thoughts on 8 n 9 rd .22 as ccw?

ratrodney · November 19, 2015, 08:11 PM

What would thoughts be on
A 8 or 9 round. 22lr as a ccw gun? I hear the self defense rds are wicked and id say shot pl
Acement would be pretty good. Just runnin ideas n stirrin up some talk. Tnx...Rod

MarkCO · November 19, 2015, 08:34 PM

If that is all you can shoot reliably, it is a little better than a knife. If you can handle a larger caliber, you should.

J_wood · November 19, 2015, 09:16 PM

I just got my ccw and have not yet purchased the gun I will EDC. I am currently carrying a Ruger SR22(10 rnds and a spare mag)with CCI stingers. Obviously not ideal but better then the alternative. I am pretty proficient with it and very confident I can get several rounds on target rather quickly.

johnwilliamson062 · November 19, 2015, 09:49 PM

A revolver only IMO. Still not the best, but better than nothing. I used a P22 when I first got my license as that was my only pistol.

I'd prefer a good knife to be honest.

James K · November 19, 2015, 10:01 PM

A knife aside (lots of folks don't want to get quite that up close and personal, plus it takes nerve, strength, and skill to drive a knife into a human body), a .22 is not the best choice for self defense. The .22 can certainly kill, but it often won't do it fast enough or with enough power to stop an attacker. The idea of self defense is not to cause fatal wounds so an attacker will die a week later in a hospital, it is to stop him immediately and a .22 is just not going to do that reliably.

Jim

Overkill777 · November 19, 2015, 10:37 PM

I agree that 22lr is not what I would choose for defense but I would certainly use it if that's all I had on me. Far more effective than fists or a pocket knife.

22-rimfire · November 19, 2015, 11:17 PM

A 22 is not the best choice, but I have carried my LCR 22LR off an on. I would not choose the SR22P for self defense due to the potential for misfires. Easier and more intuitive to just pull the trigger again with a DA revolver. I usually choose a lightweight 38spl revolver or occasionally my Detective Special in a holster.

Bill DeShivs · November 19, 2015, 11:44 PM

The ONLY sure physical "stop" is a central nervous system shot.
A CNS shot with a .22 is every bit as effective as a .44 magnum.
Unfortunately, penetration and reliability might be a problem with a .22.
If you can put the bullet where it needs to go it will work.

chimo · November 20, 2015, 10:12 AM

If it works for you, it is a good choice.

kilimanjaro · November 20, 2015, 11:16 AM

If you can reliably hit a small target, the .22 is a fair choice. It's light and easy to carry, so always better than a heavier pistol that gets left at home.

The most important thing about CCW is having your weapon with you. Second, is knowing when to use it and when not to use it. Third, is ability to use it effectively. Further down the list is the caliber chosen, and even further down is make and model of the weapon.

Be advised you are not going to be able to reload it, so act accordingly.

22-rimfire · November 20, 2015, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Be advised you are not going to be able to reload it, so act accordingly.

I think a reload is unlikely. I think the reload would often happen AFTER the self defense event. So, yes, having a reload is not a bad thing, but it adds more bulk and weight to carry. One would need to train a lot to be effective with a quick reload in a self defense event that probably lasts seconds. I know that people do, but that has never been my interest.

g.willikers · November 20, 2015, 11:48 AM

The most important aspect of using any weapon is having proficiency with it.
For self defense and surviving a deadly encounter, the choice of gun is probably the least of it.
While the .22 is generally considered to be the weakest of handgun calibers, according to the experts and their statistics, all handguns are less than ideal.
If a .22 is what you have, used to its maximum capability, it'll do.
For many years, when I was more interested in other things, a .22 was my only home defense gun.
It had one advantage over bigger calibers - being able to practice with it in the basement.

