The Lowly .22 Rimfire
I brought this same topic/subject up once on another forum.
Good thread Euclidean.
Here are a few answers that I got back then.
>>>> .22 rim-fire ammunition is less reliable than center-fire ammo.
>>>> While more people in the U.S. have been KILLED with the little .22 (than any other caliber) were they STOPPED as a deadly threat right away???
>>>> There are somewhat more feed & function problems with most .22 pistols than with pistols that operate with more available "energy oomph" to operate the feed/ejection system...like the larger caliber pistols.
Me personally...my opinion is that 99.95% of the people in this world don't want to be shot with a bullet of ANY caliber.
Getting shot & wounded with a .22 will send most folks on a trip to the hospital the same as getting wounded with a .45 & a trip to ANY hospital with a gunshot wound will will have the cops waiting there for you to find out how it happened.
I would be MIGHTY AFRAID of a shooter with a high quality .22 pistol & High Quality .22 Rim-fire Ammunition who has practiced perfect shot placement.
I don't think that most folks realize just how FAST a semi~auto pistol will feed cycle eject unless they have actually TRIED pulling that trigger as fast as they are able to pull it.
With my S&W model 41
I cannot physically pull the trigger faster than that pistol will cycle.
I don't know if you can imagine 10 shots that basically SOUND like ONE gun shot & with almost no felt recoil.
That is how fast a GOOD .22 semi~auto will fully cycle.
So....10 lightning fast easy head shots & then a fast reload & 10 more. Scary Thought!:gah:
I've been shooting (mostly pistols) for longer than some of our forum members have been alive.
I will tell you this.
If there is ever a "total societal breakdown" where I have to "Get Out Of Dodge" & travel light.
I am packing one of my S&W Model 41s & 15 extra mags (loaded with "Match Grade Ammo" as my Primary Handgun.
My reasoning is that if the target is the size of a United States Quarter or larger...I can hit it (multiple times) just by looking at it with the S&W Model 41
I can EASILY carry 150 rounds in loaded magazines & another few hundred still in boxes.
So......I'll end with this. If a defensive shooter owns a .22 pistol that is 100% reliable & they buy high quality Match Grade ammo & they honestly feel that they can stay "Cool As A Cucumber" and hit accurately with it for H.S. Only Shot placement...Go ahead & carry it!
They will be well served & have absolutely no "felt recoil" to contend with as an added PLUS.
I (for sure) never want 8 or 10 "machine gunned" .22 caliber bullets coming at my precious head.:dead:
As you can see in the above photo...the Model 41 is NOT ideal for daily carry. It is heavy due to the weight "out front" ~ It is a "Tack Driver" pistol though & that front sight is a "hang up" & the thumb safety is real, real small.
Mine have custom thinned grips (shaped to my hand) & without the thumb rest.
If I can get my camera working I'll get on a pic of mine.
But, a best quality .22...like a super reliable & accurate .22 Beretta pistol would be much better to carry.
If a person decided that they wanted to carry a .22
Buy the HIGHEST QUALITY ammo though & make sure that pistol functions "like a champ" & Practice Practice Practice your shooting skills & your "CALMING ZEN" under high stress !!!