22LR for Self Defense?
BY Herschel Smith
1 month, 1 week ago
I’ll have to say that I see 22LR as being fairly weak tea, even against humans, and I’m not a big fan of its use for self defense.
However, I would carry (and have carried) the 22 WMR for self defense, especially in a backup gun.
On January 13, 2025 at 10:53 pm, Wyotana said:
The .22LR has proven quite fine as a man killer for a century and half.
The problem with a .22, IMHO, has never been the bullet. The problem is the priming system. Even the good stuff is far less reliable than mediocre centerfire ammo. I think it’s funny that they worked on the bullet rather than perfecting the priming.
On January 13, 2025 at 11:09 pm, Wyotana said:
Almost a century an a half, I should have said.
On January 13, 2025 at 11:52 pm, Dan said:
Is .22 the best choice? Of course not. Will it work? Probably…if you do your part and hit the target correctly. NO handgun of any caliber is ideal for self defense. We carry them simply because carrying a long gun all the time is not practical.
On January 14, 2025 at 7:59 am, jrg said:
I also have a lot of faith in the .22 Magnum. Though only slightly larger than the older long rifle, the terminal effects are greater, all in the very same size of gun. I have a .22 Magnum snub nose in case I become decrepit enough to not be able to shoot a centerfire handgun. Also makes for a nice back-up for a .22 Magnum rifle.
On January 14, 2025 at 11:36 am, Chris said:
I wonder what would the result be if you took a .22 bullet and put it in a .22LR size case, but center primed and loaded to .357 mag pressures? Jacket the bullet to prevent leading and get rid of the heel too. Maybe wildcat time….
On January 14, 2025 at 10:12 pm, X said:
This is a subject I have been interested in recently so I would like to expound on it at some length.
I couple of years ago I got a Glock 44 and it quickly became my go-to plinking gun. Every time I would go to the range with a couple of rifles, I would grab the Glock just in case I wanted to plink and do some affordable rimfire mag dumps. If I wasn’t shooting any other pistols that day, the Glock 44 was with me. So I ended up “carrying” it quit a bit. The fact that it is feather-light was an added bonus.
So I started looking into the utility of rimfire for self-defense even though I have plenty of larger-caliber pistols.
The short answer, is yes, the .22 LR can be an effective self-defense round. In particular, if I were equipped with a Ruger 10/22 and a 25-rd magazine I think it would be quite adequate for home defense with good-quality ammo. With a rifle barrel the cartridge would produce a bit less than 200 ft/lb of energy, which is not a lot compared to a .357 but pretty close to a lot of weak .38 snub loads.
In a pistol, barrel length is critical. Longer is better. In a 2″ revolver barrel, the .22 is quite marginal, a 4″ or 6″ semi-auto pistol makes a big difference. Even so the .22 is at a great disadvantage in a pistol compared to a rifle, generally producing less than 100 ft/lb of energy.
Of course, since the .22 has less meplat and less frontal diameter it requires less energy to push it through tissue than, say, a .45 caliber projectile.
This is where the Greg Ellifritz study comes into play. Ellifritz found that the .22 produced one-shot stops in over one-third of the shootings in his study. He hypothesized that much of this effect was psychological: nearly all criminals do not want to be shot with anything, and when you start shooting at them with a .22 the mere fact that you have displayed a firearm and started shooting at them is enough to make them break off the attack. Of course one of the advantages of the .22 is that you can shoot it a lot and shoot it quickly so a double-tap or triple-tap would increase the effectiveness rate quite a bit.
It’s important to remember that we are talking about self-defense here and not combat. The objective in self-defense is to make the criminal cease his attack, not necessarily to kill him dead on the spot. Of course if we kill him where he stands he will cease his attack, and this is legally and morally justified, but if he ceases his attack without being killed the criterion for self-defense is met. This is why we cannot pursue and kill a criminal who is running away from us. In self-defense we are generally not concerned about shooting through doors or windshields and the like, just making the bad guy go away.
The point here is that the .22 is often very successful in dissuading a criminal from continuing his attack.
Now, if we are in a force-on-force gunfight, and we are trading shots with a criminal armed with a Glock .40 and a .30-rd magazine, we are certainly at a serious disadvantage with a .22. But we must admit that this is an extremely rare scenario in civilian self-defense encounters. The vast majority of such encounters will be a few shots traded in a matter of seconds. We are not cops who will engage in a running gunfight with a fleeing subject.
