Best round for self defense

[Lead Waster]

Oh yeah, don't discount pepper spray as a valid in-home defensive option! Sure, it will fill your house with choking spray, but the perp will get the bulk of it, then smack him in the face with the butt of that 10/22 and kick him out the door while you call the cops!

[D-rek07]

odds are, unless you TRAIN diligently, with your .44 mag, 45 ACP etc in the same environment you anticipate having to use it in, you're gonna be shooting BLIND and DEAF after the first shot.

I'm just curious, why would you be blind after the first shot?

[donw]

I'm just curious, why would you be blind after the first shot?

muzzzle 'flash' in a dark/semi-dark room...

[sholling]

A .22LR will kill, yes, but it won't provide knock-down power. In a SD-type situation, you want knock-down power.

^This!^

A 22LR will kill if you get a perfect hit in the perfect spot but it may take a while and the bad guy may just choose to beat you to death with that 22 or see how far he can shove it up where the sun don't shine on you before he dies. If you must use a 22LR I'd go for maximum bullet weight in a solid nose bullet because weight trumps velocity when you need penetration. And with a 22LR you're going to need all the penetration you can get.

My advice is to buy a Mossberg 500 or 590 shotgun on sale and stock up on low recoil 00 buck ammo. Or better yet save up for a newer Mini-14.

[Turo]

muzzzle 'flash' in a dark/semi-dark room...

Have you ever shot a firearm in a dark room? Muzzle flash isn't like a super bright camera flash bulb here. It's a dull orange flame that lasts for less than a tenth of a second. Nobody is going to be "blinded" by firing a gun in a dark room, unless you happen to hit them in the eye. This is especially true of the shooter, as 90% of the "flash" is obscured from direct view by the gun itself.

Also, a loud gunshot won't make somebody deaf instantly. Yes, it will cause some hearing damage that will be apparent a few hours later, and might burst an ear drum once in a while, but one (or even 5 or 10) gunshot(s) is not going to instantly make somebody hear nothing. This is especially true when there is adrenaline going in a tense situation.

I've accidentally left my ear protection off a couple times while shooting (12 gauge shotgun, along with .40S&W out of a short barrel) and I still heard fine afterwards. Later that night there was some ringing, but I carried on a perfectly normal conversation right afterwards.

[Izzy43]

I know this has been discussed before but a haven't seen new thread on it. First off, would it even be worth trying to use a .22? All I have is a 10/22. I want to know if there are any better options than CCI Stingers. Have any others come out since those? Thanks

Well to answer your first question, No your 10/22 is not a viable, reliable self defense weapon. Its dark, you are asleep, you are awakened by some sound but you don't really know what, where it is. Suddenly you see a figure in your bedroom doorway 12 ft away. What do you do?

Grab your 10/22 loaded with whatever and start firing away. Maybe you get off 5 shoots before the intruder is on you.

OR

Grab your 12 gauge pump loaded with 00 buckshot, point it at the door way and fire. Intruder is probably mortally wounded or deceased.

Stop buying ammo for your 10/22 for a while and soon you'll have enough $$$ to purchase a 12 gauge shotgun (a decent one can be had for around $200 + fees) and set your mind at ease. You are prepared.

If a person is seriously concerned (as I am) about Self/Home defense then one should get the firearm that is meant for that purpose, not a squirrel/rabbit rifle. What's a life worth?

Other Hyper-Velocity ammo worth a look if you are stuck with .22lr is Aguila SuperMax or Interceptors. SuperMax is 1750 feet per second/204 foot pounds of energy at the muzzle with a 30gr solid bullet, fastest .22lr ammo with the most energy on the planet.

[Coded-Dude]

there is MUCH more than meets the eye when it comes to SD shooting.

SWAT and specops TRAIN DILIGENTLY in a closed room environment with specially designed HEARING and vision protection.

how many of you keep your hearing and eye protection right next to your SD/HD weapon? lets have an HONEST show of hands...

odds are, unless you TRAIN diligently, with your .44 mag, 45 ACP etc in the same environment you anticipate having to use it in, you're gonna be shooting BLIND and DEAF after the first shot.

a 10/22, or similar, carbine is one that's HIGHLY controlable and accurate at the ranges in a SD/HD situation not to mention will not be as deafening.

basicaslly...with training...a 10/22 could inject ten, 40 grain slugs, into a chest cavity in a very tight group with lightening speed and accuracy...that's 400 grains of lead injected at 1200+- FPS...nothing to shrug off

occasionally, I will shoot a few magazines with no protection(eyes/ears) just to keep familiar with what it sounds/feels like. its not fun(ringing ears), but i think its better than not having any experience with such a scenario(no safety gear).

[RuskieShooter]

in the same environment you anticipate having to use it in, you're gonna be shooting BLIND and DEAF after the first shot.

