the original question.What variables are we allowed to consider?
I mean this is not a minor difference in noise we are discussing. The 22 magnum is LOUD. For me that is not the deciding factor but its a valid variable of discussion.
the original question.What variables are we allowed to consider?
I mean this is not a minor difference in noise we are discussing. The 22 magnum is LOUD. For me that is not the deciding factor but its a valid variable of discussion.
.22 mag has some decent rounds for self defense and can be found most anywhere, but its a rimfire. .32 Long costs about the same per round, but is harder to find, however it is centerfire.
This is very true and in 2016 I bought a revolver that had a .22 LR and .22 Mag cylinder. At that time getting LR was easy enough, but specific .22 Mag ammo like Hornady Critical Defense and Speer Gold Dot was impossible and that didn't change for a year.I know you listed this as a premise but availability only becomes a factor if it is virtually zero. Several years ago during one of the scares finding .22 Magnum, even ordering it online, became a real problem and that scares me in regards to the round. .32 might be harder to find locally but I do not recall an instance where one could not even order it.
If you want the answer to be the .22 it can be because there is nothing wrong with it.