At very close ranges with proper shot placement I think a .22 can be instantly fatal. Massad Ayoob once wrote an article about four women who defended themselves with handguns. Three of the four were being beaten nearly to death by ex-husbands/boyfriends and fatally shot the attackers at contact distances with .25 autos, one by sticking the pistol under his throat and pulling the trigger as he was beating her senseless. They sustained serious injuries but survived. The fourth victim shot a home invader with a 9mm. The attacker said “Hey, you just shot me!” before running away.
I think if you were to pump four or five rounds of .22 into some guy’s face as he was crawling through your window, carjacking you, or trying to rape you, if the gunshots were not fatal he would almost certainly cease the burglary or the attack.
It’s important to use high-quality .22 that has been verified to work in YOUR gun, I like CCI Stinger and CCI Velocitor. A LOT of the bulk .22 promotional ammo is pure garbage, with numerous squibs, misfires and FTFs in semi-autos. Avoid that crap even from plinking, it’s a chore. Last year I made the mistake of buying 1000 rds of Winchester M-22 at a good price. It was genuinely miserable trying to get rid of the stuff, I had an FTF and/or a misfire in almost every mag.
On January 15, 2025 at 2:47 am, sykbill said:
Hi Herschel!!!!,
“,22LR Ya’ Don’t Say, eh????” Yup, “Standard .22Lr..(HP or RN) Ammo from I read on the boxes.. is about 1200fps out the gate.. (Barrel length not mentioned) Then there are few “sportier versions” proclaiming 1300-1400 (there about’s) fps out the gate…. Yes a bit better… However!!… our ol’ buddy “CCI” has this round called a “Stinger!!” .22LR hp… “1650 fps out the gate!!!!!” I don’t know the spec’s. on the powder, etc. but the round is “interesting!!”
I have a Taurus “PT-22” that I shoot quite a bit!!! Standard .22LR looking down the barrel when it goes off, somewhat of a “flash” but nothing to write home to Grandpa (My Go-to for things Ballistic in the family!!)and nothing really to note as far a s Recoil goes!! Now!!, put a rack of CCI “Stinger’s” in and “YES” there’s a difference!!… First off,…. There’s a “Muzzle Flash!!!!”.. Quite noticeable and Quite “Silver” in color!!! As Jed Clampitt would say,” Whooooo…Doggies!!” and although not very much but there s a bit of “recoil” not much but definitely enough to let you know this is no”Standard 1200fps round!!”
Number’s wise as far as considering the round for “Personal Defense” I don’t know,,,, BUT!! I would say this, ..a Rack of CCI stinger’s in a small ,22 cal., “Pocket or Purse Piece” can up close and personal be a “Force Multiplier!!!!”…. “Especially!!” if you coat your HP rounds with a drop or two of “Lone Marine’s” “Silver Bullet Gun Oil made with 13% PIG FAT” ….. He hasn’t made any in a while… seems he got lambasted over his choice of words… but back when, over in the “sand box” he provided the stuff to our troops and It WAS .. a “Force Multipler” against the “True believer” …funny how that goes???
“Audenties, Fortuna, Iuvat!!!!!!,”
“III%,”
skybill
On January 15, 2025 at 10:17 am, Houston said:
This.
“I think if you were to pump four or five rounds of .22 into some guy’s face as he was crawling through your window, carjacking you, or trying to rape you, if the gunshots were not fatal he would almost certainly cease the burglary or the attack.”
Remember the brain is the most sensitive part of the body in respect to permanent damage. The brain does not like to be subjected to penetrating trauma. Permanent damage always follows. Those cells damaged never recover. The brain may shunt functions but the damaged part does not recover. If 2 or 3 little 22 caliber pills enter this cavity the human will stop. If one of them reaches the brain stem it is all over.
With a 22lr used for defense. The face/head should be the primary target with multiple shots. Train for multiple accurate shots.
On January 15, 2025 at 11:50 am, ClaudeA said:
Under the right circumstances a .22 lr will suffice. Years ago back East there were a series of killings involving organized crime members who were all eliminated assassination style, multiple rounds to the head. It was determined that most had been shot with the same gun, a High Standard pistol if I remember correctly, the same firearm used by USG operatives during WW2, probably had a suppressor on it as well. So the lowly .22 is ok in many circumstances, not perfect, but adequate for the task at hand.
On January 15, 2025 at 12:42 pm, Houston said:
BTW. I am not enamored with Federal Punch 22. I shot 50 round recently. I felt several shots that felt off and not full powered and I had one squib load which had no powder in the case and only fired with the primer. Fortunately the round left the barrel and imbedded lightly into my backstop. Based on this I am not using it in any situation I have to depend upon it.
