Best "Defensive" .22LR rounds?

[TitanCi]

Like the title says: what's THE best .22LR "defensive" round? I'm thinking of getting a P22 for my girlfriend (she is okay with 9mm, but I figure .380 ACP would still give her some issues), so I'm wondering: what's the best defensive .22LR? (tried search, no luck)
TIA

[sspen003]

Dude dont rely on a .22 for your girlfriend. It takes a little more getting used to shooting "larger calibers" but its well worth the effort and training if one day it could save her life.

My girlfriend is 5'0 and 100 pounds and she shoots an SP-101 (38 sp). She is not the best shot as she is still learning but she can make nice groups at 50 feet. If I were a bad guy I wouldnt want to be at the end of that barrel.

My guess would be a 380 or at least 9mm. Consider a revolver for ease of use and cleaning.

If you really want to get a .22 I guess I would say go with a hollow point

[usmcchet9296]

Like the title says: what's THE best .22LR "defensive" round? I'm thinking of getting a P22 for my girlfriend (she is okay with 9mm, but I figure .380 ACP would still give her some issues), so I'm wondering: what's the best defensive .22LR? (tried search, no luck)
TIA

None
get her a Keltek 380 or Beretta Tomcat in 32APC
they are small and do more than piss off the bad guy
or go revolver and get a good 38 special

[Gavin Twosome]

Blazer or Remmington HP ...

[bombadillo]

Bersa thunder 9. Obviously in 9mm. Great reliable concealable handgun and easy to shoot. Get her one of those for like $400 and call it a day. Please don't get her a .22lr. I know they will kill somebody but i'd get the minimum of a 9mm with federal HST and keep it that way.

[TitanCi]

Dude dont rely on a .22 for your girlfriend. It takes a little more getting used to shooting "larger calibers" but its well worth the effort and training if one day it could save her life.

that's enough argument for me to go larger than .22! I guess I'll stop looking. for .22 then. Back to finding a .380 then; thanks fellas!

[peekay331]

I would get a .22 with higher velocities, e.g. CCI Stingers, or something like that. Sometimes, the choice isn't between a .22 versus a 9mm, but a .22 versus screaming and running around with cell phone in hand. Faced with those options, I'd take the .22.

Also, you may consider getting a rifle for her. Maybe something like a 9mm or .223 AR? It really almost has no recoil.

[Bird of Fire]

Yeah the wife who you saw previously handles her ruger P89 like a champ. Heavy enough gun to soak up recoil. She still plinks with my MKIII which is excellent cheap-o practice, but she dislikes the 45. A full size 9mm IMO is the hot ticket for her.

[El Gato]

Like the title says: what's THE best .22LR "defensive" round? I'm thinking of getting a P22 for my girlfriend (she is okay with 9mm, but I figure .380 ACP would still give her some issues), so I'm wondering: what's the best defensive .22LR? (tried search, no luck)
TIA

If you are stuck on the 22 thang... which I would personally try to dissuade you of...buy a revolver... that way when the rounds eventually misfire she can simply stroke the trigger again and peg her happy meter...22's misfire... alot... so maybe if you are getting her a walther... buy her like eley olympic grade 22 rounds to reduce the chance of misfires

Personally... I started my wife on a glock 19... she now has an Advantage ARms 22 conversion unit... Oh and after 20+ years of being around grumpy old me... she went from afraid of guns to being a full time firearms instructor who runs our firearms instruction type business... she carries one or two xd 45 tactical's and sometimes a Kahr 9mm... on her.. sometimes all three... usually only two...or sometimes one... we went to a buddies last weekend and shot his Browning Auto. rifle... as in machine gun... she had a blast....(in Nev.)... so start her with something fun... explain every stinkin' detail you can think of until she stops askin' questions... women are most often very interested in the details with guns... enough to drive a man bannanas.... like give her the owners manual to read... it's not illegal to read the instruction manual, I checked... really....

However... teaching them to shoot well can be expensive... she and I went to Thunder Ranch last week for a 5 day class and she shot her AR and her 45 with all of the cops and other super secret agent types there... and shot as well or better .... my ammo budget is shot...

[usmcchet9296]

Dont get me wrong the P22 is on my must get list but as a plinker and training gun
I would eventially get one if I were you so your girlfriend can train and get the basics cheaply

[snobord99]

Haha. And here I was thinking you just wanted another way out of the relationship .

[TitanCi]

^ha ha! not with this one, she'd kill me. this one's a keeper!

The only reason why I would consider a .22 is because she is TINY. her arms are small and she gets tired holding my 226, so I thought: polymer. okay; check Walther P. Then I was worried about caliber (although she is a decent shot at 7-10 yards with 9mm). I just thought a smaller caliber would be better for her to handle. I initially wanted .380, but I thought it would be too close to 9mm, so I figured .22.

I would consider .32ACP but I've only seen it selling a FEW times at Wal Mart.

[supermario]

I would get a .22 with higher velocities, e.g. CCI Stingers, or something like that. Sometimes, the choice isn't between a .22 versus a 9mm, but a .22 versus screaming and running around with cell phone in hand. Faced with those options, I'd take the .22.

Also, you may consider getting a rifle for her. Maybe something like a 9mm or .223 AR? It really almost has no recoil.

+1, A woman comfortable shooting a 22 is more deadly than one that is scared to fire her 9mm, IMHO. My wife has a p22 with CCI Stingers, those lil suckers are nasty. Im sure 380,9mm,38 all have much more stopping power but you want your lady to be handy with it. I have seen my wife and kids fire that 22 and hit bowling pins at 50yds no problem. too me thats more important to be handy with your tool! My wife has got so comfortable, she said she wants to try my glock 19 now. I say get the 22, let her practice and become comfortable, then move up. I dont care what anybody says, I have been just as scared when a person was shooting at me with a 22 and i have been shot at with a 22 rifle, its just as scary as been shot at with a M1
and those are facts...

[professorhard]

CCI stinger would probably be the best choice

[TitanCi]

+1, A woman comfortable shooting a 22 is more deadly than one that is scared to fire her 9mm, IMHO. My wife has a p22 with CCI Stingers, those lil suckers are nasty. Im sure 380,9mm,38 all have much more stopping power but you want your lady to be handy with it. I have seen my wife and kids fire that 22 and hit bowling pins at 50yds no problem. too me thats more important to be handy with your tool! My wife has got so comfortable, she said she wants to try my glock 19 now. I say get the 22, let her practice and become comfortable, then move up. I dont care what anybody says, I have been just as scared when a person was shooting at me with a 22 and i have been shot at with a 22 rifle, its just as scary as been shot at with a M1
and those are facts...

are CCI Stingers HP or ball ammo? I agree with you, but I'm still torn between a P22 and finding a GOOD .380.