[tallguy130]

I have a feeling I already know what you all will say but I want to put this to the group anyway.

How effective is a 22 round for protecting yourself? I just got into shooting and only own a 22 handgun and a 22 rifle. It's going to be a little while until I can get a 9mm or 45 for proper home protection so the 22 handgun is going to be what I count on if something happens until then. I have hollow-point CCI mini-mags in it and if I had to engage a target it would never be more then 10 to 15 feet away.

Granted, this not the best home protection gun but it beats getting by on my good looks and luck! Could I drop a person with this? Thanks!

 

[Dillinger]

Well, you have the "While not ideal" part down right.

Could you drop someone with a .22? Yes, both with a single shot if you hit him right and with multiple shots if you just unload everything you have.

Is it going to happen often? No, quite frankly it's not. Even with Mini Mags in there, you aren't creating much of a wound channel, so there is minimal blood loss and system trauma right from the get go.

However, if you shot me in the face with just one round, I am pretty sure I wouldn't be as interested in doing you harm as I was previous to that.

It's not ideal - and it's certainly not the best option, but given your situation I feel it's the best you can do right now.

Of course, cutting some 2x4's to put in the slide windows and installing a dead bolt lock on all outside doors is a better idea than having to rely on a .22 for your main protection piece.

YMMV -

JD

 

[BillM]

Well--the lowly 22 has dropped some fairly large
critters, so don't sell it too short. It's not my first
choice for a defense round---heck, it's
not even in the top 10, but it beats having
of a hand full of nothing.

Personally, I would go with a high velocity solid
instead of hollowpoints. Even if they do expand
the hollowpoints don't leave much of a wound
channel. I would go for maximum penetration
with a solid. Having the bullet expand and pretty much
stop in a heavy coat isn't the desired effect.

Then practice---practice---practice. 22 ammo is
cheap, go shoot a brick on a regular basis. Bullet
placement is critical with the 22, so take the time
to develop the muscle memory to put that bullet
where you want it every time.

Take all that money you save by using the 22 for
practice, plunk it in a piggy bank and when there
is enough go buy a bigger gun.

 

[hunter Joe]

I'm with J.D. You start shooting at me with your .22, I'm leaving. Hunter Joe

 

[c3shooter]

FWIW, I don't want to be shot at with ANYTHING- including BB guns, sling shots, or super soakers filled with Kool-Aid. However, some serious thought- a .22 Long Rifle cartridge may KILL a man- but short of that, it is unlikely to STOP him. In a defensive role, that is your goal. It is undoubtedly more effective than whacking him with a pillow. IF you are going to rely on any 22 for defensive purposes- go practice. A lot. No, more than that. A lot. (and yes, I shot a lot of 22- but I carry a 357, 9mm, or 45)

 

[sgtdeath66]

not my first choice but its better than nothing. like jd said just try to "burglar proof" your home as well. .....burgaler..burgler..how do you spell it..lol... i hate words like that

 

[tallguy130]

Thanks guys! This is kind of what I was thinking but its good to confirm it. The rest of the house is pretty secure and I'm a nut for making sure its locked down so I got that going for me.

I do practice a lot, and am getting much better, so I can feel good about that too. If all else fails two full clips in the chest and head should get a message accross. If not I got more problems then I know!

 

[Dillinger]

Well, it's a start. I don't think anyone from this forum would advocate a .22lr as your PRIMARY defense piece, but it's a start. Once you get comfortable with the weapon, and you become "at one" with it, it's time to start looking for something a little bit bigger, a little bit more powerful.

The guys here are a valuable resource, so don't hesitiate to ask as they will gladly provide valuable, real world experience.

JD

 

[jeepcreep927]

I have seen a few people shot with the .22 LR and believe me, all were very dead. I had heard stories of the round not penetrating skull or "tracking" around the interior. What I actually saw was a .22 caliber entrance, no exit, and a 3/16" channel all the way through the brain. Not pretty but effective I suppose.