USMCGrunt · November 20, 2015, 01:25 PM

Marginally better than a pointy stick (depending on the size of the stick of course) or harsh words but that's about it.
The .22 is a round that can kill a person but it's NOT a good fight STOPPER and there IS a big difference! It's champions will claim a round to the nervous system will produce stops and in that they're correct. However, I would suggest an insane amount of luck is needed to hit a small, moving target that is coming at you, maybe even returning fire of their own while you are crapping your pants trying to get flipper fingers to actually put this glorified ice pick propelled by gun powder into a spot that will produce a stop before the bad guy disembowels you. Uh, ok, good luck with that.

Yeah, I'm going to stick with a cartridge that is a bit more serious than a .22 to defend my life with.

Cheapshooter · November 20, 2015, 01:47 PM

Quote:

I hear the self defense rds are wicked

Show me one even close to as "wicked" as a 38 Spcl, 357 Magnum, 45 Colt, or any number of semi- auto centerfire rounds.
A 22 is better than a sharp stick, but almost anything that begins with 3, 4, or 9 is much better than a rimfire 22

bedbugbilly · November 20, 2015, 01:57 PM

If that's all you have, it's better than nothing. But rule #1 . . don't take a stone to a tank fight.

There are those who will argue that a 22 "will do the job" . . perhaps it will but in how many cases. And, you may be "proficient" . . but how proficient are you when put in to an extremely stressful situation where you have adrenlian pumping though your system and it is "kill or be killed"?

In my work experience in ambulance and in fire rescue, I saw more than my share of gunshot wounds . . . both fatal and non-fatal. Add a perp that's tanked up on drugs and it's a whole different story than someone whoo isn't.

A person can argue about a "well placed shot" and how good of a shot they are . . . in the end, all that is just "hoopla" unless you can carry it out under stressful situations. And if you have never had the experience of being shot at . . and I have . . . I can guarantee you that you have NO idea of how you will react or even if you can keep your wits about you. All of those things are important factors to consider when choosing a handgun/caliber to carry as well as practice, practice and then more practice.

If a person wants to carry a 22 and feels confident in it . . then it is their personal decision and far be it for me criticize or tell them they should not . . . . but before spending money on a 22 . . . please consider all of the factors that are involved. For myself, when I carry, I want a cartridge that I know is going to have some put down power to it to put a quick stop to further threat or violence. And, I would much rather carry one that will do that job . . . and never need it . . . than to carry a caliber that is "iffy" at best and need it to do a job it might not do.

Cosmodragoon · November 20, 2015, 02:38 PM

It's better than nothing. I'd only choose it if "nothing" was the alternative. Obviously, different people have different circumstances.

If recoil is the issue and .38 special is too much, you could pick up something like the new LCR in .327 and just load it with .32 S&W Long. While considered anemic by today's standards, it beats the hell out of a .22 LR. (The Magtech SJHPs are probably your best bet.) In case capacity is the issue, this option at least gets you up to a six-shooter.

Bill DeShivs · November 20, 2015, 03:12 PM

My point is, a non-CNS shot with ANY handgun will not give you a 100% sure stop. You can not rely on bleed-out for a stop-it can take minutes under the best of circumstances. Someone can do you a lot of harm in a minute!

There are psychological stops and pain stops. A physiological stop is a much different thing.

Bigger calibers are better overall, but not very much better-so carrying a huge gun may/may not be an option for you.

Caliber is not a substitute for shot placement.

SIGSHR · November 20, 2015, 03:21 PM

Beats feet, fists and foul language. Only caution I can think of is if you have to pull the trigger "too many times"-makes you look like a sadist.

J_wood · November 20, 2015, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 22-rimfire

A 22 is not the best choice, but I have carried my LCR 22LR off an on. I would not choose the SR22P for self defense due to the potential for misfires. Easier and more intuitive to just pull the trigger again with a DA revolver. I usually choose a lightweight 38spl revolver or occasionally my Detective Special in a holster.

My Ruger runs flawless on cci ammo. Almost perfect on the cheap stuff too.

Jim Watson · November 20, 2015, 04:50 PM

I think the LCR .327 is headed for the title of Least Appreciated Gun... Until After Discontinuance for Lack of Sales. LAG-UADLS.

