.22 Handguns and Light Rifles For Self Defense

[Pages:11].22 Handguns and Light Rifles For Self Defense

By R.F. DeMott, CFI ~ ? 2012

No one, myself included, would recommend a .22 caliber handgun as the ideal defensive weapon. For that matter, I wouldn't recommend any handgun at all as the ideal defensive weapon. We carry handguns because most of us find it a tad inconvenient to carry a tactical shotgun, or main battle rifle as we go about our daily lives, and most folks tend to get a little upset when you get on the bus with one. If I knew a fight was coming my way, my preference would be a crew-served weapon, preferably with the `crew' in tow. So, a handgun, any handgun is at best a compromise. But then, we've all been around long enough to understand that life is a never ending series of tradeoffs.

I will not debate the .22 vs. 'whatever' for self defense. If, by choice or circumstance, your only viable option should happen to be the .22 rimfire, so be it. I have no problem with my students who choose the .22 for self defense, regardless of the reasons. They all know that I advocate using the largest round you can handle easily, afford to practice with, and shoot well. But, we do not live in a perfect world.

The first rule of gun fighting, is to bring a gun. And any gun, will always beat no gun.

I will spare you all the inane arguments, wives tales, urban legends, and witticisms. Suffice it to say, the little .22 rimfire has been a heart breaker, and a life taker for more than 150 years.

That having been said, herein lies the tale...

Shot placement will trump caliber, every single time. Since no one in their right mind wants to get shot with anything, fast, accurate, multiple hits with any bullet, including the .22 (which is the easiest round for anyone to shoot quickly and accurately in a close quarter engagement), will take the fight out of anyone. The most common stop is psychological, not physical. Most miscreants will cease their aggressive behavior after taking a well placed hit, or two, or three. With a lighter caliber, such as the .22, the heaviest, fastest bullet will usually produce the best results. The short barrels of most handguns employed in this role will not generate the velocity necessary for reliable expansion of most hollow points, since these cartridges are primarily designed for use in rifles. Penetration then, must be the primary goal, combined with rapid, multiple, well placed hits.

A 40 grain bullet making around 880 to 900 feet per second (FPS), or more from a 2" barrel (and there are several excellent choices available), or 1,300 to 1,400+ FPS from a short rifle barrel will consistently produce penetration depths of twelve to fourteen+ inches in tissue after passing through 4 layers of denim. Most heavier .22 bullets will begin to tumble in the medium they've entered following impact, creating a larger wound channel. In handguns, it matters little whether the round is a solid, or hollow point, since

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as previously noted, the velocity is insufficient to cause reliable expansion from barrels less than 12 inches long.

Function trumps form. Choose a heavy for caliber (40 grain) round that functions flawlessly in your gun. .22 firearms are notoriously finicky about the ammunition you feed them. Bullet design is secondary. A perfectly mushroomed round which penetrated

five to seven inches will rarely be as effective as a round that didn't expand, but penetrated to two, or three times that depth. Very fast and light bullets are impressive on small game and in gelatin tests, but the lack of penetration limits their usefulness in a defensive role. Therefore, I would not recommend any of the hyper velocity, or super fast light bullets that are so popular for small game, since they tend to disintegrate before they can penetrate to a depth of any consequence when used in a rifle, and don't provide the weight/mass to penetrate as deeply if they hold together when used

in a handgun. The CCI Stinger for instance, will be moving about 33% slower from a handgun then it would from a longer rifle barrel. It will penetrate a bit more than half the depth of the 40 grain Velocitor, or Inteceptor, and you've given up 20% of the bullet weight with no perceivable advantage.

.22 Long Rifle HP Penetration Tests Calibrated Ballistic Gelatin

.22LR - CCI 40 Gr. Velocitor

2.4" Barrel

16" Barrel

Velocity

833 FPS 1,260 FPS

Expanded Diameter

.22 .34

Penetration

14+ Inches 14.5 Inches

.22LR - CCI 32 Gr. Stinger

2.4" Barrel

16" Barrel

Velocity

1,012 FPS 1,573 FPS

Expanded Diameter

.25 .36

Penetration

8 Inches 9.5 Inches

They are excellent rounds, but were designed and intended for use in rifle length barrels, and will not meet the penetration criteria from a short handgun barrel.

