Best "Defensive" .22LR rounds?

[SCMA-1]

I'm a woman and I do NOT recommend a .38 revolver. They're generally unpleasant to shoot so she'll never want to practice. I don't know why so many guys think this is the best gun for a woman! Sheesh!

I think a perfect first gun for self protection is the Glock 19. It's generally small enough even for nearly any woman's hands, but not so small that it wants to jump out of your hands (like the .38 and the .380's often do!).

It's hammerless, too, which is good for newbies. It's reliable, easy to clean, etc.

You can also get an Advantage Arms .22 conversion kit for it so she can practice on cheap ammo. The Glock with the AA actually makes a very nice .22 pistol. Yeah, it's pricey, but gives the Glocks more versatility.

Just, please, please don't fall for the .38 revolver. She'd be better off with a .22 with some of those segmented hollow points from CCI. They blaze at over 1600 fps and break up into 3 pieces. It's not as good as a larger caliber, but any gun is better than no gun!

Oh, and by the way, just because my screen-name is Rimfire, I don't just fire .22's. My home defense weapon (besides the Rossi coach gun) is a Sig P220 (.45).

Continued self defense recommendation of a revolver for women shooters is just ridiculous if not downright sexist. The claim that revolvers are more suitable for women to operate because of their "simplicity" is quite insulting to their intelligence and holds no merit. In fact the mechanical/dimensional disadvantages of a revolver as it relates to a woman's relative size/strength disparity to men makes the recommendation even less valid. I've trained dozens of women shooters over the last 15 years as an NRA instructor and I have yet to find one female (or male for that matter) that can shoot a revolver (double action) better than a good semi-auto. Every female shooter I have trained over the years has been given the opportunity to fire revolvers along side semi-autos and all have eventually chosen a semi-auto for their self defense weapon based on superior performance with the semi-auto.

Although double action revolvers CAN be fired in single action mode, this is a no-no for self defense because of the hair trigger nature of single action so that revolver training with emphasis on personal defense should always be done in the double action mode. The double action revolver is simply an older handgun design that has been surpassed by the modern semi-auto for functionality although revolvers are just fine for all sorts of purposes (ie, hunting, sport shooting, etc.). It's kind of like comparing the bicycle to the automobile; the bicycle still has it's appeal (good exercise, nostalgia, low cost, etc.) but for pure transportation functionality, it just can't compete with the automobile.

SCMA-1

[CSACANNONEER]

Continued self defense recommendation of a revolver for women shooters is just ridiculous if not downright sexist.

I'm glad that I recommend a wheel gun for SD to everyone! I have seen too many mall ninja types not have the muscle memory to quickly solve a FTF/FTE when they are under the stress of a timer. So, it would follow that with the stress of a SD shooting, any non-trained, well practiced shooter could have a serious problem with a pistol. A DA revovler will just cycle to the next round and fire when you pull the trigger. So, how can my arguement be seen as sexist?

[SCMA-1]

I'm glad that I recommend a wheel gun for SD to everyone! I have seen too many mall ninja types not have the muscle memory to quickly solve a FTF/FTE when they are under the stress of a timer. So, it would follow that with the stress of a SD shooting, any non-trained, well practiced shooter could have a serious problem with a pistol. A DA revovler will just cycle to the next round and fire when you pull the trigger. So, how can my arguement be seen as sexist?

There is no need for you to take my statement personally; most "advice" involving revolvers for women are given by those who have not attempted to analyze the situation as you have and those are whom my comment is directed towards. Additionally, that type of advice is most often predicated by the blindly parroted and sexist assertion that a simple device such as a revolver as opposed to "complex" semi auto is more suitable to women shooters.

As far as semi-auto malfunctions are concerned, just as everything in life, there is a caveat. Revolvers DO malfunction, the nature of which typically renders the weapon inoperable unlike the vast majority of semi-auto malfunctions which can be remedied by anyone with proper training. I've had primers back out of revolver ammunition due to overpressure or loose fitting primer/pockets both of which has happened with not only reloaded ammunition but also with factory loads. Just as it is incumbent upon the revolver user to go to the range and establish reliability of his/her equipment with their ammunition of choice, it is also the responsibility of the semi-auto owner to pre-determine which ammunition is reliable enough to utilize for defensive purposes as well as the proper maintenance of their firearm to minimize the chances of malfunction at inopportune times.

