.22 RF Revolvers

Z

ZVP

New member
.22 RF Revolvers have sure gained in popularity (though the ammo is still a gouge!) with the current CCW permits. People still are willing to buy 2 guns one for pratice and one for business they say... I think it's one or the other to carry.
Many shooters still follow the premise that if the .22RF is a good CIA snuffgun it's good enough for self defense.
in reality a full sized auto (like a Ruger) is pretty high velocity and deadly but a short, small .22 might not be.
I cannot fault using a .22 as a max concealment gun, I often carry a Beretta 21-A ,22 LR when the situation dictates that I can't carry my Model 36, .38Special.
Close as I could spe'c the Beretta, I chronied 950fps with Winchester Wildcats. that makes 80.1fp energy. Really marginal if at all?
Same of the revolvers but you loose a bit for the barrel gap opening and many only hold 6 shots.
Don;t get me wrong, i'd really like to see more quality small RF Revolvers come out! They make really nice trail guns for hiking in snake country or as a deterrant for feral Dog attacks. They would surely deter a human but might not have the power to stop a crazed attacker!
SO what do we do? Beg for new revolvers or leave well enough alone because of low power? I for one like selection and also use my guns for things other than self-defense.
ZVP
 
ALL handguns have the power to stop a crazed attacker. Depending on several factors. Their level of pain tolerance, their mental state after actually being shot. Their desire to live, over their desire to continue the attack knowing they may get shot again. Lots of ways, and reasons. Even if they are in an aggressive mental state. There is no such thing as knock down power. But being shot, and realizing it will most likely happen again if you continue what you are doing can be a very sobering, mind altering thing.
Not always, but certainly not never.
However, like said many times before, the bigger the hole, and the more of them, the better your chances are.
 
Not quite true!

Lots of misinformation here.

Some will work sometime, some won't other.

Absolutely no telling reaction to gunshot wound under any circumstances.

Paco Kelly reported .22 mag to knee totally stopped aggressive drug dealer.

There have been reports of 9mm killing Alaskan COASTAL brown bears, and reports of multiple .375 H&H being ineffective.

Heavy .44 Mag, .45 Colt, .454 C, .460 Ruger, .475 LB, Numerous .500/.510s are absolute one shot stops, or at least have been.

Ross Seifried's PH in Austraila reported .475 Linebaugh equally effective as .375 H&H ON ASIAN BUFFALO.

No body knows what will happen in any given situation.

FWIW,

Paul
 
Absolutely no telling reaction to gunshot wound under any circumstances.
Click to expand...

I tend to agree with this. I think that it is a matter of what you are comfortable carrying and the frequency of carrying the gun relative to the remote chance you might actually need to defend yourself. At least I suspect that is the case for most of us. If I lived in a bad area, moving in this case would be my choice. However, there are circumstances where people don't move and the situation is often related to moving into what was a reasonably good community and it declines in terms of average income and crime. Older people often face this when they live in cities.

Ferguson MO is a good example where the city declined significantly since the 1970's. Ferguson is a good example as it is an incorportated city within a city so to speak and it's relatively easy to dig up statistics versus have those statistics watered down in a much larger community.

Around the house, it is reasonably easy to choose a handgun (large one) for home defense and have a shotgun handy as well. But when you move away from the house, many are not comfortable carrying a large handgun and the caliber gets smaller to make things more compact or the caliber is such that you are not very proficient with it even at close range.

So, choosing a 22LR is not the worst choice if you live in a safe area, are comfortable with the gun, and are willing to carry the smaller package. Most of us shoot 22's more frequently than centerfires. The Ruger LCR comes to mine. This is a revolver I really like and it is easy to conceal relative to larger handguns. I also like the 38spl version, but it takes a bit of practice to be able to hit anything. One could argue that they can hit close enough at close ranges and go from there. I tend to argue on that basis as well as my standard carry choice is a S&W 442 (38sp), but I sometimes carry the LCR 22 just because I like it. I don't feel undergunned really, but I have never had to defend myself with a gun either. Won't really know until it happens. But I tend to agree with the hole size argument.
 
Last edited:
While I would agree I would want the largest possible caliber to defend myself, there have been countless cases where the smaller calibers (including 22lr) do the job quite nicely. Bobby Kennedy was killed by a 22lr bullet and James Brady was totally incapacitated immediately. These are a couple of the most famous examples but I know of another less well known example of a single 22lr round dropping a 6' 4" 240 lb man. A guy I know was at a range years ago doing some target practice and a friend he was shooting with racks a semi-auto 22lr handgun and it slam fires with the bullet hitting Randy in the abdomen. He said it felt like someone ran a hot poker though him and it dropped him immediately. The round shot through him and lodged deep inside him very near his spinal column. It's still there to this day and he is lucky to be alive.
I guess the point is it not only took the fight out of him, it rendered him tonally helpless.
 
bbq, I'd like to note that none of the 3 examples you gave had to be deterred from a violent attack they were then engaged in .... none were amped up in a killing rage ..... they were all just minding their own and were hit by surprise ..... the first two in the head (CNS hit), and the third, as likely as not, a psychological stop ("I've been shot! I should fall down and remain still until medical attention arrives!").
 
