.22 Rimfire for Defensive Work?

I can attest that the factory ruger 25 round magazines perform great when clean. Still the RF is more likely to get a misfire.
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I disagree.
Average, cheap ammo is more likely to misfire, but decent rimfire ammo is exceptionally reliable.

Quick examples:
I haven't had a failure to fire with faulty .22 WMR ammo... ever.
I haven't had a failure to fire with faulty Eley-primed .22 LR cases... ever.
I haven't had a failure to fire with a premium CCI .22 LR or .22 Short load... ever.

On the other hand, I've seen factory centerfire handgun loads with no flash hole, messed up cases, the wrong bullet, no powder, or backwards primers more often that I'd care to. ...and more often than I've had a failure to fire with even run-of-the-mill ArmsCor .22 LR.


Rimfire cases are less complicated than centerfire cases. There are fewer variables to cause a problem. As long as the load is using a quality hull (that's primed properly), it will be as reliable as, or more reliable than, centerfire ammo.


Quality is what matters.
Whether it's centerfire, or rimfire, doesn't matter. If it's cheap ammo... you get what you paid for.
 
I don't quite understand the OP. He already has two .38 cal revolvers. If it were me, I'd save the money that I'd spend on a .22 and .22 ammo and just buy some good .38 defensive loads and call it a day.
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OP has a physical limitation -osteoporosis.

Shooting even a .38spl on a regular basis (to stay "sharp") may not be a wise idea.

I've known a couple of people w/osteoporosis & they could end up breaking a bone doing something really mundane - such as unscrewing the lid off a jar.
 
Sport45

  • Quote:
  • Originally Posted by Skans
  • I don't quite understand the OP. He already has two .38 cal revolvers. If it were me, I'd save the money that I'd spend on a .22 and .22 ammo and just buy some good .38 defensive loads and call it a day.
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Me too.

Seems like the obvious answer.
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I think the OP was referring to something with higher capacity for home defense in a possible civil unrest or multiple intruder scenario. A rifle like the 10/22 with 25 to 30 rounds of hyper-velocity 22LR would work fairly well. Maybe not as well as an AK, AR or even a 9mm carbine, but it would definitely work due to the rifle length barrel. The biggest disadvantage is the rimfire aspect, but with reliable ammo it becomes much less of a factor.

I've said this so many times already - a few 40gr 22LR @ ~1,400 fps & ~180-200 lb in the chest of most will at the very least slow them down if not drop 'em dead right there. Take a look at this slo-mo from Brassfetcher and compare it to a high performance 9mm from a handgun. No one can tell me that three CCI 40gr Velocitors in someone's chest ain't gonna kill 'em dead pretty dang quickly or at least make 'em think twice.

22LR:
http://www.brassfetcher.com/index_files/22LRSlowMotion.htm

9mm: Hornady124gr XTP
http://www.brassfetcher.com/index_files/9x19mmSlowMotion.htm

With that said - I would NOT advise on using the 22LR round from a pocket pistol or even a 6" revolver for SD/HD situations (maybe a 6" revolver if it was all I had). Powder just doesn't burn completely in those short barrels.
 
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When did he say that? I thought he said he was keeping the .38's for concealed carry.
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Post #1 - ". My wife and I are going through some very difficult financial times. She has been out of work for over a year and I am on disability"

Post #6 -" I want an LCR. I was thinking about a small auto of some sort, but I have ostioporis (sp) and am concerned about racking a slide".
 
Thanks for all the replies! To clear things up I would like to say that the .22 idea is mainly for home defense/crap-hits-the-fan type shooting. I do carry my .38's from time to time. I ALWAYS have my Kel-Tec .380 in my pocket. I can still shoot my revolvers fine and shoot the little .380 fine. But, I do have some trouble with my wrists. I am worried about being able to rack a slide on an auto. I can do it now, but don't know for how long. The .38's are a bit harsh, but I can manage them. The LCR is a lot more pleasant for me to shoot and I can hit with it a whole lot better. That is why I would like one.

I do have two .22 handguns, but I am wanting to stockpile ammo for my three .22 rifles. I have a Marlin 60, an older (Savage, I think) semi auto that belonged to my father in law, and a Henry lever action. I can afford to shoot and buy more .22 ammo than any other.
 
