.22 pistol for survival

[chsk9]

I've been thinking about the pros & cons of a .22lr pistol as a primary survival (BOB) gun. You can carry a brick of .22 w/o issue, leaving room and weight for other items.

I can shoot a .22 with reasonable accuracy out to 50-75 yds- enough to motivate someone to leave me alone- which would be the likely use for a longer term survival.

I know .22 is not a "man stopper", but I don't know anyone who, if shot with a .22, would want to do anything except stop the bleeding. Thoughts?

[SVRider]

I've thought half-way along those lines.

I figure the best overall compromise is a 9mm Glock with a .22 top end. If you want even more flexibility, a 40S&W Glock, 9mm conversion barrel and .22 top end..... If you wanted a little more power, a 1911 with a .22 conversion or even up to a 10mm Glock with a .22 top end.

Overall though, yes, .22 does have it's place, just not sure I'd want it as my "one and only". I suppose it depends on what exactly you are planning for.

[chsk9]

I've thought half-way along those lines.

I figure the best overall compromise is a 9mm Glock with a .22 top end. If you want even more flexibility, a 40S&W Glock, 9mm conversion barrel and .22 top end..... If you wanted a little more power, a 1911 with a .22 conversion or even up to a 10mm Glock with a .22 top end.

Overall though, yes, .22 does have it's place, just not sure I'd want it as my "one and only". I suppose it depends on what exactly you are planning for.

I'm thinking going low profile BOB if I was forced to leave my home it might make good sense. I don't think you'd want to shoot it out, but mainly send a few rounds down range to encourage someone to look for another target.

[Snarky]

My survival pistol is a S&W Model-41 with the 7-inch barrel.

The intent is food. There is a big flock of about 200+ quail running around my property, lots of rabbits and squirrels too. I keep about 15,000 rounds of CCI SV .22LR on hand. Is that excessive?

The gun is very accurate, almost rifle-like up to about 100 yard, then it starts to unravel a bit, at least with my skills.

[armygunsmith]

Ideally, it would be suppressed. Maybe some day.

[TonyMang_89]

i have also thought about this, but as SVRider said not as my one and only. I think it would be a good secondary gun strictly for small game and if you had to personal defense

[asheron2]

I would think for a survival situation, the extra weight of a .22 rifle would be justified in carrying. Maybe like an AR-7 or Marlin Papoose............heck we all own ARs, even a .22 conversion kit for it. The main use I assume would be for hunting small game, even up to deer(works good, gotta put it between the eyes and spotlight em).

[chsk9]

I would think for a survival situation, the extra weight of a .22 rifle would be justified in carrying. Maybe like an AR-7 or Marlin Papoose............heck we all own ARs, even a .22 conversion kit for it. The main use I assume would be for hunting small game, even up to deer(works good, gotta put it between the eyes and spotlight em).

I'm thinking that in a more urban environment a pistol and going low profile might be the way to go.

Since it seems that the .22 pistol concept hasn't got anyone too excited, just what are people planning on packing with them in a bug out or get back to home event?

[TonyMang_89]

I'm thinking that in a more urban environment a pistol and going low profile might be the way to go.

Since it seems that the .22 pistol concept hasn't got anyone too excited, just what are people planning on packing with them in a bug out or get back to home event?

glock 19 is on my list

[Lone_Gunman]

I would rather have a .40 or a .45 for a GHB situation. I'm in a situation where if I have to access my GHB for real I'm going to either be coming through Stockton or Sacto to get back home. I would rather have a .45 and a couple hundred rounds of ball than a .22 and a thousand rounds. That's just in the GHB though. It's important to have a .22 in the collection for harvesting small game too.

[echo1]

I've been thinking about the pros & cons of a .22lr pistol as a primary survival (BOB) gun. You can carry a brick of .22 w/o issue, leaving room and weight for other items.
I can shoot a .22 with reasonable accuracy out to 50-75 yds- enough to motivate someone to leave me alone- which would be the likely use for a longer term survival.
I know .22 is not a "man stopper", but I don't know anyone who, if shot with a .22, would want to do anything except stop the bleeding. Thoughts?

My family has .22 pistols and rifles for each member of the family. In our crew, the standing thought in a worst case scenario, NO WARNING SHOTS. If the situation escalates so that you have to pull a gun, there can be only one reason. To "motivate" someone by shooting near them could have the reverse effect, especially if they're in a group. One issue for the long turm usage of .22 cal is once your ammo stock run out, your done. where as centerfires can be reloaded if you have the equipment. Besides .22s everyone has 9MM or .38spcl, a 12ga and long guns in .223, .308, 7.62X39, .30-30. It's better to have a .22 pistol & rifle with 15 to 20 thousand rounds, than nothing at all. So many variables with the "What if this happens..." PAX.

[CSACANNONEER]

I'd prefer one of my Winchester 1906s. They don't weigh much more than my Ruger MKIIs. They break down quickly for eay storage and, like any rifle, they are inherently going to be more accurate. Also, with the longer barrel, all the powder burns and they will shoot a little farther. I would never consider using my M6 or AR7 though.

That said, I would not have a problem carrying only a good quailty .22lr pistol if I didn't have a small, light weight, reliable .22lr rifle. I'd much rather carry a .22lr and +1000 rounds of ammo than a .45acp and 100 rounds of ammo. But, I tend to think more along the lines of rural survival than urban survival.