The semi autos I am using have been 100% with consistent chambering, firing and accuracy with Aguila superextra in 40 grain or 38 grain. I am impressed with this ammunition.
On January 15, 2025 at 3:49 pm, Georgiaboy61 said:
Everything is relative…
Your readers may be familiar with the story of Cree Indian Bella Twin, a 62-year old widow who slew a giant brown bear near Slave Lake, Alberta on 10 May 1953. Twin and her companion, Dave Auger, were walking along a timber cut when they were detected by the enormous bear, which approached them to investigate. Too close to flee, Twin and Auger concealed themselves in the brush and waited for the bruin.
Fortuitously, the bear presented itself broadside to Twin only a few feet from her hiding place. Using her single-shot .22-caliber rifle, she was able to put a shot behind its eye where the skull is relatively thin. Reloading, she subsequently placed a half-dozen or so addition rounds into the same spot.
Seven shots total – each with a 29-grain slug – from a .22 Long cartridge, which is slightly less-potent than .22 LR – was what it took to do the job. The bear went down after the first shot.
Twin’s bear was record-setting for the time, as the largest ever taken in North America up to that time, according to Boone & Crockett. It’s skull measured 16 9/16th inches long, and 9 7/8th inches wide.
Shot placement was everything. Twin survived the encounter largely because of her good fortunate and foresight to have placed herself in position for a flanking shot at close range directly into the bear’s brain.
Turning back to 22 rimfire for use against dangerous two-legged predators, clearly if .22-caliber will do the job against an enormous bear, it can do the job – at least in theory – against a human-sized target. Something like 22LR will get the job done, if you can place the shots where they are needed, and your target is presented in such a way that the slugs can penetrate into the vitals of the target.
Recourse to a more-potent cartridge would be called for if there is concern about ending the encounter “right now” versus after multiple shots or even multiple magazines worth of them.
My concern with using a 22 for self-defense isn’t potency so much as reliability. None of my rim-fire firearms are as stone-reliable as my center-fire ones. Some come close, but how close is enough?
On January 15, 2025 at 9:52 pm, Paul B said:
22 is one of the most carried or shot round there are. I carry a 22 tip up barrel auto in a pants pocket. Up close it will do the job I have no doubt. I have other carry pieces but the 22 is most carried.
If I knew I was going to a gun fight it would not be my first choice, but to be carried day in and day out it is pretty hard to pass up.
On January 16, 2025 at 10:14 am, xtphreak said:
For those recoil sensitive Individuals who have difficulty in mastering the centerfires
For those who lack the $$ for constant center-fire practice
For those who only possess the one almost ubiquitous firearm, a .22LR
A hit with on a threat with a .22 on a threat beats any number of misses with a magnum anything.
Back in my younger days, working out of town in a very rural area, I was accosted by a knife wielding potential assailant at the only pay phone for miles (pre-cell phone) as I made my evening call home.
Being broke (the reason for taking the job in a dry spell for jobs), I had left my only other handgun at home for my wife, thus I had a Ruger MK512 with me.
The Ruger, known for its accuracy (the 5.5″ bull barrel target model) held 10 rds of CCI MiniMag 40gr solids (still my preferred.22LR load).
This was also pre-concealed carry permits, so it was lying on the passenger seat of my Suburban with 2 more loaded magazines.
I dropped the phone, grabbed the gun, racked the bolt (the Rugers do not have a slide) and informed him that I would shoot him in the face 10 times, then reload and repeat if necessary.
He left.
I left.
No shots fired, but I was confident in my ability to perform a mag dump, rapid fire centered on the bridge of his nose from 15 – 20 feet.
Range time often included shooting 2 liter bottle caps at a comparable distance.
Best defensive pistol round?
No
Better than a hand to hand scuffle with an attacker who was larger and armed with an exposed blade?
Priceless.
My current significant other, is not a good pistol shot, regardless of lessons and practice.
I purchased a Taurus TX-22 for her to practice with, being of similar and configuration size to her 9mm.
I added 5 shot mag extensions to the factory 16rd mag for a total of 22 shots (21+1).
I prefer she carry it to the 9mm, because I know she’ll get some lead into her target if necessary, plus, 22 shots will probably rattle an assailant’s nerves.
