 rounds through my new M&P 22c.
Interesting idea on the 22mag revolver. I'm not familiar with them, but I know the 22mag has more power. Do you happen to know how it stack up compared to a 32 acp or 380 acp? My guess is probably better than the first, but worse than the second.

Here is a link to a good review of the Ruger .22 Magnum revolver. It's something to consider.

Lightweight, Compact Ruger LCR 22 Magnum Pocket Revolver

 

[NeoBuckeye]

I would not carry anything smaller then a 380.
I do agree that any gun is better than no gun and shot placement is also a factor.
If I had property big enough, and issues like snakes or other creatures were an issue, i might consider carrying something like a Keltec PMR 30, which holds 30 rounds of .22 WMR.

 

[papersniper]

....
I do agree that any gun is better than no gun and shot placement is also a factor.
...

Actually, I think shot placement is probably more important than which caliber.....but for a carry gun, every thing is a compromise.

 

[Arik]

No.

Shot placement IS important but a 22 not something I want to bet my life on.

 

[papersniper]

No.

Shot placement IS important but a 22 not something I want to bet my life on.

Well no, not for me either, but that's not what I am advocating. Heck, I'd rather have a shotgun or carbine as an EDC, but that's just not going to happen, too big and heavy and cannot be concealed, at least not by me.

Surely there are some who carry a 22 lr because that's all they can handle. Compact CF handgun magazines are hard for some to load, recoil can be stout for some, etc, etc. If the choice were caring a larger caliber handgun that a personcould not care for (loading magazines, shot placement, etc) or carrying a small 22 lr that that person could care for, then I think the person would be much better served with the 22.

Now I, and probably you also, can handle just about any handgun, no problem loading, shot placement, etc, yet I choose to carry a 9mm....but I do so knowing that a 40 caliber or 45 acp is probably a better handgun as far as SD goes, but life is a compromise, and for me a 9mm is a good compromise. But, for some, the 22 lr might be their best one....over going without any protection at all. But trust me, I do NOT advocate anyone using a 22lr who can handle something larger.