22Magnum for Defense? (shotgun, cost, bullet, carry)
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I have two of these. a 22 short and 22lr. I would not want to use it as life and death situation but it does serve a purpose. Its so small it can be hidden in a hat, or in a boot heel if needed. Jim West style. Other than that I would not use it.
Yes, I would take a .25 acp/.32 acp OVER a .22 LR/MAG ANYDAY.
It was designed for "hand guns" and self defense.
"Rimfire" was NOT!
Oh come on. A 25 acp over 22 mag, really? While neither is usually a first choice, the 22 mag far outperforms the 25 acp and it really doesn't matter what is was designed for. So many tall stories repeated until someone believes them.
The 25 acp leaves the barrel at about 800 fps or so with a 50 grain bullet.
The 22mag leaves the barrel at about over 1000 fps with a 45 grain bullet.
I guess somehow, the negligible greater bullet diameter and 5 grains but much slower velocity makes such a big difference? I had no idea.
Now before all the hands go up, we're talking about a barrel length under two inches so lets not start there.
As we lengthen the barrel even a little, the velocities for the 22 mag rise rapidly and there are some excellent revolvers chambered for the 22 mag. Velocities in the 1200 fps range are easily attainable in revolvers, often higher.
Of course, caliber, velocity and even bullet type take a back seat to accuracy and the brain of the shooter but all things being equal, the 25 acp isn't better than the 22 mag.
Shotguns weren't designed for personal defense as we now understand the term but they do a rather fine job at it. What something was designed for often has little bearing as to how well it performs other functions.
A Ferarri wasn't designed for errands to the coffee shop and so on but I much rather drive there in one than using a Toyota Corolla.
If you go back to when the mob was busy killing each other, the 22 was a caliber of choice. Yeah, you had to be close but a large caliber weapon like a 45 generally punches a 45 caliber hole and keeps going. A 22, even a magnum, once inside the body cavity has a tendency to ricochet around inside and never come out. The inside body damage is far more extensive. At one time, the assassination weapon of choice was a Ruger semi auto 22 with the sear filed off. Once they dropped the slide the gun unloaded. If there was a team of surgeons standing by, the victim didn't stand a chance as there would be far too much internal damage. While I would agree that the NAA isn't a weapon of choice due to it's failure to work consistently, I wouldn't be so hot to say a 22 isn't a defensive weapon as it can be far more deadly that pistols with larger holes in the barrel.
FWIW, if you compare the Winchester 22 mag ammo with the 40 gr bullet, muzzle energy is 174lbs. That's more than a 32 ACP, just behind a 380 with Hydro-shok ammo, more than a 38 Special RNL ammo
If you go back to when the mob was busy killing each other, the 22 was a caliber of choice. Yeah, you had to be close but a large caliber weapon like a 45 generally punches a 45 caliber hole and keeps going. A 22, even a magnum, once inside the body cavity has a tendency to ricochet around inside and never come out. The inside body damage is far more extensive. At one time, the assassination weapon of choice was a Ruger semi auto 22 with the sear filed off. Once they dropped the slide the gun unloaded. If there was a team of surgeons standing by, the victim didn't stand a chance as there would be far too much internal damage. While I would agree that the NAA isn't a weapon of choice due to it's failure to work consistently, I wouldn't be so hot to say a 22 isn't a defensive weapon as it can be far more deadly that pistols with larger holes in the barrel.
FWIW, if you compare the Winchester 22 mag ammo with the 40 gr bullet, muzzle energy is 174lbs. That's more than a 32 ACP, just behind a 380 with Hydro-shok ammo, more than a 38 Special RNL ammo
I owned a NAA .22 LR stainless micro revolver. When you carried it in your pocket and sweat on it, the harsh reality of "rimfire" ignition sets in.
At a local shooting range while we were shooting other handguns my buddy asked about my NAA and told me to get it out and fire it. He wanted to see it.
Upon firing the weapon, only 3 out of the 5 CCI Stingers went off. The other 2 were misfires. Keep in mind that ammo was changed every month to fresh.
My face went all shades of pale white as I just sat there.
I would have been dead........
I lost total faith in the weapon and sold it off, never to return again.
That's why I said it wasn't a good choice. I have a friend that carried one for a year in his briefcase and never shot it. I told him he better shoot it as these weapons are a known problem child. He never could get his to go off even on new ammo. Sent it back and it MIGHT go off every third round now. Needless to say, he put it up and now carries a High Power. But I wouldn't back up from carrying a good 22 mag, they pack a lot more punch than folks think.
That's why I said it wasn't a good choice. I have a friend that carried one for a year in his briefcase and never shot it. I told him he better shoot it as these weapons are a known problem child. He never could get his to go off even on new ammo. Sent it back and it MIGHT go off every third round now. Needless to say, he put it up and now carries a High Power. But I wouldn't back up from carrying a good 22 mag, they pack a lot more punch than folks think.
Before the .17 HMR came out, .22 Mag was the end all be all small pest/varmint round.
When you want to smoke a woodchuck and not have him laugh at you. Also good for possums, coons and skunks.
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