[porky]

Howdy- I have an emergency bag right next to the bed-Earthquake prep-

Im talking get out now from a dead sleep bag-even have a pair of boots tied in!-I can dress outside my destroyed house-

In this bag I have my tiniest stuff-its just a small jansport backpack-extra clothes-Urban survival gear-lights whistles first aid etc emergency shelter food water!

I have an hp22a in there along with a couple of decent blades-

This is not a bug out bag-

I have a 3day bag3500cu (my hunting/mtn bike camping bag)

Then my low profile Kelty 3800cu is my bug out bag with my harbor freight flatbed wagon in tow-guns and ammo not a problem!

I know im dreaming in an urban situation but I also have a bug out/camping/road trip van that I can live in- I don't think i'll drive out of LA unless really lucky!

I think that a compact 22 is ideal for a low profile,last resort emergency bag-you can carry alot of rounds-its light!-I imagine using it in an emergency dead of night situation-I also see using it as an ancillary to my other bags-I have an over the shoulder canvas bag that serves the same purpose as the jansport-Drop and run bag-lose everything else bag!- evade/track/shank/get your stuff back bag! When I leave CA-my hp22a will be surpressed ala utube videos.

I think me shooting a 22 at you will get you to duck and me the hell out! Not really an offensive weapon and not really a hunting/survival weapon-

But it is a great backup and an emergency definitely calls for backup for your backup plans!-I'll have a gun while others are still trying to dig out their gun safe and bug out equipment with a Stanley Fubar and Gerber survival shovel-don't worry i'll be digging mine out too!

There are tools for every situation and the small 22lr has a purpose in an emergency situation-just as non lethal weapons/blades/slingshots/ crossbows etc. also have a function-

Don't listen to others who think that they'll be able to carry all the crap they have and plan on eating gunmetal and drinking bullets the way their bug out bags are prioritized!

BTW-all of you others that plan on carrying(on you) other heavy weapons-what weight percentage are weapons and bullets in your total load out? What would you consider ideal- we are talking bug out not a military patrol out of a base camp or base vehicle-you're trying to bug out to a location-

Please remember- I own other weapons that I will carry if I can-getting out of LA with them is the problem-confiscation/obvious target(look at that guy with the AR and Alice Pack!) etc.

[IrishPirate]

I think your pistol should be more of a man stopper, but a .22lr rifle is a must for SHTF for all the reasons you mentioned. I'd have a .22lr pistol as a backup, but still carry something that can do the job a bit more reliably when someone or something hell bent on killing you gets a little closer than you'd like. Remember, it's not just 2 legged animals you'll have to worry about if you survive the apocolypse.

If a .22lr pistol is what you plan on surviving with though, make sure it's something VERY accurate like a MKIII, not a POS plinker, or a .22lr conversion kit on a centerfire gun

[CSACANNONEER]

Howdy- I have an emergency bag right next to the bed-Earthquake prep-

Im talking get out now from a dead sleep bag-even have a pair of boots tied in!-I can dress outside my destroyed house-

In this bag I have my tiniest stuff-its just a small jansport backpack-extra clothes-Urban survival gear-lights whistles first aid etc emergency shelter food water!

I have an hp22a in there along with a couple of decent blades-

This is not a bug out bag-

I have a 3day bag3500cu (my hunting/mtn bike camping bag)

Then my low profile Kelty 3800cu is my bug out bag with my harbor freight flatbed wagon in tow-guns and ammo not a problem!

I know im dreaming in an urban situation but I also have a bug out/camping/road trip van that I can live in- I don't think i'll drive out of LA unless really lucky!

I think that a compact 22 is ideal for a low profile,last resort emergency bag-you can carry alot of rounds-its light!-I imagine using it in an emergency dead of night situation-I also see using it as an ancillary to my other bags-I have an over the shoulder canvas bag that serves the same purpose as the jansport-Drop and run bag-lose everything else bag!- evade/track/shank/get your stuff back bag! When I leave CA-my hp22a will be surpressed ala utube videos.

I think me shooting a 22 at you will get you to duck and me the hell out! Not really an offensive weapon and not really a hunting/survival weapon-
But it is a great backup and an emergency definitely calls for backup for your backup plans!-I'll have a gun while others are still trying to dig out their gun safe and bug out equipment with a Stanley Fubar and Gerber survival shovel-don't worry i'll be digging mine out too!

There are tools for every situation and the small 22lr has a purpose in an emergency situation-just as non lethal weapons/blades/slingshots/ crossbows etc. also have a function-

Don't listen to others who think that they'll be able to carry all the crap they have and plan on eating gunmetal and drinking bullets the way their bug out bags are prioritized!

BTW-all of you others that plan on carrying(on you) other heavy weapons-what weight percentage are weapons and bullets in your total load out? What would you consider ideal- we are talking bug out not a military patrol out of a base camp or base vehicle-you're trying to bug out to a location-

Please remember- I own other weapons that I will carry if I can-getting out of LA with them is the problem-confiscation/obvious target(look at that guy with the AR and Alice Pack!) etc.

Uh, every year .22lrs kill more humans in the US than any other cartidge. Also, as far as hunting, I've drop a deer in it's tracks with one round of .22lr at 120ish yards. You might be under the impression that .22lrs are just pop guns but, they can be very lethal in the right hands.