.22 Magnum vs 9mm Ballistic Test – Winchester Silvertip
BY Herschel Smith
1 year, 10 months ago
First of all, I don’t think 18″ of penetration for .22 magnum is as “one-off” as he’s saying. I think it’s fairly typical.
Second, nothing that I saw dissuades me from believing that .22 magnum is a viable and legitimate personal defense round.
Third, I’d carry (and have carried) both 9mm and .22 magnum for PD before, and will do so again.
Finally, I’d like to see the same test in Gold Dot ammunition.
On February 2, 2023 at 6:48 am, Michael said:
Chuckling the never-ending story. I’d prefer never to have a bit of scrap metal in my body again. The cold weather reminds me of it, decades later.
Bullet placement is far more critical than the handguns caliber and HAVING a firearm even a poor one beats harsh language in stopping a potential bad situation from continuing.
On February 2, 2023 at 8:38 am, Joe Blow said:
Shot placement
Shot placement
Shot placement
3 most important things in real estate, and shooting bad guys.
On February 2, 2023 at 9:04 am, Hedge said:
Just watched a video the other day https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDP_QyIouAc
Notice at the 1:43 mark what he daily carries at times. It’s good enough for him.
On February 2, 2023 at 2:30 pm, James said:
After shooting a couple of years of Rimfire Falling Steel multigun matches, no way i would depend on rimfire cartridges for self defense.
On February 2, 2023 at 3:20 pm, Wyotana said:
As James notes above- the problem with rimfires is not ballistics. Anyone who thinks it is deserves to be ignored. The problem with rimfires is the rimfire part. Misfires happen regularly. Even the cheapest junk 9mm blammo you can buy will generally more dependable than the best .22. This still doesn’t mean it should never be used. Just that you’re likelier to have to clear a dud. That could happen at an inconvenient time.
On February 2, 2023 at 4:05 pm, Herschel Smith said:
Maybe.
On the other hand, I’ve not had those sorts of problems (I don’t buy crappy ammo). Furthermore, with a wheel gun it simply means pulling the trigger again.
On February 2, 2023 at 4:12 pm, Michael said:
I must be really lucky or buy better quality 22 ammo (including 22 magnum) than some folks.
Some of my yard sale-ask the old lady if she had any fishing or hunting gear ammo was pretty sketchy but again no issues.
I’ve never had a misfire with a 22 except for one rifle that had a bad firing pin and that was fixed easily enough.
On February 2, 2023 at 6:57 pm, Dan said:
Penetration is part of the equation. Diameter of the round and size of the wound channel increasing bleeding is another factor. Also kinetic energy of the round affects tissue damage. If bigger wasn’t better than larger caliber rounds would not exist. Can 22WMR do the job? Yes. But it can also fail. A good general rule is the larger the caliber the more effective it is.
On February 2, 2023 at 8:26 pm, X said:
I would not want to get shot with a .22 Mag. The velocity and energy numbers he gives in the video are pretty good for a handgun.
But there’s no denying that the 9mm has twice the energy.
On February 3, 2023 at 11:19 am, Paul B said:
I have 22 mag, 380 and 38/357 and 9mm carry guns. I like the 380’s best as I shoot them accurately and they are easy to carry.
The 22 mag is a ruger and I trust it but is usually on an ankle.
I do not think I will need to use it but if I need it and don’t have it I would be sad. So I carry something I like to carry and something I can shoot well if the need arises.
YMMV.
On February 3, 2023 at 11:35 am, The Ballistics said:
A book that the local CPUSA library has since deleted showed some Federal American Eagle FMJ in 9MM penetrate almost two feet of gel.
There was also a Tokarev that shot through a Kevlar vest and demolished a watermelon placed behind with a small fast FMJ bullet.
It was an older book so the threat level of the vest was probably not above I-II.
Keep your enemies close for maximum ballistics.