Multiple torso shots I have seen to be pretty damaging as well. As stated before, it may not be the optimal defensive round but it will do the job, especially with little recoil allowing several solid hits.

Not trying to be too graphic, but the majority of the shootings I have seen were suicides, and many of those with .22's. All were a... uhhh... success, despite how odd that word sounds in this context...

 

[Mark F]

Well, I carry this little 5 shot 22 magnum in my pocket virtually all the time, and don't even notice I'm carrying it. I'm astonished at the power this little thing puts out! I shot it at an old abandoned car and this little mag passed all the way through the door! And, it makes a lot of noise.

I don't know about you guys, but I wouldn't want to be hit by this...

It's not a target gun...
It's not an autoloader...
It's not very accurate...

It is SMALL, and it goes BANG 5 times spraying 22 Magnums...

 

[stalkingbear]

A perfectly placed hit with .22LR is LOADS better than miss with .44 magnum, and while I in NO WAY would CHOOSE a .22, it damn sure beats threatening them with bad credit!!!! Like they told you, practice, not only plinking, but also try to set targets up in such a way it imitates defensive shooting AND buy a larger, more powerful gun LAST YEAR. When you do get ready to get a better defensive gun, look for good used .357 magnum revolvers with 4" barrels. You'll be suprized when they might actually be much more affordable than you think. In the meantime, you're prefecting trigger control, proper grip, and good sight alignment.

 

[sgtdeath66]

they are pretty cheap i think i got my rossi .357 2 incher for 240ish. it was a very nice gun. i sold it to my best freind so he could have a home defense gun to go with his new house and family. i beleive every home should have a gun inside

 

[montveil]

You might consider a 22lr/22 magnum revolver
Practice with the lr, change cylinders for the mag and home defense

 

[anm2_man]

If I wanted to use a 22lr for home defense, I would get one of these (See link)

http://world.guns.ru/smg/smg62-e.htm

Just think - less than seven seconds, you can dump 176 rounds and if anybody or anything is in front of you, I'm sure they will be toast.

 

[pirate]

burglary..burgler..how do you spell it..lol... i hate words like that

burglar.......I think? I hate words like that too!

 

[MephistosMinion]

.22 to kill a man... This takes me back to the first time my dad let us use the handguns. A .22LR Browning Buckmark, with a trigger job, nice easy to point pistol. My brother and I each had 10 rounds each at a target 10 metres (30ft) away. We got similar groups, about the size of my dad's fist (we were 10 and 12, my brother is older), which we weren't happy with, as we were used to rifles and were both tight groupers with the old Brno .22LR. Noticing our frowns at our handi work, for a little encouragement, my dad picked up my target, and held it over his heart.

"I think if you had to use one for real, you'd ****ing kill 'em."

At age 10, that was a little disconcerting, now I am just glad I have been shooting so long.

Wait I had a point... That's right, bullet placement. Stop the heart, or the brain, you stop the threat.

 

[cpttango30]

If a 22 is what you are comfortable with then use it. Any gun is better than no gun. Or get a 22 and shot the heck out of it and then in a few months jump to a 38/357 mag. You can get some light 38 spec loads and then for carry or HD I would load up on the 357 mag. You don't want to go to fast as this can cause bad habits that could end up getting you killed in the long run.

If you can take a deer sized animal with a 22lr it will kill a man. For me it would not be a first choice but I have been shooting 20+ years and I am not recoil sensitive at all. I will shoot anything 5 times. I prefer a 45acp with 230gr Gold dots. But that packs some punch even in a full size frame.

I would also recommend going with a revolver over a semi auto. Less to go wrong and easier to operate in a stressful spot.

Wasn't there a story not that long ago where an older man defended his home and wife with a 22? If I remember right it malfunctioned due to old ammo. But it still saved their lives.

Go just go get one of [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--K3X6rptE4"]these.[/ame]