The .22 as a self defense gun

[poppy37]

A guy I work with carries a Walther SP22 for self defense. I asked him if he thought that wasn't too small. He said "no, a couple shots to the head will stop him." He was confident that he could do this. Me,personally if I'm having to deal with a very large aggressive threat,I'd want something bigger than a .22. Do you thinik he is being realistic in using a .22 for SD? I'm trying to convince him to get something bigger.and actuallly being able to hit someone in the head multiple times in a gunfight I would consider just plain luck.but that's just my opinion.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[Sticks]

Not my first choice, but a .22 will stop a threat.

Unless the BG is hopped up on goofballs and/or very determined to get the GG, the mere sight and sound of a gun being fired at a typical BG will do the job 8 out of 10 times.

[goldshellback]

A"no, a couple shots to the head will stop him." He was confident that he could do this. Me,personally if I'm having to deal with a very large aggressive threat,I'd want something bigger than a .22. Do you thinik he is being realistic in using a .22 for SD?

Ignorance sounds more like it. A .22 can kill you just as dead as any round, but his belief that he can make a couple of head shots at the moment of truth is foolish, as is the complete trust in the rimfire round itself.

Not my first choice, but a .22 will stop a threat.
Unless the BG is hopped up on goofballs and/or very determined to get the GG, the mere sight and sound of a gun being fired at a typical BG will do the job 8 out of 10 times.

True that.

[HotGuns]

Do you thinik he is being realistic in using a .22 for SD?

No.

If its so great...
ask him why no LEO agency uses it, or why it is not even authorized as a back up gun.

[ppkheat]

I know at least five people shot by a .22..........they're all dead.

When I was a poor struggling college student back in the 70's all I had for HD was a SA .22 revolver. Granted it wasn't the greatest choice, but it was a heckuva lot better than nothing.

[Kerby]

22 will never be my EDC But; if it is the only gun you have it is better than a stick...

[archer51]

If I had nothing else available and couldn't afford anything else, I'd carry a .22. The .22 is a deadly round with proper placement. The bad thing is, in a gun fight, your not going to have the time to pick that spot. COM is the shot your going to want to take, since it is the largest target, that will give you the best chance of stopping the threat quickly.

[beni]

Any semi auto 22 I've ever fired always had some type of reliability issue. I just wouldn't be able to trust the rimfire cartridge itself with my life.

[Andy W.]

Do you thinik he is being realistic in using a .22 for SD?

No. As others have said, it beats nothing. If it were me, I would be wanting to upgrade to a larger caliber ASAP.

[ABC111]

Better than nothing as others have said. But two shots to the head in a bad situation is unrealistic IMO.

[WHEC724]

Yeah, this really shouldn't be a brain-teaser. Given the availability of light weight revolvers in .38 and .357, along with mouse guns in .380 and 9mm, there is little excuse to carry a .22, other than apathy.

.22 carry-logic is similar to thinking that one doesn't need a home alarm system, or that one fire extinguisher should be sufficient for the entire house. Afterall, they may be right.

'All that said, my own dad carries a .25

[Bullitt1724]

, there is little excuse to carry a .22, other than apathy.

Generally I have to agree with you except, my wife carries a P22. She has had wrist surgery and can not shoot anything larger without a great deal of pain. I would rather her have that P22 than just harsh words. :-)

[WHEC724]

Generally I have to agree with you except, my wife carries a P22. She has had wrist surgery and can not shoot anything larger without a great deal of pain. I would rather her have that P22 than just harsh words. :-)

Good point. Point taken

[Riana]

Due to a medical problem, sometimes I'm unable to use my strong hand. The only gun I can reliable (and accurately) manipulate entirely with my weak hand is my Walther P22. I've practiced firing a full magazine, reloading, and firing a second magazine (for a total of 18 rounds) entirely one-handed.

It's certainly not my first choice, and I'm slowly working my way up to being able to handle my 9mm that way, but until then, Walther is my go-to fella in those situations.

As I've told many people, I'm not volunteering to hold the target for any caliber.

[JD]

My biggest issue with .22s are unreliable ammunition. Now if we're talking about a .22 Magnum revolver, I might me more apt to accept it, but in an auto...no way. .22 Ammo has just always been too inconsistent in ignition for me to take seriously. I've had mis-fires from almost every type of ammunition I've ever tried regardless of quality.