No. When I was in the military we routinely did night fire exercises. You do lose some of your night vision, but no where near the point where you are "blind". You lose more of your night vision from an approaching car's headlights at night than you do from the muzzle flash of your own weapon. If it is really a concern for you, that's what weapon lights are for.

Sound is loud, but not debilitating. All my waterfowl hunting over the years has been without hearing protection and once in the army I ended up at the M-60 range without ear-pro. After 200 rounds of 7.62 out of a '60 my ears were ringing pretty good, but I was certainly still "functional".

To those that say that .22 will debilitate an intruder, what if that intruder has a 9mm or .45 with them? Are you willing to bet your life on the ability of a round meant for small game because you were unwilling to drop the cash for something bigger? I guess I'm not a betting man, because when my family's life is at risk I will go with my 590 loaded with 00buck EVERY time. I save the .22 for the range and ground squirrels.

OP - If nothing else, listen to Izzy43. I don't know of anyone on this board that has more knowledge/experience with rimfires. If he is telling you its a bad idea, then it probably is.

-Ruskie

[D-rek07]

Well to answer your first question, No your 10/22 is not a viable, reliable self defense weapon. Its dark, you are asleep, you are awakened by some sound but you don't really know what, where it is. Suddenly you see a figure in your bedroom doorway 12 ft away. What do you do?

Grab your 10/22 loaded with whatever and start firing away. Maybe you get off 5 shoots before the intruder is on you.

OR

Grab your 12 gauge pump loaded with 00 buckshot, point it at the door way and fire. Intruder is probably mortally wounded or deceased.

Stop buying ammo for your 10/22 for a while and soon you'll have enough $$$ to purchase a 12 gauge shotgun (a decent one can be had for around $200 + fees) and set your mind at ease. You are prepared.

If a person is seriously concerned (as I am) about Self/Home defense then one should get the firearm that is meant for that purpose, not a squirrel/rabbit rifle. What's a life worth?

Other Hyper-Velocity ammo worth a look if you are stuck with .22lr is Aguila SuperMax or Interceptors. SuperMax is 1750 feet per second/204 foot pounds of energy at the muzzle with a 30gr solid bullet, fastest .22lr ammo with the most energy on the planet.

^This!^

A 22LR will kill if you get a perfect hit in the perfect spot but it may take a while and the bad guy may just choose to beat you to death with that 22 or see how far he can shove it up where the sun don't shine on you before he dies. If you must use a 22LR I'd go for maximum bullet weight in a solid nose bullet because weight trumps velocity when you need penetration. And with a 22LR you're going to need all the penetration you can get.

My advice is to buy a Mossberg 500 or 590 shotgun on sale and stock up on low recoil 00 buck ammo. Or better yet save up for a newer Mini-14.

7.62 NATO

Save your pennies.

Nine milliforty caliber !!

Best round Evah!!

A good used shotgun is $200 to $300 -

Why risk needing a perfect shot -

When you can send multiple loads of 00buck down range.

If that's all you've got - Then use it.

But there are very good reasons why cops don't carry 22L sidearms.....

+1 for this. There is a reason that 70% of the world employs AK Variants in their .mil.

Cheap ammo and you can bury an AK in the dirt, come back for it 10 yrs later and it will work just as well as the day you buried it.

I get that a shotgun or a large caliber handgun is the best SD weapon, but I'm not really interested in what is the best SD weapon. I meant, would it be worth using it or doing whatever anybody else does that doesn't have a gun. I want to know what ammo to use in my current situation. I have this gun, might as well be prepared with IT.

[Izzy43]

I get that a shotgun or a large caliber handgun is the best SD weapon, but that wasn't my question. I didn't ask what the best SD weapon is. I asked what ammo to use in my current situation. I have this gun, might as well be prepared with IT.

This was the first QUESTION that you asked:

"First off, would it even be worth trying to use a .22?"

So some of us gave you an answer. If you are determined to use your 10/22 for SD then by all means do so, it is certainly better than using harsh language. Good Luck and try out some Aguila SuperMax in you rifle as they are the most potent .22lr round available.

[D-rek07]

This was the first QUESTION that you asked:

"First off, would it even be worth trying to use a .22?"

So some of us gave you an answer. If you are determined to use your 10/22 for SD then by all means do so, it is certainly better than using harsh language. Good Luck and try out some Aguila SuperMax in you rifle as they are the most potent .22lr round available.

Sorry, I forgot I put that.

[Izzy43]

Sorry, I forgot I put that.

No problem. I have read at least 30 different threads on using .22lr as a defensive weapon. Nearly everyone of them goes about the same as this one.

Truth is its hard not to encourage someone to use something different but none of the banter or opinions are meant to be offensive. I hope none of us ever have to face the SD situation.