The CCI Quik-shok is another round highly touted for self defense. It is designed to separate into three equal weight segments on impact and create three would channels, and it does so admirably. The problem lies in the fact that it does not penetrate more than 6 to 8 inches in tissue from either a handgun, or a long gun. Not sufficient for our purpose, but great for small game, water jugs, and soup cans.

According to the FBI Ballistic Test Protocol, the performance standards are simple. A handgun bullet must consistently penetrate a minimum of 12 inches of tissue in order to reliably penetrate/strike/damage vital organs within a human target, regardless of the angle of impact or intervening obstacles such as arms, clothing, etc. More than twelve inches is even better, and multiple wound channels will always beat a single wound channel.

Let's put it all in perspective... A triple tap to center mass with a proper (40 grain) .22 caliber bullet would be the equivalent of being run through to the hilt 3 times in rapid

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succession with a 14 inch screwdriver, or taking 3 quick bolts from a powerful crossbow. Think about that for a minute... These are, at the very least, debilitating, and often, life ending injuries. That's 3 chances to pierce the heart and/or lungs, nick, or pierce a major artery, or strike the spine. All of these hits have proven to be fight stoppers.

A fast, controlled triple tap with three 40 grain . 22's from a handgun will result in putting 120 grains of lead, and about 220 collective foot pounds of energy on the target virtually simultaneously, with 3 separate wound channels and penetration sufficient to damage/destroy vital organs, and/or the CNS in the case of the spine. Were they not sufficient, a second string in the face of your attacker, where the bone is thin and fragile, will usually result in central nervous system strikes, and undoubtedly bring an immediate end to the altercation, or at the very least, cause him to reassess his rapidly dwindling options. We tend to worry, and argue ad infinitum about knockdown power and one shot stops, but the truth of the matter is, people just don't like getting shot, especially more than once.

The secret to increasing the effectiveness of any bullet in multiples of 100% is as simple as firing another one. So unless you're facing Sasquatch, even the diminutive .22 can, and does, get the job done quite well, as long as you do your part.

Learning, and practicing to shoot strings of triple taps quickly and accurately at 7 yards or less with a .22 and the correct ammunition is very easy to do, and will provide a great deal of comfort to those who, for a myriad of reasons, have chosen, or been limited to the .22 for self defense.

Almost every maker of firearms has one or more .22 caliber semiautomatics, or revolvers in their line, and for good reason. This little cartridge has been going strong for 154 years nonstop. .22 handguns are for the most part, relatively inexpensive, lighter in weight, smaller in the hand, and easier to manage than their centerfire counterparts. Most reputable dealers sell their firearms for twenty, to twenty-five percent less than the MSRP, and well cared for used guns are abundant and fairly priced. Although many .22 semiautomatics are usually less expensive than revolvers, users may not have the strength to manually cycle the slide to chamber a round, or clear a malfunction on a semiautomatic due to physical limitations, or disabilities, which is the reason they've gone to a .22 in the first place. The elderly may have weak hands from arthritis or other conditions, and these folks are generally the ones who are most likely to need a dependable, low recoiling, easy to operate defensive weapon. Human predators, like all

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predators, target those whom they perceive to be weak and easy, and therefore the weak are more likely to suffer at their hands. For these people, the double action revolver is

usually the better choice. Modern .22 double action revolvers chamber from 6 to 9 rounds depending on the size and manufacturer. Generally speaking, the higher quality the revolver, the lighter, and easier to use the double action trigger will be, although rimfire revolvers usually have heavier trigger pulls than center-fires due to the need for a heavier hammer drop for reliable ignition. The lightest and smoothest double action trigger I've found to date, is on the new Ruger LCR-22. Your milage may vary. Revolvers have no slide to cycle, no magazine to break or lose, no manual safeties, levers, or buttons to operate, save the cylinder release latch. They can sit unattended in a drawer for 20 years and will perform as needed when called upon by simply acquiring the target, and pressing the trigger (repeatedly).

