.22 Cal.CCW How Common Really?

Skeets · October 9, 2015, 11:04 PM

I'm amazed at the responses this subject generates.Guys how popular the .22s? TIA,Skeetsp

JERRYS. · October 9, 2015, 11:56 PM

I knew two that ccw'ed a .22lr as their one and only gun.

**JohnKSa** · October 10, 2015, 01:04 AM

My guess is that it's not too uncommon for a person's only handgun to be a .22. I know a few folks off the top of my head who only own one firearm--a .22 pistol.

If they're going to carry a pistol, it's not hard to figure what it will be.

I'll bet that not many folks would admit to it on TFL...

CajunBass · October 10, 2015, 04:45 AM

Just a SWAG, but I would surprise me if a lot of people don't carry a 22. They sure do seem to turn up a lot in the NRA "Armed Citizen" column. As John said, I'll bet for a lot of people it's the only gun they own.

My wife used to carry one. I HAVE carried one just because I liked the little gun.

Ideal? No, but it's a lot better than crying and begging please don't hurt me.

osbornk · October 10, 2015, 10:00 AM

My friend, a Special Ops veteran, carries a Taurus PT22 and is comfortable with it. You have no idea what most people carry or if they carry at all.

JERRYS. · October 10, 2015, 10:40 AM

I knew a lady that survived a stabbing (because of her big boobs she joked)... she carried what I think was a 3" charter arms pathfinder but could have been a s&w 34 (I never got that good of a look at it). she later died of alcoholism.

the other one was a lady as well. she carried a walther pp sized .22. I think it was a walther, blued and all the classic lines. she moved back to Europe about 10 years ago.

other than those two, I never knew of anyone that carried a .22 as their primary defensive weapon.

Cheapshooter · October 10, 2015, 10:57 AM

I think there is a big increase in 22 rimfire CCW due to many first time gun owners/CCW licensees. Mostly because of a "fear" of recoil, and sales people guiding them to the lightest recoiling handgun.

22-rimfire · October 10, 2015, 12:02 PM

On the 22Lr subject.... I have carried my LCR for personal defense at times. Or I carry a 38spl revolver and occasionally a Glock 23 depending on the situation and my mood. Never had to use a gun for self defense, so it is not something I think about all the time. I generally feel perfectly fine without any concealed gun at all. There are exceptions of course and most of those are work related.

willr · October 10, 2015, 01:23 PM

There was an article a couple years ago about 22wmr for self-defense in the 'American Rifleman'. It was not entirely negative. In fact in barrels over 1" in length, it compared quite favorably with some of the popular cals. If you can, look it up for info.
willr

tallball · October 10, 2015, 01:57 PM

Nope. Never did, probably never will. I have 380's and 38's that are small enough for CC. No reason to carry anything less effective.

TailGator · October 10, 2015, 02:00 PM

I suspect that it is more common among the general public than it is among people who are gun hobbyists and join gun discussion forums, perhaps by a considerable margin. I have two different friends who won't consider anything except a .22LR in handguns; neither carry on the person, but both have them in their trucks, and both consider snakes to be the biggest threat they will face.

9x18_Walther · October 10, 2015, 02:03 PM

If that is what the person wants or is comfortable with fine.

Just beg them to buy CCI Mini-Mags or similar.

High quality rimfire ammunition is pretty reliable, but if they load their gun with something like Remington Thunderbolt the risk of a FTF is too high.

Salmoneye · October 10, 2015, 02:11 PM

I slip a Jennings J-22 into my pocket on occasion, especially in the summer in cargo shorts...

Tis an early alloy gun; pre-Zamak...

Bill DeShivs · October 10, 2015, 02:15 PM

There is no pre-Zamak Jennings. They are all made the same way-it's what makes them a Jennings.

**JohnKSa** · October 10, 2015, 05:30 PM

Quote:

There was an article a couple years ago about 22wmr for self-defense in the 'American Rifleman'. It was not entirely negative. In fact in barrels over 1" in length, it compared quite favorably with some of the popular cals.

Bill Jordan spoke and wrote quite favorably about the .22WMR as a self-defense handgun round.

