I don't think it's a fake reason. Maybe not so bright when you have lots of county boys who grew up with guns and depended on them for food and protection, but not so much so for those who learned to shoot after they enlisted.
A .22 will stop you if placed properly. I'm looking for something that will put you down even if I don't manage proper placement. I'm getting old and creaky, not to mention a bit cranky. I'm not getting in much range time, and I can no longer afford to have guns stashed all over the place.
“I’m looking for something that will put you down even if I don’t manage proper placement.”
A lot of folks have been looking, but the only place I’ve seen it work is Star Trek...I like my 44 mag, but it won’t stop a bad guy immediately with a shot in the gut, arm or leg.
Even WITH proper placement, the bad guys don’t always drop immediately.
I’m pretty damned old an creaky myself, being 68. However, if you want good stopping power the present day .357 magnum with 110 or 125 grn hollow points will stop just about anyone.