Is .22 that bad for home defense?

[billybob44]

I beg to differ.
Revolvers are more reliable.
But, most semi-autos problems can be cleared on the spot.
When a revolver jams, its down for the count.
Primers pushed back
Timing off
Hilliry Lock self engages.

And I'm sure there's more.

I shoot+carry both, depending on how I dress.(Before I hear it-NO not in a DRESS!)

A semi-auto is A LOT more likely to have a FTF, or FTE, than most any $250-$350 QUALITY S&W or Ruger .357Mag. revolver.
Most new gun owners will have a harder time clearing a Semi-auto than they will to keep pulling the trigger on a revolver.

IMO, there is more of a chance to win SOME money on the lottery than there is to have a QUALITY revolver to become inop when needed...Bill.

 

[Bapak2ja]

For $250 the OP can get a good quality shotgun with maybe even a good light.

Plus you can even carry it outside your home without a licence.

BINGO! Right answer! If economics is a serious concern, go with a shotgun.

 

[bdybdall]

How much can you afford to shoot. You can get a lot more practice with a .22 than any other caliber, If you're not going to practice much, then get a .357 or .38 and keep .38 +P's in it. If you're not going to practive at all, get a Claymore. That will stop just about any home invader.

 

[redneckmedic]

I like the pitbull experiment idea too, but instead of killing the dogs, train them, take'm home and let them play survival of the fittest with your current dog. No matter the outcome, you have a cheap 22 to plink with and a couple man eaters to protect your house... win-win in my book.

 

[esrice]

Let's see what Paul Gomez had to say on the matter.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42-hok8IjQQ[/ame]

 

[wtfd661]

I second (or third) the advice for a used Ruger P-series 9mm, they are good HD guns with low felt recoil and you should be able to find them in your price range.

The Shotgun advice is another good idea.

Good luck to you and whatever you decide to get. Don't forget to post it here with a pic so we all can drool over it.

 

[TopDog]

Let's see what Paul Gomez had to say on the matter.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42-hok8IjQQ

OK Evan calm down, we all know a handgun is just something you use to get to your rifle (preferably a AR).

 

[Dirtebiker]

. Revolvers don't jam. p.

That is a Dangerous MYTH!!! Nothing is absolute.

Revolvers can and DO jam!

 

[davedolli]

Mossberg 500s can be found everywhere for $150 used either 12 ga or 20 ga. Protect your home and family and also feed them.


Dave

 

[03A3]

I read an account of two guys getting into a fight.
One pulled a knife, the other pulled a 22 handgun.
The guy with the 22 shot the other guy several times.
The guy with the knife proceeded the stab the shooter several times including once in the head (brain).
They both died but the guy with the 22 died first
That fits the earlier pit bull scenario pretty well.

 

[TopDog]

Ha ha, many years ago I was stationed in Memphis TN. I remember a story on the news one night. An old man in his 70's shot an intruder multiple times, something like 7 - 10 times with a .22 pistol, finally the intruder just left. When the police caught the intruder he had not even tried to go to the hospital. They asked him why he gave up the home invasion. He basically said he just got tired of being shot and didn't know how many rounds the old man still had left.

Yes sir, the .22 not exactly a man stopper.

 

[cosermann]

If you're going to get a .22 for home defense - get a rifle. The .22 LR of a rifle (like a 10/22) is a completely different story than a handgun. I would have no qualms about using a .22 rifle. I would have plenty of qualms unnecessarily limiting myself to a .22 lr handgun. The penetration out of a handgun just isn't consistently there.

I some situations, I really would prefer a stout sharpened stick.

The OP mentioned reliability - very few .22 lr semiauto handguns can match the reliability of many centerfire semiauto handguns. Even with revolvers, you'd have the reliability difference between the rimfire and centerfire ignition systems. You will likely sacrifice reliability by restricting yourself to a .22. So, weigh that if it's important to you.

http://www.brassfetcher.com/22LR/22LR%20CALIBER%20RECOMMENDATIONS.pdf

http://www.firearmstactical.com/briefs27.htm

 

[Liberty1911]

For $250 the OP can get a good quality shotgun with maybe even a good light.