There are two options available in the semiautomatic format that provide an end run around the problem of having to cycle the slide in order to chamber a round. The Taurus PT-22 (double action only, with both alloy and polymer frames), and the Beretta 21A (double action/single action), both employ tip-up barrels, and allow the loading of the chamber without having to cycle the slide. I have found most of the smaller semiautomatics to be very reliable with CCI Velocitors, and Aguila Interceptors. However, should a failure to fire, failure to feed, failure to eject, or double feed occur with less reliable ammunition, the slide WILL have to be cycled to clear that weapon, and therein lies the rub. If you should own one of these two, and it runs flawlessly with the proper ammunition, it may be a viable alternative to the revolver. Magazines can occasionally be the cause of malfunctions. Always have at least one, or two spare magazines on hand for any semiautomatic. More is better.

NEVER put a semiautomatic handgun into service in a self defense role without having broken it in, and/or checked it out, with 200 to 300 rounds, regardless of the caliber. No one should ever bet their life on an unproven gun. If problems develop during the break-in period, and do not rectify themselves before it ends, the prudent choice would be to change ammunition, or repair, or replace that gun.

We must balance power, weight, size, and recoil before deciding upon the ideal, or at the very least, an acceptable handgun. A handgun must always be within reach, it must be easy for the owner to operate, and it must be comfortable and easy to shoot well. A .22 in the hands of a skilled and practiced operator is far more deadly than a .357 magnum being wielded by someone who couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with it. For the price of 100 rounds of centerfire, you can put 500 rounds of rimfire downrange in training. That familiarization and training is a priceless asset when your response must be instinctive and immediate.

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Bear in mind, .22's are dirty rounds and it is imperative that you always keep your gun clean and lightly lubricated. A dirty, or over lubricated gun may fail you when you need it most.

.22 rimfire is notoriously unreliable in the guise of cheap practice ammunition. Semiautomatics in particular, are VERY finicky about ammunition. The higher the quality, the less problems you'll encounter. I have found Remington golden bulk to be particularly unreliable, and it should be avoided if possible. If your life is going to depend on the gun going bang every time your press the trigger, I would urge you to purchase the highest quality, most dependable ammunition you can find that will run flawlessly in your gun. You may have to try a number of different brands before you find the one your particular gun loves. When you do, stick with it. In my experience, 40 grain CCI Velocitors and Mini-Mags are manufactured to a very high standard and have never failed me. 40 grain Aquila Interceptor rounds are Eley primed, are even faster, and have proven to be equally dependable (these are the only rounds I have found that run without incident in the Taurus PT-22). There are a number of other excellent rounds as well. Do not be concerned with 25+ yard accuracy from a handgun. These rounds are being employed for self defense, and that means an engagement at 7 yards or less, usually much less. Keep your gun clean, start slowly, and practice, practice, practice until you are able to place those strings of 40 grain triple taps into a 6 inch circle at 5 to 7 yards very quickly. Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast. Start at the beginning, and in time you will become a force to be reckoned with.

The .22 magnum cartridge is a more powerful, and therefore more effective choice (generally, a heavier, faster bullet) if you have the option of choosing. The difference in operation between the two on any given platform is for all intent and purpose, identical. The number of

semiautomatic handguns chambered for this round is limited (The Keltec PMR-30 with its 30 round magazine is worthy of your attention). There are quite a few excellent revolvers available (The S&W 351PD is a gem, albeit very expensive). The difference in perceived recoil is negligible. The cost of the ammunition is higher, but it is, on average, manufactured to a higher standard, more powerful, and offers a higher reliability factor. Collectively, three excellent attributes. In longer, rifle length barrels the difference between the Long Rifle and Magnum can be dramatic, in short, handgun length

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barrels, not quite so dramatic. The major difference is the fact that several companies offer .22 magnum rounds specifically designed to be used in short handgun barrels (Hornady Critical Defense, and Speer Gold-Dot come to mind, and either would be an excellent choice). These jacketed hollow point rounds are designed to both penetrate and expand at the velocities provided by short barreled handguns, and are therefore a superior choice in a self defense encounter. On average, they are putting more foot pounds of energy on the target than a .22 Long Rifle from a short barrel, without the attendant recoil of a centerfire.

