• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Learn to shoot your 22, it's all you'll need

Page 2 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.
Even LEO's aren't taught to hit pie's. They are taught for dead center mass.
How would you even recommend a 22LR to the untrained?
Plinking targets is one thing. I'm damn good at that. But I wouldn't trust myself in any defensive situation with a 22.
 
I would definitely suggest getting a .22 as your first pistol, but essentially for the purposes of a trainer pistol. It could be used in self-defense I guess (any gun is better than no gun) however economically it just makes a lot more sense to learn shooting. You can pick up a good used .22 for $100-200, and then a walmart box of .22lr will last you a long time.

Another reason is it's good for new shooters to start off on a platform with low recoil. Punishing recoil can really teach some bad habits to new shooters
 
foghorn67 said:
Even LEO's aren't taught to hit pie's. They are taught for dead center mass.
How would you even recommend a 22LR to the untrained?
Plinking targets is one thing. I'm damn good at that. But I wouldn't trust myself in any defensive situation with a 22.
Click to expand...

.... why not? It's far easier to repeatedly hit center-of-mass on a man-size target with a .22 than with a caliber with more recoil.

The concern with a .22 was never about hitting what you're shooting at. If anything, that's its primary advantage. The disadvantages are: Lack of "stopping power," poor reliability in autos, poor ammo consistency.

The last two reasons are why I would never use a .22 auto as a bedside gun.
 
Farmer said:
.... why not? It's far easier to repeatedly hit center-of-mass on a man-size target with a .22 than with a caliber with more recoil.

The concern with a .22 was never about hitting what you're shooting at. If anything, that's its primary advantage. The disadvantages are: Lack of "stopping power," poor reliability in autos, poor ammo consistency.

The last two reasons are why I would never use a .22 auto as a bedside gun.
Click to expand...
I wouldn't even buy that argument. I've had game not stopping with a .22.
 
Agent11 said:
Hell, just get a surplus WWII rifle and fix a bayonet on it. Wouldn't be very responsible if you had neighbors though... I imagine your average battle rifle would punch through several walls.
Click to expand...

Heh, I have one of those. With the bayonet attached, you could practically stab someone in your hall without getting out of bed.
And yes, the bullets have a steel core and are essentially armor-piercing, especially with the massive powder charge behind them. They go straight through 1/2" steel plate.
 
Hello new to the forums.
I have a. 22 rifle and the only way id use it as a defense weapon is if I knew I could hit the target with some distance between me and it. Shotgun for home defense. 380 for carry.
 
I love my 22s, but in a pinch? Sorry, I'll take the velocity and impact that a jacketed centerfire round provides.
 
Sorry, no. While I love my 22s and believe in placement of shot... the 22s are simply not enough even WITH placement of shot to guarantee a lethal hit.

Also, if you can't get back on target fast enough with a 9mm you need more practice with your gun.
 
"...it's all you'll need"




Absolutely false. These threads of misinformation are dangerous. Anything is better than fingernails in a defense situation, sure, but there is a reason no police or military choose .22LR for social work.

I pop off squirrel heads with .22s and .17s at distance too, big deal, that has absolutely no bearing whatsoever on a self-defense situation where I might be confronted with an intruder who is also armed, messed up on drugs, or brought help. Quite a bit different than the sub-50lb varmint category and paper .22s normally deal with.

The .22 is a tool, and there is no such thing as one tool that handles all jobs. Period.

Why someone would adopt that reasoning with self-defense is beyond me.
 
Last edited:
I recall reading a story several years ago where a highway patrolman was in a fight with a crackhead (generic term, don't recall the exact drug). The patrolman fired five rounds of .357 Mag into the torso of said crackhead. The crackhead did not die and shot and killed the patrolman with a 9mm handgun.

I was shot with .22 LR when I was younger. I didn't die. Can .22 LR stop an attacker? Perhaps. We know it has occurred we also know it has failed to do so.

Another story from some time back involves a police officer in a poor neighborhood shot in the neck with a Ruger 10/22 from about 50 yards away, he died on the scene.

If I know there is going to be a fight, I'm not going. If I have to go, I'm bringing lots of friends with rifles, if I have to go alone I'm bringing a rifle at least. If I can't bring a rifle I'm bringing a 10MM pistol, probably my Glock 20. Again, if I know there is going to be a fight, I'm not going.
 
kazaam said:
I've heard that .22lr is inherently less reliable because its a weaker round or something. Is that true? Certainly seems like there were more FTF at the range when I used one. Whether due to limp writing which I think it's more prone to or the weakness of the round or both, I dunno.
Click to expand...