It is very "tunable" over the wide range of factory loads from .32 S&W, .32 S&W Long, .32 H&R, and 327. And it has, as Colt once advertised for the Detective Special vs the Terrier that all important shot... the sixth one.
It also has the edge of a centerfire caliber which is more reliable and takes less mainspring than a rimfire.

I find the Airweight .38s (and plastic .380s) to be hard kickers.
It is not just me, based on the number of recommendations for self defense with midrange wadcutters I read and hear, there are a lot of people who agree.

I assume S&W has surveyed the market and doesn't think any .32 is worth their trouble in the 21st century. They had a few but they were dressers at 1.5 - 2x the price of a .38. Wonder why those did not sell in quantity?

The Charter Arms Undercoverette .32 H&R might be an option, if you got a good one. I have a .22 Pathfinder and a friend has a .38 Undercover that do just fine. You might be as lucky.

Jim March · November 21, 2015, 04:13 AM

The new Gold Dot ammo for the 22Magnum is an interesting critter. Tuned for 2" to 4" barrel performance, too. There's some eight-shot 22Mag J-class guns that this might work well in, and of course there's NAA minis, the Ruger Single Six series, etc.

kcub · November 21, 2015, 05:33 AM

What if you have more than one assailant?

Pipefighter · November 21, 2015, 06:34 AM

Sometimes it's just about leaving a legacy.

dahermit · November 21, 2015, 06:46 AM

From the accounts I have read in the Rifleman, the perp(s), usually run away when the shooting starts with no correlation to the size of the cartridge being used. Therefore, it would at least seem to be a sufficient tool for the job.

Cheapshooter · November 21, 2015, 06:03 PM

Quote:

, the perp(s), usually run away when the shooting starts

But if they don't I would much prefer to have something more effective than my plinking pistol!

November 19, 2015, 08:34 PM	#2
MarkCO Senior Member Join Date: October 21, 1998 Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 4,307	If that is all you can shoot reliably, it is a little better than a knife. If you can handle a larger caliber, you should. __________________ Good Shooting, MarkCO www.CarbonArms.us

November 19, 2015, 11:44 PM	#8
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 10,981	The ONLY sure physical "stop" is a central nervous system shot. A CNS shot with a .22 is every bit as effective as a .44 magnum. Unfortunately, penetration and reliability might be a problem with a .22. If you can put the bullet where it needs to go it will work. __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com

November 20, 2015, 10:12 AM	#9
chimo Member Join Date: November 19, 2015 Location: Amish country Posts: 56	If it works for you, it is a good choice. __________________ "Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves." -- Willam Pitt

November 20, 2015, 11:48 AM	#12
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	The most important aspect of using any weapon is having proficiency with it. For self defense and surviving a deadly encounter, the choice of gun is probably the least of it. While the .22 is generally considered to be the weakest of handgun calibers, according to the experts and their statistics, all handguns are less than ideal. If a .22 is what you have, used to its maximum capability, it'll do. For many years, when I was more interested in other things, a .22 was my only home defense gun. It had one advantage over bigger calibers - being able to practice with it in the basement. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.” Last edited by g.willikers; November 20, 2015 at 11:56 AM.

