The .22 Affectionado

[kmitch200]

I've carried a 22 before, it was all I had.  Now it's not all I have and I wouldn't carry a 22.  

Yes, they do have the "ability" to mess up a lot of stuff but only because they don't have the velocity or mass to punch in a straight line to the stuff you were aiming at in the first place. Shooting BG in the center chest, have it bounce off rib/sternum and punch holes in their intestines is not a selling point IMHO.

There is this too....

Welcome.  I, too, love the .22, and although I don't want to be shot with one, think it is a bit light for self defense.  Too, the rimfire rounds are as a general rule not as reliable as their centerfire brethern. Seen way too many .22s that did not go off.

Carry what you feel comfortable with and use what you have when needed.  I just think there are far, far better choices out there.

[tombogan03884]

I've carried a 22 before, it was all I had.  Now it's not all I have and I wouldn't carry a 22.  

Yes, they do have the "ability" to mess up a lot of stuff but only because they don't have the velocity or mass to punch in a straight line to the stuff you were aiming at in the first place. Shooting BG in the center chest, have it bounce off rib/sternum and punch holes in their intestines is not a selling point IMHO.

There is this too....

Carry what you feel comfortable with and use what you have when needed.  I just think there are far, far better choices out there.

Oh, I'm not saying don't carry one. We all agree that a .22 in your pocket is more effective than a .44 magnum you left home or in your vehicle
I would not say that about a .25 ACP though.

[mkm]

Welcome aboard doctorknow.  I hate it you've got such a tough start here, but you have to admit you've jumped head first into a fairly controversial subject.  I tend to agree with the others on here, but I do have a question and some comments on your choice of firearm, not the caliber.

Did you mean to say you shoot mini-mags out of it?  I haven't seen a .22 magnum P22.

As to the Walther, I'm glad you've got one that shoots reliable enough to trust it with your life.  I'm apparently somewhere between you and Timothy.  I like my P22 and enjoy shooting it.  However, I have to run cci mini-mags to get any kind of reliability out of it, and, even then, it's not the 100% I require to carry it for self defense.  I have carried it before, but I also started shooting it more during that time.  That's when I really realized how unreliable it is for me even with quality ammo.  May I suggest, if you insist on carrying a .22, looking into a revolver?  They are much more reliable in the .22 platform than autos and capacity is similar these days.

Again, welcome and glad to see you're out there promoting your right to self-defense.

[tombogan03884]

Welcome aboard doctorknow. I hate it you've got such a tough start here, but you have to admit you've jumped head first into a fairly controversial subject.  I tend to agree with the others on here, but I do have a question and some comments on your choice of firearm, not the caliber.

Did you mean to say you shoot mini-mags out of it?  I haven't seen a .22 magnum P22.

As to the Walther, I'm glad you've got one that shoots reliable enough to trust it with your life.  I'm apparently somewhere between you and Timothy.  I like my P22 and enjoy shooting it.  However, I have to run cci mini-mags to get any kind of reliability out of it, and, even then, it's not the 100% I require to carry it for self defense.  I have carried it before, but I also started shooting it more during that time.  That's when I really realized how unreliable it is for me even with quality ammo.  May I suggest, if you insist on carrying a .22, looking into a revolver?  They are much more reliable in the .22 platform than autos and capacity is similar these days.

Again, welcome and glad to see you're out there promoting your right to self-defense.

Don't feel sorry for him, remember, "No guts, No glory"  !    

And since I missed it earlier Welcome aboard Doctorknow .

He may have concealment issues to deal with as well that would not be helped by the cylinder on a revolver.
After hearing the comments on here I would advise the good Doctor to make absolutely certain that his pistol functions 100%
If you need it you really REALLY need BANG, not click regardless of caliber.

[Timothy]

Speaking of click vs bang...

