22 for ccw???Maybe!

[m-g Willy]

While going through the gun safe I came across a gun I havn't used for years.
COLT 22 CHALLENGER with a 4" barrel.
This use to be my small game gun until a s&w model 17 and a 1851 colt navy took over that job.
It's been over ten years since I fired this gun.
So I felt like a kid with a new toy.
After playing around with it awhile I tried some rapid fire on a paper plate at 20 feet.
It is EASY to dump all ten rounds on the 9" plate in under 1.5 seconds.
This got me to thinking.
Except the part explaining to the judge as to why you machine gunned your attacker with ten rounds to the chest or face.
This little gun could  be just the ticket for a woman that couldn't handle the recoil from a bigger cal.
What kind of stopping power do you think ten rounds of 22lr would be compared to one round of 9mm or 45acp?
 
 
 

[mcwoodduck]

I have carried a 22 for personal protection more based on size than on the value of the caliber. 
I think you have a double edged sword with a target or small game 22LR. 
The first edge is the small bullet and needing to make multiple shots in vital areas for someone that can not handle recoil. 
the second edge is the rimfire ammo.  the heeled bullet and the rimfire are subject to failure.
The heeled bullet can allow oil to fowel the powder  and the primer can not have an empty spot on the rim. 
The other problems I can see are the need to hold the firearm steady enough for the slide to cycle, if the person is frail, cna they hold up a large 22 and steady enough to allow the slide to retract fully to pick p the next round, the next thoought is if you do have a failure to fire does the person that can not handle recoil have the strength to rack the slide of most large size 22LR auto pistols?  I wonder if a K frame revolver with a 3" bull barrel like a M65 only shooting 32 S&W long, 32H&R or 327Fed would be a better idea.  The larger heavier frame and the bull barrel would be better self self defense gun than a 22LR.  Even a Model 65 that is chambered in 357 mag shooting 38 special wad cutters would be a better option for general self defense for someone that is recoil sensitive than a semi auto 22lr handgun. 
With that said two weeks ago a buddy pulled out one of the new Ruger medium sized 22LR autos.  The gun was a good size for smaller people or a pack gun.  The slide was easy to pull back and the slide was easy to grasp.  It may be a better choice than the guns we all like for small game and target shooting that seem to be about the size of a 1911.  And 10 rounds of CCI Stingers, Mini Mags or Remington Vipers or Yellow jackets would sure mess up your day. 
 

[Oldshooter]

I'm not so comfortable using a 22 for a carry weapon, BUT its small and concealable. and its way better than defending yourself with a bad attitude, especially at real close ranges. Using new and not cheap ammo might work, and rotate it often. Not to my liking but its something to consider. I wouldn't wanna be shot with one so your safe from me! Good thing about a 22 is you can kill someone and they wont know it until they wake up dead.

[m-g Willy]

I was thinking more of ten fast shots in less than 1.5 seconds than just the lack of recoil alone.
And as far as racking the slide.
I can just hold the slide against my pants leg and hold it tight enough against my leg that I can rack the slide with one hand.
So it isn't much to rack it.
But the speed you can shoot and stay on target is what has me thinking about self defense with it.
 
.
 

[Cheesehead]

I carry a .22 revolver in a Ruger LCR and am perfectly happy with that.

[mechanic]

I'm seldom ever without my NAA 22 revolver, even when I can carry something bigger..it's backup.
Ben

[cwlongshot]

I'm seldom ever without my NAA 22 revolver, even when I can carry something bigger..it's backup.
Ben

Great minds brother...



CW

[mcwoodduck]

Cheese head, Ben and CWlong.
You all picked a revolver.  He is talking about a semi and dumping the mag in one long fast string. 
Would you change that NAA or LCR for a Walther THP or PP or a Beratta 21?  and dump the mag?
 

[cwlongshot]

Cheese head, Ben and CWlong.
You all picked a revolver.  He is talking about a semi and dumping the mag in one long fast string. 
Would you change that NAA or LCR for a Walther THP or PP or a Beratta 21?  and dump the mag?

In my mind the single and only way to depend on a RF for defense is in a action like a revolver. If you have a dud or missfire, pull the hammer/ pull trigger and squeeze again... With a semi its rap/tap and HOPEFULLY bang...

CW

[Cheesehead]

I have shot 1000's of rounds in a semi during bullseyes competition. Based on that experience, I would choose a revolver for ccw in 22lr.

Cheese

[cwlongshot]

I have shot 1000's of rounds in a semi during bullseyes competition. Based on that experience, I would choose a revolver for ccw in 22lr.

Cheese

I have had good luck over the last ten years or so with CCI in bullseye I
Switched form RWS when there prices doubled a few years back. Near zero alibis with RWS and 8-10 per thousand with CCI. Compaired to zero with my 38/45 acp loads.

Funny you me took bullseye Cheese as its my experience largely with it that proves to me Rimfires are not a top choice for personal Defence. The one way I do accept the missfire risk is by using a revolver.

Also while I don't shoot anywhere near the magnums I do long rifles. (Over a case per year in Lr compaired to a couple bricks in Magnum) The magnums have not had anywhere the misfires that long rifles do. Remington LR has proven the worst for misfires. We as a league do not buy Remington.

CW