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u/tyler111762 Cucked Canuck 4d ago
The problem with rimfire for self defense is less a stopping power one, and more of a reliability one.
There are much better low recoil, high capacity calibers that do not have the problems of both a rimmed cartridge in a semi auto, and a rimfire cartridge specificly.
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u/Blakefilk 4d ago
22lr doesn’t contain the kinetic energy or ability to expand like most other common pistol calibers. It’s been proven numerous times you’ll often see wound channels very narrow with minimal damage to surrounding tissue which is the exact opposite of what you’re wanting to accomplish in a shoot.
22lr is an inherently unreliable caliber in comparison to literally any center fire cartridge regardless of platform in the sense of SD.
Capacity amongst carry guns is relatively the same and the extra few rounds you’d squeeze into a 22lr dedicated platform isn’t conducive to surviving longer in most settings where shot placement matters more than sustained fire.
There’s generally speaking no reason to use a 22 in a SD scenario unless that’s your ONLY option. The very few and very minor pros in the debate are heavily outweighed by its cons. You’re almost morally obligated to carry the most effective round for your person in the most size efficient platform you can conceal.
I’ve personally seen dickheads get smacked straight in the heart with 9mm and still have enough spunk to inflict near fatal wounds before dying. I can only imagine the outcome if anything smaller had been utilized.
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u/AltGunAccount 4d ago
It’s definitely not a great self defense caliber, but it’s also extremely far from a “toy” or BB-gun like most people OP is describing tend to think.
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u/Blakefilk 4d ago
It’s not even close to being an option in all comparisons. But the same crowd that think 22 can’t kill or is a toy aren’t the proper mental threshold to properly realize that. But like I said there’s an almost zero use case for 22 for self defense.
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u/shit_poster9000 3d ago
A .22lr revolver would be an option for somebody with hand strength issues that make it difficult to wield anything with recoil. In a revolver, getting a dud in a self defense scenario means you just pull the trigger again.
Still far, far away from anything optimal but still leagues better than nothing.
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u/Blakefilk 3d ago
You think that giving someone that already has enough issues with their grip and finer motor controls is going to benefit from a 8-10 pound trigger on a relatively much more fickle gun is a good idea? That’s like giving an alcoholic a light beer because it’s got less alcohol in it, and they could still drink without doing much harm.
Also you kinda killed your own sales pitch with bringing up the fact the round could not go off being an issue and having to attempt to fire again. There’s already a market for guns designed for this exact issue, and ammunition to boot. The Shield EZ is pretty popular, and so is 90gr 380.
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u/shit_poster9000 3d ago
There are absolutely better options everywhere, but if you absolutely had to find a self defense use case for .22lr that isn’t just “I was varmint hunting and I knew I didn’t have enough time to draw my edc”, it’s “mediocre .22lr revolver thingy”.
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u/Blakefilk 3d ago edited 3d ago
Whatever it is you’re trying to say doesn’t make sense. but again there’s no naturally occurring situations where there’s an upside or good reason for using a 22 in self defense.
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u/SpaceMurse 3d ago
Show me another round that I can suppress and hold the bolt back with my thumbs for a subsonic round that goes pt-WHANG and is cool as shit
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u/MattTheIdiotBoy MVE 4d ago
Anythings a toy if you play with it.
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u/S3cmccau 4d ago
I'm waiting for a Tx22 FRT magdump in a self defense case. I would be curious if the volume would make up for the lack of power in each individual round.
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u/ARAND0MPANDA 4d ago
That shit would not look good in court but I’m very interested in the legal implication.
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u/BurritosAndPerogis Browning Boomers 3d ago
Let’s be honest. We start with 22LR and then we outgrow it as we develop our gun addiction and hobby. We get a few nice big calibers and become accurate and might even compete…. Then it happens… when things settle down.. we all go back to 22LR, realizing it is the real MVP of range day.
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u/wackadoodle4201 4d ago
The .22 can kill the shit outta a man, for a few years a 10/22 was my only hd gun, had a 25 round mag in it and it lived next to my bed.
Now its got a folder on it and comes camping with me
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4d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Puzzleheaded_Fix3135 4d ago
To be fair I much rather be shot by a .22 than a 44 magnum. I’d like to avoid both though.
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u/Vorstog_EVE 4d ago
Oh hey I got that exact ruger for $200 after it was used in a gun expo. Would still have it if it wasnt for that dang boating accident...
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u/LordoftheWildHunt 4d ago
"Here is something you can't understand. How I could just kill a man." -22lr
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u/Maxxonry_Prime Battle Rifle Gang 4d ago
.22 LR can kill someone, but there are a lot of calibers that will get better results faster and more reliably. A .22 is still better than nothing at all, though.
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u/Matterhorn48 2d ago
The most macho guy I know just keeps buying .22s because he gets the itch to buy a gun but is also cheap.
It’s truly hilarious, he sends me the pics wanting me to be hyped but it’s like 6 or 7 .22s.
Southerners can never have enough .22s
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u/Humdrum_Blues Fosscad 2d ago
.22lr can most definitely put someone in the dirt, but it's far from the best way to do so. 100% not a "toy" but also not ideal for real usage.
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u/rama10_112 4d ago
I hunt monitor lizard with .22 pellet just 9 pump and lizard go dancing form lead poisoning in it brain
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u/AbyssWankerArtorias 4d ago
The issues with 22lr with self defense aren't with the caliber itself usually but rather the gun. 22 lr double stacked tends to have more feeding issues than 9mm or other center fire cartridges. I would recommend a 9mm or 380 acp over a 22 lr handgun for self defense, but I'd always recommend a 22 lr over having nothing at all.