Can anyone please shed some light on this?
 
It is from the round being weak, barely powerful enough to cycle the next round. Add in some dirt and residue and you get lots of jams.
 
kazaam said:
Can anyone please shed some light on this?
Click to expand...

The FTF issues with the .22 LR are due to it being a rim fire cartridge versus a center fire cartridge. There are also manufacturing defects to consider as .22 LR is very cheap to produce but also cheap to buy, margins are low and quality is also low. You can go buy the most expensive box of .22 LR you can find, grab a handful and I guarantee there are several duds in your hand either due to there not being enough powder in the round, the bullet not being seated correctly (and possibly just falling out) to the primer being bad. The round it also plagued with feeding issues.
 
kage69 said:
"...it's all you'll need"




Absolutely false. These threads of misinformation are dangerous. Anything is better than fingernails in a defense situation, sure, but there is a reason no police or military choose .22LR for social work.

I pop off squirrel heads with .22s and .17s at distance too, big deal, that has absolutely no bearing whatsoever on a self-defense situation where I might be confronted with an intruder who is also armed, messed up on drugs, or brought help. Quite a bit different than the sub-50lb varmint category and paper .22s normally deal with.

The .22 is a tool, and there is no such thing as one tool that handles all jobs. Period.

Why someone would adopt that reasoning with self-defense is beyond me.
Click to expand...

Israeli military has actually used 22's. Not that it invalidates anything you said tho.
 
Doppel said:
Really though I was watching doomsday preppers (is a great show, really), and some guy there was going on about .22 and it's great and easily common. He had a good argument, but then most of the people on that show are batsh*t fvcking crazy.
.
Click to expand...

what exactly what he saying. for survival, i agree it's a great round to carry. can carry tons of ammo with little weight, can use it to hunt birds and other small game like rabbits. It's not going to be as loud as centerfire ammo. It's better than nothing in self defense...

For utility, the .22 is a great round to have. just not for dedicated personal defense.
 
Vic Vega said:
The FTF issues with the .22 LR are due to it being a rim fire cartridge versus a center fire cartridge. There are also manufacturing defects to consider as .22 LR is very cheap to produce but also cheap to buy, margins are low and quality is also low. You can go buy the most expensive box of .22 LR you can find, grab a handful and I guarantee there are several duds in your hand either due to there not being enough powder in the round, the bullet not being seated correctly (and possibly just falling out) to the primer being bad. The round it also plagued with feeding issues.
Click to expand...

I think quality has increased by a lot.

I remember plinking with .22 as a kid and getting many duds in a single box of 50. I can't remember the last time I had a dud in over many thousands of rounds of .22 over the last few years.

I've been shooting mostly federal bulk HPs, wolf target ammo, some remington target ammo, cci stingers, and even some aguila ammo.

Not a single dud or problem with any of them.


this doesn't mean i agree with using .22 for self defense if you have something better.
 
kazaam said:
I've heard that .22lr is inherently less reliable because its a weaker round or something. Is that true? Certainly seems like there were more FTF at the range when I used one. Whether due to limp writing which I think it's more prone to or the weakness of the round or both, I dunno.
Click to expand...

First there's the ignition method. A primer is a better made more reliable system than the hollow rim of a rimfire cartridge.

Then, .22 ammo because of it's ignition method is a very dirty cartridge. That can relatively quickly start to cause malfunctions.
 
StrangerGuy said:
People have been riddled full of holes by larger pistol rounds yet still standing, and you claim .22 LR is a viable self defense caliber.

Riiiiiiiight.
Click to expand...

So then larger calibers like 9mm and .38 aren't viable for self defense, if people can be riddled with them and still left standing. 😉
 
I love the armchair munitions experts that base all their findings off of CoD and BF. lol.

ROFL at "knock-down power".
 
BladeVenom said:
So then larger calibers like 9mm and .38 aren't viable for self defense, if people can be riddled with them and still left standing. 😉
Click to expand...

That's why I illegally acquired a couple of 16" guns back when the Iowa was decommissioned, and mounted them facing the front door.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top