Self defense .22rimfires?

[SteadyD]

I'd never want to dissuade someone of their choice of caliber, but I once needed 6 rounds of 22 lr to finish a groundhog... if I couldn't tolerate recoil I'd opt for at least a 22 magnum in a revolver since semi autos can be finicky with rim fire ammo.

 

[mjsdwash]

Also consider this table: http://www.ballisticsbytheinch.com/22.html

Although the velocities listed don't precisely replicate what I see on my chronograph, they illustrate the point nonetheless.

In a 2" barrel, the 32gr. Stinger made 974fps for 67lb-ft. of muzzle energy. 40gr. LRN Winchester Super-X did 862fps - for 66ft-lbs. of energy. It's a wash in terms of energy, and you get less flash and bang with the standard load. This will produce equal or better penetration, and the bullet will hold up better if it strikes bone. Cheap practice, as well.

And Velocitor? Only 20fps faster than Super-X by their testing.

thats really strange, I was getting very good velocity in everything I tried with velocitor, even 1400fps out of a ruger standard. It kicked unusually hard too. Maybe they throttled it back, I was using it over ten years ago, but still have some I can chrono again

 

[ray15]

thats really strange, I was getting very good velocity in everything I tried with velocitor, even 1400fps out of a ruger standard. It kicked unusually hard too. Maybe they throttled it back, I was using it over ten years ago, but still have some I can chrono again

If memory serves the rating has always been 1435fps, presumably from a rifle barrel. I have a few fresh boxes I'll chrono the next time I set up, but from what I understand it's rare for it to make the rating even from rifle.

 

[mjsdwash]

If memory serves the rating has always been 1435fps, presumably from a rifle barrel. I have a few fresh boxes I'll chrono the next time I set up, but from what I understand it's rare for it to make the rating even from rifle.

I guess I got a bad -good- box. i can believe it. Next time i get a chance Ill put it, and a newer box on a chrono and see what happens. Last time we tested it, we were were really impressed because it shot higher velocity than some maximags from a rough rider. The recoil was snappy enough that I didn't doubt the chrono results. It felt like a thrityeight special

 

[mavracer]

I use CCI mini mag 40gr solids in mine, velocitors add a lot of muzzle blast and very little velocity in my Bobcat.

 

[C-grunt]

For self defense I would pick a good heavier solid bullet. The harder the better. From my experience the problem with using 22 LR for defense has been the complete inconsistency in penetration. Some shootings showed decent penetration through flesh and bone and some didn't.

Recent shooting I had was a guy getting shot in the shin with a 22 handgun. Bullet hit the tibia bone and shattered. The bullet shattered not the bone. In fat the ER doctor couldn't even tell by the X-Ray if the tibia was even fractured or not. Guy needed surgery as pieces of lead traveled down the bone and were in his ankle, but other than that it was nearly a flesh wound. On the other hand I had one that was an accidental shooting that shot a young woman in the face with a Jenning 22. Bullet entered just above her upper lip, penetrated the upper jaw bone, went through the sinuses, and lodged itself in one of her first couple vertebrae.

 

[Stevie-Ray]

I have a Taurus PT-22 that I bought for the wife long ago, as she normally couldn't cycle the slide on an auto. She couldn't manipulate even this very well, so it became simply a fun gun. I carried it from time to time, mostly as a backup, but always with Remington Yellow Jackets. Strange, the ONE cartridge Taurus specifically recommends AGAINST, due to it's truncated cone design causing problems with function, has NEVER presented a problem with mine, after hundreds of rounds, and has been 100% reliable, while others have bitched about theirs with even Mini-Mags.

 

[Good Ol' Boy]

The only .22 I would ever consider carrying for SD would be a PMR30.

For those that may not know, that's a full sized polymer gun that holds 30 rounds of .22 MAG.

 

[ZVP]

Great answers and info!!!
Thannks

 

[ZVP]

Great answers folks!
Like I said I usually a S&W model 36 loaded CAI h HornidayvS/D loads but turn to the he Beretta Bobcat .22 LR bWinchester Super-X 40 gr high speed solids They are almost foolproof in my gun.
Yea I agree functioning is more important than a very few lbs or fps. The Herrera also gives you a second trigger pull try.
Here in the Central Valley of CA wendo get 100-100+''dayevwherevshots are the uniform of the day! Many shogrts don't even have bllt loops and the Chief can drop your pants!
I have a sweet UnclenMikes shoulder rig for the Bobcat andbwithva T short/Hawaiian Shirt that works! I
I need dvtobtry those fast loarsband andvsee how well they run thej Beretta?
Thanks for all your help!!!
ZVP

 

[Mark 40]

My wife has a 22LR Ruger LCR. In order to find the best round for self-defense we did our own ballistics testing. So we bought a block of ballistics gel and tested two revolvers, and four different rounds: CCI Stinger 32g CPHP, CCI Velocitor 40g CPHP, CCI Mini-Mag 36g CPHP and Win Super-X 40g CPHP.
Results as follows (4 shot average ea.):

Rossi Plinker: CCI Mini-Mag 36g; Ave. 11.58" (no exp.) Stinger 11.50" (no exp.) Velocitor 10.30" (no exp.)
Ruger LCR: CCI Velocitor; Ave. 14.08" (no exp.) CCI Mini-Mag 12.75" (no exp.) Stinger 11.60" (no exp.)

Note that Winchester Super-X was the only round to expand, with an average penetration 9.3" with the Rossi and 9.5" with the LCR.