If you already have a .22 rifle in the loop (and you should), then moving to another caliber may not make financial sense to you if you have a substantial inventory of ammunition on hand (and once again, you should). You must however, resist the urge to use inexpensive, bulk pack ammunition in a self defense scenario. The higher quality ammunition recommended herein will function fine in your rifle, and will offer you the maximum chance of prevailing in an encounter with a handgun (or a long gun, for that matter).

Light Rifles...

A light, short barreled (16-1/2" to 18") .22 semiautomatic rifle/carbine with a 10+ capacity magazine is an excellent choice for home defense in lieu of, or in addition to, a handgun. The longer barrel will deliver considerably more energy on the target due to the increased velocity, usually doubling it at a minimum. Both expansion and penetration now become a part of the equation with the proper ammunition. Long guns are easier to shoot accurately than handguns, and even a novice, inexperienced shooter will consistently place all of their rounds on a paper plate at 25 yards. The fast, heavy for caliber rounds being discussed here will expand as intended from the longer barrel, while still providing sufficient penetration to be extremely effective. These long gun actions are very easy to operate, even for someone with limited physical capabilities, and recoil is virtually nonexistent.

Keep in mind, that the high quality/dependable ammunition requirements still apply. No bulk/inexpensive ammunition is acceptable for self defense, regardless of the platform. Rifles/carbines from Marlin, Mossberg, Ruger, Remington, Kel-tec, and a number of other manufacturers are a downright bargain when compared to the cost of a new handgun. If size restraints, weight, ease of use, concealability, or any of the other factors that make a handgun more desirable do not apply, this very well may be an excellent option, particularly if cost is a determining factor in the decision making process. Additionally, you can purchase about 10,000 rounds of bulk .22LR for about the same cost as 1,000 rounds of centerfire.

The .22 rimfire is the most widely distributed and used cartridge on earth. It is dismissed out of hand for it's assumed lack of power, and relegated to second class status by many. With the proper ammunition, it is far more than just `adequate,' and I can assure you, it is a heart breaker, and a life taker. If it were all I had, I would indeed sleep well at night. More miscreants in this country have been stopped, and/or dispatched with the .22 rimfire

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since its introduction in 1858 than any other caliber. The ammunition is abundant and inexpensive. The round is inherently accurate in the hands of a skilled operator. I am a true and genuine fan of the .22 rimfire, and I believe it to be the most under-rated cartridge in the world. It is the cartridge most of us start with, and many of us end with.

Firearms that chamber it are inexpensive and well made. In the hands of someone who has trained with it, it will consistently shoot very tight groups out to 100+ yards/meters, and well beyond from a good rifle. One or more of these in your face at that range will absolutely ruin your day and bring your participation in the proceedings to an abrupt and permanent conclusion.

Shot placement with the .22 is critical (as it is will all rounds), but it's an easy cartridge to shoot well, with a low noise signature (which can be lowered further still, with the proper sub-sonic ammunition and/or a legally purchased suppressor). Recoil is nonexistent. The . 22 requires multiple hits to be absolutely effective (as do more calibers than most will care to admit), but those hits are easy to make very quickly if you've practiced shooting triple taps. It is the round of choice in most alphabet agencies for close up and personal "wet work" for a good reason. It works. It was used to great effect as a suppressed, shorter range sniper rifle in Vietnam (which brought a whole new meaning to the term, "trail gun"), and a scoped, suppressed version is currently in use by Israeli Special Defense Teams. A brain shot though the eye with a .22 will put down everything from a mouse to an elephant.

