Just wandering what is the common opinion of carring a .22 for a ccw gun (semi auto or revolver dont matter).There small,inexpensive,acurate,and low cost to practice. After all a small bullet is just as efictive as a larger one with proper placing. Im talking main weapon not a Bug. Just asking for your thoughts since I have gotten a wealth of knowledge from the members here so far.
22 for ccw
- Thread starter Puntmefar
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Says who? I completely disagree with that statement.
With a shot in the eye, straight on, perhaps. A shot to the torso isn't as likely to "stop" a BG as a bigger bullet at the same speed.
For the sake of conversation...
For about the last 16 months, I've been having a few problems with pit bulls. One's just south of my mom's place, one's next door to me, and another has been terrorizing the area where a friend lives.
CCSO Animal Control has been called several times, yet has done very little to remedy the situation.
I'll kill any one of them on sight if they cross onto my property, or onto property owned by my mother or friend. I've mede no secret of that, simply because each of these dogs has proven that it's vicious in nature.
Twice in the last 2 months, I've faced down the one on the south side of me. I was looking over the barrel of my little snub-.38 J-frame, and it was/is loaded with GDHP's. I believe these to be one of the best for this gun, yet I was questioning it's ability to stop a 130+ lb pit bull at 4 feet before that dog could get ahold of me.
Believe me, it's an interesting feelling that doesn't go away very quickly.
Make no mistake, I knew without any doubt I could kill the dog before it did too much major damage, but I was figuring on ending up in the hospital. In the closest encounter, there was a couple walking their little twinkie dog in the background, so I was hesitant to shoot, even though I came almighty close to doing it.
Now back on topic:
I'm VERY sure that I wouldn't have wanted to be holding any .22 LR pistol; much less one of the inexpensive autos that are prone to jam from time to time. A jam could get me killed if the dog attacked, because I might not be able to tap-rack-dig-pound-whatever to get the thing to work.
And I won't even go into the possibility of a misfire.
My wife carries a .22 LR revolver. She suffers from carpal tunnel in both wrists, and it's all she can handle without suffering. In that case, it's certainly better than a sharp stick, and no one's going to rape anyone with a chest full of .22 slugs. Even so, there are situations where it may very well not be enough.
So if someone can shoot something bigger, then I think it's well worth the effort. I've recently started carrying a full sized SA in .45 Colt around the place here, and I'm far more "comfortable" with that over a snub-.38 should I be forced to kill a certain dangerous pooch.
Food for thought, for whatever it's worth.
Daryl
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A cursory examination of firearms development, let alone some experience in shooting stuff, tells us one is NOT as good as another, and there are very good reasons why larger calibers have been developed and used. There is also a large amount of research material freely available regarding the topic. We can argue back and forth regarding the particulars of defensive calibers, and that is fine, but let's at least be realistic about it.
Would I ever carry a .22, yes. Have I, yes. Would I ever consider it to be an acceptable primary defensive arm with other choices available. Lordy no.
The question is not would a guy want to get shot with one, the question is this........Given the choice would you rather get shot in the torso with a .22 or a .357 Magnum. Which one would you think would do more damage. Which one is more likely to be survivable. Answer with honesty and you have your answer.
Would I ever carry a .22, yes. Have I, yes. Would I ever consider it to be an acceptable primary defensive arm with other choices available. Lordy no.
The question is not would a guy want to get shot with one, the question is this........Given the choice would you rather get shot in the torso with a .22 or a .357 Magnum. Which one would you think would do more damage. Which one is more likely to be survivable. Answer with honesty and you have your answer.
Onward Allusion
New member
If that is all you can carry without attracting attention then it's better than empty hands (A LOT BETTER).
.22 can be had in a tiny package that can be concealed pretty darn easily. The same can be said for .22 mags and .25acp.
So if conceal-ability is your number one priority a small caliber is a valid choice.
If aren't trying to hide a gun in hot pants and a tube top, then a slightly larger .32, .380, or 9mm, might be a better choice.
The Kel-Tec P-3AT weighs in a 8.3 ounces. Small package and .380.
So if conceal-ability is your number one priority a small caliber is a valid choice.
If aren't trying to hide a gun in hot pants and a tube top, then a slightly larger .32, .380, or 9mm, might be a better choice.
The Kel-Tec P-3AT weighs in a 8.3 ounces. Small package and .380.
OP here for the record i carry a 9mm the reason im asking is it was brought up to me as a option for my wife the awnsers im getting here are plain and to the point and thats what im looking for 100% blunt uninsulting awnsers. some verry great points have been made keep them coming if you all like the more opinion/facts i get the better choice i can make
lambertsteeth
New member
If it's all you got, it's better than a sharp stick. As far as a 22 being as good as a larger round, not quite. Kind of like saying a tack hammer can drive a nail as well as a 32oz Estwing. IMHO, for the size of most 22, you can buy 380s, or 38spls which are the same size/weight or smaller. I know there are some micro 22s, but a fella like me can't really get my big meathooks to handle them well.
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ElectricHellfire
New member
Better than nothing. There are a plethora of better choices.
