re: .22 magnum for concealment?

quote:

---

I'd say a properly made rimfire revolver is at least as reliable as any centerfire semi-auto handgun.

---

A. Maybe. You'll note that I said .22 pistols. And the reliability I'm referring to is the ignition of the propellant.

B. What the FBI issues to their agents is VERY relevant to the private citizen who carries concealed.

FBI agents don't wear uniforms (like patrol LEO's) nor do they open carry. If you read up on the lethal threat incidents faced by FBI agents, they are very often quite similar to that of a private citizen (Tom Givens speaks to this phenomenon in his classes -- FBI agents are the targets of muggers just like you or I might be targeted).

C. We would all (99% of us) shoot .22 ammo through a G19 (with an AACK) better (accurate hits at a faster pace) than we do with a G19 shooting 9mm +p+ jacketed HP ammo. But the FBI doesn't (nor does any LE agency I ever heard of) issue .22 pistols.

If we need a pistol for self-defense, we need the bullet to penetrate to vital organs. And if the path to those vital organs is obstructed by bones, ribs, or a car door, we need the bullet to penetrate. It is completely silly to pretend that a .22 will serve as well as a .38 , a 9mm , a .40 or a .45 for the "variety" of lethal threats we might face.

D. I agree 100% that detecting a threat, and avoiding that threat, is better than shooting at that threat. I preach this all day long in my CCW classes. But if the avoidance doesn't work, and if deescalation doesn't work, we better have a weapon that will stop the threat.

BUT, anyone who assumes that "If you are under threat and you pulled a handgun and the threat stopped immediately and left your vicinity" is gonna work every time needs to read up on sociopaths, psychopaths and drug (meth, bath salts, et al) users.

If the dude (or dudette) ceases the attack when you produce a weapon, great. We/you won. No shots fired. The big "what if" is -- what if he/she doesn't stop just because you/we pull a gun.

Now we/you need something to stop that attack. And if you're a good enough shot, the .22 might be just fine. (Heck a pellet rifle can be lethal with the right shot placement.) Personally I prefer something like a 9mm, that provides a good balance between controllability, reliability, and penetration
Go ahead and carry that .22. I certainly don't care. But I'd hate for someone to read your comments and assume that it's a good idea.

I'd never recommend that to a student. I've never taken a handgun self-defense training class where the instructors carried or recommended carrying .22's (or .25's, or .32's or .380's for that matter). It's a choice you or anyone can make -- but there are much better choices out there.

eta: For those who think a .22 LR will ignite reliably, go shoot a rimfire match and watch how many .22 caliber handguns experience a failure-to-fire.