November 20, 2015, 01:57 PM	#15
bedbugbilly Senior Member Join Date: November 19, 2009 Posts: 3,287	If that's all you have, it's better than nothing. But rule #1 . . don't take a stone to a tank fight. There are those who will argue that a 22 "will do the job" . . perhaps it will but in how many cases. And, you may be "proficient" . . but how proficient are you when put in to an extremely stressful situation where you have adrenlian pumping though your system and it is "kill or be killed"? In my work experience in ambulance and in fire rescue, I saw more than my share of gunshot wounds . . . both fatal and non-fatal. Add a perp that's tanked up on drugs and it's a whole different story than someone whoo isn't. A person can argue about a "well placed shot" and how good of a shot they are . . . in the end, all that is just "hoopla" unless you can carry it out under stressful situations. And if you have never had the experience of being shot at . . and I have . . . I can guarantee you that you have NO idea of how you will react or even if you can keep your wits about you. All of those things are important factors to consider when choosing a handgun/caliber to carry as well as practice, practice and then more practice. If a person wants to carry a 22 and feels confident in it . . then it is their personal decision and far be it for me criticize or tell them they should not . . . . but before spending money on a 22 . . . please consider all of the factors that are involved. For myself, when I carry, I want a cartridge that I know is going to have some put down power to it to put a quick stop to further threat or violence. And, I would much rather carry one that will do that job . . . and never need it . . . than to carry a caliber that is "iffy" at best and need it to do a job it might not do. __________________ If a pair of '51 Navies were good enough for Billy Hickok, then a single Navy on my right hip is good enough for me . . . besides . . . I'm probably only half as good as he was anyways. Hiram's Rangers Badge #63

November 19, 2015, 08:11 PM	#1
ratrodney Member Join Date: July 4, 2012 Posts: 99	thoughts on 8 n 9 rd .22 as ccw? What would thoughts be on A 8 or 9 round. 22lr as a ccw gun? I hear the self defense rds are wicked and id say shot pl Acement would be pretty good. Just runnin ideas n stirrin up some talk. Tnx...Rod

November 19, 2015, 09:16 PM	#3
J_wood Member Join Date: October 19, 2015 Posts: 23	I just got my ccw and have not yet purchased the gun I will EDC. I am currently carrying a Ruger SR22(10 rnds and a spare mag)with CCI stingers. Obviously not ideal but better then the alternative. I am pretty proficient with it and very confident I can get several rounds on target rather quickly.

November 19, 2015, 09:49 PM	#4
johnwilliamson062 Junior member Join Date: May 16, 2008 Posts: 9,995	A revolver only IMO. Still not the best, but better than nothing. I used a P22 when I first got my license as that was my only pistol. I'd prefer a good knife to be honest.

November 19, 2015, 10:01 PM	#5
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	A knife aside (lots of folks don't want to get quite that up close and personal, plus it takes nerve, strength, and skill to drive a knife into a human body), a .22 is not the best choice for self defense. The .22 can certainly kill, but it often won't do it fast enough or with enough power to stop an attacker. The idea of self defense is not to cause fatal wounds so an attacker will die a week later in a hospital, it is to stop him immediately and a .22 is just not going to do that reliably. Jim

November 19, 2015, 10:37 PM	#6
Overkill777 Senior Member Join Date: January 4, 2015 Posts: 267	I agree that 22lr is not what I would choose for defense but I would certainly use it if that's all I had on me. Far more effective than fists or a pocket knife.

November 19, 2015, 11:17 PM	#7
22-rimfire Senior Member Join Date: February 19, 2005 Location: Tennessee Posts: 5,323	A 22 is not the best choice, but I have carried my LCR 22LR off an on. I would not choose the SR22P for self defense due to the potential for misfires. Easier and more intuitive to just pull the trigger again with a DA revolver. I usually choose a lightweight 38spl revolver or occasionally my Detective Special in a holster.

November 20, 2015, 11:16 AM	#10
kilimanjaro Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2009 Posts: 3,963	If you can reliably hit a small target, the .22 is a fair choice. It's light and easy to carry, so always better than a heavier pistol that gets left at home. The most important thing about CCW is having your weapon with you. Second, is knowing when to use it and when not to use it. Third, is ability to use it effectively. Further down the list is the caliber chosen, and even further down is make and model of the weapon. Be advised you are not going to be able to reload it, so act accordingly.