OP
Obviously most will say 22lr is not a good SD round, but if I had my little Beretta Bobcat 21a 22 on my CCW permit, I'd carry it from time to time going to Walmart. I can only carry revolvers (any) because that all I qualified with, and you have to qualify with each individual semi. I can carry a S&W 500 8.5", but I can't carry my little Bobcat. Vegas!
TBS, I can unload my 22, 8 shot's in about 2 seconds into somebody. I think against one, maybe two people it would be fine but a gang of BGs might be different, but once shot's are fired most people are going to scramble, so I think most of the time a 22 would work. Most of the time.
Obviously most will say 22lr is not a good SD round, but if I had my little Beretta Bobcat 21a 22 on my CCW permit, I'd carry it from time to time going to Walmart. I can only carry revolvers (any) because that all I qualified with, and you have to qualify with each individual semi. I can carry a S&W 500 8.5", but I can't carry my little Bobcat. Vegas!
TBS, I can unload my 22, 8 shot's in about 2 seconds into somebody. I think against one, maybe two people it would be fine but a gang of BGs might be different, but once shot's are fired most people are going to scramble, so I think most of the time a 22 would work. Most of the time.
Elvishead its good to know that in a pince it could work revolver or semi auto makes no diffrence here all you have to do is qualify doesnt matter what it is with as long as its a handgun it qualifys you for all typs of hand guns in KY (wich was a relife for me when i qualified since im not a revolver fan lol).
orionengnr
New member
Not quite. A .22 may kill someone, but it may take quite a while for the BG to realize he's dead. In the mean time, he may make you dead.
That is why no police department or military uses .22. An assassin may use a .22, if he is shooting someone point blank in the back of the head. Anyone who has to actually engage and exchange fire will use the most effective cartridge available...generally described as the most powerful caliber one can shoot effectively. Again, generally speaking, this ends up being in the 9mm/.40l/.45 range.
A .22 is better than nothing, but comparatively speaking, it's a lot closer to the "pointy stick" end of the spectrum. I'm sure that there are people out there whose physical disabilities preclude anything more powerful than a .22, but I am also imagining that those people are so rare as to be exceptional.
Deaf Smith
New member
Punt,
Here is a thought.
Long time ago Jeff Cooper, yes THE Jeff Cooper, opined that if one could not pack a serious peace (read 1911 .45 ACP), then a good idea was to go in the opposite direction and get a .22 pistol. Not a mini .25 ACP size but a Walther PP or Bersa size .22 pistol.
He felt that with such a weapon and cheap ammo, you could get good enough to hit bottle caps at room distance and put the bullet in the region of the eye socket.
He also felt .32 and .380 pistols were so weak in power and the ammo expensive that the .22 was the better option.
Actually, unless you reload like I do, I think it's is a pretty good option!
Here is a thought.
Long time ago Jeff Cooper, yes THE Jeff Cooper, opined that if one could not pack a serious peace (read 1911 .45 ACP), then a good idea was to go in the opposite direction and get a .22 pistol. Not a mini .25 ACP size but a Walther PP or Bersa size .22 pistol.
He felt that with such a weapon and cheap ammo, you could get good enough to hit bottle caps at room distance and put the bullet in the region of the eye socket.
He also felt .32 and .380 pistols were so weak in power and the ammo expensive that the .22 was the better option.
Actually, unless you reload like I do, I think it's is a pretty good option!
Mike Irwin
Staff
I've carried a Taurus PT-22 on and off for the last 15 years.
It's turbo reliable with Winchester Wildcat ammo, and is nice and accurate, to boot.
It's turbo reliable with Winchester Wildcat ammo, and is nice and accurate, to boot.
The average person can't tell the difference between a .22 and a .45 The mere appearance of a gun normally ends things peacefully 99% of the time. With a .22, a person is much more likely to shoot often, and therefore much more likely to hit what it is they're aiming at. A well placed shot to the forehead with a .22 is much more effective than a bigger round to the forearm. Yes, a .45 makes much bigger holes and delivers much greater energy on it's target. However, the skill of the shooter is much more important than the caliber of gun IMO. All things being equal, I'll take the bigger gun yes. But then nobody likes getting shot, and it would be a huge mistake to underestimate any gun pointed at you.
.22 rimfire ammo fails to fire sometimes. The primer material goes around the edge of the cartridge base and sometimes a spot gets missed for some reason. I certainly wouldn't trust my safety to ammo that might not fire when struck by a firing pin.
The next problem is the inadequate wounding potential. It's a lot better than .25 auto but not much. BTW .25acp ammo IS a centerfire round and therefore more reliable than .22 rimfire. But why use either. Why use anything smaller than .380. Three eighties are tiny guns and pretty effective if shot placement is decent.
The next problem is the inadequate wounding potential. It's a lot better than .25 auto but not much. BTW .25acp ammo IS a centerfire round and therefore more reliable than .22 rimfire. But why use either. Why use anything smaller than .380. Three eighties are tiny guns and pretty effective if shot placement is decent.
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