Best 22lr ammo for self defense....

[mikeyr]

how many people here that are against .22 as self-defense would be willing to stand 15ft in front of me and let me shoot them with a .22 ?

Oh NO ONE !!! I get it, I like my .45Colt and ACP for self-defense, my wife prefers her .357mag, but my own daughter chose .22 for self-defense. Why ? because she can put all 10 rounds in your heart or lung (her choice) with that gun, she can't seem to miss with .22 and is a far better shot than I ever will be with that .22. She also used the logic, less muzzle flash and less disorienting noise when I tried to argue with her about her choice.

I would prefer she have a larger caliber but I am happy she has a tool to defend herself with and I do feel what you are most comfortable with is likely to be the best tool, she shoots my .45's and hits the big round target, she shoots her .22 and hits the bullseye almost naturally, almost point and shoot fast.

[ohsmily]

how many people here that are against .22 as self-defense would be willing to stand 15ft in front of me and let me shoot them with a .22 ?

Oh NO ONE !!! .

That is not the standard by which anyone should measure if a firearm (or anything for that matter) is suitable for self defense. It's a stupid false equivalency and I assume you're joking or just trying to be funny. I wouldn't want to be hit with a rock or baseball at 15 feet with someone throwing it either. Hell, I don't even want to be flashed in the eyes with a high power flashlight at 15 feet. It doesn't mean I'm going to carry a baseball or rock for self defense. Don't be ridiculous.

If you want to make it a more honest analogy, how about an assailant is 15 feet away hell-bent on killing you and raping your daughter while hopped up on a stimulant and hes 250 pounds, all muscle, and he is sprinting at you full bore about to hit you like a ton of bricks....you want to shoot him with a 22 if you had the choice ahead of time to carry something a little bigger in the same or similar size package? Ok....

[Garbcollector]

22lr would be my last choice for self defense

[MarikinaMan]

I understand that reading an entire post can be tedious. I hightlighted my original post below to be clear.

I was reading some stuff, and ran into Lynn Thompson talking about a 22lr as a backup gun. I found that intriguing. Started doing some research and found some accessible ammo that is good enough as a back up.

This is not an endorsement of 22lr as a primary defensive weapon.

Expansion to 0.34" diameter at 1200+ fps aint too shabby.


I have some Winchester Super X that just became really interesting to me. I havent seen Velocitors for years. I'm going to drive around next weekend to see if I can find a box or two.

[MarikinaMan]

Life is about compromise sometimes. Concealed carry certainly is, since carry guns by definition tend to be a compromise of some sort--size, weight, capacity, aiming, etc.

.22LR wouldn't be my first choice simply due to increased chances of misfires. But some people who physically can't rack the slide of a 9mm or .380 can still manipulate a .22. Tt may not be as good as a larger caliber but it beats a sharp stick any day.

MarikinaMan, where did you get that chart? I'd like to read more so I can pass that info on to those who might need it.

Lucky Gunner.

Here is a pocket pistol shootout - https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/poc...-test-results/

The latest 22lr and 22 Magnum tests - https://www.luckygunner.com/lounge/t...ncealed-carry/

[deckhandmike]

Copy. I misunderstood/misread your post. What you clarified is part of the reason I use 17 HMR...and they still can survive even with the extra velocity. ��

I also switched to .17hmr as .22lr wasn’t powerful enough for my liking on squirrels. And all that is out of a 16” rifle let alone a 2” barrel pistol.

.22lr isn’t even adequate for a back up round. It’s just not. Anyone that thinks so needs to go hunt small game with their back up gun and see how rabbits and squirrels walk it off. I too was once in the camp of .22lr would do in a pinch but from actual firsthand use I’ve evolved my line of thinking on potential SD cartridges. Not trying to be a buzzkill. I just wouldn’t want to see any of you guys find out it don’t do crap in a real world situation.

[MarikinaMan]

I also switched to .17hmr as .22lr wasn’t powerful enough for my liking on squirrels. And all that is out of a 16” rifle let alone a 2” barrel pistol.

.22lr isn’t even adequate for a back up round. It’s just not. Anyone that thinks so needs to go hunt small game with their back up gun and see how rabbits and squirrels walk it off. I too was once in the camp of .22lr would do in a pinch but from actual firsthand use I’ve evolved my line of thinking on potential SD cartridges. Not trying to be a buzzkill. I just wouldn’t want to see any of you guys find out it don’t do crap in a real world situation.

