22Mag Revolver for home defense, Cont'd
Previously discussed rimfire data was taken 4/19/87 using unvented barrels in a #4 Rolling block action. Barrel lengths of 5",4",3.5",3.25", 3" and 2.5" gave me corresponding velocity figures of 1458fps,1338fps, 1179fps, 1163fps and 1161fps(invalid due to a 1580fps flier)and energy figures of 189fp, 160fp,124fp, 121fp and an invalid figure for the 2.5" barrel. Vented barrels in a revolver will lower these figures.
As you can see these energy figures are at best equal to the .380 in energy. Any 32Mag or 38 special and on up will exceed short barrel 22 mag energy.
In addition, muzzle blast from the 22 mag out of short barrels is very unpleasant and gets worse with the shortest barrels.
I would prefer the more bite than bark of some of the bigger calibers.
A Texas Ranger in the not too distant past was shot in the chest by a Mexican border crosser using a 22mag Ruger. He survived quite well.
Like everyone else I was surprised. Out of a pistol,this rifle cartridge performs like a HS 22LR out of a rifle.
There are a lot better pistol cartridges out there for self defense.
As you can see these energy figures are at best equal to the .380 in energy. Any 32Mag or 38 special and on up will exceed short barrel 22 mag energy.
In addition, muzzle blast from the 22 mag out of short barrels is very unpleasant and gets worse with the shortest barrels.
I would prefer the more bite than bark of some of the bigger calibers.
A Texas Ranger in the not too distant past was shot in the chest by a Mexican border crosser using a 22mag Ruger. He survived quite well.
Like everyone else I was surprised. Out of a pistol,this rifle cartridge performs like a HS 22LR out of a rifle.
There are a lot better pistol cartridges out there for self defense.
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Use a shotgun for self defense even a .410. You do not have to take aim just point and you will hit the bad guy that will have more rights than you if he survives!![8D]
Believe nothing that you hear and only one half of what you see!!0 -
I know there are cases of people surviving good hits with the .22
However, we had a case at my hospital of a guy that got 4 in chest with a .357 mag and lived!
That was the luckiest man in the state of Ga.
However, I saw so many killed with the .22 lr while I worked as a Paramedic, that I gained a great deal of respect for this little cartridge.
I developed a formula that held up pretty well. If someone took one torso hit from a .22, he had a 50% chance of dying.
Two torso hits, 95% chance of dying.
The surgeons hated the .22, they told me the thing just bounces around inside the torso, it won't exit. Every time the little slug zig zags it cuts another artery, or cuts another slice through the liver.
By the way I saw 18 torso hits with shotguns, mostly bird shot, range under 30 feet.
One torso hit with shotgun, 100% chance of dying.0 -
Reminds me of a fellow that I use to work with. He was a part-time p guitar player with a rock band in the local clubs and bars. One night he was playing and a real good looking young woman was dancing with her boyfriend and giving him the eye at the same time. Seems her boyfriend soon caught on to what was going on and decided to retreive his honor. He decided to use a pistol he was carrying(he was not stupid as my friend was an exfootball player and looked it) to accomplish his needs. Problem was, he didn't know much about pistols and what the requirements of stopping power were(he was carrying a little .25 auto). He pulled the .25, shot guitar player in the chest twice and stood back to watch him die. Said guitar player jumped off the stage and proceeded to stomp boyfriend into a pulp. So badly that the emergency crew took boyfriend to the hospital on the first run and left guitar player to be taken to the emergency room by police. My friend told me that he felt the .25's hit but they hurt just enough to make him mad. I still believe in the bigger hole theory to this day. Small holes placed right will do the job but bigger holes don't have to be placed quite so precisely to get the job done. 0 -
Quite a story Pinhead. I hope the .25 didn't ruin the guitar. A friend of mine brought out a little .25 auto one time when were were shooting at the farm. We compared the damage his .25 did vs. a .22 long rifle shot out of a Mark I ruger. We shot at an old car door from about 15'. No comparison, the .22 went through both sides of the door, the .25 bounced off making a little dent. I think you would darn near have to hit someone in the eye or temple to do much damage with the .25.
Worry is the interest humans pay on the debt of miscalculation.0 -
Small caliber rounds, when the penetrate, tend to rattle around inside and do a fair amount of collateral damage.
A 25 falls in this class, but it is a matter of penetration. there are numerous accounts of a 25 failing to penetrate heavy leather jackets or even multiple layers of clothing ... then again there have been a lot of people killed with 25's.
I think some of the under penetration accounts could be attributed to poor ammo, others to pure luck.
I will defend my family and home with whatever is at hand, down to the rocks from the flower beds. But, if I were going out to purchase a gun that would be the only defensive weapon in the house, it would not be a 22 or a 25 or a 32 or a 380 ... it would be a larger caliber pistol or revolver. And if money were tight ... it would be a 12 ga. shotgun, even if it was a single shot.
Of course these are my thoughts and they just may not line up to other folks way of seeing things ... so be it.
If you only have time to do two things so-so, or one thing well ... do the one thing!0 -
The first hit from the .25 was in left shoulder just under the collar bone and went in a 1 to 2 inches as I call. The second was lower right rib cage as he turned slightly to avoid the shot, it hit a rib and skidded along toward the back where it came to rest just under the skin. I wasn't there that night but I was told by his buddy in the band that he was moving pretty good during the short fight and He did get sick to his stomach after things calmed down and he saw that he was bleeding a little. Shock probably. Now if he had been hit with a .45, 357 to 44 magnum things would have turned out quite different as the shot into the ribs would almost certainly have broke the rib carrying bone and tissue with it into the lungs ad really messed him up. 0 -
Home defense with a toaster is viable too, but if you don't have to conceal it (because you're in your HOME); why not use a shotgun?
If you know it all; you must have been listening.<br>WEAR EAR PROTECTION!0 -
crappolla' a 22 mag will protect you fine, makes plenty of noise,has plenty of balls and will light up the night...and to the guy who said I was only a "painter"...I served in Vietnam with the 5th inf....and lived in some real bad areas also saw quite a few people shot...I quess because I dont have all those " ex cia, ex police, ex ranger lrrp and other tags you didnt like my post....been there buddy and dont need the ex titles.........................Billy 0 -
geesh, this hasnt died yet? lets ask ron reagan and bob kennedy what they think of a .22 for a defense round. 0 -
We have 2 Mossbergs. The wife a 410 and I a 12 ga. Both with just the pistol grip. This makes them short enough to turn in a std hallway plus not needing a careful aim makes them my choice. One other problem with the 22mag is over penetration. If you miss the bad guy you could go through the drywall and hit your mother-in-law.
cbxjeff<P>It's too late for me, save yourself. <br>0 -
I've allowed this Topic to run twice...This is the last time for this Forum..If Posted again it will be Automatically transfered to the General Discussion Forums without comment....
Captain Kirk, Tech Staff0
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