I think that if Ruger would make a full-sized (3" or longer barrel) LCR chambered in .22WMR it would sell like hotcakes as a self-defense gun to folks who don't like centerfire recoil in a light handgun.

johnwilliamson062 · October 10, 2015, 06:57 PM

I don't carry a gun all the time. I often wonder if I would carry more if I purchased a decent small DA 22lr revolver. If one chamber doesn't fire you just pull again. In an 8 shot revolver the chances of having two failures is less than having a failure in most semi-autos, so you have pretty much guaranteed 7 guaranteed shots. That is a whole lot of gun in most domestic situations. Enough for every situation in 99% of our lives.

Of course, I just wish Ohio would let me carry a decent knife with my CCW.

lechiffre · October 11, 2015, 01:47 PM

For a brief time I carried a Beretta 21a. It was the only gun I had at the time.

Lee6113 · October 11, 2015, 02:01 PM

Today I'm carrying probably the worst option I could: a cobra derringer chambered in .22lr. It's got two shots and the shells stick in the barrel after being fired.

Why am I carrying this novelty you ask? Because we only own two guns right now with this being the second (I got it for fun, only $100), and my wife has the XD mod2. Also I highly doubt I need to carry at all here, considering the building I'm at has its own security. But I'd rather have something on me than nothing.

Yeah, we're working on getting another cc gun.

Model12Win · October 11, 2015, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Yeah, we're working on getting another cc gun.

That's a GOOD thing!!

I sometimes carry an NAA mini as a BUG. Not bad guns. A .22 in the face/eyes/throat/nads/ovaries will take the fight out of anyone.

amd6547 · October 11, 2015, 03:18 PM

I occasionally slip my Ruger SR22 in my belt with a kydex holster.
This pistol has been perfectly reliable and very accurate. At 12yds, I can rapid fire all 10rds into a space the size of your nose in seconds.
Sure I have bigger calibers I can carry and often do. But I don't feel unarmed with a reliable accurate 22.

Doc Holliday 1950 · October 11, 2015, 04:22 PM

Great post Skeets,
Before getting our Rugers, one of us
Always carried our 22 5 shot mag.
Had it for years.
Doc

Kreyzhorse · October 11, 2015, 08:53 PM

I've always looked as at the .25 ACP as a more reliable version of the .22 LR.

At that to the OP and the responses will go up, a little bit anyway. I do occasionally carry my Colt 1908 Vest Pocket as a CCW.

bbqbob51 · October 11, 2015, 10:09 PM

I carry a 38spl revolver and I would be a bit uncomfortable carrying a similar handgun chambered in 22lr. I would feel I needed more firepower. I suppose it would work in just about every situation most of us would encounter in civilian life as a lifesaver but who knows. I wouldn't feel the same about 22mag, I think it would work pretty well and would give me an extra shot or two over my 5 shot 38, depending on the manufacturer.
Then again there are those out there who feel under gunned if their firearm isn't chambered in a caliber that starts with a 4!

Salmoneye · October 12, 2015, 07:06 AM

Quote:

There is no pre-Zamak Jennings. They are all made the same way-it's what makes them a Jennings.

I was suffering under the delusion that the early guns with the 'horizontal safety' were 'Pre-ZAMAK'...

22-rimfire · October 12, 2015, 12:19 PM

Quote:

I've always looked as at the .25 ACP as a more reliable version of the .22 LR.

I feel the same way. I felt if I chose to be "under powered", then a 22LR was just fine with me. For me, a self defense thing is or its need is a very uncommon event. Sure I'd like to be heavily armed if it ever happened, but it never bothered me particularly if it was only a 22LR that I was packing as long as I was fairly confident with the ammunition and the functionality of the gun. I find carrying a concealed gun to be a pain in the butt overall. But yes, I have other choices than 22LR.

