Is the .22 useful in self defense?

[medxam]

I have posted my experience with various caliber gunshot wounds on this forum previously, BUT, I will repeat them again for the newcomers. In my 40+ years as a forensic pathologist and medical examiner, I have examined several thousand gun shot wounds and dug out many a projectile.

In the "old days", early sixty's and seventy's, the vast majority of fatal gunshot wounds were from .22 cal. projectiles. That trend has changed with the proliferation of semi-automatic pistols, especially in .380 cal and 9mm, which most of the people involved in the drug trade value so highly.

.45 cal GSW deaths have also increased due to the new found popularity of the 1911 pistols AND the fact that so many LEO's are now armed with them.

The .22 cal. round is frequently fatal if it strikes a vital organ. Head shots are almost fatal if the round penetrates the cranial cavity. Also if the projectile penetrates a major blood vessel, exsanguination frequently occurs. The major problem with using a .22 cal. as a defensive round is that it has no "knock-down" or stopping power, unless it is a head shot, as opposed to the.45 cal or other larger and more powerful projectiles.

I still support the theories that it is better to be armed with a .22 cal. than nothing. Also, as others have posted, many people can and do shoot a .22 cal. handgun extremely well, probably from more practice and from less fear of recoil. There is no question that one can get back on target for a second shot after firing a .22 cal. handgun than the larger calibers with their inherent recoil.

Just an old man's thoughts! I prefer my 696 .44 Special with a small light weight .22 cal. tucked away in a pocket or some other location. I also support the theory that if you do carry a .22 cal, that you load it with the VERY best ammo that you can buy!

"Be careful out there!"

medxam

 

[jkc]

A family friend who was our county's only surgeon and always on call for ER duty once remarked, as medxam has observed, that most of the fatal gunshot wounds he saw were .22 rimfire head shots. He explained that skull splinters were almost always involved in the damage, and opined that .22s were simply more abundant than other calibers. Since, so far as little about homicides was ever publicized, these were probably mostly domestic violence incidents rather than robberies,or etc.

 

[jws1006]

I live in a small town and supposedly 30+ years ago a man broke in on a little old lady.I know it happened and she shot him with a .22 and killed him .
The legend is it hit his collar bone and went down and pierced one of his "jewels".

 

[chief38]

If you were on a sinking cruise ship 500 miles out at Sea and all you had was a life preserver it would help, but would be now where close to or as useful as a fully stocked life boat.

A .22 will definitely kill someone, but the purpose of shooting a perp. is not necessarily to kill them, but to immediately STOP them from what they are trying to do to you. If they happen to expire an hour or two later would be a moot point if they have already killed, maimed or violated someone. In that department the .22 LR is not a RELIABLE man stopper IMHO. Again, if that was all you had it is certainly better than a can of mace.

Chief38

 

[mhakel]

Just my thought.
In my right front pocket rests a NAA Pug 22 mag. I feel that I'am armed
to the point that I would be secure in most non invited meetings. I picture not needing a gun unless the bad guy is in my face with his intent being to grab me. At that point I'll reach into my pocket and retrive my Pug and stick it up his nose fire. No matter what the sitution is, in all reality you will have to be able to justify the shooting with the law. I feel a shot up the nose will or should indicate that I felt my life was in danger, he was too close not to be trouble.
I vote for the pocket NAA 22 mag Pug, besides it will look cute sitting on the court room table.

 

[oldman45]

Certainly there have been some valid points made that cannot be disputed.

Though I may agree with the points made, I disagree with carrying a .22 for self defense.

Over the years, I have found many times there was a druggie or larger size individual and a .22 did not do anything to get their attention, other than to make them madder.

If you can carry a .22 handgun, you can carry a .38. If you can carry a .22, you can carry a .44mag derringer. There are many large caliber guns in small sizes. I have a airweight S&W .38 spec that fits very nicely in my front pocket. I also own a few large caliber derringers. Just because I own them does not mean I intend to carry them for self defense.

I own a full size luxury auto but I am not going to try to pull my horse trailer with it. My one ton truck does that nicely. The same with guns. Because you have a gun does not mean it is suited for what you want it to do for you.

A .22 round is subject to bouncing off bone and not even penetrate the body organs.

Many victims shot by a .22 drive themselves to seek medical attention. Many others do not realize they were even shot for a while.

With very little effort, a person can carry a sufficiently powered handgun in total concealment. That is, if they want to do so. Some just rather take the easy way out.

 

[Pete99004]

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

John - I always enjoy your posts! I have to ask, how did you do this photo - super imposed or air brushed or ?? - it's great and good post as well.

Pete

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

There is Charlie Askins' description of the belly gun-"You put it against your oppnent's belly and pull the trigger!" Used with in its limitations
a 22 can be quite effective.

 

[PALADIN85020]

John - I always enjoy your posts! I have to ask, how did you do this photo - super imposed or air brushed or ?? - it's great and good post as well.

Pete

Pete,

That's an "Airlite" revolver. Note that there are no cartridges in it. When loaded, it gently settles to ground and can be carried with no fear of it floating away...

I'll PM you to explain the magic, OK?

John

 

[venomballistics]

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.

chest chest head back to chest and string em up till the slide locks if one of the first three didnt work

 

[truckemup97]

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?


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

Maybe it's like on the shampoo bottle. "One to the chest, one to the throat and one to the head. Repeat."

 

[guy22]

This has been beaten to death.

I carry a very slim 3" blade pocket knife at all times. If I was threatened, this was all I had, would I use it??? Yes
Would it be the best knife too use??? No

Can a 3" blade kill you??? Yes

Use what you got!!!

JMHO: Guy22

 

[reerc]

Now THAT is a lightweight pistol!



A friend has got me to thinking about the new Ruger LCR in .22, would definitely have a spot in my carry rotation.