The debate over the relative reliability of semi-autos vs. revolvers is one that has long been settled. Practically all modern firearms in use by military and LE are of the auto loading variety. There are female LEO's and service members all over the world who successfully carry and employ their semi-auto sidearms daily which just doesn't support the notion that females are better suited to the use of "simple" revolvers. Sex has nothing to do with the effective and reliable use of a weapon regardless of the design; it is training, practice and the proper selection of suitable ammunition that accomplishes this.

SCMA-1

[CSACANNONEER]

I didn't really take your post personally. However, I did feel the need to point out the fact that WITHOUT proper training and enough practice to develop muscle memory, the average non-shooter who just wants a bedside gun that he/she can rely on, should consider a wheelgun. I have only experienced revolver jams with C&Bs so, I hadn't ever thought of primers backing out. As far as a revolver for a women goes, I will say that many women and smaller men tend to limp wrist pistols and end up with stove pipes. I think we can both agree that the real question isn't about what kind of handgun to get but, how much training and practice one should have, with their gun of choice, before they trust their life to it. BTW, some of the best competitive shooters I know are women!

[SCMA-1]

I didn't really take your post personally. However, I did feel the need to point out the fact that WITHOUT proper training and enough practice to develop muscle memory, the average non-shooter who just wants a bedside gun that he/she can rely on, should consider a wheelgun. I have only experienced revolver jams with C&Bs so, I hadn't ever thought of primers backing out. As far as a revolver for a women goes, I will say that many women and smaller men tend to limp wrist pistols and end up with stove pipes. I think we can both agree that the real question isn't about what kind of handgun to get but, how much training and practice one should have, with their gun of choice, before they trust their life to it. BTW, some of the best competitive shooters I know are women!

Yes, absolutely; it's all about training and practice regardless of the tool or the gender just as I summarized in my last sentence. As an instructor, it's my obligation to emphasize this aspect of gun ownership, not merely what tool to recommend. I too have shot with and against many female shooters who will easily beat me on any given day.

SCMA-1

[lehn20]

Plenty of people have died from 22s.

[rg_1111@yahoo.com]

P22 NO. A .22 revolver yes. Revolvers don't stove pipe or FTF. Remember It's always better to have six to ten hits from a .22 than a bunch of misses from a .380, 9MM or .38. If they need to shoot someone there going to be nervous and shaken a little.
A .22 can be deadly with well placed shots.
Federal hollow points.

[Asphodel]

I'd say, as emphatically as I'm able, that the emergency self-defence weapon for a woman of small stature who hasn't a great deal of experience with guns, should be a best quality double-action revolver.

The small-frame Smith shown in an earlier posting would be a reasonable choice, as would any of the small-frame Smith 22's.

The all-important consideration is practice, practice, and more practice, until the 'instinct' and 'muscle-memory' have been formed. when those have been formed, the only decision the user must make is the 'must fire now' decision.

The relatively low noise level, nil recoil, and low cost of rounds will make it convenient for her to practice, practice, and practice, but she must do whatever it takes.....for her.....to find the willingness to fire on a human assailant, should it become unavoidable.

If this emotional issue.....and don't ever under-estimate this issue..... isn't positively settled within her, and she were to 'freeze' in panic, no gun, whatever its capability, would be of any use.

cheers

Carla

[stix213]

Do no under estimate 22 LR rounds. I see a LOT of 22LR bullets recovered from the coroner's office during autopsy.

You are confusing the ability to kill with stopping power - they are two completely different things.

If someone is attacking you and you are using a .22LR as defense, it is entirely likely that you will pump a few rounds into the attacker only for him to die after he kills you. Yes he still ends up in the coroner's office... but lying right next to you because your round lacked the stopping power needed to save your own life.

I can tell you that if I ever needed to use my GSG-5 in self defense, I'd be going for headshots cause I don't see it saving me any other way...... although my Saiga x39 is currently my go to self defense weapon in the unlikely chance I needed one, which will be effective hitting anywhere.