Hello
Most self defense situation's take place within "SIX-FEET". I carry a High Standard deringer chambered in .22 Magnum and feel it is all I will ever need. ;) shooting is one thing but accuracy is final. My High Standard derringer packs nice in my pocket holster and does not print. Regards, Hammer It
 
Ruger now makes the LCR in .22 LR and magnum with a 1.8" barrel. I was actually hoping theyd come out with a 3" model so I could just use it as a plinker. 22 will work if it must, but I prefer a .38 442. I'm a big guy so it fits in my pocket with no issues.
 
I carry a .22 mag revolver but I'm a little more pessimistic than Hammer It. My 351c holds 7 and weighs 12-oz fully loaded. First round is a shot shell for snakes and dogs.
 
I think that 22LR is not a good choice for a self defense caliber. I don't question it's ability to turn back muggers, who aren't looking for a fight. But it may not have the mustard to stop a determined attacker whose goal is you, and not your wallet.

That said, each of us has to decide for ourselves what's a best fit for our circumstances.
 
No handgun has the power to stop a crazed attacker, unless there is a CNS shot.
__________________
Bill DeShivs
www.billdeshivs.com
Click to expand...

Bill,

We agree on this one. I have seen people soaking up a high cap mag of 9mm.

Guys, please don't ask about the ammo used. The shooters were getting away kind of rapidly and would probably have declined an interview. CSI does not exist in the Third World and the victims expired miserably from blood loss.
 
Last edited:
Let's get back to the guns themselves,,,

SO what do we do? Beg for new revolvers or leave well enough alone because of low power? I for one like selection and also use my guns for things other than self-defense.
Click to expand...

There are quite a few decent DA/SA .22 revolvers out there,,,
A person could probably find one to suit them,,,
But they are more expensive than semi's.

Here are the ones I know of that are being made,,,
I'll not try to list the used ones,,,
That would take forever.

Smith & Wesson
  • 617 - 4' or 6" Barrel
  • 317 - Kit Gun 3" Barrel
  • 17 - Masterpiece 6" Barrel
  • 63 - 3" Barrel
  • 43C - 1 7/8" Barrel

Ruger
  • LCR - 1 7/8 Barrel
  • SP-101 4.2" Barrel

Charter Arms
  • Pathfinder 2" or 4" barrel

Taurus
  • 94 - 2", 4", or 5" Barrel
  • 970 - 6" Barrel
  • 990 - 4" or 6" Barrel

Rossi
  • R98 - 4" or 6" Barrel

Alfa Proj (Czechpoint)
  • R241 - 4" Barrel
  • R261 - 6" Barrel

Anyways, there is a selection,,,
Perhaps not as big as one would like,,,
But they are out there and ready for purchase.

Happy searching.

Aarond

.
 
Last edited:
With several shots of Federal Eagle 22 LR hollow point to the body, 1 pound 6 month old roosters did not even limp. But a shot to the head or neck took them down instantly. I shot many from a rest and it was repeatable.

But shooting 10 pound marmots with Quickshock 22LR from the same rifle at longer range, they could never make it to their hole.
I killed a number of these.

One could say birds are tougher than rodents, but shooting Eastern Gray squirrels, I find the neck shot or head shot is needed with wimpy ammo.
I have killed a number of these.

What does it all mean?
There is a world of difference between 22LR HP ammo.
 
Let me be clear that I have been a LEO, but have never been in a gun fight (and I much prefer it that way). But it is interesting how so many people seem to think that if they had to face an armed opponent, they would remain totally cool, aiming carefully at the bad guy's vital areas, and squeezing off just enough shots to stop him, hopefully without lethal effect or even serious injury.

Sorry, but I don't think it happens quite that way.

Jim
 
I don't either. Most people are not going to be cool, calm, and collected when faced with a situation that you judge requires the use of a firearm. That is why I tend to think in terms of hole size, but I still occasionally carry my Ruger LCR for defensive purposes. Often it is because I can't find my S&W 442 at that moment and I don't want to carry anything that is larger. Yeah, I know, it's not good to misplace loaded fireams.
 
A while back I had 30K cash on me and the tiny Beretta 21, 22 RF in my shorts pocket was a comfort! My Chief's Special all steel was too heavy and left aan imprint. The Beretta didn't advertise.
I didn't look like I had money on me, no use advertising carrying a gun that shows.
Sometimes the gun's presence indicates or invites attack.
In this case the .22 worked fine for carry and if needed, qould likely work with headshots and 40 gr solids.
Too bad Society is such that the bad guys are so savvy what to look for...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top