<XMP><BODY></xmp> 22 rounds for Self defence





        There are two instances that I can see .22 pistols being used for self defence:-
        The first is when you have no other weapon available and are forced to use a hunting or plinking weapon.
         The second is for small hideout guns such as derringers and mini-revolvers.
         It is with the latter weapons that this article concerns itself.

        Information about the terminal ballistics of pistol-fired 22 LRs is hard to come by. What little can be found usually applies to longer barreled pistols such as the Ruger Mk.2. This information is not without interest.
        Questions that need to be answered are:-
        An idea that has occurred to me is “Is it possible to create a better 22 round for self defence with mini-revolvers and derringers?” The obvious need is to increase the bullet's penetration to increase its chances of reaching the Central Nervous System –the only target where the 22 is likely to have much of an incapacitation effect. An advantage of the derringers and mini-revolvers is that the rounds do not need to feed though an automatic's mechanism, so two types of bullet occur to me.

        The first is a non-expanding round, possibly a flat-nosed Spitzer like the PSM bullet. Alternatives include a semi-wadcutter or wadcutter. Round nose and pointed bullets tend to push nerves and blood vessels aside, rather than cutting them like flatter nosed rounds. This bullet would be longer and heavier to give it more inertia and better flesh penetration.
        The greater weight of the bullet may give it enough impact energy to mushroom and still achieve acceptable penetration, even at the low velocities produced by a short barreled weapon. The second type of bullet may therefore be a soft lead wide-mouthed hollowpoint.

        Both these rounds are slow and heavy, so may produce less flash and noise than conventional rounds. Self-defence rounds would be available in both 22LR and 22 magnum.
        One of the best potential candidates for a defensive round seems to be the Aguila 22 SSS. This is a 60gr bullet mounted in a 11mm case. Overall length is the same as a standard .22LR round so it can be used in most .22LR weapons. The CCI SGB round is a subsonic heavy flatnosed round that is reported to be deep penetrating, accurate and very effective against both small and large game. Reversed round nosed bullets may prove effective, as might wadcutter rounds, if such can be found.

        Other ideas for 22 mini-revolvers.
        An interesting carrying system I once read about was made by attaching the tip of a 22 barrel cleaning brush to a safety pin. The brush tip was inserted in the mini-revolver's muzzle and the assembly pinned behind a lapel. This might work for some derringers.
        Possibly from the same article came an interesting way of firing mini-revolvers. The gun was firmly grasped in both hands with the trigger depressed. Firing was by thumb operation of the hammer. If it helps think of the trigger as a “grip safety”. This mode of operation is similar to how western gunfighters used their six-guns with the trigger wired back.
        The elbows were braced against the ribs to manage recoil and the gun was held on the centreline, so aiming was by a variation of the QK method for pistols.

Supplement
        Since this page was first written I have come across some information on .22 rimfire rounds fired from short barrels. The following figures are taken from various rounds fired from 3.5” barrelled Hi-Standard Derringers.

Round Muzzle velocity
Rem. 36gr HV Hollowpoint 22LR 678 ± 87
CCI 32gr Stinger 637 ± 143
Win. 40gr Hollowpoint .22 WMRF 947 ± 107
CCI 40gr Hollowpoint .22 Maxi-Mag 1023 ± 92

        These figures suggest that the .22 magnum rounds such as the WMRF and Maxi-Mag do offer advantages even in such short barrels. The Stinger uses a slow buring powder, so performs worse than the other rounds in short barrels. To reach full velocity a Stinger round actually needs a barrel of 22-24”

        This page has information on Aguila 22-SSS fired against gelatin from a 5.5” barreled pistol.
22-SSS firing test

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