October 9, 2015, 11:04 PM	#1
Skeets Member in memoriam Join Date: April 6, 2015 Location: Indiana Posts: 583	.22 Cal.CCW How Common Really? I'm amazed at the responses this subject generates.Guys how popular the .22s? TIA,Skeetsp __________________ Skeets "Over Kill Never Fails"

October 9, 2015, 11:56 PM	#2
JERRYS. Senior Member Join Date: September 23, 2013 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,969	I knew two that ccw'ed a .22lr as their one and only gun. Last edited by JERRYS.; October 10, 2015 at 06:57 AM.

October 10, 2015, 01:04 AM	#3
JohnKSa Staff Join Date: February 12, 2001 Location: DFW Area Posts: 24,989	My guess is that it's not too uncommon for a person's only handgun to be a .22. I know a few folks off the top of my head who only own one firearm--a .22 pistol. If they're going to carry a pistol, it's not hard to figure what it will be. I'll bet that not many folks would admit to it on TFL... __________________ Do you know about the TEXAS State Rifle Association?

October 10, 2015, 04:45 AM	#4
CajunBass Senior Member Join Date: May 6, 2005 Location: North Chesterfield, Virginia Posts: 4,767	Just a SWAG, but I would surprise me if a lot of people don't carry a 22. They sure do seem to turn up a lot in the NRA "Armed Citizen" column. As John said, I'll bet for a lot of people it's the only gun they own. My wife used to carry one. I HAVE carried one just because I liked the little gun. Ideal? No, but it's a lot better than crying and begging please don't hurt me. __________________ For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16 (NKJV)

October 10, 2015, 10:57 AM	#7
Cheapshooter Senior Member Join Date: December 2, 2007 Location: Missouri Posts: 8,306	I think there is a big increase in 22 rimfire CCW due to many first time gun owners/CCW licensees. Mostly because of a "fear" of recoil, and sales people guiding them to the lightest recoiling handgun. __________________ Cheapshooter's rules of gun ownership #1: NEVER SELL OR TRADE ANYTHING!

October 10, 2015, 10:00 AM	#5
osbornk Senior Member Join Date: August 11, 2012 Location: Mountains of Appalachia Posts: 1,598	My friend, a Special Ops veteran, carries a Taurus PT22 and is comfortable with it. You have no idea what most people carry or if they carry at all.

October 10, 2015, 10:40 AM	#6
JERRYS. Senior Member Join Date: September 23, 2013 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,969	I knew a lady that survived a stabbing (because of her big boobs she joked)... she carried what I think was a 3" charter arms pathfinder but could have been a s&w 34 (I never got that good of a look at it). she later died of alcoholism. the other one was a lady as well. she carried a walther pp sized .22. I think it was a walther, blued and all the classic lines. she moved back to Europe about 10 years ago. other than those two, I never knew of anyone that carried a .22 as their primary defensive weapon.

October 10, 2015, 12:02 PM	#8
22-rimfire Senior Member Join Date: February 19, 2005 Location: Tennessee Posts: 5,323	On the 22Lr subject.... I have carried my LCR for personal defense at times. Or I carry a 38spl revolver and occasionally a Glock 23 depending on the situation and my mood. Never had to use a gun for self defense, so it is not something I think about all the time. I generally feel perfectly fine without any concealed gun at all. There are exceptions of course and most of those are work related.

October 10, 2015, 01:23 PM	#9
willr Senior Member Join Date: July 23, 2006 Posts: 356	There was an article a couple years ago about 22wmr for self-defense in the 'American Rifleman'. It was not entirely negative. In fact in barrels over 1" in length, it compared quite favorably with some of the popular cals. If you can, look it up for info. willr

October 10, 2015, 01:57 PM	#10
tallball Senior Member Join Date: October 17, 2014 Posts: 2,444	Nope. Never did, probably never will. I have 380's and 38's that are small enough for CC. No reason to carry anything less effective.

October 10, 2015, 02:00 PM	#11
TailGator Senior Member Join Date: May 8, 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 3,787	I suspect that it is more common among the general public than it is among people who are gun hobbyists and join gun discussion forums, perhaps by a considerable margin. I have two different friends who won't consider anything except a .22LR in handguns; neither carry on the person, but both have them in their trucks, and both consider snakes to be the biggest threat they will face.