November 20, 2015, 01:25 PM	#13
USMCGrunt Senior Member Join Date: February 27, 2000 Location: Somewhere in 14T NT Posts: 730	Marginally better than a pointy stick (depending on the size of the stick of course) or harsh words but that's about it. The .22 is a round that can kill a person but it's NOT a good fight STOPPER and there IS a big difference! It's champions will claim a round to the nervous system will produce stops and in that they're correct. However, I would suggest an insane amount of luck is needed to hit a small, moving target that is coming at you, maybe even returning fire of their own while you are crapping your pants trying to get flipper fingers to actually put this glorified ice pick propelled by gun powder into a spot that will produce a stop before the bad guy disembowels you. Uh, ok, good luck with that. Yeah, I'm going to stick with a cartridge that is a bit more serious than a .22 to defend my life with.

November 20, 2015, 02:38 PM	#16
Cosmodragoon Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 2013 Location: Northeastern US Posts: 1,869	It's better than nothing. I'd only choose it if "nothing" was the alternative. Obviously, different people have different circumstances. If recoil is the issue and .38 special is too much, you could pick up something like the new LCR in .327 and just load it with .32 S&W Long. While considered anemic by today's standards, it beats the hell out of a .22 LR. (The Magtech SJHPs are probably your best bet.) In case capacity is the issue, this option at least gets you up to a six-shooter.

November 20, 2015, 03:12 PM	#17
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 10,981	My point is, a non-CNS shot with ANY handgun will not give you a 100% sure stop. You can not rely on bleed-out for a stop-it can take minutes under the best of circumstances. Someone can do you a lot of harm in a minute! There are psychological stops and pain stops. A physiological stop is a much different thing. Bigger calibers are better overall, but not very much better-so carrying a huge gun may/may not be an option for you. Caliber is not a substitute for shot placement. __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com

November 20, 2015, 03:21 PM	#18
SIGSHR Senior Member Join Date: September 13, 2005 Posts: 4,700	Beats feet, fists and foul language. Only caution I can think of is if you have to pull the trigger "too many times"-makes you look like a sadist.

November 20, 2015, 04:50 PM	#20
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,539	I think the LCR .327 is headed for the title of Least Appreciated Gun... Until After Discontinuance for Lack of Sales. LAG-UADLS. It is very "tunable" over the wide range of factory loads from .32 S&W, .32 S&W Long, .32 H&R, and 327. And it has, as Colt once advertised for the Detective Special vs the Terrier that all important shot... the sixth one. It also has the edge of a centerfire caliber which is more reliable and takes less mainspring than a rimfire. I find the Airweight .38s (and plastic .380s) to be hard kickers. It is not just me, based on the number of recommendations for self defense with midrange wadcutters I read and hear, there are a lot of people who agree. I assume S&W has surveyed the market and doesn't think any .32 is worth their trouble in the 21st century. They had a few but they were dressers at 1.5 - 2x the price of a .38. Wonder why those did not sell in quantity? The Charter Arms Undercoverette .32 H&R might be an option, if you got a good one. I have a .22 Pathfinder and a friend has a .38 Undercover that do just fine. You might be as lucky.

November 21, 2015, 04:13 AM	#21
Jim March Senior Member Join Date: February 14, 1999 Location: Pittsburg, CA, USA Posts: 7,417	The new Gold Dot ammo for the 22Magnum is an interesting critter. Tuned for 2" to 4" barrel performance, too. There's some eight-shot 22Mag J-class guns that this might work well in, and of course there's NAA minis, the Ruger Single Six series, etc. __________________ Jim March

November 21, 2015, 05:33 AM	#22
kcub Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2010 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 3,318	What if you have more than one assailant?

November 21, 2015, 06:34 AM	#23
Pipefighter Member Join Date: October 3, 2015 Posts: 26	Sometimes it's just about leaving a legacy. __________________ You can shoot off of any horse one time.

November 21, 2015, 06:46 AM	#24
dahermit Senior Member Join Date: October 28, 2006 Location: South Central Michigan...near Posts: 6,501	From the accounts I have read in the Rifleman, the perp(s), usually run away when the shooting starts with no correlation to the size of the cartridge being used. Therefore, it would at least seem to be a sufficient tool for the job.