Is the .22 useful in self defense?

[PALADIN85020]

Let me go straight to the point. I think the .22 rimfires are definitely useful in many self-defense scenarios. Here's some of my reasoning:

First, .22 handguns are often some of the lightest and most concealable handguns available. You can carry them where larger guns are just not feasible.

Here's a true story. For years now, I have carried a little North American mini-revolver in my pocket. It goes everywhere. Recently in Las Vegas, we decided to eat at the top of the Stratosphere Tower. Unknown to me, they frisk you electronically before admitting you to the top floor.

No problem. They provided me with a cup in which to deposit all my metal objects. I furtively dropped the little revolver into the cup first and then covered it with my car keys, wrist watch, pocket knife and belt buckle. Then I went through the electronic check and then retrieved ALL my items, including the little revolver, which was totally unnoticeable. I don't like to be disarmed anywhere, and as I was unprepared and unwarned about this procedure, I felt justified.

More people have been killed with .22s than with any other caliber. A shot to the head, particularly in the rear where the neck meets the head, is usually quickly fatal. A shot to the eye socket is totally incapacitating. A shot to the groin on a man causes immediate excruciating pain, and all else is likely to be forgotten in the aftermath. Mobs and clandestine organizations use .22s as execution weapons, and a sound-suppressed pistol is feasible with standard velocity ammunition.

At more formal occasions where the bulge of a larger weapon might be noticeable, I wear a very lightweight S&W 8-shot .22 strapped to my ankle. Most other guns feel like anchors there, but not this one:

I suspect that if a firearm is displayed (almost any firearm), it would be an effective deterrent probably 80% of the time or more. No one likes to be shot - with anything. As I have related here on this board, many years ago a .22 standard Ruger saved my bacon and that of my girlfriend one evening when we were approached by a gang of thugs in a truck. On seeing me jack a round into that pistol, they took off in one helluva of a hurry.

Is the .22 the best for self defense? Hell no. Is it useful in a pinch? Damn betcha, and I speak with some experience.

John

 

[max]

I can't argue with you John, much better than nothing.

 

[CajunBass]

I'd certainly think they're a lot better than crying and begging "Please don't hurt me."

My wife carried a Bersa Firestorm in 22 for years. She knew it wasn't the "best." She knew she liked the gun, had confidence in it, and in her ability to shoot it well. When she was ready to move up to something "bigger and better" she did. But in the time she carried that little Bersa, she was a long way from unarmed.

 

[powderburns]

I think you answered your own question.
I agree with the concept that any gun is better than no gun.

 

[mtb1bkr]

I agree with all of your points, and might just go out and get me a smaller 22 once I get to Utah.. What's more scary to me though, and I think it would scare the heck out of anyone trying to mess with you is, that floating pistol!!!

 

[tops]

My brother has a 9 shot, .22 rev. with a 2 in. barrel and a small round grip. I'm thinking it is a High Standard. He knows it is not the same as a real pistol but he says walking into 9 .22 LR would be like walking into a swarm of yellow jackets and nobody can do that. Larry

 

[Straightshooter2]

I think CajunBass used the key word. Confidence. I have a little Beretta .22. While I wouldn't want to try to shoot through 6 layers of clothing including a heavy jacket during the winter with it, I believe I could deliver a head shot within the distance most furballs occur (isn't it 7-10 feet?). Think of it this way, even if it bounced off his skull, a 40gr piece of lead at 1200+ fps is going to give the Swell Old Boy one heck of a headache and slow him down long enough to make my second shot count. If a person is confident with a .22 by all means carry it. If a person is not confident with anything less than a .357, then carry it. Same for a .45. Just don't let whatever you carry make you overconfident. Even a Barrett .50BMG ain't gonna make you invincible.

CW

 

[JayCeeNC]

I also carried a .22LR mini-revolver as a "deep" backup when I worked Narcotics in the 1980's and 1990's. While working the airport detail the screeners and I did a test and found that I could go through the screening portal with it in my back pocket without setting off the alarm.
One of the local Alcohol enforcement agents killed a bad guy back in the 1980's during a parking lot confrontation using a .22Mag High Standard derringer.
.22's will do the job; it's all about shot placement.