This past spring, I was teaching a few newbies the basics with my BIL's little S&W .22 revolver.  It too was a bit sensitive to cheap ammo.  I had some Remington Thunderbolt that I'd bought last year and had nothing but problems out of that S&W with it.  Nearly every cylinder I shot, 4 of 8 were misfires.  Don't assume with .22 rimfire, every revolver will function, every time.

I gave what I had left to a guy with a Ruger Mk II at the range and he blew right through it with no problems.  The Federal bulk box from WW was no problem at all in the revo...

Check your ammo regardless of the tool you're using!

[Sponsor]

[mkm]

Speaking of click vs bang...

This past spring, I was teaching a few newbies the basics with my BIL's little S&W .22 revolver.  It too was a bit sensitive to cheap ammo.  I had some Remington Thunderbolt that I'd bought last year and had nothing but problems out of that S&W with it.  Nearly every cylinder I shot, 4 of 8 were misfires.  Don't assume with .22 rimfire, every revolver will function, every time.

I gave what I had left to a guy with a Ruger Mk II at the range and he blew right through it with no problems.  The Federal bulk box from WW was no problem at all in the revo...

Check your ammo regardless of the tool you're using!

I agree, and that's one of the biggest downfalls to .22lr.  I guess I should clarify what I mean by revolvers are more reliable.  They don't have feeding/ejecting problems, and a "click" doesn't stop you from pulling the trigger until you get a "bang."

[Timothy]

I agree, and that's one of the biggest downfalls to .22lr.  I guess I should clarify what I mean by revolvers are more reliable.  They don't have feeding/ejecting problems, and a "click" doesn't stop you from pulling the trigger until you get a "bang."

I wasn't trying to be critical MKM but more to emphasize your point that nothing is 100%, ever!  I never like hang fires in any situation but it was a good teaching moment for my newbies.

[Pababear]

I've been shooting like the doc since 8.  Shot on rifle teams, shot all kinds of long and handguns.   35 years  ago I was partial to the 9 mm or a 1911 in .45ACP.

I was disabled 35 years ago, and can use only arm.  There went the pistols, sold them.  Started shooting .22 revolvers again 12 years ago.  Even when I had shot 35 years ago  my .22 rifle it hated Winchester, I could count on a 17% misfire out of a brick.  Went to Remington, it was 10%.

Years later my .22 revolvers hate the same ammo, but love CCI.  So the ammo problem is settled.

And I love to use a pistol, but can't rack the slide, oh I can but it would be frowned upon at the range.

Having a small hand, the larger caliber revolvers are not for me.  So I use the .22.  It's better than nothing, the .25ACP isn't that much bigger.  Hang Tight Doc and welcome

[mkm]

I wasn't trying to be critical MKM but more to emphasize your point that nothing is 100%, ever!  I never like hang fires in any situation but it was a good teaching moment for my newbies.

Didn't think anything about it just wanted to clarify what I meant about reliable in case there was confusion to other readers.  Oddly, I somehow missed the second half of Tom's post which started the click/bang train of thought.


Back to the choice of .22 as a defensive carry round.
I think most of us here have no problem saying "A .22lr that you carry is better than something larger that you don't."  However, I think most of us would also recommend carrying something larger and centerfire if you're capable.  A lot of factors go into chosing a defensive carry gun, and ability to shoot it well should be a priority.

[Magoo541]

I wonder how many people shot with a large caliber never make it to the hospital?  It seems to me that the few ER doctors I've heard comment about the caliber debate have based their opinions on how many patients they have seen in the ER as opposed to the total number of people shot which would be those that they see PLUS those that only the corner sees.  It would seem to me that a corner would be a better judge of caliber performance on humans than an ER doctor, just my $.02 and a little fuel to the never ending caliber debate.

Just so everyone is clear I am of the opinion that the bigger the better, or carry what you can get away with.  My XDM in 45 ACP serves as my EDC, competition gun and home defense handgun because its the only handgun I currently own (soon to be rectified with multiple purchases-thanks to BHO) and I have put over 1500 rounds through it this year. I hope to put another 4000 by years end in competition, practice or training.