Post by merc on Dec 23, 2019 3:27:13 GMT
A .22 for home/self defense?
By Alexander Henry, BS, JD Political Science & Law, University of Mississippi (1988)
Why does everyone feel they need to go on the lecture circuit to answer a simple question?
The simple answer is YES a .22 pistol IS “enough” for home/self defense. Graveyards and urns are filled with the remains of those who found this out the hard way!
The question didn’t ask for tactical, practical, shooting, or legal instruction, yet all too often we feel compelled to go into a lengthy diatribe in minute detail which obscures the basic answer.
I have seen first-hand actual humans, up-close who were the recipient of .22 Long Rifle bullets and in every case of a head or torso hit the person came through the door horizontal and critical. In cases where people were hit multiple times, the resulting damage was profound.
Then there is the easily found, readily viewed attempted assassination of Ronald Reagan. No better “proof” of the bad-assedness of a SHORT-barreled .22 revolver can be asked for! One asshole armed with ONE “cheap” 6-shot .22 revolver leapt out of the adoring crowd and took down FOUR full-“growed” men with one shot per each! Reagan was cheast hit - broken rib, punched nearly to the heart and would have been fatal with lesser immediate medical attention! Brady dove into the path of one bullet that scrambled his eggs and though he lived, he was reduced to making mewing cat sounds when he spoke. A Secret Service agent soaked one up in the stomach and can CLEARLY be seen reacting to the hit - violently. A DC cop took one and also went down for the count. IF the goal is to “stop” someone I just dont know what more convincing anyone needs? Put aside ego and dick-size comparisons, and the bottom line is, only a fool questions the terminal effectiveness of the lowly .22 from a 2” barrel! Show me ONE person willing to accept being shot just ONCE with a .22 LR using the commonly taught concept of aiming “center mass.” It’s reall easy to puff up and posture about caliber ineffectiveness, but until sombody is willing to submit to being shot by a .22, then demonstrate the ability to laugh it off, and run around giggling, all the sand-pounding is worthless.
BTW, not ONE of the four people hit stayed on their feet, nor lept up and ran around laughing it off with, “that didn’t even hurt!”
When launched from carbine or rifle length barrels the .22 LR is absolutely “capable” of filling the role of “the only gun I own,” for those not interested in more.
As for cost-outlay, an “el-cheapo” Phoenix Arms HP-22A can generally be bought for under $150, holds 10+1 shots, and is highly reliable. The plethora of safeties can be reduced to a thumb safety in a few minutes. Sure, one can spend more - like $350 for a Walther P-22 which is also highly reliable plus comes with the ability to mount a threaded adapter. Then there is the excellent Browning 1911–22 for around $500 for those so inclined. The main point though is the HP-22A is as reliable as those more expensive. For those more moderate and less interested in the greater operational complexity of a semiautomatic, Charter Arms makes a perfectly serviceable revolver for around $300, and revolvers come in capacities from 5–12, and prices from $200-$600. S&W makes the M43C 8-shot snubbie that weighs 11 ounces and is top-quality. Chiappa makes a 10 shot SA for around $200, and Traditions fields a very attractive 12-shot for around $300. The beauty of a SA revolver is absolute reliability…greater than that of any DA design.
The simple answer is YES a .22 pistol IS “enough” for home/self defense. Graveyards and urns are filled with the remains of those who found this out the hard way!
The question didn’t ask for tactical, practical, shooting, or legal instruction, yet all too often we feel compelled to go into a lengthy diatribe in minute detail which obscures the basic answer.
I have seen first-hand actual humans, up-close who were the recipient of .22 Long Rifle bullets and in every case of a head or torso hit the person came through the door horizontal and critical. In cases where people were hit multiple times, the resulting damage was profound.
Then there is the easily found, readily viewed attempted assassination of Ronald Reagan. No better “proof” of the bad-assedness of a SHORT-barreled .22 revolver can be asked for! One asshole armed with ONE “cheap” 6-shot .22 revolver leapt out of the adoring crowd and took down FOUR full-“growed” men with one shot per each! Reagan was cheast hit - broken rib, punched nearly to the heart and would have been fatal with lesser immediate medical attention! Brady dove into the path of one bullet that scrambled his eggs and though he lived, he was reduced to making mewing cat sounds when he spoke. A Secret Service agent soaked one up in the stomach and can CLEARLY be seen reacting to the hit - violently. A DC cop took one and also went down for the count. IF the goal is to “stop” someone I just dont know what more convincing anyone needs? Put aside ego and dick-size comparisons, and the bottom line is, only a fool questions the terminal effectiveness of the lowly .22 from a 2” barrel! Show me ONE person willing to accept being shot just ONCE with a .22 LR using the commonly taught concept of aiming “center mass.” It’s reall easy to puff up and posture about caliber ineffectiveness, but until sombody is willing to submit to being shot by a .22, then demonstrate the ability to laugh it off, and run around giggling, all the sand-pounding is worthless.
BTW, not ONE of the four people hit stayed on their feet, nor lept up and ran around laughing it off with, “that didn’t even hurt!”
When launched from carbine or rifle length barrels the .22 LR is absolutely “capable” of filling the role of “the only gun I own,” for those not interested in more.
As for cost-outlay, an “el-cheapo” Phoenix Arms HP-22A can generally be bought for under $150, holds 10+1 shots, and is highly reliable. The plethora of safeties can be reduced to a thumb safety in a few minutes. Sure, one can spend more - like $350 for a Walther P-22 which is also highly reliable plus comes with the ability to mount a threaded adapter. Then there is the excellent Browning 1911–22 for around $500 for those so inclined. The main point though is the HP-22A is as reliable as those more expensive. For those more moderate and less interested in the greater operational complexity of a semiautomatic, Charter Arms makes a perfectly serviceable revolver for around $300, and revolvers come in capacities from 5–12, and prices from $200-$600. S&W makes the M43C 8-shot snubbie that weighs 11 ounces and is top-quality. Chiappa makes a 10 shot SA for around $200, and Traditions fields a very attractive 12-shot for around $300. The beauty of a SA revolver is absolute reliability…greater than that of any DA design.