 

[Damn Yankee]

Their was a post the just the other day where a guy saved his life with a 22 cal.He and his brother in law were hiking and were attacked by a large brown bear.

One shot to the brother in laws knee and he just walked out of the woods.

 

[brucev]

Re: OP. The .22 LR is useful for defense. I remember reading that when Arab terrorists attacked and killed Israeli Olympic athletes, one of the men used a single-shot target pistol to shoot and kill one of the terrorists with a single shot to the head. For my part, I once worked as a night security guard in a shipyard. After being shot at by some folks doing drug deals, I started carrying a Ruger Mk. II in my pocket. I had almost no money as I was newly married and in seminary. But I needed to keep my job and I was not willing to let criminals scare me off. The Ruger would not have been my first choice for a firefight, but in the dead of night it comforted me to have more than just a watch clock to use against anyone who might attack me. Thankfully, I never had to use it for that purpose. But, I discovered that with a flashlight in my left-hand, I could see the eyes of rats, etc. in the dark and give them a permanent "lights out!" I even managed to nail a sea gull or two that flew to close by my head. Would a .22 LR be ideal. Of course not. But if you can keep your head in a bad situation, a .22 LR can give you an edge... better than say a baseball bat or a watch clock.

 

[roundgunner]

It sure beats throwing rocks!

I never personally carry a 22 for SD but that is becouse I have many other small guns to choose from.

 

[venomballistics]

I still preach the most potent gun you can live with and make that gun work as much as possible. its not always possible to pack a 45, most of the time, yes, all the time no.
for when "no" is in play we must make a few concessions and go down the caliber list until a solution is reached.
in some of the fringe exceptions, a 22 in the hand is worth two 45's in the safe

 

[Erich]

I've worked on cases in which .22 LR bullets killed drunken assailants DRT. Shot placement should be do-able given the fact that you have no excuse not to shoot your .22 until you're precisely accurate with it, though you may need good luck for adequate penetration.

 

[Gunslinger808]

Regardless of caliber, shoots are like a boxing match, never hit them once and then stand back to admire your handywork.
Just keep shooting till they drop or go away.
And me, I'd be double scared of levitating revolvers of any caliber!

ETA:
One of the best (and saddest) displays of what a .22 can do is the dash cam video of the Trooper Coates/Blackburn shoot.
Coates delivered 5 rounds of .357 center mass to Blackburn, who then shot Coates twice with a .22 NAA revolver.
Blackburn survived, Trooper Coates died at the scene.

 

[vytoland]

PALADIN……………….. You are right on target, as usual.

 

[Damn Yankee]

Coates delivered 5 rounds of .357 center mass to Blackburn, who then shot Coates twice with a .22 NAA revolver.

That's why I practice, One to the chest, one to the throat and one to the head.

Stop the heart, stop the airway and delete the computer!!

 

[NKJ nut]

Plan B is...?

That's why I practice, One to the chest, one to the throat and one to the head.

Stop the heart, stop the airway and delete the computer!!

One to the chest, one to the throat and one to the head. Gotcha!! Then what, just step back and say, OK fella, it's your turn now?

Assuming that all three shots connect with chest, throat and head which might not happen regardless of how good of a shot you are; there are other things in the chest besides the heart, the throat contains a few other things beside the air pipe and the head contains stuff that could take a hit and not bring about an immediate shut down.

Just saying; maybe it might be a good thing to plan on doing some more shooting.

 

[johngalt]

Just don't use Remington ammo. I've had a very high rate of duds. CCI has been excellent.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

There have been a number of stories lately of people using the 22LR for self defense, and quite sucessfully. Not my first choice of course, but as Elmer Keith told a reader "Sure beats your fists (Or feet, or foul language).
And as Jeff Cooper said; "First rule of gunfighting-have a gun."

 

[gaucho1]

I agree that the .22 can be very effective.

The super light Smith is sort of the only choice that makes sense as a revolver.

Seems like the ultra light and compact autos have superseded
the similar or larger .22 autos.

A kel-tec size .380 seems to disappear both by weight and
print. A lot of penetration with hardball and good feeding to boot. Grip is small though and probably harder for precise placement.