Plus you can even carry it outside your home without a licence.

Yep, a 12 gauge would be my first option for home defense.

 

[danbb]

One factor that I don't ever see mentioned is that you're a lot more likely to use your gun to defend your home from varmints than people, and for taking out a coon that just won't leave the garage, there's nothing like a 10/22

 

[Giddaltti]

How about a single shot Shot Gun? Price is right, easy to shoot, and if you have teens you can show them how to use it as well. With the money you save you can start saving it for another handgun/shotgun. Gander Mtn has layaway, but as always shop around for the best deal. A 22 is good for target practice and light duty, 9mm usually cost a little less to shoot.

 

[Colinb913]

How about a single shot Shot Gun? Price is right, easy to shoot, and if you have teens you can show them how to use it as well. With the money you save you can start saving it for another handgun/shotgun. Gander Mtn has layaway, but as always shop around for the best deal. A 22 is good for target practice and light duty, 9mm usually cost a little less to shoot.

Single shot shotgun is a bad idea. Too long to reload. That is if you remember to grab extra shells after pulling on your pants, and knocking your glasses off the nightstand.

Mossberg 500, in 12 or 20 gauge. That's six rounds (if I am not mistaken). Shoot, pump, shoot, pump. You don't have to worry about breaking a barrel, getting a shell half ejected, not pulling the hammer back.

OP at your price point, I would recommend getting a used shotgun, and throwing a good light on it. If you blow all your dough on a handgun, it's gonna be useless, and dangerous if you can't see what you're shooting at.

Come tax time, if you get some cool kick backs from O'Bummer and his Band of merry men, see if you can buy a handgun with that. That's what I'd do if I was you. Either way, welcome to stick around for a while!

 

[Iroquois]

Don't underestimate the stopping power of the .22 rifle at close range ...a friend of mine was shot with
one in the 50s and the scar looked like a machete attack ,front and back. He was shot once from a car
in a drive by. A magazine full of hollowpoints is no small threat...out of a rifle.

 

[Colinb913]

Don't underestimate the stopping power of the .22 rifle at close range ...a friend of mine was shot with
one in the 50s and the scar looked like a machete attack ,front and back. He was shot once from a car
in a drive by. A magazine full of hollowpoints is no small threat...out of a rifle.

And your friend survived. Point proven.

 

[Birds Away]

There are a lot of good handguns available for under $300. I agree as far as recommending a shotgun for home defense. But if your mind is made up on getting a handgun for home defense then don't go small. Get a full size 9mm. It will be easier to learn to shoot it well.

 

[CoastieGM]

.22 Beat a 9mm...

Hello yuwaix,

There have been a lot of really good comments on this thread. Unfortunately, the few atrocious ones come across as being so authoritative that I could no longer be a lurker. Ok, here's real life.

Three years ago, my 16 year old son fought off and killed a violent home invader (later learned there were a couple others, but they ran when their heavily armed amigo went down in a hail of lead). The home invader was armed with a 9mm pistol and a shank screwdriver. My son had a Ruger 10/22 rifle (.22 caliber) with a 25 round magazine.

The bad guy went down fast still clutching his pistol in his fist.

The 10/22 can quickly hurl a wall of lead that a woman or child can easily and accurately dispense.

Use 40 grain sold point ammo (never hollow) moving at least 1,200 feet per second to punch through ribs, sternum and cranium.

I keep two 10/22's around the house for the wife and children to use.

I'm ok with the 10/22 for myself as well, but I greatly prefer to use a 9mm carbine (short rifle). Yes, the 9mm is far more effective than a .22LR.

Also, a carbine is far more powerful than any pistol of the same caliber. The less experienced shooter more accurately and quickly acquires target with a carbine when under extreme stress than they do a pistol.