October 10, 2015, 02:03 PM	#12
9x18_Walther Senior Member Join Date: June 2, 2015 Posts: 500	If that is what the person wants or is comfortable with fine. Just beg them to buy CCI Mini-Mags or similar. High quality rimfire ammunition is pretty reliable, but if they load their gun with something like Remington Thunderbolt the risk of a FTF is too high.

October 10, 2015, 02:11 PM	#13
Salmoneye Senior Member Join Date: December 31, 2011 Location: Vermont Posts: 2,076	I slip a Jennings J-22 into my pocket on occasion, especially in the summer in cargo shorts... Tis an early alloy gun; pre-Zamak...

October 10, 2015, 02:15 PM	#14
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 10,985	There is no pre-Zamak Jennings. They are all made the same way-it's what makes them a Jennings. __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com

October 10, 2015, 06:57 PM	#16
johnwilliamson062 Junior member Join Date: May 16, 2008 Posts: 9,995	I don't carry a gun all the time. I often wonder if I would carry more if I purchased a decent small DA 22lr revolver. If one chamber doesn't fire you just pull again. In an 8 shot revolver the chances of having two failures is less than having a failure in most semi-autos, so you have pretty much guaranteed 7 guaranteed shots. That is a whole lot of gun in most domestic situations. Enough for every situation in 99% of our lives. Of course, I just wish Ohio would let me carry a decent knife with my CCW.

October 11, 2015, 01:47 PM	#17
lechiffre Senior Member Join Date: February 3, 2008 Location: phoenix,az Posts: 513	For a brief time I carried a Beretta 21a. It was the only gun I had at the time. __________________ if God hadn't meant us to shoot he wouldn't have given us trigger fingers do the interns get glocks ?

October 11, 2015, 02:01 PM	#18
Lee6113 Senior Member Join Date: June 14, 2015 Location: Washington State Posts: 248	Today I'm carrying probably the worst option I could: a cobra derringer chambered in .22lr. It's got two shots and the shells stick in the barrel after being fired. Why am I carrying this novelty you ask? Because we only own two guns right now with this being the second (I got it for fun, only $100), and my wife has the XD mod2. Also I highly doubt I need to carry at all here, considering the building I'm at has its own security. But I'd rather have something on me than nothing. Yeah, we're working on getting another cc gun.

October 11, 2015, 03:18 PM	#20
amd6547 Senior Member Join Date: May 27, 2006 Posts: 2,313	I occasionally slip my Ruger SR22 in my belt with a kydex holster. This pistol has been perfectly reliable and very accurate. At 12yds, I can rapid fire all 10rds into a space the size of your nose in seconds. Sure I have bigger calibers I can carry and often do. But I don't feel unarmed with a reliable accurate 22. __________________ The past is gone...the future may never happen. Be Here Now. Last edited by amd6547; October 11, 2015 at 04:40 PM.

October 11, 2015, 04:22 PM	#21
Doc Holliday 1950 Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2014 Location: Bout as south as it gets Posts: 1,238	Great post Skeets, Before getting our Rugers, one of us Always carried our 22 5 shot mag. Had it for years. Doc

October 11, 2015, 08:53 PM	#22
Kreyzhorse Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2006 Location: NKY Posts: 12,463	I've always looked as at the .25 ACP as a more reliable version of the .22 LR. At that to the OP and the responses will go up, a little bit anyway. I do occasionally carry my Colt 1908 Vest Pocket as a CCW. __________________ "He who laughs last, laughs dead." Homer Simpson

October 11, 2015, 10:09 PM	#23
bbqbob51 Senior Member Join Date: November 6, 2005 Posts: 775	I carry a 38spl revolver and I would be a bit uncomfortable carrying a similar handgun chambered in 22lr. I would feel I needed more firepower. I suppose it would work in just about every situation most of us would encounter in civilian life as a lifesaver but who knows. I wouldn't feel the same about 22mag, I think it would work pretty well and would give me an extra shot or two over my 5 shot 38, depending on the manufacturer. Then again there are those out there who feel under gunned if their firearm isn't chambered in a caliber that starts with a 4!