Have a Good Day
On January 16, 2025 at 11:20 am, Ken said:
Sorry guys, but nope. Just nope. A .22 can certainly kill and does just that all over the world. Question is how long will it take to kill? However, its not about the killing. It’s about stopping. Will some stop the attack and run? Yes. But some won’t. Someone high on meth might not even notice you shooting. Carry and shoot the best you can. I started with 357. Went to 40. Then had to go down to 9mm. Now age and bad joints require a 380. Time will come when I have to downgrade again and that will be a .22 mag. I hope by that time I will be in the grave. I would dearly love to have my 357, but I cannot use it enough to be reliable. I tried a Glock 380 but had problems operating it. I would have never thought I would be owning a Bersa 380. But I can shoot it very well, without problems operating it. It has been reliable IF I keep it clean. It tends to fail to fire if you have over 100 rounds through it. Clean its a Singer Sewing machine. I do admit I feel Naked carrying a 380 but its the best I can do.
On January 16, 2025 at 1:40 pm, Georgiaboy61 said:
@Ken
Have you considered something like 5.7×28 or 22 TCM? Then again, 380 Auto is much more common and cheaper, too, and these both approximate its performance. Just thought to mention them as another option… as both have modest recoil. Or you could just stick to 22 Mag..
On January 16, 2025 at 10:20 pm, Ken said:
GB61, the 380 is about as low as I wanted to go and that is already below my comfort zone. I can use the pistol well and hit what I need to. I will go down to a 22mag if I must, but what really matters is using the pistol. The 380 is a breeze to shoot in the 23oz Bersa. Hardly no recoil. The controls are easy to use. I had real problems with a Ruger LC9s. Controls were just too small and hard to push. Hard to fit my fingers around the grip.
On January 17, 2025 at 2:50 pm, Grunt said:
No
On January 20, 2025 at 2:51 am, Georgiaboy61 said:
@Ken
380 Auto/ACP is a great cartridge, and it isn’t all that anemic compared to standard 9x19mm/9mm Luger, if you select your load with care. My wife uses a handgun in 380 because she has arthritis issues in her hands and has trouble manipulating a slide on some stouter handguns. The recoil spring on the 380, though, is just her cup of tea – and she is very capable using her chosen handgun.
Cliche it may be, but a hit (or hits) with a 380 beats a miss with a 9mm, 40 S&W, 45 ACP, 357 Mag, 10mm Auto, etc. – any day of the week.
And if you can place those shots precisely and accurately, that 380 ought to get the job done….
Of course, I’ll close with the caveat from Ken Royce, that your handgun is to “fight your way back to your long gun,” that you should not have gotten so far away from in the first place….. meaning that long guns are almost always better ballistic choices in a gunfight than handguns. But you work with what you have.
Best of all is avoid that confrontation in the first place. Or as the martial arts guys used to say, “Nike defense”…. don’t be there when trouble happens.
On January 20, 2025 at 10:04 am, Ken said:
GB61, your wife and I are in the same boat. That is why I tried several 380s and settled on the Bersa. I can hit well with it and it “fits me”, but I still prefer and greatly miss my 357. I just have confidence in that round. I don’t drive on highways or at night anymore. Don’t drink or go to bars. Home trouble (with the Missus’) I have learned over the years how to avoid…….she shoots better than me nowdays…….
On January 21, 2025 at 10:49 pm, Georgiaboy61 said:
@Ken
Apropos troubles manipulating the controls on handguns, i.e., due to small size, physical infirmities, age, etc. – these make a compelling argument for knowing how to use a long gun, a shotgun or rifle.
Among the many virtues of the AR15 platform, for example, is the ease with which the controls can be used, and the smooth and ergonomic manual of arms. My spouse may have trouble manipulating certain handguns, which she then avoids – but she can run an AR or a 12-ga. S/G like a champ.
And if a 12-ga. is too stout, then a 16- or 20-gauge with the right ammo/load still makes an excellent close-range weapon of self-defense.
But you’re right: Being away from trouble in the first place is the best defense of all….
On January 30, 2025 at 8:38 am, Latigo Morgan said:
It’s better than a sharp stick.
Not my first choice, but there was a time in my life when that was all I had available to me.
When Mom couldn’t handle her snubby .357 mag, even with .38 Sp in it, we were going to sell it and replace it with a snubby .22 mag or .22 LR. Never did, as she passed away before we could make the change.
One of my favorite plinkers is a Ruger SR22. I have 5 10 rd. mags for it so I can load a box of ammo at once. It always gets warmed up when I go out shooting. Would I choose it for SD? Only if that’s what I had at hand at that particular moment. Even though it is 100 percent reliable with any ammo I feed it – from the cheapest bulk stuff to the nicest target ammo, if I have something bigger at hand, that’s what I’ll choose.