I would also suggest watching the Brass Fetcher video on 22LR for SD. Actually John (Brass Fetcher) is the one who recommended I do my own testing. And now I understand why. The results vary gun to gun to some degree. Look how well the Velocitor penetrated with the LCR (14.08") VS. Plinker (10.30").

 

[Shawn Dodson]

CCI SGB. Hollowpoints, including Stinger, don't expand when fired from a short barrelled Beretta. The SGB (Small Game Bullet) has a flat nose which increases, albeit slightly, wounding effects over round nose and unexpanded hollowpoint bullets.

 

[481]

Some folks talk about using .380 ball ammo for SD versus HP. I'm kind of on the fence for that as there has been some pretty good ammo development in SD in that regard.

But if you're stooping to a .22lr for SD I'd say the highest velocity ball ammo you can find would be ideal.

The main issue with trying to find a "SD" .22lr round is that nobody really considers that a SD caliber.

Agreed. The fastest 40 gr. RN is likely the best choice for a .22LR pistol since velocities out of the short barrels will probably equate to no expansion.

 

[usp9]

I've seen Aguila hyper velocity ammo expand from my TPH in mid air as demonstrated by the holes cut in the target paper. They looked like perfect .38 wadcutter circles. I doubt that's a good thing in a defensive setting but at the range it was pretty interesting. I'm guessing it depends on the batch of lead, (and it's softness), used to make a particular batch of bullets as to how one expands or not.

 

[22-rimfire]

The CCI Velocitor rounds have been my SD choice with a 22 handgun (mostly revolvers). There is always a chance of a rimfire not going off or a semi-auto pistol jamming, so revolvers are my choice. Generally speaking, I have no problem carrying a 22LR for self defense. I know the centerfires are better, but sometimes I just slip a 22 into my pocket.

 

[22-rimfire]

<deleted> Double post.

 

[RPZ]

In many cases hot weather clothingmakes even NM bJ frame Chiefbtoo heavy and large. Honestly, I do carry my Beretta 21 .22rimfire because it's better than nothing.
So far the most reliable(100% functioning) hard hitting ammo has been the plain Winchester 40 gr lead shells
Is there any serious S/D ammo available or in planning for the lowly rimfire
This post is a serious post andbseriousvanswers would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
ZVP

I would stick with high velocity solids for penetration. I have shot rabbits with CCI Stingers etc. They worked perfectly, and are great for small game, but they lack the penetration needed on bad guys in my opinion.

 

[481]

The CCI Velocitor rounds have been my SD choice with a 22 handgun (mostly revolvers). There is always a chance of a rimfire not going off or a semi-auto pistol jamming, so revolvers are my choice. Generally speaking, I have no problem carrying a 22LR for self defense. I know the centerfires are better, but sometimes I just slip a 22 into my pocket.

Beats being armed only with a set of keys and some colorful profanity!

 

[chicharrones]

So I did a little test with a phonebook and my tiny NAA .22lr revolver a couple years ago. I fired each of the following rounds into the phonebook from a distance of 10". Then I found the page number in the book where the bullet stopped, and also recorded the page number where there was still tears in the paper past where the bullet stopped. Finally, I measured expansion of each bullet with calipers. IMO, the 60gr Aguila and the 30gr Aguila, followed closely by Stingers, are the best options, but of course this is from a revolver that doesn't need to worry about cycling. I've been saving phone books (they're hard to come by these days) for a 2nd test where I'll soak the phone book in water for 8 hours prior to testing. But the results from a dry phone book are below, as well as a picture of all the bullets.


View attachment 234564

Below are a pair of photos from when I did some informal Bobcat vs. NAA Guardian penetration testing a few years ago. The FMJ had a 2x penetration advantage compared to the easily deformed .22LR in phone books. Of course, humans aren't made of phone books.

 

[Boarhunter]

CCI mini-mags seem to work best for me, whether I am shooting or carrying my Smith 43C or Ruger LCR 22 or Beretta Bobcat. I rarely shoot anything else.

BOARHUNTER

 

[RPZ]

Below are a pair of photos from when I did some informal Bobcat vs. NAA Guardian penetration testing a few years ago. The FMJ had a 2x penetration advantage compared to the easily deformed .22LR in phone books. Of course, humans aren't made of phone books.

But humans do have bones. The .22 solid will penetrate deeply, unless it strikes bone, then it is a mixed bag. Its forte is extremely fast, potentially accurate repeat shots.

 

[joneb]

I have found CCI mini mag and stingers to be as reliable as centerfire ammo.
I use mini mag sp for short barrels.

 

[lpsharp88]

If I were to carry .22lr for SD, I think I may pick up some match ammo and use that. May not be as hot, but QC is probably higher

 

[jonnyc]

My P32 is almost always with me, but if I feel I might need an accuracy bump I will often "strap on" a Beretta 70. A pocket-carried KelTec is slower to bring-to-bear and less accurate, and thus less value on local trail hikes and such, where a rabid animal is more of a threat than a human. But for either eventuality, I always carry RN CCI Mini-Mags.

 

[Great Scot]

While I will probably get roasted for admitting this, I've carried and will continue carrying, a Beretta 21. It's not my main EDC, but it occasionally finds its way into my pocket. It sits well in the hand, points great, and my 21 runs well with mini-mags. I agree it's not the hammer of the gods, but 8 .22 zipping along at 950 ft per second would make a muggers day problematic. I also carried a spare 7 round mag.