How far are you shooting 22lr? What kind of ammo wasnt working for your? I think its plenty for 50 yards and under. I shoot small game under 50 yards and the air rifle is plenty on squirrels. Thats a .177 projectile at 800 fps.

Closer to 100 yards, I cant tell you. I shoot elr with 22lr and I get it all the way 375 yards it just barely puts down a popper. At 100 yards, I know it drops 17 inches so its scrubbing a lot of velocity already.

[Killer Bee]

I also switched to .17hmr as .22lr wasn’t powerful enough for my liking on squirrels. And all that is out of a 16” rifle let alone a 2” barrel pistol.

.22lr isn’t even adequate for a back up round. It’s just not. Anyone that thinks so needs to go hunt small game with their back up gun and see how rabbits and squirrels walk it off. I too was once in the camp of .22lr would do in a pinch but from actual firsthand use I’ve evolved my line of thinking on potential SD cartridges. Not trying to be a buzzkill. I just wouldn’t want to see any of you guys find out it don’t do crap in a real world situation.

not to carry this too far away from the op but...

I think just about everyone that hunted squirrel and rabbit with .22lr for the 115 years before .17hmr was invented would disagree with you..

I personally have killed hundreds of gray and fox squirrels and hundreds of cottontails with .22lr, stock items in our freezers back home..

hands down best tool for that job, period.

[B yond]

I carry a .22 Mag NAA Minirevolver sometimes.

I don't think it's ideal, but I do think it's better than nothing. My concern with it is more about the gun than the round... quick follow-up shots and shot placement are going to be key and neither is going to be easy with a minirevolver.

If I lived in a free state I'd probably consider some other options. As-is, I'm not seeing much that fills that niche and is on-roster.

[bohoki]

first rule for self defense is the ammo has to be "reliable" and out of all the brands i find that cci seems to have the best track record
rem.win,fed all have an unacceptable "dud" factor

unless you have a da revolver that will give you an immediate follow up

[Rukus]

I carry a .22 Mag NAA Minirevolver sometimes.

I don't think it's ideal, but I do think it's better than nothing. My concern with it is more about the gun than the round... quick follow-up shots and shot placement are going to be key and neither is going to be easy with a minirevolver.

If I lived in a free state I'd probably consider some other options. As-is, I'm not seeing much that fills that niche and is on-roster.

S&W 351c is a j frame 7 shot DAO revolver in .22 WMR

Definitely not as cheap as the NAA but might be worth looking at if 22 mag is heavy in your stable.

[deckhandmike]

not to carry this too far away from the op but...

I think just about everyone that hunted squirrel and rabbit with .22lr for the 115 years before .17hmr was invented would disagree with you..

I personally have killed hundreds of gray and fox squirrels and hundreds of cottontails with .22lr, stock items in our freezers back home..

hands down best tool for that job, period.

[hermosabeach]

While 22 LR is not ideal... for many a 10/22 and a freedom week mag are great for many moms...

Easy to shoot
Easy to hit
fast to shoot
no real recoil
no real ear damage

[norcal77]

how many people here that are against .22 as self-defense would be willing to stand 15ft in front of me and let me shoot them with a .22 ?

Oh NO ONE !!! I get it, I like my .45Colt and ACP for self-defense, my wife prefers her .357mag, but my own daughter chose .22 for self-defense. Why ? because she can put all 10 rounds in your heart or lung (her choice) with that gun, she can't seem to miss with .22 and is a far better shot than I ever will be with that .22. She also used the logic, less muzzle flash and less disorienting noise when I tried to argue with her about her choice.

I would prefer she have a larger caliber but I am happy she has a tool to defend herself with and I do feel what you are most comfortable with is likely to be the best tool, she shoots my .45's and hits the big round target, she shoots her .22 and hits the bullseye almost naturally, almost point and shoot fast.

[ohsmily]

I concur, I never understood why people knock the .22lr as self defense…just aim for the face to make up for its shortcomings.

Yeah. Exactly. Super easy...in low light...at a moving assailant...who's shooting from around cover...while youre moving....and shooting one handed while youre seeming cover....just shoot them in the face. Why didn't I think of that?

(Something tells me you've never shot shooting scenarios in a shoot house under time pressure and definitely never force on force. You kind of sound like the people who say 'why don't you just shoot the gun out of the assailants hand?')