Ok - now I'm at a bit of a loss.
You own and can use something more substancial than a .22,,,but,, you want to use a .22 for home defense?
 
Like a bunch of us he is getting older and has hand and wrist problems that may soon limit his use of the 38. He wants to stock pile ammo while he still can. 22 is cheaper than 38's. I got that much from his very first post. Not optimum solution but bowing to the realities of the situation. If you think you may have to finally give up the 38 then you want the best 22 round you can get, that would be a high velocity 40 gr solid plated bullet for reliability and maximum effect on a lumpy target with bones in it.

As seen by a dinosaur who cannot shoot the way he used to just 10 years ago. If you live long enough it gets all of us.
 
My .38 is beside my bed. I WILL grab it in case someone breaks in during the night. It would be my first choice!

BUT, I cannot afford to buy up a lot of .38 Special ammo. I can get more ammo for the dollar if I go with .22. That is all I am saying.
 
Here's what I can tell you. The Israeli's have been using .22s for quite some time in the Mosad (The Institute for Intelligence and Special Operations)

Granted, it's not the only ammo that is used by if it's good enough for an elite force I'd say it's pretty good for the regular Joe.
 
post #20; Mossad, .22LR....

I guess No didn't read #20 yet.:rolleyes:

The Israeli Mossad(Not Mosad) is the nation's secret intelligence agency, like the US's CIA or the UK's MI6(SIS). When the Mossad agents use a .22LR it's for close range assassins. The covert ops use a surpressed .22LR target pistol or small revolver then fire several rounds at the head or face.
They may also use other firearms or weapons as required. Intel officers or spec ops often use "sterile" weapons or firearms they can deny. A German agent may use a Uzi with Canadian army 9mmNATO ammunition for example. Or a French operative may use a SIG Sauer P220 .45acp with American 230gr milspec ammunition.

Clyde
 
@ClydeFrog

OK, Mossad, my mistake.

You're right, I didn't read the whole thread.

Point being that if they use .22 at close range and home defense with intruders in your home is close range that makes it a viable caliber.

Worldwide, throughout recent history more people have been killed with a .22 than almost any other caliber. That says something about it as well I would think. I'm including accidental shootings of family members as well as those who accidentally shot themselves and then you also have the suicides that you can figure into that number.

Edit: Most domestic self defense shootings are done at fairly close range. Very seldom do you have firefights across distance that are much greater than an average sized living room. Not saying they don't happen, just saying that they aren't typical.
 
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Here's a point I don't quite understand:

The OP owns a 38 and has said he's comfortable shooting it, despite his medical condition. He says he wants to stock up on ammo for self defense.

Question for the OP: How much self defense shooting do you plan on ever doing? I should think a box of 20 would last for the rest of your life.

If you plan on stocking up on 22 ammo for general use, hunting, whatever, fine, but I definitely would not take the step down from a 38 to a 22 because of ammo costs.
 
The OP owns a 38 and has said he's comfortable shooting it, despite his medical condition. He says he wants to stock up on ammo for self defense.

Question for the OP: How much self defense shooting do you plan on ever doing? I should think a box of 20 would last for the rest of your life.
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I suppose if you never trained it would.
 
PawDaddy,

.22lr is a significantly underestimated round (far more deadly than many people would lead you to believe). That said, it's by no means a first choice SD caliber but it is what it is today and I would not feel the least bit uncomfortable storing some .22lr ammo and making it a key part of my 'repertoire' .38S&W SP. being my main CCW or HD 'bump in the night' gun.

--Happy New Year
 
In a home defense situation the 22 may take a few more round to stop an intent intruder, but given the fact that they will feel the bullet and see the bright flash that comes with shooting 22LR out of a pistol indoors, it will function in that capacity. Obviously larger caliber are better, but most folks don't want to tangle with ANY gun.
 
If you plan to keep a loaded .22LR for defense, make sure the gun is dry and not oiled-up. Any oil at all in the bore or on the ammo will soak into the rimfire round after a time causing a dud in the chamber.
 
Stocking up on SD ammo is kinda a mute point. When SD/HD comes into play you don't need bricks of ammo.

While it definetly makes sense to stock .22lr ammo for range time I wouldn't replace a .38sp on the nightstand with a rimfire. I'd be scrongin 50 or so rounds of centerfire ammo and save them for "in case of emergency".
 
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