It is not the firearm, the bullet design, or the amount of money you can spend, but rather training, dedication, and skill that elevates the .22 from plinker to life taker... It is as always, shot placement, together with applying the medicine until the cure is found.

Personally, I would much prefer to be fighting alongside someone who can quickly put 10 rounds of .22 rimfire into a soup can lid, (or the bad guy's very expensive, but very cool, designer sun glasses) at 50 yards/meters, than someone who can't hit the broad side of a barn with a big old centerfire, or is spraying 30 round magazines full of battle rifle

rounds in the general direction of the threat with high hopes and a low probability factor.

The .22 is only an ineffective, short range round in the mind of someone who will not acknowledge its potential, or won't/hasn't trained to take advantage of its capabilities. .22's, more so than many other guns, will prove to be incredibly accurate over long distances with one particular brand/type of ammunition. Put as many different brands/types of ammunition through you gun as you can under controlled conditions, until you find the one it loves for long range work. The differences will be dramatic, so pay attention. Your preferred defensive rounds should be reliable, heavy for caliber (40 grain), fast hollow points. CCI Velocitors, and Aguila Interceptors

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both meet this standard (proper expansion and the required penetration). There are other brands that are equally dependable and effective, as well.

If you choose the proper ammunition for a self/home defense scenario, each of those bullets will be producing close to 200 foot pounds of energy on the target from a rifle length barrel in a close quarter engagement. That's centerfire territory, including the .380 ACP, light 9MM's, and light .38`s. The difference is that you can do it ten times with a semiautomatic shoulder mounted .22 rifle in the time it will take you to do it two, or three times with the centerfire handgun (if my onboard calculator is functioning properly, that would be approximately 2,000 foot pounds of energy on the target in about a second and a half). I can certainly live with that, as long as I'm on the quiet end of the rifle.

The range of available .22 semiautomatic rifles is broad. Makers such as Marlin, Mossberg, and Ruger, among others, offer compact, light, and highly effective guns that range in price from about $125 to $250 new. Should you choose to purchase a .22 rifle for every member of your family (and you should), don't make the mistake of buying several different types, or brands. You should strive for the standardization of magazines, parts, cleaning and maintenance procedures, and manual of arms, for everyone. Used .22 rifles are available in mind boggling numbers if you just look around. Only buy used guns that have been well cared for and appear to be in excellent condition. Test fire them as soon as possible. If a problem presents itself, return it whence it came and have it rectified. Manuals for used guns can be downloaded in PDF format from most manufacturer's websites free of charge.

Learn to maximize its advantages and minimize its disadvantages, and it will serve you well all the days of your life.

Lest you think that the little .22 will be ineffective, let me, once again, make the point that shot placement is far more important than caliber, and caliber will never be an acceptable substitute for the incompetence of the operator. Should you doubt me, I suggest you reread the story of a young man named David (1 Samuel 17), who immortalized the theory by making his one small stone count... With perfect shot placement.

The .22 rifle together with sufficient stores of ammunition, will provide you with the tools to help keep you out of the victim's column. I urge you to make the necessary adjustments in your lifestyle to acquire at least this firearm, either new, or used, as soon as possible, and add ammunition and magazines for it to your stores on a regular basis. They are the cornerstone of any assemblage of firearms. Rest assured, that you will be sufficiently armed to put meat in the pot, and defend yourself and those you are responsible for, and that's a feeling money can't buy.

Should you choose a .22 that uses magazines, buy as many as you can, budgeting for them one, or two at a time. There is no such thing as too many. If your rifle is tube fed, I would urge you to purchase two, or more Spee-D-Loaders for it. Pick up an inexpensive arrow quiver, and you'll always have your Spee-D-Loader with you. Spee-D-Loader Spee-D-6 22 Caliber Rimfire Tube Magazine Rifle Ammunition Loader Polymer Clear

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